On this day in 1989: Bette Midler went to #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “Wind Beneath My Wings.” It would spend one week in the top spot.
The song was written in 1982 by Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley. The song was first recorded by Kamahl in 1982 for a country and western album he was recording. Kamahl talked about being the first to record the song in an appearance on Australian TV show ‘Spicks and Specks’, but stated it was not commercially released because it was felt he did not suit the country and western style. Instead, Roger Whittaker recorded the song, as well as Sheena Easton and Lee Greenwood. The song appeared shortly thereafter in charted versions by Colleen Hewett (1982), Lou Rawls (1983), Gladys Knight & The Pips (1983), and Gary Morris (1983).
The highest-charting version of the song to date was recorded in 1988 by singer and actress Bette Midler for the soundtrack to the film ‘Beaches.’ This version was released as a single in early 1989, spent one week at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in June 1989, and won Grammy Awards for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year in February 1990. On October 24, 1991, Midler’s single was also certified Platinum by the RIAA for shipment of one million copies in the United States.
Here’s a look at the Top 20 on the U.S. singles chart from this day back in 1989:
1 3 WIND BENEATH MY WINGS –•– Bette Midler – 15 (1)
2 5 I’LL BE LOVING YOU (FOREVER) –•– New Kids On The Block – 11 (2)
3 6 EVERY LITTLE STEP –•– Bobby Brown – 12 (3)
4 1 ROCK ON –•– Michael Damian – 13 (1)
5 9 BUFFALO STANCE –•– Neneh Cherry – 11 (5)
6 4 PATIENCE –•– Guns N’ Roses – 10 (4)
7 11 SATISFIED –•– Richard Marx – 6 (7)
8 2 SOLDIER OF LOVE –•– Donny Osmond – 12 (2)
9 10 CLOSE MY EYES FOREVER –•– Lita Ford & Ozzy Osbourne – 15 (9)
10 13 WHERE ARE YOU NOW? –•– Synch – 28 (10)
11 8 FOREVER YOUR GIRL –•– Paula Abdul – 14 (1)
12 15 BABY DON’T FORGET MY NUMBER –•– Milli Vanilli – 7 (12)
13 14 CRY –•– Waterfront – 10 (13)
14 16 THIS TIME I KNOW IT’S FOR REAL –•– Donna Summer – 8 (14)
15 19 GOOD THING –•– Fine Young Cannibals – 6 (15)
16 12 EVERLASTING LOVE –•– Howard Jones – 13 (12)
17 18 POP SINGER –•– John Cougar Mellencamp – 7 (17)
18 21 MISS YOU LIKE CRAZY –•– Natalie Cole – 9 (18)
19 7 REAL LOVE –•– Jody Watley – 13 (2)
20 25 I DROVE ALL NIGHT –•– Cyndi Lauper – 6 (20)
