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1964

in Music

Albums

13

Artists

18

Milestones

19

Notable Releases

SINGLE1964

How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You)

Marvin Gaye

One of Gaye's early Motown hits that peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100, establishing him as a solo artist and contributing to his rise as Prince of Motown.

SINGLE1964

Where Did Our Love Go

Diana Ross

The Supremes' first number-one hit, marking the beginning of unprecedented success and paving the way for legendary achievements throughout the 1960s.

ALBUM1964

The World of Miriam Makeba

Miriam Makeba

Early example of world music that peaked at number 86 on the Billboard 200, showcasing her diverse musical influences.

LIVE1964

Nina Simone in Concert

Nina Simone

Her debut album for Philips Records, featuring the landmark protest song 'Mississippi Goddam,' marking her first explicit address of racial inequality in music.

SINGLE1964

Mississippi Goddam

Nina Simone

A powerful civil rights protest song responding to Medgar Evers' murder and the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing, selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry in 2019.

OTHER1964

In His Own Write

John Lennon

Collection of nonsense writings and line drawings by Lennon, expanding his artistic reach beyond music

ALBUM1964

Pain in My Heart

Otis Redding

Debut studio album featuring early singles and songs from 1962-1963 sessions; peaked at number 103 on Billboard 200.

SINGLE1964

The Times They Are a-Changin'

Bob Dylan

Anthem for social change

SINGLE1964

Fly Me to the Moon

Frank Sinatra

Signature song from his repertoire

SINGLE1964

Hello, Dolly!

Louis Armstrong

Number one hit that knocked The Beatles off the charts

Significant Milestones

CeCe Winans Born

Birth
CeCe Winans

CeCe Winans was born

Heart Attack and Health Crisis

Tour
Mahalia Jackson

Jackson suffered a heart attack while driving from a St. Louis concert, leading to a year-long recovery and the discovery that sarcoidosis had advanced to her heart.

Discovery of Drumming

Achievement
Karen Carpenter

Joined Downey High School marching band and discovered her passion for drums after admiring classmate Frankie Chavez's performance. Acquired a Ludwig drum kit and rapidly developed exceptional technical skills.

First Number-One Hit

Debut
Diana Ross

The Supremes achieved their first number-one single with 'Where Did Our Love Go,' launching an era of unprecedented success.

Musicians from 1964