Today in Music History

Psy reached No. 1 on the UK singles chart with “Gangnam Style.”

Country and pop singer Billy Joe Royal, who had four songs in the Billboard Top 40, died suddenly at the age of 73. His hits included “Down in the Boondocks” (#9 in 1965), “I Knew You When” (#14 in 1965) and “Cherry Hill Park” (#15 in 1969).

Johnny Cash was posthumously inducted into the Music City Walk of Fame in downtown Nashville. His younger brother Tommy Cash accepted the plaque bearing his name. Johnny Cash died on September 12, 2003, at the age of 71.

The music video game Rock Band 4 was released for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

James Arthur began a run at No. 1 on the UK singles chart with “Say You Won't Let Go”; the song spent a total of three weeks at the top.

Passenger reached No. 1 on the UK album chart with his seventh studio album Young as the Morning, Old as the Sea.

The Paisley Park estate belonging to Prince was opened to the public.

The album Orchestral Christmas Elvis was released, the third album in the series produced by Priscilla Presley.

Brockhampton's fourth studio album Iridescence debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200.

Legendary English drummer and Cream co-founder Peter Edward “Ginger” Baker died at the age of 80. He was also a member of Blind Faith and founded the supergroup Ginger Baker's Air Force; during his career he worked with, among others, Fela Kuti and Public Image Ltd. Cream released four albums and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. Baker died after a short serious illness; it was later reported that complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were the cause.

Larry Junstrom, a founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd and longtime bassist of .38 Special, died at the age of 70. He was with Lynyrd Skynyrd from the band's founding in 1964 until 1971 and joined .38 Special in 1976.

Guitarist, songwriter and co-founder of Van Halen Eddie Van Halen died at the age of 65 after several years battling throat cancer. He died at a medical center in Santa Monica surrounded by his family. His death was publicly announced by his son Wolfgang Van Halen. Eddie Van Halen was regarded as one of the most influential guitarists in rock history and had a major influence on electric guitar playing through his innovative two-handed tapping technique.

American reggae and pop singer-songwriter Johnny Nash died of natural causes at the age of 80. He was best known for the hit “I Can See Clearly Now,” which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972 and remained at the top for four weeks. Nash was among the first non-Jamaican singers to record reggae in Kingston.

Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson announced a Rush reunion tour, with German drummer Anika Nilles replacing Neil Peart, who died in 2020. Lee said that after everything that had happened since their last performance, he and Lifeson concluded that they genuinely missed playing together.

Taylor Swift's album The Life of a Showgirl achieved the biggest opening week for an album in the UK in 2025. It sold 304,000 copies in its first three days, more than her previous two studio albums The Tortured Poets Department and Midnights.