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Rock History: November 4

Notable rock and roll birthdays, releases, and milestones that happened on November 4 throughout history.

1957
Jackie Wilson made his Billboard debut with “Reet Petite,” entering at No. 93 before dropping off the chart the following week; he would later place 24 Hot 100 songs, including six Top Ten hits. ABC-Paramount issued Danny and the Juniors’ “At the Hop,” which had begun on Philadelphia’s Singular label with 7,000 local sales. It reached No. 1 in the United States and on the R&B chart, and No. 3 in Britain.

1961
Bob Dylan played his first Carnegie Chapter Hall show in New York for about 50 people, many of them friends; the promoter lost money, while Dylan received $20. Cliff Richard’s third studio LP, “21 Today,” topped the UK chart three weeks after his 21st birthday and became his first of seven UK No. 1 albums.

1963
The Beatles performed at London’s Royal Command Performance for the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon. John Lennon introduced “Twist and Shout” by asking the cheaper seats to clap and the rest to rattle their jewelry, a nervous act of rebellion he later recalled.

1967
An auction at Elvis Presley’s Circle G Ranch drew about 2,000 people and raised more than $108,000 by selling surplus farm equipment, trucks and livestock after Elvis abandoned his brief cowboy phase.

1972
Johnny Nash’s “I Can See Clearly Now” reached No. 1 in the US nine weeks after entering the Hot 100 and No. 5 in Britain; it eventually earned Gold status in both countries.

1975–1980
Lynyrd Skynyrd played Cardiff’s Capitol Theatre; a recording was released in 2009 as “Live at the Cardiff Capitol Theatre.” Rod Stewart released “Foot Loose & Fancy Free.” Van Morrison’s “Wavelength” arrived, and Linda Ronstadt’s “Simple Dreams” reached No. 1 in the US. The Sex Pistols’ “Never Mind the Bollocks” was certified Gold in America, while Elvis Presley’s estate sued the National Enquirer over a cover claiming he had faked his death.

1983–1990
Fred “Sonic” Smith and Patti Smith married in Detroit. The Beach Boys’ “Still Cruisin’” was certified Gold, and Steve Winwood’s “Roll with It” hit No. 1.

1993–2000
The Eagles’ “Hell Freezes Over” opened at No. 1 and later went multi-Platinum. AC/DC’s “Ballbreaker” was certified Gold, and Mariah Carey’s “Butterfly” became her first album to debut at No. 1.

2004–2024
Ken Hensley, Uriah Heep’s former keyboardist, died in 2020 at 75. In 2023, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announced its 2024 class, including Mary J. Blige, Cher, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Kool & the Gang, Ozzy Osbourne and A Tribe Called Quest.