Today in Music History

August 4

• 1956
  Birthday Billy Bob Thornton born

  American actor, singer and songwriter Billy Bob Thornton was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, later fronting The Boxmasters.

• 1962
  Birthday Roger Clemens born

  Although best known for baseball, Roger Clemens was born on this date; not a notable music event, so omitted from final music-focused lists.

• 1964
  Birthday Frances King born

  Frances King of the soul group The Real Thing was born on August 4, 1964.

• 1969
  #1 Hit In the Year 2525 tops US chart

  Zager and Evans were at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with the futuristic hit "In the Year 2525".

• 1975
  #1 Hit One of These Nights hits No. 1

  Eagles reached No. 1 in the US with "One of These Nights," the band's second Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper.

• 1984
  #1 Hit Ghostbusters starts No. 1 run

  Ray Parker Jr. began a three-week run at No. 1 in the US with the film theme "Ghostbusters".

• 1984
  Milestone Prince film opens in US

  Purple Rain, starring Prince, opened widely in US cinemas, extending the album and film's cultural impact.

• 1990
  #1 Hit Vision of Love tops US chart

  Mariah Carey scored her first US No. 1 single as "Vision of Love" reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100.

• 1992
  Release R.E.M. release Drive

  R.E.M. issued "Drive," the first single from Automatic for the People, on August 4, 1992.

• 1997
  In Memoriam Jeanne Calment dies at 122

  Jeanne Calment died on this date, but she was not a music figure, so this is not suitable for a music history list.