This Day in Top 40 History: September 10

Breakthrough Hits and Milestones

• 1988: Guns N' Roses reached the top of the charts with their song "Sweet Child O' Mine" and stayed there for two weeks. Multiple pieces of media, including Step Brothers, have featured the song and its opening riff.
• 1991: The music industry changed when Nirvana released their debut single, "Smells Like Teen Spirit," from their album Nevermind. The song gained traction when MTV began playing the accompanying music video regularly.
• 2010: Weezer issued Hurley, a 10-track project that delivered “Memories” and “Ruling Me.” Although it missed the Top 40 on the U.K. Official Albums Chart, it peaked at No. 6 on the U.S. Billboard 200. 
• 2011: Maroon 5 got a second wind after their single "Moves Like Jagger," featuring Christina Aguilera, rose to No. 1. The song was the first of several hit singles that defined the sound of the 2010s.
• 2021: Kacey Musgraves released her fifth studio effort, star-crossed. It would become her fourth chart-topper on Billboard's Top Country Albums Chart. Besides, the album landed at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and spawned tracks such as “justified” and “simple times,” both of which charted in the Top 40 on the Hot Country Songs Chart. 

Cultural Milestones

• 1950: Joseph Anthony Pereira, better known as Joe Perry, was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts. As a member of Aerosmith, Perry has contributed to Top 10 albums such as Get a Grip and Nine Lives. Besides, he has collaborated with a number of renowned Top 40 acts, including “I Never Cry” hitmaker Alice Cooper.
• 1984: Matthew Followill was born in Oklahoma. He is best known as a member of Kings of Leon, whose other members are his cousins Nathan, Caleb, and Jared Followill. Over the years, the band has achieved various notable feats, including winning four GRAMMYs and placing Top 40 singles such as “Temple” and “Supersoaker” on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Airplay Chart. 
• 1990: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air premiered on NBC. It ran for six seasons and starred the young rapper, Will Smith, who performed the show's iconic opening number.
• 2010: Rihanna released "Only Girl (In the World)" as the lead single for her album Loud. She released the song as a digital download before it went to radio stations around the country.
• 2020: After a summer of protests and racial tension, Alicia Keys performed "Lift Every Voice and Sing" at the NFL Kickoff event. The song is widely regarded as the Black National Anthem.

Notable Recordings and Performances

• 2001: Michael Jackson held the second of his 30th anniversary celebration concerts at Madison Square Garden. The show featured guest appearances by Gladys Knight, Usher, and others.
• 2013: The Weeknd won over the crowd, performing songs such as “The Town,” “Love in the Sky,” and “Wicked Games” at the Paramount Theater in Seattle, Washington. This concert was part of his Kiss Land Fall Tour, which supported his debut studio LP, Kiss Land. Also released on this date in the same year, the album rose to No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and spent 10+ weeks on the chart. 
• 2015: Kelly Clarkson's Piece by Piece Tour visited Lakewood, Atlanta. Clarkson played a 19-song setlist featuring chart-toppers “Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)” and “My Life Would Suck Without You” at the Aaron's Amphitheater. With over 30 shows across the U.S., the Piece by Piece Tour supported the talk show host's No. 1 record of the same name. The trek grossed over $9 million from more than 180,000 tickets sold.
• 2022: Imagine Dragons took their Mercury World Tour to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. Their setlist for this show featured 23 songs, including fan favorites such as “Demons,” “Thunder,” and “Believer.” Note that this trek, which featured more than 100 concerts across Europe, Asia, South America, and North America, supported the band's Mercury – Acts 1 and Mercury – Acts 2. The former reached No. 9 on the Billboard 200. 
• 2022: Harry Styles made his 12th appearance at Madison Square Garden as part of his 15-show Love On Tour. The setlist featured songs from Harry's House, Fine Line, and Harry Styles.

Industry Changes and Challenges

• 1972: At Los Angeles' Hollywood Bowl, The Doors performed a nine-song set that featured “Light My Fire” and “Love Me Two Times.” This, unfortunately, would become their last gig. The remaining band members after Jim Morrison's death, Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek, and John Densmore, went their separate ways in 1973 when their contract with Elektra Records ended. 
• 1995: Cyndi Lauper won an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. She appeared as a guest on Mad About You.
• 2009: In England, John Fellas bought Bob Dylan's harmonica at auction for £2,700, approximately $5,200. Dylan had signed and dedicated the case in 1974 when he gifted it to a wardrobe assistant.
• 2023: Charlie Robison died in San Antonio, Texas, due to cardiac arrest. According to sources, Robison temporarily lost his capability to perform in 2018 after undergoing surgery. He made his comeback in 2022, though, resuming shows at local clubs. Notably, the Houston native's most notable hit was “I Want You Bad,” which reached No. 35 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs Chart.