Music History Today: March 4, 2023

March 4, 1989: Bette Midler's cover of "Wind Beneath My Wings" entered Billboard's Hot 100.

In 1982, Nashville songwriters Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley wrote and recorded the demo for "Wind Beneath My Wings." Roger Whittaker was the first artist to take record it.

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The most famous version of this song was Bette Midler's for the movie Beaches. It's the most popular song for funerals, beating out Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" and Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You." 

Read more: Songfacts

March 4, 1967: The Rolling Stones hit the top of the US singles chart with "Ruby Tuesday."

"Ruby Tuesday" is one of several early Rolling Stones songs that show his musical ingenuity. He was the group's lead guitarist but could play almost any instrument. One of his most notable performances is on sitar for "Paint It Black." 

Read more: Songfacts

 

March 4, 1972: "Bang a Gong (Get It On)" by T. Rex made it to Number 10 on the American music chart.

"Bang a Gong (Get It On)" was Marc Bolan's only American Top 40 hit.

Marc Bolan

As on most T. Rex material from this period, including Bolan's endless series of English hits, that's Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan (a.k.a. Flo and Eddie) from the Turtles who are moaning delightedly in the background. With a heavily pedaled bass line and strutting guitar riff, "Bang a Gong" represents Bolan's most powerfully driving rhythm. 

Read more: Super Seventies

March 4, 1978: Andy Gibb topped Billboard's chart with "(Love Is) Thicker Than Water."

"(Love Is) Thicker Than Water" was the second of three number 1 hits for Andy Gibb in his solo career. It followed "I Just Want To Be Your Everything" and preceded "Shadow Dancing."

Andy Gibb

It bumped the Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive" from the top and was replaced by the Bee Gees' "Night Fever." "Night Fever" was seceded by "If I Can't Have You," also written and produced by the Gibb brothers. Anybody who remembers 1977 will tell you that the whole year was one big blur of Gibb.  

Read more: Songfacts

March 4, 2000: Pink debuted on the US music chart at Number 25 with her first hit single, "There You Go."

Born Alecia Moore, Pink was previously a member of the R&B girl group Choice, whose song "Key To My Heart" featured on the soundtrack to the 1996 movie Kazaam.

Pink 

 When the trio landed a record deal with LaFace Records, Moore's powerhouse vocals impressed the label's co-founder L.A. Reid, and he offered her a solo contract. She changed her name to Pink after Steve Buscemi's character in Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs. 

Read more: Songfacts

Wind Beneath My Wing
Bette Midler