This Day in Top 40 History: August 9

Breakthrough Hits and Milestones

• 1966: "Yellow Submarine" by The Beatles was released in the U.S. The song peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, which was rare because the band's singles typically snagged the top spot.
• 1975: The Bee Gees topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart with their single "Jive Talkin'." It was the band's second U.S. No. 1 hit.
• 1988: Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock launched their debut studio effort, It Takes Two. The record stalled at No. 31 on the Billboard 200, but cracked the Top Five on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart. It produced a Top 40 single on the Billboard Hot 100, the title track.
• 1997: Tim McGraw released "Just to See You Smile," which was named the Billboard Song of the Year in 1998. It was McGraw's third No. 1 single from his album Everywhere.
• 2005: Nickelback released their single "Photograph." The dramatic rock ballad peaked at No. 2 on the Hot 100 and spent 33 weeks on the chart.
• 2006: After a four-year hiatus, Christina Aguilera released Back to Basics. It was her first No. 1 album since her debut in 1999.
• 2019: Bon Iver issued their fourth studio LP, i,i, featuring “Hey, Ma,” “Holyfields,” and “Marion.” The album peaked at No. 11 on the U.K. Official Albums Chart and No. 26 on the U.S. Billboard 200. 

Cultural Milestones 

• 1963: Whitney Houston was born in Newark, New Jersey. As a teen, Houston sang with her mother at their local church. She would become one of the biggest players in the music world, scoring up to 11 No. 1 hits in the U.S. Unfortunately, the “How Will I Know” singer's story had a tragic ending. Houston accidentally drowned and died at 48 in 2012. Her only daughter, Bobbi Kristina, died about three years later. 
• 1972: Juanes was born Juan Esteban Aristizábal Vásquez in Medellín, Colombia. Growing up, he looked up to bands such as Metallica and The Beatles. They inspired him to form Ekhymosis, which collaborated with the likes of Ricky Martin and Alejandro Sanz. Juanes left the band to pursue a solo career in 1998. As of this writing, the GRAMMY winner has placed eight chart-toppers on Billboard's Hot Latin Songs Chart, including “Gotas De Agua Dulce” and “Me Enamora,” which spent 20 weeks at No. 1.
• 2007: Baltimore mayor Sheila Dixon declared this day Frank Zappa Day in the city. During the proclamation, the mayor acknowledged Zappa's musical talent as well as his contributions to the entertainment industry as a film director and author. Note that on this date, the “Valley Girl” hitmaker's son, Dweezil, was scheduled to visit the region to perform some of his father's tracks. 

Notable Recordings and Performances

• 1968: Paul McCartney recorded "Mother Nature's Son" solo at Abbey Road Studios. The song was later included on The Beatles' The White Album, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart.
• 1986: Unbeknownst to the audience or the band, Queen played their last concert with Freddie Mercury at Knebworth Park in England. More than 120,000 fans were in attendance. Mercury tragically died on Nov. 24, 1991.
• 1994: At an Oasis gig in England, the band's guitarist Noel Gallagher was struck in the face by a man who had rushed the stage. Gallagher refused to continue playing, and a mob attacked the band's tour bus as they tried to leave.
• 1995: The members of KISS recorded an MTV Unplugged special. It was the only time the original band members had performed without their signature makeup looks.

Industry Changes and Challenges 

• 1974: Wally Yohn, Bill Chase, Walter Clark, and John Emma died in a plane crash while heading to Jackson County in Minnesota for a performance. They were all members of Chase, whose most notable hit, “Get It On,” cracked the Top 30 on Billboard's Hot 100. This tragic incident also claimed the lives of two other people, Daniel Ludwig, the pilot, and Linda Swisher, his office assistant. 
• 1999: Bob Herbert was killed in a car accident in Berkshire, England. He was known for forming and managing the Spice Girls, who placed up to nine No. 1 hits in the U.K., including “Spice Up Your Life” and “Wannabe.” The latter also peaked at No. 1 in the U.S. Herbert also managed Five, a successful band that placed songs such as “Keep on Movin'” and “Let's Dance” at the top of the U.K. Singles Chart. 
• 2023: Robbie Robertson died in Los Angeles, California. He was 80. Robertson was best known as a member of The Band, who scored Top 40 singles such as “Don't Do It” and “Up On Cripple Creek” in the U.S.  He also collaborated with Desire artist Bob Dylan and achieved other notable feats, including being welcomed into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as well as the Canadian Juno Hall of Fame, along with his bandmates.