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On March 26 in music history ..
1828 - In Vienna, Austrian composer Franz Schubert game his only public concert. 1941 - Jimmie Lunceford and his orchestra recorded the tune "Battle Axe." 1957 - Ricky Nelson recorded his first songs. 1961 - Gene McDaniels' "One Hundred Pounds of Clay," his first and biggest hit, enters the pop chart. It peaks at #3. 1961 - Elvis Presley sets a British chart first: Number One with three straight releases: "It's now or never," "Are You Lonesome Tonight" and "Wooden Heart." 1964 - "Funny Girl" opened on Broadway starring Barbara Streisand. 1964 - Pete Best (Beatles) appeared live on the TV show "I've Got a Secret." 1965 - NME announces guitarist Eric Clapton's replacement in the Yardbirds is Jeff Beck. Clapton quit the group protesting the commerciality of tunes like "For Your Love" and "Heart Full of Soul." 1969 - Marvin Gaye was at No.1 on the UK singles chart, with 'I Heard It Through The Grapevine'. The song had also been a million seller in 1967 for Gladys Knight & The Pips. 1970 - Peter Yarrow of the folk group Peter, Paul and Mary pleaded guilty in Washington, DC, to taking immoral liberties with a 14-year-old girl. The trio had won a Grammy Award the previous year for the best children's recording, "Peter, Paul and Mommy." Yarrow spent three months in jail. 1971 - The Rolling Stones tape a live performance at the Marquee Club for television. Although the program later aired in Europe, British television has no interest in it whatsoever. 1972 - David Bowie wrote the song "All the Young Dudes" for the British band Mott the Hoople. Bowie produced the single and the album of the same name. The song became a hit in both Britain and North America, as well as a gay anthem. Mott the Hoople had been considering disbanding before the success of "All the Young Dudes." 1974 - David Essex enjoys his one and only succesful U.S. hit "Rock On," which turns gold on this date. 1975 - The film "Tommy" premiered in London. The movie was based on the rock opera by The Who. 1976 - Wings guitarist Jimmy McCullough breaks a finger after slipping in his hotel bathroom after the last show of the band's European tour, in Paris. The injury pushed back by three weeks the start of Paul McCartney's first shows in the United State in a decade. 1977 - Hall and Oats started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Rich Girl', the duo's first US No.1, not a hit in the UK. 1977 - Foreigner's first single, "Feels Like the First Time," was released. It reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100. 1977 - The first single by Elvis Costello, "Less Than Zero", was released. 1979 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Tragedy," Bee Gees. The song is the fifth No. 1 single in a row for the Bee Gees. 1981 - Austin, Texas declared Christopher Cross Day in honor of the singer who had just won five Grammy Awards, including song of the year for "Sailing." Cross performed at a homecoming concert in Austin. 1982 - The Bangles, still calling themselves the Bangs, played their first official live date at a party for "No" magazine in Los Angeles. Also on the bill were the punk bands Saigon, Channel Three and the Descendents. 1983 - Duran Duran had their first UK No.1 with their eighth single release 'Is There Something I Should Know'. The group were on a US promotional trip where they were greeted by 5,000 screaming fans at an instore appearance in New York. 1983 - Tears For Fears scored their first UK No.1 album with 'The Hurting'. 1985 - Radio stations in South Africa banned all of Stevie Wonders records after he dedicated the Oscar he had won the night before at The Academy Awards to Nelson Mandela. 1986 - Guns N' Roses was signed to Geffen Records. 1988 - Aswad were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Don't Turn Around' 1988 - Michael Jackson started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Man In The Mirror', a No.21 hit in the No.UK. 1988 - Morrissey went to No.1 on the UK album chart with his debut solo LP 'Viva Hate'. 1993 - Grammy Award-winning Toronto rock singer Alannah Myles cancelled a 25-city Canadian tour because of an undisclosed illness. 1994 - Soundgarden entered the US album chart at No.1 with 'Superunknown'. 1994 - "Whoomp!(There It Is)" by Tag Team became the longest-running single on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, logging its 44th week. 1995 - The Sunday Times of London reported that John Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, visited Paul McCartney's recording studio with her son, Sean Lennon. The paper also said Ono spent a weekend with the McCartney family. The visit ended decades of hostility between McCartney and Ono. That ill feeling was said to have contributed to the breakup of the Beatles in 1970. 1997 - The National Enquirer announced it had paid $2-million for exclusive North American rights to 10 photographs of Michael Jackson's five-week-old son. The money went to Jackson's Heal the World Foundation. 1998 - Chuck Negron filed a suit against his former Three Dog Night band mates. He alleged that they had breached a 1990 settlement agreement and interfered with his career. 1999 - Lauryn Hill tops the 13th annual Soul Train Music Awards, held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. She receives awards for best R&B/soul or rap music video ("Doo Wop [That Thing]") and R&B/soul or rap album of the year and best R&B/soul album female ("The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill"). 1999 - It is announced that rap mogul Master P recently donated $500,000 to keep his old grammar school from closing. The Archdiocese of New Orleans planned to shut down St. Monica Elementary, the school he attended from first to eighth grades, and merge its 125 students into Our Lady of Lourdes. When Master P hears of this, the rapper contributes $250,000 to fund St. Monica and $150,000 for Lourdes. He also sends $100,000 to St. Matthias, the church his family attends. 2000 - Phil Collins takes home the Oscar for best original song at the Academy Awards in Los Angeles, earning his first golden statue for "You'll Be In My Heart," from the soundtrack to the Disney animated feature "Tarzan." Collins beats out fellow nominees Aimee Mann ("Save Me," from "Magnolia"), Trey Parker and Marc Shaiman ("Blame Canada," from "South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut"), Diane Warren ("Music Of My Heart," from "Music Of The Heart"), and Randy Newman ("When She Loved Me," from "Toy Story 2"). 2000 - Santana started a two week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Supernatural'. 2000 - Melanie C scored her first solo UK No.1 single with 'Never Be The Same The Again'. She replaced the ex Spice Girl Geri from the top of the charts. Famous birthdays 1917 - Rhythm and blues singer Rufus Thomas. 1925 - Conductor Pierre Boulez. 1936 - Fred Parris, lead singer of the '50s doo-wop group the Five Satins 1942 - Record producer Larry Butler. 1944 - Singer Diana Ross was born in Detroit. She came to prominence in the 1960's as lead singer of the Supremes, Motown Records' most popular act. Ross left the group in 1969, and the following year had a hit with her first solo single, "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)." Her next release, a remake of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's hit, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," shot to the top of both the pop and rhythm and blues charts. Ross's other number-one hits during the 1970's included "Last Time I Saw Him," "Do You Know Where You're Going To?" and "Love Hangover." In 1981, Diana Ross duetted with Lionel Richie on the number-one theme from the film "Endless Love." It was the year's most popular song, selling more than two-million copies. 1948 - Steve Tyler, lead vocalist with Aerosmith. 1948 - Richard Tandy, guitarist and keyboards player with the Electric Light Orchestra. 1949 - Fran Sheehan, bass guitarist with the group Boston; and actress-singer Vicki Lawrence. 1950 - Singer Teddy Pendergrass. 1951 - Country singer Ronnie McDowell. 1955 - Country singer and songwriter Dean Dillon. 1956 - Country singer Charley McClain. 1963 - Susanne Sulley of Human League. 1974 - Hakeem Abdul Samad of the Boys. Famous deaths 1827 - Composer Ludvig van Beethoven died in Vienna at the age of 57.His death, after a long illness with cirrhosis of the liver, came during a thunderstorm, and Beethoven is said to have shook his fist in defiance at the heavens.Beethoven, whose works crowned the classical period as well as starting the romantic era, brought a new depth and emotional intensity to music.The composer began growing deaf in 1801, and by 1817 he had lost his hearing entirely. But Beethoven's creative capacity remained undiminished.His last five string quartets and the "Grosse Fuge," composed in his last years, are considered to be among his finest creations. 1973 - Noel Coward, writer of some of the wittiest English songs of the 20th century, died in Jamaica at the age of 73. His most popular songs included "I'll See You Again," "Mad About the Boy" and "Someday I'll Find You." Coward was also a successful playwright, and among his creations for the stage were "Private Lives," "Blithe Spirit" and "Design for Living." These and several other of Coward's plays were later made into movies. 1973 - Fiddler and bandleader Don Messer died in Halifax at the age of 63. Messer and his Islanders were Canada's most popular old-time music group for more than 30 years. Messer began a national radio show in 1944, and "Don Messer's Jubilee" was a fixture on Canadian TV from 1959 until Messer's death. Messer and his Islanders recorded more than 30 albums. And in 1980, a TV marketed LP, "The Good Old Days," was a great success. 1980 - Jon Paulus of the Buckinghams dies of a drug overdose. Age 32. 1995 - Rapper Eazy-E, who helped popularize the hardcore "gangsta" rap style, died in Los Angeles of complications from AIDS. He was 31. Eazy-E, whose real name was Eric Wright, had disclosed he had AIDS only 10 days earlier. Wright co-founded the rap group NWA with Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, and they released a string of hit albums in the mid-1980's. Their tough, often profane style came to be known as "gangsta" rap. 1999 - Indian classical musician and composer Ananda Shankar dies in Calcutta of cardiac arrest. Shankar, 50, was a pioneer of fusion music combining traditional Indian and Western instrumentation and styles. Jimi Hendrix was among those he influenced. 2002 - Former Ozzy Osbourne/Motley Crue drummer Randy Castillo dies at the age of 41. |
On March 27 in music history ..
1945 - Ella Fitzgerald and the Delta Rhythm Boys recorded "It’s Only a Paper Moon." 1948 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Manana (Is Enough for Me)," Peggy Lee. The singer performed with Benny Goodman from 1941-43 and appeared in the films "Mister Mister" (1950) "The Jazz Singer" (1953) and "Pete Kelly's Blues" (1955). 1950 - Jazz pianist, Erroll Garner became one of the first jazz instrumentalists to give a solo concert. In 1954, he wrote the song "Misty." 1951 - Frank Sinatra recorded "I’m a Fool to Want You." 1953 - Elvis Presley visited the Tennessee State Employment Security Office. The interviewer noted that Elvis was "rather flashily dressed 'playboy' type." 1958 - Today in Blues History - Robert Lockwood Jr. spent his 43rd birthday playing guitar with guitarist Eugene Pearon, Lafayette Leak on piano, Willie Dixon on bass, and Fred Below on drums as they accompanied Sonny Boy II for the recording of "Your Funeral And My Trial" at the studios of Chess Records in Chicago. 1960 - The TV special "Welcome Home Elvis" was recorded in Miami Beach, FL. The show was hosted by Frank Sinatra. 1964 - The British Invasion makes it around the globe as the Beatles occupy the top six spots in the Australian pop chart. 1964 - Pete Best (Beatles) appeared live on the TV game show "I've Got a Secret." 1965 - The Who's "I Can't Explain" is released. 1965 - The Supremes scored their fourth US No.1 single with 'Stop! In The Name Of Love'. 1965 - British rocker P.J. Proby, famed for splitting his skin-tight trousers during performances on several occasions, was ordered off the stage at a municipal ballroom in Hereford, England. The wife of a Tory alderman called Proby's act disgusting and obscene. 1966 - The Beatles posed for the cover of "Yesterday...and Today." 1966 - During an UK tour, Roy Orbison fell off a motorbike while scrambling at Hawkstone Park, Birmingham fracturing his foot. He played the remaining dates sat on a stool and walking on crutches. 1966 - The Beatles single "Nowhere Man" hit #3 in the U.S. 1966 - Peter & Gordon's single "Woman" hit #22 in the U.K. The song was written by Paul McCartney under the pseudonym Bernard Webb. 1967 - Fats Domino played his first ever UK date at London's Saville Theatre, supported by The Bee Gees and Gerry And The Pacemakers. 1967 - The Young Rascals recorded "Groovin'." 1967 - A riot breaks out at a Rolling Stones concert in Halsinborg, Sweden. Five days later, 154 fans are arrested in another riot at a Stones concert in Vienna, Austria. Only three weeks later, another riot breaks out at a Stones concert in Zurich, Switzerland. 1967 - John Lennon and Paul McCartney received a British music industry award for the most-performed song of the year - "Michelle." 1968 - Appearing at London's Royal Albert Hall, The Bee Gees, Foundations and Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich. 1968 - The Beatles had their 14th UK No.1 single with 'Lady Madonna'. 1971 - The New York Times reports New York radio station WNBC has banned the song "One Toke Over the Line" by Brewer & Shipley because of its alleged drug references. Other stations around the country follow suit. The composer of the tune, Tom Shipley, responds, "In this electronic age, pulling a record because of its lyrics is like the burning of books in the Thirties." 1972 - Elvis Presley records what will turn out to be his last major hit — a driving cover of bluesman Arthur Alexander's "Burning Love" which will make it to #2 in October. 1972 - Grand Funk Railroad fires its manager. 1973 - Rolling Stone magazine reports that Carlos Santana has changed his name to "Devadip", which means "the lamp of the light of the Supreme." Santana had become a disciple of Sri Chinmoy. 1973 - The Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia is pulled over for speeding on the New Jersey Turnpike. The $15 speeding ticket is negligible compared to the bail he must raise when the police find a suitcase full of marijuana, LSD, cocaine and prescription drugs. 1974 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Sunshine on My Shoulders," John Denver. The song is used as the title theme to an NBC-TV movie during the 1974-75 season. 1976 - The Brotherhood Of Man started a six week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Save Your Kisses For Me'. 1978 - The Beatles parody 'All You Need Is Cash' featuring The Rutles was shown in the UK on BBC-TV. 1979 - Eric Clapton marries Patti Boyd, the ex-wife of George Harrison, in Tucson, Arizona. 1979 - Dire Straits' single "Sultans of Swing" makes its way up the charts to #4. The bands' debut album turns platinum. 1979 - Bruce Springsteen's first video, "Rosalita," premiers on BBC-TV. 1981 - AC/DC released "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap." 1982 - The Goombay Dance Band had the No.1 UK single with 'Seven Tears'. 1982 - Ronnie Lane of Faces is admitted to a Florida hospital for treatment of multiple sclerosis(he died in 1997). 1984 - Cyndi Lauper released "Time After Time." 1984 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Footloose," Kenny Loggins. The title song to the film starring Kevin Bacon is nominated for an Academy Award. 1986 - Heavy metal act Van Halen played its first show with Sammy Hagar as lead singer, in Shreveport, Louisiana. Hagar had replaced David Lee Roth. 1987 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Lean on Me," Club Nouveau. Bill Withers took the song to No. 1 for three weeks in 1972. 1987 - A South River, NJ high school student is suspended for wearing a t-shirt to school that reads "To Hell with the Devil," promoting the Christian rock group Stryper. 1987 - The Irish rock group U2 performed a free, hour-long concert on a rooftop in downtown Los Angeles. Parts of the performance were included in the video of "Where the Streets Have No Name." 1988 - Tina Turner gave what was billed as her final live performance - in Osaka, Japan. The concert, the 220th in her 13-month "Break Every Rule" tour, included a surprise appearance by Mick Jagger. They duetted on "Honky Tonk Woman." Turner would perform more concerts later in Europe. 1991 - New Kids on the Block lead singer Donnie Wahlberg was charged with first-degree arson in an incident at a Louisville, Kentucky hotel. Wahlberg was alleged to have poured a flammable liquid on a hallway carpet and set it on fire during an argument with a young boy's mother. The New Kid had accidentally sprayed the lad in the eye with a fire extinguisher. Wahlberg agreed to videotape public service announcements on fire safety, drug abuse and drunken driving in exchange for dismissal of a reduced charge of criminal mischief. 1993 - Hot Chocolate went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Their Greatest Hits' album. 1993 - Prince played an unannounced early-morning show at Club USA, a dance hall off New York City's Times Square. That gig was followed by a nighttime show at the Apollo Theatre, Prince's first-ever concert at the legendary venue. 1995 - Tupac Shakur's "Me Against the World" made him the first rap artist to debut at No. 1 on the charts while in jail for sexual assault. 1997 - An autograph session with the Backstreet Boys turned to chaos when 5,000 screaming fans packed a downtown Ottawa shopping mall to see the teenybopper group. The event was moved to the nearby Congress Centre where police had to struggle to control the crowd. Eventually, about 2,000 fans were allowed to shake hands and file past the five-member group. 1997 - The Spice Girls had the UK No.1 single with 'Mama / Who Do You Think You Are' and Will Smith held the US No.1 position with 'Gettin' Jiggy With It'. 1997 - Yehudi Menuhin, Elton John, Van Cliburn and Prince Charles were among those who gathered at a Paris theatre to celebrate the 70th birthday of cellist Mstislav Rostropovich. 1998 - Construction began on Alice Cooper's new Coopers'town Restaurant in Phoenix, AZ. 1999 - The Bee Gees play the inaugural concert at Sydney's new Olympic Stadium as the concluding event of their "One Night Only" tour. 2000 - A recently taped N.W.A. reunion is aired on USA Network's "Farmclub.com" TV show. The reunion features original members, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, and MC Ren with Snoop Dogg stepping in for the late Eazy E. 2002 - Lyle Lovette was trampled by a bull while trying to help his uncle who had just been thrown by the animal. Lovette's lower right leg was broken in several places. Famous birthdays 1851 - Composer Paul-Marie-Theodore-Vincent D'Indy was born. 1892 - Composer Ferde Ferdinand Rudolph von Grofe was born. 1905 - Blues pianist, singer and songwriter Leroy Carr was born in Nashville, Tennessee. With guitarist Scrapper Blackwell, Carr formed one of the greatest blues partnerships of all time. Their first recording, "How Long, How Long," was produced by Blackwell at an Indianapolis radio station in 1928. The success of the record was almost immediate, and it was reported that it sold over one-million copies. "How Long, How Long" now is considered a blues standard. Leroy Carr died in 1935 at the age of 30, a victim of alcoholism. 1920 - Arranger, composer and bandleader Richard Hayman. 1923 - 1950s rock 'n' roll disc jockey and recording artist Tom Edwards. 1924 - Singer Sarah Vaughan was born in Newark, New Jersey.She developed her vocal style by her association in the 1940's with the form of jazz known as bebop. Vaughan sang with such jazzmen as Billy Eckstine, Earl Hines, Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillsepie.Much of her later work is not strictly jazz, but it still shows the jazz influence. Vaughan's first major pop hit came in 1954 with "Make Yourself Comfortable." And in 1959 came her biggest chart success, "Broken-Hearted Melody," which featured lyrics by the then-unknown Hal David, later to team so successfully with Burt Bacharach.Vaughan died of lung cancer in Los Angeles on April 3rd, 1990. 1927 - Cellist, Composer Mstislav Rostropovich. 1932 - Mickey Sheppard of the Ukranian-Canadian pop music duo Mickey and Bunny, in Ethelbert, Manitoba. Mickey and Bunny were popular in the 1960's. 1950 - Tony Banks, keyboards player with Genesis, was born in England. Banks helped form the art-rock band with Michael Rutherford, Peter Gabriel and Anthony Phillips in 1966. They did not play their first concerts until 1970, and by that time had developed an elaborate stage show which centred on lead vocalist Peter Gabriel. Gabriel left Genesis in 1974, and drummer Phil Collins, who had been with the group since 1970, took over as lead vocalist. Under Collins, Genesis discarded much of its theatricality - and began scoring hit singles and albums. Among the group's top-selling LP's was 1978's "And Then There Were Three," which yielded the hit single "Follow You, Follow Me." 1964 - Clark Datchler of Johnny Hates Jazz. 1970 - Singer Mariah Carey. Famous deaths 1993 - Clifford Jordan dies of cancer in Manhattan at age 61. Jordan was a jazz saxophonist and big-band leader known for his improvisations and his light, floating approach. He recorded more than 35 albums. 1963 - Little Willie John dies of a heart attack in Walla Walla Penitentiary. He was a teenage R&B singer in the gospel-influenced mold of James Brown, Sam Cooke and Jackie Wilson before going to jail for killing a man in a street fight in 1961. He was 31 years old. 2000 - Singer, songwriter, poet and actor, Ian Dury died after a long battle with cancer aged 57. 2002 - Actor/musician Dudley Moore-whose work as a jazz pianist was mainly overshadowed by his film roles-dies at his New Jersey home of pneumonia, a complication of progressive supranuclear palsy. He is 66. |
On March 28 in music history ..
1951 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "If," Perry Como. 1955 - Today in Blues History - harmonica player Sammy Lewis made his recording debut for Sun Records in Memphis with "I Feel So Worried" and "So Long Baby Goodbye" accompanied by the Willie Johnson Combo. Lewis took the vocal on the former and Johnson the latter. 1958 - Eddie Cochran records "Summertime Blues." 1960 - Two anti-payola bills are introduced in Congress by Representative Emanuel Celler of New York. He blames payola for "the cacophonous music called rock & roll" and claims that rock & roll would never have achieved popularity, "especially among teenagers," if not for the result of payola. 1964 - `With The Beatles' number 1, 17th week (UK Record Retailer chart).`I Want To Hold Your Hand' number 2, 11th week in the Top 100 (Billboard).`She Loves You' number 1, 2nd and last week; 10th week in the Top 100 (Billboard).`Please Please Me' number 4, 9th week in the Top 100 (Billboard).`I Saw Her Standing There' number 26, 8th week in the Top 100 (Billboard).`From Me To You' number 50, 4th week in the Top 100 (Billboard).`Twist And Shout' number 3, 3rd week in the Top 100 (Billboard).`Roll Over Beethoven' number 75, 2nd week in the Top 100 (Billboard).`We Love You Beatles', by the Carefrees, number 57, 2nd week in the Top 100 (Billboard).`A Letter To The Beatles', by the Four Preps, number 86, 2nd week in the Top 100 (Billboard).`Can't Buy Me Love' number 27, 1st week in the Top 100 (Billboard).`Do You Want To Know A Secret' number 78, 1st week in the Top 100 (Billboard).`All My Loving' number 71, 1st week in the Top 100 (Billboard).Madame Tussauds's wax museum announces the Beatles will be the first pop artists included in it. 1966 - New York City Parks Commissioner Thomas Hoving describes plans for rock & roll dance concerts to be held in Central Park. 1967 - Beatles recording sessions - Studio 2. 7.00pm-4.45am. Recording: `Good Morning Good Morning' (overdub onto take 10, tape reduction take 10 into take 11, overdub onto take 11, unnumbered take); `Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite!' (overdub onto take 9). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick; 2nd Engineer: Richard Lush.Effects assembly for `Good Morning Good Morning'.Visit at the studio: Peter Blake. 1967 - 2nd performance of Fats Domino and his orchestra at the Saville Theatre. Support acts: Gerry and the Pacemakers and the Bee Gees 1968 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay," Otis Redding. The song reaches No. 1 three months after Redding is killed in a plane crash near Madison, Wis 1969 - In London, Ringo Starr says the Beatles will make no public appearances. John Lennon counters that there will be several in 1969. 1970 - Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young's "Woodstock" is released. 1970 - Simon and Garfunkel started a three week run on the UK at No.1 with the single 'Bridge Over Troubled Water'. 1971 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)," The Temptations. 1974 - The Raspberries split up. The group's biggest hit is "Go All the Way," which went all the way to No. 5 on Billboard's Hot 100 in 1972. 1974 - "Hooked on a Feeling" by Blue Swede turns gold. The band's novel version of the BJ Thomas' 1968 song hits Number One next month. 1976 - Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt and Alan Lancaster were arrested after an incident at Vienna Airport, all three were released on bail. 1976 - Genesis opened its first North American tour with Phil Collins as lead vocalist in Buffalo, New York. The group had taken 18 months and auditioned more than 400 singers in an effort to replace the departing Peter Gabriel. In the end, they settled on Collins who had already been playing drums with Genesis for nearly six years. 1980 - Country storyteller Tom T. Hall joined the Grand Ole Opry. 1981 - Blondie started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Rapture', the groups fourth US No.1, a No.5 hit in the UK. 1981 - Gay-activist Elton John releases his version of The Beatles 'I Saw Her Standing There' was released as a tribute to John Lennon. 1981 - Shakin' Stevens had his first UK No.1 single with 'This Ole House'. 1982 - David Crosby is arrested for possession of Quaaludes and drug paraphernalia, driving under the influence of cocaine and carrying a concealed .45-caliber pistol, in Los Angeles. 1985 - Hundreds of radio stations in the US and Canada simultaneously played "We Are the World," the fundraising song for African famine relief recorded by 45 superstar performers. The broadcast took place at 10:50 a.m. Eastern Time on Good Friday. Sales of the single, album, video and related merchandise initially raised more than $38-million US. 1985 - Singer Billy Ocean played his native Trinidad for the first time since the success of his "Suddenly" LP. 1986 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Rock Me Amadeus," Falco. The Austrian singer says he was inspired to write the song about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart after seeing the movie "Amadeus." 1987 - Mel and Kim were at No.1 on the UK singles chart 'Respectable'. 1987 - Frank Sinatra sang at a benefit to raise funds for a high school in Palm Springs, California. It was Sinatra's first performance since undergoing abdominal surgery several months earlier. 1990 - Drummer Steven Adler, a founding member of Guns N' Roses, was booted out of the group. Adler later sued his former bandmates and others, claiming he was fraudulently removed and stripped of his partnership interest in the band. Adler also complained the other members of Guns N' Roses introduced him to heroin and encouraged his continual use of the drug. 1991 - Funeral services were held in England for Eric Clapton's son Conor, who fell to his death from a New York City high rise apartment window. Phil Collins and George Harrison were among the many who attended. 1992 - Over a $100,000 worth of damage was caused at The Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, California, when Ozzy Osbourne invited the first 2 rows of the audience on stage, several others took up the offer and the band were forced to exit the stage. 1992 - Tammy Wynette collapsed for the second time during an Australian tour, forcing the cancellation of the remainder of the shows. Doctors said the country star was suffering from exhaustion. 1994 - More than 2,000 people without tickets tried to force their way into an outdoor concert by Pearl Jam in Miami. The mob pushed down chain-link fences and hurled rocks and bottles. Riot police were called in, and four people were arrested. Five people were hurt. 1995 - Lyle Lovett and actress Julia Roberts announced they were separating after 21 months of marriage. 1996 - Phil Collins announced he was leaving Genesis after 25 years. He joined the band as drummer after the departure of John Mayhew in 1970 and became lead singer when Peter Gabriel left five years later. 1998 - Paul Simon and Derek Walcott's musical, "The Capeman" - the subject of savage reviews - closes on Broadway. 1999 - Mr Oizo went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Flat Beat'. 2000 - Jimmy Page receives an undisclosed figure in damages after he sues Ministry magazine in High Court for claiming he contributed to the death of Zeppelin bandmate John Bonham by a wearing Satanic robe and chanting spells while the dying drummer was choking on his vomit. The magazine apologizes and also offers to pay Page's legal bills. Page donates all of the money to Action for Brazil's Children Trust. 2001 - The artist formerly known as both Puffy and Puff Daddy told MTV he now wanted to be known as P. Diddy. Famous birthdays 1890 - Paul Whiteman,because press agents dubbed him "The King of Jazz" in the 1920s, Paul Whiteman has always been considered a controversial figure in jazz history. Actually, his orchestra was the most popular during the era and at times (despite its size) it did play very good jazz; perhaps "King of the Jazz Age" would have been a better title.Originally a classically trained violinist, Paul Whiteman led a large Navy band during World War I and always had a strong interest in the popular music of the day. In 1918, he organized his first dance band in San Francisco and, after short periods in Los Angeles and Atlantic City, he settled in New York in 1920. His initial recordings ("Japanese Sandman" and "Whispering") were such big sellers that Whiteman was soon a household name. His superior dance band used some of the most technically skilled musicians of the era in a versatile show that included everything from pop tunes and waltzes to semi-classical works and jazz. Trumpeter Henry Busse (featured on "Hot Lips" and "When Day Is Done") was Whiteman's main star during the 1921-1926 period. Seeking to "make a lady out of jazz," Whiteman's symphonic jazz did not always swing, but at Aeolian Hall in 1924 he introduced "Rhapsody in Blue" (with its composer George Gershwin on piano) in what was called "An Experiment in Modern Music." Red Nichols and Tommy Dorsey passed through the band but it was in 1927, with the addition of Bix Beiderbecke, Frankie Trumbauer, and Bing Crosby (the latter originally featured as part of a vocal trio called the Rhythm Boys), that Whiteman began to finally have an important jazz band. Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang soon joined up, and many of Whiteman's recordings of 1927-1930 (particularly the ones with Bill Challis arrangements) are among his finest.After Beiderbecke left the band in 1929 and Whiteman filmed the erratic but fascinating movie The King of Jazz in 1930, the Depression forced the bandleader to cut back on his personnel (which at one time included two pianos, tuba, bass sax, string bass, banjo, and guitar in its rhythm section). Although his orchestra in the 1930s at times featured Bunny Berigan, Trumbauer, and both Jack and Charlie Teagarden, Whiteman's music was considered old hat by the time of the swing era and he essentially retired (except for special appearances) by the early '40s. Many of his recordings (particularly those with Beiderbecke) have been reissued numerous times and are more rewarding than his detractors would lead one to believe. In the 1970s, **** Sudhalter for a time organized and led "the New Paul Whiteman Orchestra" which recorded a couple of fine recreation records. 1915 - Jay Livingston,The post-war songwriter Jay Livingston earned three Academy Awards for Best Song during the 1940s and '50s in tandem with Ray Evans. Born in Pennsylvania, Livingston studied classical piano as a child and while at the University of Pennsylvania, studied composition and orchestration. He led a dance band on the side, where he met lyricist Ray Evans. After graduation in 1937, the pair moved to New York and found their first hit with "G'bye Now," written in 1941 for Ole Olsen and Chic Johnson's Hellzapoppin'. After spending several years in the U.S. Army, Livingston moved with Evans to Hollywood in 1944 and signed a contract with Paramount. In all, they wrote songs for 100 films in the ten years from 1946 to 1956, including the award-winning "Buttons and Bows" (from 1948's The Paleface), "Mona Lisa" (from 1951's Captain Carey of the U.S.A.), and "Que Sera Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)" (from 1957's The Man Who Knew Too Much). 1923 - Thad Jones, harmonically advanced trumpeter/cornetist with a distinctive sound and a talented arranger/composer, Thad Jones (the younger brother of Hank and older brother of Elvin) had a very productive career. Self-taught on trumpet, he started playing professionally when he was 16 with Hank Jones and Sonny Stitt. After serving in the military (1943-46), Jones worked in territory bands in the Midwest. During 1950-53 he performed regularly with Billy Mitchell's quintet in Detroit and he made a few recordings with Charles Mingus (1954-55). Jones became well-known during his long period (1954-63) with Count Basie's Orchestra, taking a "Pop Goes the Weasel" chorus on "April in Paris" and sharing solo duties with Joe Newman. While with Basie, Jones had the opportunity to write some arrangements and he became a busy freelance writer after 1963. He joined the staff of CBS, co-led a quintet with Pepper Adams and near the end of 1965 organized a big band with drummer Mel Lewis that from February 1966 on played Monday nights at the Village Vanguard. During the next decade the orchestra (although always a part-time affair) became famous and gave Jones an outlet for his writing. He composed one standard ("A Child Is Born") along with many fine pieces including "Fingers," "Little Pixie" and "Tiptoe." Among the sidemen in the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra (which started out as an all-star group and later on featured younger players) were trumpeters Bill Berry, Danny Stiles, Richard Williams, Marvin Stamm, Snooky Young, and Jon Faddis, trombonists Bob Brookmeyer, Jimmy Knepper and Quentin Jackson, the reeds of Jerome Richardson, Jerry Dodgion, Eddie Daniels, Joe Farrell, Pepper Adams and Billy Harper, pianists Hank Jones, and Roland Hanna, and bassists Richard Davis and George Mraz. In 1978 Jones surprised Lewis by suddenly leaving the band and moving to Denmark, an action he never explained. He wrote for a radio orchestra and led his own group called Eclipse. In late 1984 Jones took over the leadership of the Count Basie Orchestra but within a year bad health forced him to retire. Thad Jones recorded as a leader for Debut (1954-55), Blue Note, Period, United Artists, Roulette, Milestone, Solid State, Artists House, A&M and Metronome and many of the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra's best recordings have been reissued on a five-CD Mosaic box set. 1937 - Dean Webb(Dillards) 1941 - Country harmonica player Charlie McCoy was born in West Hill, Virginia. He is one of Nashville's busiest session musicians. McCoy has appeared on many of Bob Dylan's albums, beginning in 1965 with "Highway 61 Revisited." He also was part of the progressive country band Area Code 615. 1945 - Charles Portz, bassist with the '60s pop group the Turtles. 1948 - John Evan, former keyboard player for Jethro Tull, was born in England. Evans joined the group in 1970 in time to appear on the band's gold LP "Benefit." He stayed with Jethro Tull until 1979. 1948 - Milan Williams of the Commodores. 1949 - Sally Carr (Sarah Carr-Middle of the Road) 1951 - Rupert Greenall, keyboards player with the British techno-pop group the Fixx. 1954 - Country singer Reba McEntire. 1957 - Mark Spiro 1958 - Singer Oran (Juice) Jones. 1962 - Geo Grimes (Danny Wilson.) 1969 - Salt (Cheryl James) from Salt'n'Pepa Famous deaths 1943 - Russian pianist, composer and conductor Sergei Rachmaninoff died at the age of 70. He was known as one of the greatest pianists of his generation. As a composer, Rachmaninoff was strongly influenced by Tchaikovsky. His best-known works are the second of his four piano concertos, the "Prelude in C-Sharp Minor" and "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini." 1958 - W.C. Handy, the composer known as "The Father of the Blues," died in New York at the age of 84.Handy, who was white, wrote his blues from the melodies he heard performed by black musicians and singers in the US South. His first composition, "Memphis Blues," was published in 1912 and became popular through large sheet music sales.Handy's most famous song - and indeed one of the best-known songs of the century - is "St. Louis Blues," published in 1914. Handy also led a band throughout the South from 1917 to 1923, but after that concentrated on composing and his music publishing business.A 1958 movie, "St. Louis Blues," was based on W.C. Handy's life, featuring Nat (King) Cole as the composer. 1974 - Bluesman Arthur (Big Boy) Crudup (CROOD'-UP) died of a heart attack in Nassawadox, Virginia at the age of 69. His recordings made in the 1940's and early '50s for RCA Victor had a direct influence on the young Elvis Presley. In fact, Presley had his first hit in 1954 with a Crudup composition, "That's All Right Mama." Crudup retired from music in 1958, but was rediscovered and started performing again ten years later. 1980 - **** Haymes, one of the most popular male vocalists of the 1940's, died at the age of 63. His more than 40 hit records, including the chart-toppers "It Can't Be Wrong" and "You'll Never Know," made him a rival to Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. Haymes also starred in a series of movie musicals, including "Everything for the Boys," a 1944 film about songwriter Ernest R. Ball. 1987 - Maria von Trapp, whose escape from the Nazis with her husband and children inspired "The Sound of Music," died in Stowe, Vermont at the age of 82. Mrs. Von Trapp was 33 when she fled her native Austria in 1938 with her children and husband. Their story was told in a book, a play and an Academy-Award-winning movie starring Julie Andrews. The Trapp Family Singers toured North America and Europe for several years before settling in Vermont. 1993 - Buddy Red Bow, a Lakota country and western singer whose songs were popular in Indian country, dies in Rapid City, S.D., at age 44. Red Bow recorded three albums and many singles, and his best-known songs included "Indian Love Song" and "Run Indian Run." As an actor, he appeared in such films as "Young Guns" and "Powwow Highway." 1999 - Raymond Rogers, who performed under the name Freaky Tah in the hip-hop group the Lost Boyz, is fatally shot in New York. Rogers, 28, is fired on by an unidentified black male wearing a ski cap as he leaves a hotel at 3:57 a.m., police say. 2000 - Canada's leading jazz figure, Moe Koffman, dies of cancer in Orangeville, Ontario. He is 73. Koffman, who played flute, saxophone, and clarinet, released 30 albums in his 50-year career. He is best known for his 1958 hit "Swinging Shepherd Blues." |
On March 31 in music history ..
1943 - The revolutionary musical "Oklahoma" opened at the St. James Theatre on Broadway. It was the first collaboration between Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein the Second, and ran for 2,212 performances, a record until "My Fair Lady" came along in 1956. "Oklahoma" was the first Broadway musical in which the songs actually advanced the plot. "Oklahoma" was also the first complete Broadway score to be put on record, first in a set of 78 rpm discs, then in 1949 on the new 33 1/3 long-playing album. 1944 - Today in Blues History - Universal Studios filmed an all star tribute to the USO camp shows and amongst those performing was Louis Jordan who sang "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby?" and "Sweet Georgia Brown", which featured George Raft tap-dancing along to the song. The entire soundtrack was eventually released on the Hollywood Soundstage series. 1957 - Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Obie Wheeler and Glen Douglas open a tour of the South in Little Rock, Arkansas. 1958 - Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode" is released. 1961 - Instant records releases Chris Kenners "I Like It Like That" backed with "I Like it like That, Part Two." It will be his only hit outside his hometown of New Orleans. However, Wilson Pickett does very well with Kenner's "Land of 1000 Dances" in 1966. 1964 - The Beatles single "Can't Buy Me Love" was certified gold by the RIAA. 1966 - The movie "Frankie and Johnny," starring Elvis Presley and Donna Douglas, premiered in Baton Rouge, LA. 1967 - Jimi Hendrix set fire to his guitar live on stage for the first time when he was appearing at The Astoria London. It was the first night of a 24 date tour with The Walker Brothers, Cat Stevens and Engelbert Humperdink. 1967 - Gordon Lightfoot gave the first in what was to become an annual series of concerts at Massey Hall in Toronto. One of his three concerts there in 1969 was released as the LP "Sunday Concert." 1967 - 5th performance of Fats Domino and his orchestra at the Saville Theatre. Support acts: Gerry and the Pacemakers and the Bee Gees 1969 - George Harrison and Patti Harrison, appeared in court charged with possession of cannabis. They were fined 250 pounds. 1969 - In Amsterdam John Lennon and Yoko Ono ended their "Bed-In" so they could premiere Ono's new film "Rape"(Film Number Six) in Vienna, it received its world premiere on Australian television. Whether anyone watched it is another question. 1972 - America's debut LP, entitled simply "America," sits atop the Billboard chart. 1972 - The Beatles Official Fan Club closed. The Beatles Monthly Magazine had ceased three years previously. 1973 - Donny Osmond was at No.1 in the UK with his version of 'The Twelfth Of Never' a hit single for Johnny Mathis in 1957. 1974 - Appearing at CBGB's in New York, Television. 1975 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Lovin' You," Minnie Riperton. The song is produced by Stevie Wonder 1977 - An Elvis Presley concert in Baton Rouge, LA, was postponed after Elvis did not return from the intermission. 1979 - 'Greatest Hits Vol 2' by Barbra Streisand started a four week run at No.1 on the UK album chart, the singers first UK No.1 LP. 1982 - The Doobie Brothers, led by Michael McDonald, broke up after a farewell tour. Their 1978 "Minute by Minute" sold millions of copies. McDonald began a solo career soon after the breakup. The Doobies would stage the first of several reunions in 1987. 1983 - Michael Jackson's "Beat It" short film premiered on MTV. 1984 - The Beatles' "Can't Buy Me Love" hit #53 in the U.K. 1984 - Kenny Loggins started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Footloose', the theme from the film with the same name, a No.6 hit in the UK. 1986 - Elvis Presley's "Crying In The Chapel" was certified gold by the RIAA. 1987 - Prince's "Sign O' The Times" LP is released. 1990 - David Bowie scored his seventh UK No.1 album with 'Changes Bowie'. 1990 - Snap! had their first UK No.1 single with 'The Power'. 1992 - Two Bruce Springsteen albums go on sale -- "Human Touch" and "Lucky Town" go on sale at midnight. 1992 - "La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Vol. One," White Zombie's major label debut album, is released on Geffen Records. 1994 - Smith-Hemion Productions filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court against the Jackson 5 for misrepresenting their ability to draw a crowd and therefore breached their contract. 1994 - Madonna's appearance on "Late Show With David Letterman" caused headaches for CBS censors. The network deleted 13 offending words from the audio track before the show aired. An obviously annoyed Letterman told the singer "people don't want language like that coming into their living room." Madonna also handed Letterman a pair of her panties and told him to sniff them. He stuffed them in a desk drawer. 1995 - A former Led Zeppelin fan who calls the band's music "satanic" is arrested for allegedly trying to stab guitarist Jimmy Page backstage with a pocket knife at a Page and Robert Plant concert in the Detroit area. 1998 - An all-star tibute to Fleetwood Mac's classic album "Rumours" is released. The LP, "Legacy" is produced by Mick Fleetwood and features a different artist performing each of the 11 tracks. Included on the album is Elton John's version of "Don't Stop," Shawn Colvin's version of "The Chain" and Jewel doing "You Make Lovin' Fun." 1998 - Available for the first time on video, "Good Times," the only movie starring Sonny & Cher, hits stores. The video includes an unreleased version of "I Got You Babe." The 1967 film was directed by William Friedkin ("The Exorcist") and scored by the late Sonny Bono. 1998 - The first Celebration of Female Artists Awards take place at London's Grosvenor House with performers Shola Ama, SWV, Gala, and Terry Ellis. Nominees for the awards include Bjork, All Saints, Kylie Minogue, Ultra Nate, Rosie Gaines, Texas, No Doubt, Missy Elliot, and Eternal. 1999 - It is announced that tickets for the Cranberries' forthcoming U.S. tour are to be sold exclusively on the Internet. Tickets for the nine-date U.S. tour, which begins April 28 in Washington, D.C., are to be available only through the band's Web site, www.cranberries.com. 2000 - At the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Riders in the Sky present their 21st annual benefit concert to aid Hospital Hospitality House, which offers a home away from home for family members of critically ill patients and outpatients receiving medical treatment in Nashville area hospitals. 2000 - Santana earns his second #1 single with "Maria, Maria" from his Supernatural album. 2002 - Bee Gee Barry Gibb bought his childhood home in Keppel Road, Chorlton, Manchester. Gibb said he was going to clean the house up, rent it out and put a plaque on the wall. 2002 - Celine Dion started a four week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'A New Day Has Come'. Famous birthdays 1921 - Blues guitarist Lowell Fulson is born in an Indian Territory called Choctaw Strip near Tulsa, OK. 1928 - Country singer Lefty Frizzell was born in Corsicana, Texas. He was a honky-tonk performer who molded his style on that of Jimmie Rodgers, the legendary country artist of the 1930's. In 1950, Frizzell's recording of "If You've Got the Money, I've Got the Time" remained on the country charts for 20 weeks. The following year, he hit the top of the charts twice with "I Want to Be With You Always" and "Always Late." Frizzell had many hits throughout the '50s and '60s, topping the country chart again in 1964 with "Saginaw, Michigan." Lefty Frizzell died of a stroke in Nashville on July 19th, 1975. 1934 - "Partridge Family" mom Shirley Jones is born. 1934 - Country singer/songwriter John D. Loudermilk. 1935 - Trumpeter Herb Alpert, who rose to fame in the mid-1960s with his Tijuana Brass, is born in Los Angeles. Alpert has sold more records than any other instrumental artist in history. As well, he had a significant impact on the business end of the music industry as co-founder of A&M Records with Jerry Moss. 1946 - Al Nichol, lead guitarist for the Turtles. 1947 - Al Goodman of the '70s soul group the Moments. 1948 - Mick Ralphs, guitar player with Mott the Hoople and Bad Company, is born. 1948 - Thijs Van Leer, singer/keyboardist of the '70s Dutch progressive rock band Focus. 1950 - Richard Hughes drummer for Johnny Winter. 1954 - Tony Brock, drummer with the late '70s rock band the Babys. 1954 - Greg Martin of the country band the Kentucky Headhunters. 1959 - AC/DC guitarist Angus Young is born. Famous deaths 1985 - Jeanine Dekers, the former Singing Nun, and her female companion committed suicide in Wavre, Belgium. Dekers was 52. In 1962, when she was Sister Luc-Gabrielle, she and four other sisters recorded some songs for use at their convent. When executives of Philips Records heard the songs, they liked them so much they released them on an album. A single, "Dominique," was also put out, and both the single and the album by the Singing Nun topped the Billboard charts simultaneously in 1963, the first time an artist achieved such a feat. The Singing Nun left her convent in 1966. 1986 - O'Kelly Isley of the Isley Brothers died of a heart attack at the age of 48. The trio began as a gospel group in the early 1950s, turning to r'n'b in the latter half of the decade. The Isley Brothers' first hit was "Shout" in 1959, followed in 1962 by the original "Twist and Shout," later revived by the Beatles. The Isley Brothers' biggest hit came in 1969, with the million-selling "It's Your Thing." 1993 - Mitchell Parish, who wrote the words to Hoagy Carmichael's "Star Dust," died in New York at age 92. Parish added the lyrics to "Star Dust" in 1929, two years after Carmichael wrote the music. It became the most-recorded song of all-time, including hit versions by Artie Shaw and Willie Nelson. Among the other standards for which Parish wrote the words were "Deep Purple," "Moonlight Serenade" and "Sophisticated Lady." 1995 - Tejano (teh-HAHN'-noh) music star Selena was shot to death at a motel in Corpus Christi, Texas, by a former president of her fan club, Yolanda Saldivar. Saldivar had allegedly embezzled money from a boutique she ran for the singer, and the two had arranged to meet to discuss the matter. Saldivar was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. Selena, whose full name was Selena Quintanilla Perez, was only 23 when she died, but already had begun to expand the popularity of Tejano beyond its core audience in Texas. Tejano, sung in both Spanish and English, mixes the sound of the accordion and 12-string guitar, and developed in southern Texas in the early 1900s. Almost four months after Selena's death, her album "Dreaming of You" debuted at number one on the Billboard chart. 1995 - Carl Story, known as the father of bluegrass gospel, died in Greer, South Carolina, at age 78. He was among the first to merge the traditional rural sound of bluegrass with church music. Story recorded about 65 gospel albums, most of them for the Nashville-based Starday label. Among his best known songs was "Light at the River." |
On April 1 in music history ..
1955 - Elvis Presley's fourth single, a cover of Arthur Gunter's "Baby, Let's Play House." backed with "I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone," is released. Later in the month Presley with Bill Black and Scotty Moore head off to New York to audition for "Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts," as has Pat Boone. Presley is rejected and Boone will win first place. 1956 - Today in Blues History - Little Willie John recorded the original version of "Fever" for King Records. The song would eventually become a big hit for Peggy Lee. 1956 - Elvis Presley filmed his first Hollywood screen test for Hal Wallis. 1957 - Cadence Records releases the Everly Brothers' "Bye Bye Love," a song rejected by 30 labels before Cadence picked it up. It will will go to #2 on the pop chart and #1 on the Country & Western chart. 1959 - Elvis Presley rented a piano while in Germany. 1960 - In Miami's Fountainbleu Hotel, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Elvis Presley, Dean Martin and Mitch Miller tape Sinatra's Timex Special for ABC-TV. 1961 - The Beatles began a 92 night stop in Hamburg, West Germany, at the Top Ten club. 1964 - John Lennon was reunited with his father, Fred Lennon, after 17 years. 1966 - Britain's Pye Records releases David Bowie's first solo single: "Do Anything You Say" backed with "Good Morning Girl." Bowie has previously recorded as David Jones and the Lower Third. 1968 - **** Clark appears at an outdoor San Francisco concert by the Siegel Schwall Band to promote his new hippie film, "Psyche-Out." The movie stars Jack Nicholson and Dean Stockwell. 1969 - Ambrose Slade (Slade) made their live debut at Walsall Town Hall, Walsall. 1969 - The Beach Boys announce they are suing their record label, Capitol, for $2,041,446.64 in royalties and producer's fees for Brian Wilson. The band also announces it's starting its own label, Brothers Records, which will be distributed by Warner/Reprise. 1969 - The three-day Atlantic City Pop Festival opens in, where else, Atlantic City, New Jersey. Among the performers: Jefferson Airplane, CCR, Little Richard and Joe Cocker. 1970 - 50 musicians recorded the Orchestral scores for 'The Long And Winding Road' and 'Across The universe' for the Phil Spector produced Beatles sessions, the bill for the 50 musicians was £1,126 and 5 shillings. 1970 - Earls Court, London received over one million postal ticket applications for The Rolling Stones forthcoming six concerts. 1970 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono announced that they were going to have dual sex-change operations. 1970 - Ringo Starr layed down the drum tracks for the overhauled "Let It Be" sessions. 1971 - Six months after his death, Jimi Hendrix's "The Cry of Love" goes gold. It is the last LP on which the guitarist was a willing participant and some say it might have gone higher than #3 had it not been for an LP by another deceased rock star, "Pearl," by Janis Joplin. 1972 - The three-day Mar y Sol (sea and sun) festival opens in Vega, Baja attracting 30,000 people. Such acts set to perform include, Black Sabbath, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, the J. Geils Band and the Allman Brothers. The festival goes on despite efforts by Puerto Rico's Secretary of Health to prevent it. The secretary fears there will be a plague of drug abuse. 1973 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono announced that they were creating a new country called Nutopia. The country would have no laws, no boundaries and the the national anthem was silence. 1975 - The Bay City Rollers own TV series 'Shang-A-Lang' premiered on ITV in the UK. 1976 - The Buzcocks played their debut live gig when the appeared at Bolton Institute Of Technology. The power was turned off after three numbers. 1976 - Paul McCartney and Wings' "Silly Love Songs" is released from the "Wings at the Speed of Sound" album. The album comes out just prior to the group's first U.S. tour -- "Wings Over America." 1976 - Jimmy Buffett's "Margaritaville" is released. 1977 - Elvis Presley was admitted to a Memphis hospital due to fatigue and intestinal flu. He stayed in the hospital for six days. 1978 - Appearing live Elvis Costello and The Attractions at The Bracknell Sports Centre, Berkshire. 1978 - Paul Simon and Peter Frampton go to Philadelphia to see the Philadelphia Fury -- the North American Soccer League team of which they and Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman own parts -- open its season against the Washington Diplomats. 1978 - Blondie's "Denis" a remake of Randy and the Rainbows' 1963 hits "Denise," tops the New Musical Express British pop chart. 1979 - The Who's "The Kids Are Alright" LP is released. 1980 - John Lennon's "Woman," from "Double Fantasy," turns gold. The 45 is the third Top Ten hit from the LP. 1981 - The album "The Million Dollar Quartet" was released for the first time on Sun in the U.K. 1985 - The "We Are the World" album was released. 1985 - Tom Bailey singer with The Thompson Twins collapsed from exhaustion while staying at The Holiday Inn, Chelsea. He was flown to Paris to see his private doctor. 1985 - David Lee Roth leaves Van Halen to pursue a solo career. 1989 - Madonna scored her third UK No.1 album with 'Like A Prayer'. 1989 - The Bangles went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Eternal Flame', also a No.1 in the UK. 1990 - Willie Nelson's tour bus crashed into a car in Riverdale, Canada, killing the car driver. 1992 - Billy Idol pleaded no contest to punching a woman in the face. He was fined and told to make public service announcements against alcohol and drug use. 1993 - Michael Jackson tried to buy the remains of Elvis' twin brother, Jesse. 2000 - Santana went to No.1 on the US singles chart with', Maria Maria'. 2001 - Crazytown went back to No.1 on the US singles chart for two weeks with 'Butterfly'. 2001 - TV's 'Popstars' winners Hear'say started a two week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with their debut album 'Popstars'. Famous birthdays 1939 - Singer Rudolph Isley of The Isley Brothers is born. 1946 - Ronnie Lane, bass player with Small Faces, is born. 1954 - The late Toto drummer Jeff Porcaro is born. Famous deaths 1984 - Marvin Gaye is killed by a gunshot wound in Los Angeles in an argument with his father. He was 44 years old. Gaye's father received probation after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter. |
On April 2 in music history ..
1739 - Handel's "The Cuckoo and the Nightingale" was performed for the first time. 1800 - Beethoven's "Opus 21: Symphony No. 1 in C major" was first performed for Baron von Swieten. 1872 - Renowned Canadian soprano Emma Albani made her London debut singing the role of "Amina" in "La Sonambula." She was one of the most sought-after singers of her time and became the first Canadian-born artist to achieve international fame. 1936 - Today in Blues History - Bumble Bee Slim (Amos Easton) recorded "New Policy Dream" and "Back In Jail Again", accompanied by pianist Myrtle Jenkins, for Vocalion Records in Chicago. 1942 - Glenn Miller and his orchestra recorded "American Patrol." 1957 - Elvis Presley played two concerts before 23,000 people at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. Presley performed outside the US only four times in his career - the two concerts in Toronto, one the next night in Ottawa and a later performance in Vancouver. The 15,000 fans who attended the second Toronto show was the largest audience the 22-year-old Elvis had faced. But before Presley came on, people had to sit through an hour of warmup acts, including an Irish tenor, a rock 'n' roll tap dancer and a comedian who did an imitation of a woman taking off a girdle. 1958 - Veteran disc jockeys Gene Norman and **** Haynes quit KLAC, Los Angeles in protest over the format. Norman comments, "It would be inconceivable for me to desert my fifteen year standards by resorting to a Top Forty format." 1960 - The National Association of Record Merchants presents its first annual awards in Las Vegas. Elvis Presley is named best-selling male artist and Connie Francis is the best-selling female artist. 1960 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Theme from `A Summer Place,' " Percy Faith. The song is the most successful instrumental single of the rock era, staying at No. 1 for nine weeks. Billboard also ranks the song the top single of 1960. 1961 - Paul Revere and the Raiders make their national pop chart debut with "Like Long Hair," a curious song for a group that will later, in the mid 60's, become known for their Revolutionary War-era ponytails. 1962 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Johnny Angel," Shelley Fabares. Fabares performs the song on "The Donna Reed Show," in which she plays Mary Stone. 1963 - "Best Foot Forward" with Liza Minnelli opened in New York City. 1964 - The Beach Boys recorded "I Get Around." 1965 - Freddie & the Dreamers recorded "Do The Freddie." 1966 - A charity concert at The Hollywood Bowl featuring, Jan & Dean, Sonny & Cher, The Mamas And The Papas, The Turtles, Otis Redding, Donovan and Bob Lind. 1967 - Steve Winwood left the Spencer Davis Group to form Traffic. 1967 - The Beatles finished recording the album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." 1967 - 154 Austrian Rolling Stones fans were arrested when a riot broke out at a 14,000 seated Town Hall gig, a smoke bomb was thrown on the stage. 1970 - The London Magistrate's Court hears arguments on John Lennon's indecency summons for his exhibition of erotic lithographs in January. 1970 - Donovan's "A Gift from a Flower to a Garden" and Bobby Sherman's "Easy Come, Easy Go" both go gold. 1971 - Ringo Starr releases his solo hit, "It Don't Come Easy." It would become his first top-10 hit. 1972 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono hold a news conference in New York to discuss their appeal of the Immigration Department's decision to deport John. 1977 - Elvis Presley's single "Moody Blue" hit #6 in the U.K. 1977 - Stevie Wonder's tribute song to Duke Ellington, "Sir Duke" is released. The song was from the hugely successful LP, "Songs In The Key Of Life" and would eventually top the chart for 3 weeks. 1977 - Abba had their fifth UK No.1 single with 'Knowing Me Knowing You'. 1977 - Fleetwood Mac went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Rumours'. 1977 - Frank Sinatra scored his first ever UK No.1 album with 'Portrait Of Sinatra', his 46th album release. 1980 - Anne Murray won four Juno Awards, including best single for "I Just Fall in Love Again." Show host Burton Cummings was named top male vocalist. 1983 - Pink Floyd scored their third UK No.1 album with 'The Final Cut'. 1987 - Canadian country rocker K.D. Lang made her Los Angeles debut at The Roxy nightclub. Among the audience of 1,200 people were reviewers for the major newspapers and record industry executives. Lang's appearance came as her "Angel With a Lariat" was beginning its climb up the Billboard country chart. 1990 - Eric Clapton was fined £300 with £10 costs by Walton-on-Thames Magistrates court, after being booked for speeding at 105 mph, Clapton was also banned from driving for three months. 1990 - Lou Gramm departed as lead singer of Foreigner. Gramm had already begun a solo career several years earlier, scoring a top-five hit in 1987 with "Midnight Blue." Foreigner's head man, guitarist Mick Jones, said Gramm's solo efforts conflicted with his band commitments. 1991 - L.L. Cool J. Gave a pair of sneakers to every student and teacher at The Thompson Middle School in Dorchester, Ma, to celebrate them winning the 'foot locker cool school video' contest. 1994 - Ace Of Base went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'The Sign'. 1996 - A revival of the 1970's musical "Elvis" opened in London. Timothy Whitnall played the 1960's Elvis and P.J. Proby played Elvis in the later years. 1997 - Singer Joni Mitchell is reunited with Kilauren Gibb, the daughter she gave up for adoption 32 years earlier. 1999 - The European festival season kicks off with the start of a two-day event at the former Spanish Formula 1 racing circuit in the southern sherry-producing city of Jerez de la Frontera. More than 20,000 fans attend the 11th Festival Esparrago Rock, one of Spain's biggest summer outdoor events. 1999 - When Trisha Yearwood makes a visit to Sesame Street, the Country Music Association female vocalist of the year gets to rub shoulders with a major childhood influence. "As a child," she explains, "Grover was my hero. To finally get to meet my childhood hero and have an opportunity to perform with him is something I will never forget." 1999 - The Black Crowes play a concert in Knoxville, Tennesee. Joshua Harmon, a teenager sitting in the second row, files suit against the band, their promoter, the theatre and the sound company a year later for $385,000 claiming significant hearing loss. 2000 - Westlife went to No. 1 on the UK singles chart with 'Fool Again'. It made the Irish group the first in chart history to debut at No. 1 with their first five releases. 2001 - Janet Jackson's single "All For You" was released. 2001 - Mariah Carey signed the richest recording deal in history. The 31 year old singer signed a deal with Virgin for three albums worth £60m. 2002 - Lee Anderson Minnelli sued her stepdaughter Liza Minnelli for elder abuse and breach of contract. The claim was filed based on the will of Vincente Minnelli. Famous birthdays 1928 - French pop singer Serge Gainsbourg. 1939 - Motown hitmaker Marvin Gaye was born in Washington, DC. "Stubborn Kind of Fellow" was his first hit, in 1962. He's best remembered for his 1969 chart-topper "I Heard It Through the Grapevine." Gaye also recorded a number of duets with Mary Wells, Tammi Terrell and Kim Weston. And in 1971, he produced a landmark in black music - the album "What's Going On." Marvin Gaye was shot to death by his father during a domestic dispute in 1984. 1941 - Leon Russell is born. Leon has had a widely varied career as an artist, a song-writer, a record-label owner, a producer, and an in-demand session sideman. As part of Phil Spector's 'Wall of Sound' wrecking crew, Russell played on hits by the Chrystals. He also played on Herb Albert's 'A Taste of Honey', and the Byrd's 'Mr. Tambourine Man' and played and arranged tracks for Gary Lewis & the Playboys, Russell also toured with Delaney & Bonnie and briefly with Paul Revere & the Raiders when Revere was drafted. Russell organized Joe Cocker's 'Mad Dogs & Englishmen' tour, which led him to tours with Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, and the Rolling Stones, and a performance at George Harrison's Concert for Bangladesh. 1942 - Phil Castrodale (Reflections) 1943 - Jazz guitarist Larry Coryell. 1943 - Glen Dale (Fortunes) 1946 - Kurt Winter (Guess Who) 1947 - Country singer Emmylou Harris was born in Birmingham, Alabama. She first hit the country charts in 1975 with a remake of the Louvin Brothers "If I Could Only Win Your Love," which went all the way to number one. Her other number-one country songs include "Together Again" and "Sweet Dreams," both from 1976. Although her early albums contained a mixture of country, ballads and rock, Harris has never been able to register a significant pop hit. In 1979, she began concentrating on pure country material, much of it produced by her husband, Brian Ahern. Harris was part of the hit "Trio" album with Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt in 1987. 1948 - Kerry Minnear, keyboard player with the '70s progressive rock band Gentle Giant. 1952 - Leon Wilkerson (Lynyrd Skynyrd) 1953 - David Robinson(Modern Lovers/Cars) 1956 - Gregory Abbott 1959 - Chris Steffler of the Canadian rock group Platinum Blonde. 1961 - Karen Woodward of Bananarama. 1962 - Country singer Billy Dean. Famous deaths 1987 - Legendary jazz drummer Buddy Rich died in Los Angeles of a heart attack at age 69. Two weeks earlier, he had undergone surgery for a brain tumor. Rich played with many big bands in the 1930s and '40s, including those of Artie Shaw and Tommy Dorsey. After the Second World War, he started his own band with financial help from Frank Sinatra. Rich also toured with Norman Granz's Jazz at the Philharmonic, then gave up his own band to join trumpeter Harry James. With James, he earned $2,500 a week, the highest salary paid to a sideman at the time.Rich formed another big band, consisting mainly of young musicians, in the 1960s. That band toured widely for two decades, playing a mixture of jazz and rock tunes that made it a favorite on college campuses. 1992 - Paula Kelly, the former lead singer of the Modernaires, died in Costa Mesa, California at age 72. The vocal group was featured on many Glenn Miller recordings, including the 1941 million-seller "Chattanooga Choo Choo." Kelly also performed with the Al Donohue Orchestra, and sang on the band's 1939 number-one hit, "Jeepers Creepers." 1995 - Julius Hemphill, an influential saxophonist and composer who helped found the World Saxophone Quartet, died in New York of complications from diabetes. He was 57. In 1972, Hemphill recorded two albums, "Dogon AD" and "'Coon Bid'ness," which were major influences in jazz and so-called new music. He formed the World Saxophone Quartet in 1976 with David Murray, Hamiet Bluiett and Oliver Lake. 1996 - Singer and guitarist, Guitar Gabriel (Robert Lewis Jones) dies at the age of 71. 1998 - Rob Pilatus, half of the dreadlocked pop act Milli Vanilli, is found dead in a Frankfurt, Germany, hotel room. According to Germany's Bild am Sonntag newspaper, Pilatus is alone and consuming alcohol and pills when he dies. |
On April 4 in music history ..
1960 - Billboard reports RCA Victor Records will release all pop singles at the same time in mono and stereo, the first record company to do so. Elvis Presley's first post-army single, "Stuck on You," is RCA's first mono-stereo release 1963 - Beatles recording sessions-BBC Paris Studio, London. 11.00am-2.00pm. Recording for BBC's `Side By Side': `Side By Side'; `Too Much Monkey Business'; `Love Me Do'; `Boys'; `I'll Be On My Way'; `From Me To You'. 1963 - Billy J. Kramer records `I'll Be On My Way' at EMI Studios. 1964 - Motown singer Mary Wells' biggest hit, "My Guy," enters the Hot 100. The song was written and produced for Wells by Smokey Robinson and will stay on the chart for 15 weeks and makes it to Number One for two weeks. 1964 - The Beatles hold the top five positions on Billboards's Hot 100 with, in order from Number One to #5, "Can't Buy Me Love," "Twist and Shout," "She Loves You," "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and "Please Please Me." 1964 - Billboard reports "just about everyone is tired of Beatles. Disc jockeys are tired of playing the hit group, the writers of trade and consumer publications are tired of writing about them and the manufacturers of products other than Beatles records are tired of hearing about them. Everyone's tired of the Beatles -- except the listening and buying public." 1964 - Beechwood Music, a subsidiary of Capitol records, wins copyright and royalties on the song "Surfin' Bird" by the Trashmen on Garrett Records. The copyright court had earlier found that "Surfin' Bird" was copied from the Beechwood sings "Papa Oom Mow Mow" and "The Bird is the Word" by the Rivingtons 1967 - Beatles recording sessions - Paul flies from San Francisco to Denver.Studio 2 (control room only). 7.00pm-12.45am. Mono mixing: `Within You Without You' (remixes 6-11 from `Part 1' of take 2, remix 12 from `Parts 2, 3' of take 2). Editing: `Within You Without You' (of mono remixes 10-12, with overdub). Stereo mixing: `Within You Without You' (remixes 1-3 from `Part 1' of take 2, remixes 4, 5 of `Parts 2, 3' of take 2). Editing: `Within You Without You' (of stereo remixes 3, 5 with overdub). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick; 2nd Engineer: Richard Lush. Recording of laughters for `Within You Without You'. 1977 - British CBS releases the Clash's self-titled first album, a 14 song which contains such punk battlecrys as "White Riot," "Police and Thieves" and "London's Burning." CBS in the U.S. refuses to release it until 1979 and even then will get rid of the more virulent songs. Meantime, Americans will buy 100,000 imported copies of "The Clash," making it one of the biggest-selling import records of all time. 1990 - Singer Gloria Estefan returned to Miami after undergoing back surgery two weeks before. She had been severly injured when her tour bus had an accident 1996 - Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir and Jerry Garcia's widow, Deborah, scatter part of Garcia's ashes in the Ganges River in India 1981 - Bucks Fizz won the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Making Your Mind Up'. The group had been specially formed to enter the contest. 1987 - Starship, the group formed by ex-members of Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship, scored their third US No.1 single when 'Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now', from the film Mannequin reached the summit, in the wake of 'We Built This City' and 'Sara'. 1987 - U2 entered he US album chart a No..7 with The Joshua Tree, this was the highest new entry in that chart since 1960. 1970 - As half-dozen teenage girls faint and several other youths sustain cuts in a stampede which occurs prior to a Jethro Tull concert. An estimated 2,500 young persons press into the lobby of Long Island's Nassau Coliseum to purchase tickets, resulting in the summoning of 100 police, as well as a box-office window being smashed. Famous birthdays 1915 - Muddy Waters 1932 - South African folksinger Miriam Makeba. 1936 - Eric Allan Dale, trombonist with the mid-'60s British pop band the Foundations. 1939 - Singer-actress Barbara McNair 1941 - Major Lance 1942 - Christophe Franke (Tangerine Dream) 1944 - R'n'B singer and songwriter Bobby Womack was born in Cleveland. His first taste of fame was with a group called the Valentinos, who had r'n'b hits in the early 1960's with "It's All Over Now," later made famous by the Rolling Stones, and "Lookin' For a Love," later a major hit for the J. Geils Band. Womack wrote two of Wilson Pickett's big '60s hits - "I'm a Midnight Mover" and "I'm in Love." Womack's solo career took off in the early '70s, with such hits as "That's the Way I Feel About 'Cha," "Woman's Got to Have It" and "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out. 1947 - Doug Ferguson (Camel) 1948 - Barry Oakley (Allman Brothers) 1948 - Chris Squire, bass player with the group Yes, was born in London. One of the most successful progressive rock bands of the 1970's, the group was hated by the critics and loved by the audiences. "The Yes Album," "Fragile" and "Close to the Edge" were all certified gold. Yes broke up in 1980 but reformed again in 1983. Chris Squire recorded a solo album, "Fish Out of Water," in 1975. 1948 - British rockabilly singer Shakin' Stevens, whose real name is Michael Barratt. 1949 - Canadian country singer Carroll Baker, in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. 1950 - Dicken (Mr. Big) 1951 - Steve Gatlin (Gatlin Brothers) 1951 - Rock singer Chris Rea. 1952 - Peter Haycock (Climax Blues Band/ELO Part2) 1953 - Emilio Estefan of Miami Sound Machine. 1954 - Gary Moore 1957 - Grame Kelling (Deacon Blue) 1966 - Rapper Grand Puba Maxwell, whose real name is Maxwell Dixon. 1971 - Fergal Lawler, drummer with the Irish pop band the Cranberries. Famous deaths 1986 - Howard Greenfield, Neil Sedaka's longtime songwriting partner, died at age 49. Their first successful collaboration was "Stupid Cupid," a hit for Connie Francis in 1958. Greenfield also co-wrote many of Sedaka's early hits, including "I Go Ape," "Oh! Carol" and "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do." 1992 - Rock 'n' Roll recording pioneer Al Silver died in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at age 78. Silver founded Herald and Ember Records in the mid-1950's. The labels were home to such classic recordings as "In the Still of the Night" by the Five Satins, "Get a Job" by the Silouettes and "Shake a Hand" by Faye Adams. 1996 - Minnie Pearl, the first country comedian to become world-famous, died in Nashville of complications from a stroke. She was 83. Pearl, whose real name was Sarah Cannon, spent more than 50 years on the Grand Ole Opry and 20 on the TV show "Hee-Haw." Her trademarks were a wide-brimmed straw hat with the price tag still attached and her greeting - "Howdyyyyy! I'm just so proud to be here." |
On April 5 in music history ..
1951 - Chart Toppers - If - Perry Como,Mockingbird Hill -Patti Page,Aba Daba Honeymoon - Debbie Reynolds and Carleton Carpenter,The Rhumba Boogie - Hank Snow 1958 - Johnny Mathis’ album, Johnny’s Greatest Hits, on Columbia Records, made it to the pop music charts for the first time. The LP remained on the charts for a record 490 weeks (nearly 9-1/2 years!) The record began its stay at number one (three weeks) on June 9, 1958. Mathis studied opera from age 13 and earned a track and field scholarship at San Francisco State College. He was invited to Olympic try-outs and chose a singing career instead. He was originally a jazz-style singer when Mitch Miller of Columbia switched Mathis to singing pop ballads. Johnny would chart over 60 albums in 30 years 1958 - Irvin Feld's Greatest Show of Stars opens its 80-day North American tour in Norfolk, Virginia. Headlining are Sam Cooke, the Silhouettes, Royal Teens, Everly Brothers, Jimmy Reed and Clyde McPhatter. The bill is expanded with the addition of Paul Anka, Roy Hamilton, LaVern Baker, Frankie Avalon and others. The tour is expected to gross over one million dollars 1963 - Martha and the Vandellas make their chart debut with "Come and Get These Memories." 1964 - The Searchers appear on "The Ed Sullivan Show," becoming the first British Invasion group to appear on the show after the Beatles 1966 - Timothy Leary spoke at New York’s Town Hall and compared LSD to a microscope saying that the drug “is to psychology what the microscope is to biology,” making not just a few to wonder, “What’s he smokin’?” 1970 - A New York Times article defends rock music as "the most popular of creative arts today." 1971 - As reported by the Los Angeles Times, the New School for Social Research in New York City is one of the first institutions to offer a course on rock & roll music. 1976 - At a three-day rally billed as Japan Celebrates the Whale and Dolphin in Tokyo, Jackson Browne, Richie Havens, John Sebastian and other performers help to raise $150,000 for the effort to save whales and dolphins from the nets of the international fishing industry 1980 - EMI Records announce a 28-million pound loss for the second half of 1979. The company had seen an 18-million pound profit for the same time period a year earlier. The stats show the hard times the record industry is currently experiencing 1984 - The second annual MTV Video Music Awards are broadcast. Winners include Michael Jackson for "Beat It," the Police for "Every Breath You Take" and Cyndi Lauper for "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun." 1985 - Broadcasters banded together to play the single, We Are the World, at 10:50 a.m. E.S.T. Stations in the United States were joined by hundreds of others around the world in a sign of unification for the African relief cause. Even Muzak made the song only the second vocal selection it has ever played in elevators and offices since its inception 2000 - The Doors' Ray Manzarek and Robbie Krieger play at the Whisky in Los Angeles. Manzarek reminisced about The Doors' days at the club Famous birthdays 1928 - Tony Williams (Platters) 1929 - Joe Meek 1931 - Cowboy Jack Clement 1932 - Billy Bland 1939 - '60s rock singer Tommy Tucker. 1941 - Dave Swarbrick (Fairport Convention) 1941 - David LaFlamme (It's A Beautiful Day) 1941 - Eric Burdon 1944 - Crispian St. Peters 1947 - '60s rock singer Eddie Hodges. 1948 - Rock guitarist Eddy Grant, formerly of the '60s British pop group the Equals. Had solo hits in the 80s with "Electric Avenue" and "Romancing the Stone". 1950 - Agnetha Faltskog (ABBA) 1951 - Evertt Morton (The Beat) 1954 - Stan Ridgeway 1954 - Howard Huntsberry, formerly of Klique. 1958 - Pop singer Andy Gibb, the younger brother of the Bee Gees, was born in Brisbane, Australia. His brothers often supervised his recording sessions, and Andy came up with the number-one hits "I Just Want to Be Your Everything" in 1977 and "Shadow Dancing" in '78. Andy Gibb was the host of the "Solid Gold" TV show from 1981 to mid-1982. He died on March 10th, 1988 in Oxfordshire, England of a heart condition. Famous deaths 1963 - Country singers Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas and Hawkshaw Hawkins were killed when their small plane crashed near Camden, Tennessee.The three were returning to Nashville from Kansas City, where they had participated in a benefit concert for the widow of a disc jockey. The DJ, Cactus Jack Call, had been killed in a car crash. 1981 - Canned Heat singer Bob Hite died of a heart attack aged 36.He acqired his nickname due to his bulk-his normal weight was around 300lbs. Hite and fellow blues collector Al Wilson had founded the group in 1965, and first attracted attention when they performed at the Monterey Pop Festival.The group never recovered from his death. 1983 - Danny Rapp, leader of 50's group Danny And The Juniors committed suicide. 1994 - Kurt Cobain of Nirvana committed suicide by shooting himself in the head at his home in Seattle. 1995 - Jimi Hendrix's one-time girlfriend Monika Dannerman committed suicide, two days after losing a court battle with another of the guitarist's ex-lovers. 1998 - Drummer Cozy Powell was killed when his car smashed into crash barriers on a motorway in Bristol, England. |
1994 - Kurt Cobain of Nirvana committed suicide by shooting himself in the head at his home in Seattle.
I am so sick of seeing magazine covers, TV shows about the great Cobain. Now, ten years later, all of these conspiracy theories are arising. Give me a break! He was a heroin junkie, who cared only about himself, and nobody else. His selfishness to take his own life may have ended his pain. However, he forwarded his pain onto his family and friends, and really didn't seem to care how they would feel. That is mine 2 cents! :mad: |
I'm not going to argue with you, Henry.
I've lost friends who were junkies. I've lost friends who just couldn't see any way past the problems they were having. It's sad. It's infuriating. I guess at the end of the day it amounts to a damn waste. :( But anyway. He made some music that I liked...alot. His band played a very special part in a great time my life. Take care, Kurt.  |
On April 6 in history ..
0402 - Battle at Pollentia: Roman army under Stilicho beats Visigoten 0610 - Lailat-ul Qadar, night koran descended to Earth 0774 - Charles the Great affirms Pippins promise of Quiercy 1106 - Fire in Venice 1327 - Italian poet Petrarch 1st sets eyes on his beloved Laura 1362 - Robber bastion Tard-Venus strikes at Brignais France 1516 - A Willaert installed as singer of cardinal Ippolito I d'Este 1634 - Heeren XIX asks "to secure Eylands Cura‡ao" 1652 - Cape Colony, the 1st European settlement in S Africa, established 1652 - John of Riebeeck lands/establishes VOC-post in Capetown 1663 - King Charles II signs Carolina Charter 1664 - France & Saksen sign alliance 1672 - France declares war on Netherlands 1712 - Slave revolt in NY 1722 - Peter the Great ends tax on men with beards 1724 - Duke of Newcastle becomes English minister of Foreign Affairs 1727 - Denmark signs Covenant of Hannover 1757 - English king George II fires minister William Pitt Sr 1789 - 1st US Congress begins regular sessions, Federal Hall, NYC 1815 - English militia shoots prisoners, 100's killed 1830 - Joseph Smith & 5 others organizes Mormon church in Seneca Co, NY 1841 - Cornerstone laid for 2nd Mormon temple, Nauvoo, Missouri 1848 - Jews of Prussia granted equality 1849 - Giacomo Meyerbeer's opera "Le ProphŠte," premieres in Paris 1859 - US recognizes Liberal government in M‚xico's War of Reform 1862 - Battle of Shiloh, Union defeats Confederacy in SW Tennessee 1865 - Battle of Sayler's Creek, 1/3rd of Lee's army cut off 1865 - Skirmish at High Bridge VA (Appomattox); 1/3rd of Lee's army cut off 1866 - G.A.R. forms 1868 - Brigham Young marries his 27th & final wife 1869 - 1st plastic, Celluloid, patented 1883 - Start of Sherlock Holmes "Adventure of Speckled Band" (BG) 1886 - City of Vancouver BC incorporated 1886 - Declaration of Berlin neutralizes Tonga 1889 - George Eastman places Kodak Camera on sale for 1st time 1890 - French troops under capt Archinard occupy Segu, West-Sudan 1893 - Andy Bowen & Jack Burke box 7 hrs 19 mins to no decision (111 rounds) 1893 - Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City dedicated 1896 - 1st modern Olympic games open in Athens Greece [3/25 OS] American, James Connolly, wins 1st Olympic gold medal in mod history 1900 - James J Jeffries KOs Jack Finnegan in 1 for heavyweight boxing title 1903 - General railroad strike against "worgwetten" (anti-strike laws) 1906 - 1st animated cartoon copyrighted 1909 - 1st credit union forms in US 1909 - North Pole reached by Americans Robert Peary & Matthew Henson 1912 - Electric starter 1st appeared in cars 1916 - German parliament OKs unrestricted submarine warfare 1917 - US declares war on Germany, enters World War I 1920 - French troop attacks Main/Darmstadt/Hanau 1924 - 4 planes leave Seattle on 1st successful around-the-world flight 1924 - Italy fascists receives 65% of vote of parliament 1924 - V”lkische Block (nazi's) receives 17.8% of vote in Bayern 1925 - 1st film shown on an airplane (British Air) 1926 - Stanley Cup: Montl Maroons beat Victoria Cougars (WHL), 3 games to 1 1930 - 1st transcontinental glider tow completed 1930 - Hostess Twinkies invented by bakery executive James Dewar 1931 - 1st Scottsboro (Ala) trial begins - 9 blacks accused of rape 1931 - 1st broadcast of "Little Orphan Annie" on NBC-radio 1934 - 418 Lutheran ministers arrested in Germany 1935 - H Levitt sinks 499 basketball free throws, misses & sinks 371 more 1936 - 3rd Golf Masters Championship: Horton Smith wins, shooting a 285 1936 - ANP begins telex service in Amsterdam 1936 - Tornado, kills 203 & injuring 1,800 in Gainesville Georgia 1938 - Teflon invented by Roy J Plunkett 1939 - Great Britain & Poland sign military pact 1939 - US & UK agree on joint control of Canton & Enderbury Is (Pacific) 1941 - 8th Golf Masters Championship: Craig Wood wins, shooting a 280 1941 - Begin oper Bestrafung-Germany bomb attacks Belgrade (17,000 die) 1941 - British general Gambier-Parry caught in North Africa 1941 - German bombardment on Piraeus (munitions ship explodes) 1941 - Italian held Addis Ababa surrenders to British & Ethiopian forces 1943 - British & US army link up in Africa during WW II 1943 - British offensive at Wadi Akarit, South-Tunisia 1943 - Lou Jansen, leader of illegal Dutch political party (CPN) arrested 1944 - Jewish nursery at Izieu-Ain France overrun by Nazis 1945 - Coevorden freed from nazis 1945 - Japanese giant battleship Yamato heads to Okinawa 1945 - Massive kamikaze-attack on US battle fleet near Okinawa 1945 - US marines explore Tsugen Shima near Okinawa 1947 - 11th Golf Masters Championship: Jimmy Demaret wins, shooting a 281 1947 - 1st Tony Awards: Arthur Miller, David Wayne & Patricia Neal win 1950 - John F Dulles becomes advisor to US Sect of State Acheson 1952 - 16th Golf Masters Championship: Sam Snead wins, shooting a 286 1954 - Mont Canadiens score 3 goals in 56 sec in playoff game against Det 1954 - TV Dinner was 1st put on sale by Swanson & Sons 1954 - US performs atmospheric nuclear test at Bikini Island 1955 - "3 for Tonight" opens at Plymouth Theater NYC for 85 performances 1955 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site 1955 - Yemen: failed coup by Abdullah Seif el-Islam 1956 - Polish communist Gomulka freed from prison 1957 - NYC ends trolley car service 1957 - USSR performs nuclear test (atmospheric tests) 1958 - Arnold Palmer wins 1st major golf tournament-Masters 1959 - 31st Academy Awards - "Gigi," Susan Hayward & David Niven win 1964 - Egypt & Belgium restore diplomatic relations 1965 - Intelsat 1 ("Early Bird") 1st coml geosynchronous comm satellite 1966 - Mihir Sen swims Palk Strait between Sri Lanka & India 1967 - Premier Pompidou forms new French government 1968 - 94.5% of East German voters approve new socialist constitution 1968 - Firestone World Tournament of Champions won by Dave Davis 1968 - Gunpowder stocks at a sporting-goods store explode, killing 43 (Va) 1968 - HemisFair 1968 opens in San Antonio, Texas 1972 - Egypt drops diplomatic relations with Jordan 1973 - Harbor strike in Gent/Antwerp, Belgium 1973 - Indies troops invade Sikkim 1973 - Pioneer 11 launched toward Jupiter & Saturn 1973 - Roberto Clemente Day, Pirates retire his # 1973 - US launches Pioneer 11 to Jupiter & Saturn 1973 - Yankee Ron Blomberg becomes 1st designated hitter, he walks 1974 - 200,000 attend rock concert "California Jam" 1974 - Firestone World Tournament of Champions won by Earl Anthony 11/16 1974 - Yankees 1st home game at Shea Stadium, beat Indians 6-1 1975 - "Night... Made America Famous" closes at Barrymore NYC after 75 perfs 1975 - "Rocky Horror Show" closes at Belasco Theater NYC after 45 perfs 1975 - Bundy victim Denise Oliverson disappears from Grand Junction, Colo 1975 - Fastest hat trick by a Wash Cap 3 mins 26 secs (Stan Gilbertson) 1976 - 1st quadrophonic movie track: "Ladies & Gentlemen the Rolling Stones" 1977 - Judge rules Beatles 1962 Hamburg album can be released 1977 - Kingdome opens, Seattle Mariners 1st game, loses to Angels 7-0 1978 - Karnataka beat Uttar Pradesh by inn & 193 to win Ranji Trophy 1979 - Rod Stewart & Alana Collins wed 1980 - 9th Colgate Dinah Shore Golf Championship won by Donna Caponi Young 1980 - Gordie Howe completes a record 26th season 1980 - Post It Notes, introduced 1981 - Yugoslav govt sends troops to Kosovo 1982 - Columbia returns to Kennedy Space Center from White Sands 1982 - Largest crowd ever to see a baseball game in Minn 52,279 1983 - Caps 2-Isles 5-Patrick Div Semifinals- Isles hold 1-0 lead 1984 - 11th Space Shuttle Mission (41-C)-Challenger 5 is launched 1984 - 1st time 11 people in space 1985 - Atlantis (OV-104) rollout at Palmdale 1985 - Bombay beat Delhi by 90 runs to win the Ranji Trophy final 1985 - Sudan suspends constitution after coup under general Swarreddahab 1985 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site 1986 - 15th Nabisco Dinah Shore Golf Championship won by Pat Bradley 1986 - Soccer ball juggled non-stop for 14:14 hrs 1987 - 22nd Academy of Country Music Awards: Randy Travis & Hank Williams Jr 1987 - Sugar Ray Leonard upsets Marvelous Marvin Hagler 1987 - Al Campanis appears on Niteline saying blacks may not be equiped to be in baseball management, sparking a racial controversy 1988 - Black pole explorer M Henson buried next to R Peary in Arlington 1988 - NJ Devils' 1st playoff game; lose to Isles 4-3 (OT) in 1st round 1989 - Orel Hershiser ends his record 59 consecutive scoreless streak 1991 - Former child actor Adam Rich arrested for breaking into a pharmacy 1991 - NY-NJ Knights 1st home game (Giant Stad) lose to Frankfurt 27-17 1991 - Subhana, becomes 1st Australian woman to become a Zen teacher 1991 - Argentine soocer star Diego Maradona suspended for 15 month by Italian League for testing positive for cocaine use 1992 - 1st game at Camden Field, Balt-Orioles beat Indians 2-0 1992 - 54th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Duke beats Michigan 71-51 1992 - Britain Radio Authority licenses Virgin & TV-AM radio licenses 1992 - Microsoft announced Windows 3.1, upgrading Windows 3.0 1992 - Oriole Park at Camden Yards opens, beating Cleveland 2-0 1992 - Serbian troops begin siege of Sarajevo 1992 - US Supreme Court rules a Nebraska farmer was entrapped by postal agents into buying mail-order child pornography 1992 - Voting begins on choice of Elvis postage stamps 1993 - 1st test flight of Ilyushin IL-96M (Moscow) 1993 - Florida Marlins 1st lost ever (4-2 to LA Dodgers) 1994 - 1st scheduled Indians night game at Jacobs Field is rained out 1994 - Chuck Jones found guilty of breaking into Marla Maples home 1994 - Liberal Supreme Court Justice Blackmun (Roe v Wade) resigns 1994 - Palestinian suicide bomber kills 7 Israelis & himself 1994 - Rockwell B-1B Lancers break 11 world speed records 1995 - "Having Our Say" opens at Booth Theater NYC for 308 performances 1996 - Albert Belle shows off his arm by hitting Sports Illustrated photographer Tony Tomsic in the hand prior to a game 1997 - "3 Sisters" closes at Criterion Theater NYC 1997 - 9th Seniors Golf Tradition: Gil Morgan wins 1997 - Annika Sorenstam wins LPGA Longs Drugs Challenge 1997 - Brad Faxon wins Freeport-McDermott Golf Classic 1997 - Progress M-34 Launch (Russia) 1997 - Twelve Bridges LPGA Classic Famous birthdays 1483 - Raphael Sanzio, Italian painter/master builder (Madonna Sistina) 1631 - Vincenzo De Grandis, composer 1660 - Johann Kuhnau, composer 1671 - Jean-Baptiste Rousseau, French playwright/poet (Sacred Odes & Songs) 1672 - Andre Cardinal Destouches, composer 1708 - George Reuter, composer 1741 - S‚bastien-Roch-Nicolas Chamfort, French playwright (Maximes) 1752 - Johann Friedrich Kranz, composer 1757 - Alessandro Rolla, composer 1773 - James Mill, Scotland, philosopher/historian (Hist of British India) 1778 - Joseph Funk, composer 1806 - Elizabeth Barrett-Browning, poet 1810 - Philip Gosse, intentor of institutional aquarium, writer (Omphalos) 1812 - Aaron Bernstein, writer 1812 - Gavril Yakimovich Lomakin, composer 1815 - Friedrich Robert Volkmann, composer 1818 - Francis Henry Brown, composer 1819 - Johann A H Scheler, Belgian librarian 1823 - Joseph Medill, St John NB Canada, newspaper editor (Chicago Tribune) 1826 - Gustave Moreau, French painter 1828 - Charles William Field, Major General (Confederate Army), died in 1892 1830 - James Augustine Healy, Macon Ga, 1st black Roman Catholic bishop 1833 - Johan H C Kern, Dutch linguist (Sanskrit, Old Javan) 1835 - Jose Marraco y Ferrer, composer 1844 - Joseph Ludwig, composer 1860 - Ren‚ Lalique, French jewel designer 1866 - Butch Cassidy, [Robert Parker], US desperado (Wild Bunch Passage) 1866 - Joseph Lincoln Steffens, muckraker/journalist (Shame of the Cities) 1869 - Louis Raemakers, Dutch draftsman/painter 1871 - Alexander, grandson of England's Queen Victoria 1874 - Harry Houdini, [Erich Weiss], Hungary, famous magician/escape artist 1878 - Carl Emil Theodor Ehrenberg, composer 1878 - Erich Mhsam, writer 1883 - Mien Labberton, Dutch poetress 1884 - Walter Huston, Tor, actor (Maltese Falcon, Treasure of Sierra Madre) 1885 - Carlos Leon Salzedo, composer 1888 - Daniel Andersson, Swedish poet/writer (Svarta Ballader) 1889 - Barry Macollum, Northern Ireland 1889 - Gabriela Mistral, writer 1890 - Andr‚ L Danjon, French astronomer 1890 - Anthony Herman Gerard Fokker, Holland, aircraft pioneer (Spider) 1892 - Donald Wills Douglas, US, aircraft pioneer (McConnell Douglas) 1892 - Lowell Thomas, Woodington Ohio, newscaster (High Adventure) 1892 - Mateusz Glinski, composer 1896 - Juan Tomas Perez, composer 1898 - Bobby Gilbert, PA 1900 - Andres Sas, composer 1900 - Leo Robin, US writer (Thanks For the Memory) 1901 - Willem Pelemans, Flemish composer/music reviewer 1902 - Gertrude Short, Cincinnati OH, actress (Stella Dallas, Blonde Venus) 1903 - Harold Edgerton, foremost high-speed photographer 1903 - Mickey Cochrane, baseball hall of fame catcher (.320 avg) 1904 - Kurt G Kiesinger, German chancellor (Wherever They May Be) 1906 - John Betjeman, English Poet Laureate 1972-1984 (Mount Zion) 1908 - Vano Il'ich Muradeli, composer 1910 - Desmond Dreyer, British admiral 1911 - Phyllis Margaret Duncan Tate, composer 1912 - Endre Szekely, composer 1912 - Wilhelmus H L "Willem" Tollenaar, actor/director (Don Carlos) 1914 - George Reeves, Ashland Ky, actor (Superman, Gone With the Wind) 1917 - Julian Faber, CEO (Willis Faber) 1917 - Shakey, [Walter Horton], Miss, harmonicist (Everybody's Fishin') 1918 - Joan Bernard, Principal (Trevelyan College, Durham) 1918 - Karen Verne, Berlin Germany, actress (Madame X) 1920 - Bernard Carter, British painter/etcher 1921 - Andrew Welsh Imbrie, composer 1921 - Franta Belsky, British sculptor 1921 - Lord Moore of Wolvercote 1922 - Barry Levinson, director (Rain Man) 1925 - Arthur D Larsen, tennis champ (US Open-1950) 1925 - John Knox, British supreme court justice 1925 - Marcus Worsley, Lord-Lieutenant of North Yorkshire 1926 - Ian Paisley, North Ireland, clergyman/MP 1927 - David Ingram, Vice-Chancellor (University of Kent at Canterbury) 1927 - Gerry Mulligan, British saxophonist/orch leader (Jazz on a Summer Day) 1928 - James Dewey Watson, chemist (co-discovered structure of DNA) 1928 - Joi Lansing, Salt Lake City Utah, actress (Bob Cummings Show) 1929 - "Crazy" Joe Gallo, mobster 1929 - Andr‚ Previn, Berlin Germany, conductor (London Symphony)/pianist 1929 - Arthur S Taylor Jr, US drummer/band leader (Taylor's Wailers) 1929 - Edison Vasalievich Denisov, composer 1929 - Li Yuan-chia, artist 1929 - Willis Hall, British writer 1931 - Ivan Dixon, NYC, actor (Car Wash, Hogan's Heroes) 1931 - Joan Carlyle, British soprano 1933 - Dudley Sutton, British actor (Leather Boys, Brimstone & Treacle) 1934 - Antonius Geesink, Holland, judo (Olympic-gold-1964) 1934 - Reijo Jyrkiainen, composer 1935 - Duke of Montrose 1935 - John Pepper Clark, Nigeria, writer (Horn, Song of a Goat) 1936 - Manfred Schoof, composer 1937 - Billy Dee Williams, Harlem NYC, actor (Chiefs, Empire Strikes Back) 1937 - Merle Haggard, Bakersfield Calif, country singer (Death Valley Days) 1937 - Tom Veivers, cricketer (Australian off-spinner in the 60's) 1938 - Paul Daniels, British magician 1938 - Roy Thinnes, Chicago Ill, actor (Invaders, Falcon Crest, Gen Hospital) 1940 - Anne Campbell, MP 1940 - Homero Aridjis, Mexican poet (La Tumba de Filidor) 1941 - Hans W Geissendorfer, Augsburg Germany, director (Sternsteinhof) 1942 - Phil Austin, comedian (Firesign Theater) 1943 - Harry Conroy, trade unionist 1943 - Joaquin Agostinho, Portuguese cyclist 1943 - Roger Cook, investigative journalist/broadcaster 1943 - Susan Tolsky, Houston, actress (Madame's Place, Here Comes the Brides) 1944 - Felicity Palmer, British mezzo-soprano 1944 - John Stax, rocker (Pretty Things-Don't Bring Me Down) 1944 - Michelle Phillips, rocker (Mamas & The Papas) 1945 - Bob Marley, reggae musician/singer (Whalers-No Woman) 1945 - Rodney Bickerstaffe, trade unionist 1946 - Paul Beresford, MP 1947 - Jan Kees Wiebenga, Dutch MP (VVD) 1947 - John Ratzenberger, Bridgeport Ct, actor (Cliff Clavin-Cheers) 1947 - Tony Cooner, Essex, drummer (Hot Chocolate-You Sexy Thing) 1949 - Jane Actman, NYC, actress (Barbara-Paul Lynde Show) 1949 - Mary Maples Dunn, college president (Smith College) 1950 - Dennis E Eckart, (Rep-D-OH, 1981- ) 1951 - Ralph Cooper, Australia, drummer (Air Supply-All Out of Love) 1952 - Judith McConnell, actress (Sophia Capwell-Santa Barbara) 1952 - Marilu Henner, Chicago, actress (Taxi, Man Who Loved Women, Eve Shade) 1952 - Udo Dirkshneider, heavy metal rocker (Accept-Balls to the Wall, Udo) 1953 - Janet Lynn, ice skater (Olympics-bronze-1972) 1954 - Judi Bowker, Shawford England, actress (Clash of the Titans) 1956 - Dilip Vengsarkar, cricketer (prolific Indian batsman 1976-92) 1956 - Mudassar Nazar, cricketer (son of Nazar Mohammad Pakistani bat) 1957 - Maurizio Damilano, Italian speed walker (30K World Record) 1959 - Dianne Brill, Tampa, fashion designer/party girl (Queen of the Night) 1961 - Mike Schuchart, Omaha NE, Nike golfer (1994 NIKE Tour Championship) 1961 - Rory Bremner, impressionist 1962 - Stan Cullimore, bassist (Housemartins-Happy Hour, Over There) 1963 - Lorenzo Lynch, NFL safety (Az Cardinals, Oakland Raiders) 1964 - Bill Brooks, NFL wide receiver (Buffalo Bills) 1964 - Johnny Dee, heavy metal drummer (Britny Fox-Boys in Heat, King Kobra) 1965 - Gerald Diduck, Edmonton, NHL defenseman (Hartford Whalers) 1965 - Rica Reinisch, German DR, 100m/200m backstroke (Olympic-gold-1980) 1965 - Virginia Lee, Australian rower (Olympics-96) 1966 - Kymberly Paige, Newport Beach Ca, playmate (May, 1987) 1967 - Derrick Fenner, NFL running back (Oakland Raiders) 1968 - Chris Anderson, Australian high jumper (Olympics-96) 1969 - Andy Harmon, NFL defensive tackle (Phila Eagles) 1969 - Ari Meyers, San Juan PR, actress (Emma McArdle-Kate & Allie) 1969 - Bret Boone, El Cajon CA, infielder (Cin Reds) 1969 - Brian Williams, NBA center/forward (Detroit Pistons, LA Clippers) 1970 - Olaf Kolzig, Johannesbourg Saf, NHL goalie (Washington Capitals) 1970 - Oliver Miller, NBA forward/center (Toronto Raptors) 1971 - Anthony Redmon, guard (Arizona Cardinals) 1971 - Tamara Henry, Miss USA-Arkansas (1997) 1971 - Tom Sorensen, Racine Wisc, volleyball middle blocker (Olympics-96) 1971 - Vivian Y Herding, Albuquerque NM, Miss America-NM (1996) 1972 - Dickey Simpkins, NBA forward (SF Warriors, Chicago Bulls) 1972 - Donald Blair, CFL slot back (Edmonton Eskimos) 1972 - Hurvin McCormack, NFL defensive tackle (Dallas Cowboys) 1972 - Jason Hervey, actor (Wayne Arnold-Wonder Years) 1973 - Donnie Edwards, linebacker (KC Chiefs) 1973 - Randall Godfrey, linebacker (Dallas Cowboys) 1975 - Dannon Phillip Pampolina, rapper/drummer (Party) 1976 - Candace H Cameron Bure, actress (DJ Tanner-Full House) 1976 - Simon Coombes, Melbourne VIC Australia, swimmer (Olympics-96) 1979 - Ali Burr, Miss North Carolina Teen USA (1997) 1979 - Frederick MGDL Windsor, son of English prince Michael 1980 - Matthew Thomas Carey, actor (Once You Meet a Stranger) Famous deaths 0885 - Methodius, Greek apostle of the slaves/archbishop of Sirmium, dies 0912 - Nottker "the Stamelaar", benedictine monk/poet, dies at about 71 1199 - Richard I, the Lion-hearted, King of England (1189-99), dies at 41 1252 - Peter of Verona, [Peter Martyr], Italian inquisitor/st, dies at 45 1348 - Petrarch's Laura, dies of plague 1362 - Jacques de Bourbon, count of Marche, killed in battle 1472 - Pieter Bladelin, Belgium, land owner (Middelburg castle), dies 1489 - Hans Waldmann, Swiss military/mayor (Zurich), beheaded 1490 - Matthias Corvinus, king of Hungary, dies 1520 - Raphael [Sanzio], artist (Sistine Madonna), dies on his 37th birthday 1528 - Albrecht Drer, German painter/graphic artist, dies in Germany at 56 1551 - Joachim Vadianus, Swiss physician/mayor of Sankt Gallen, dies at 66 1590 - Francis Walsingham, English secretary of state, dies at about 57 1593 - Henry Barrow, English puritian/Congressionalist, hanged 1593 - John Greenwood, English Congressionalist, hanged 1605 - John Stow, British historian, dies 1674 - Charles de M‚an, Belgian lawyer (Observations), dies at 69 1707 - Willem Van de Velde, the Young, Dutch seascape painter, dies a 73 1779 - Tommaso MFS Traetta, Italian opera composer (Farnace), dies at 52 1782 - Rynoldus Popma van Oevering, composer, dies at 90 1805 - Lorenz Justinian Ott, composer, dies at 56 1817 - Bonaventura Furlanetto, composer, dies at 78 1822 - Franz Xaver Partsch, composer, dies at 62 1829 - Niels H Able, Norwegian mathematician (infinite series), dies at 26 1838 - Jos‚ B de Andrada e Silva, premier of Brazil (1822-23), dies at 74 1854 - William Strickland, US architect, dies 1862 - Adley Hogan Gladden, Confederate brig-general, dies in battle at 51 1862 - Albert Sidney Johnston, US Confederate general, dies in battle at 59 1865 - John Austin Wharton, US Confederate general-major, dies at 36 1865 - Reuben B Boston, US Confederate cavalery colonel, dies in battle 1884 - Emanuel Geibel, writer, dies at 68 1906 - Alexander L Kielland, Norwegian writer (Working People), dies at 57 1913 - Jose Marraco y Ferrer, composer, dies on 78th birthday 1919 - Stefan Surzynski, composer, dies at 63 1926 - Giovanni Amendola, antifascist/editor-in-chief (Il Mondo), dies at 43 1931 - Giuseppi Radiciotti, composer, dies at 73 1935 - Edward Arlington Robinson, US poet, dies 1939 - Robert Courtneidge, British theater producer, dies 1940 - Andres Isasi, composer, dies at 49 1945 - Benjamin M Telders, president (Dutch Liberal States Party), dies at 42 1947 - Vaclav Kapral, composer, dies at 58 1949 - Stanley Christopherson, cricketer (1884, MCC Pres during WWII), dies 1951 - Halfdan Cleve, composer, dies at 71 1961 - Jules J B V Bordet, Belgian bacteriologist (Nobel 1919), dies at 90 1962 - J C Heldring, Dutch businessman, dies at 74 1966 - Julia Faye, actress (10 Commandments. Samson & Delilah), dies at 73 1968 - Bobby Hutton, US Black Panther leader, shot to death 1971 - Igor F Strawinsky, Russ composer (Le Sacre du Printemps), dies at 88 1972 - Heinrich Lbke, West Germany president (1959-69), dies at 77 1974 - Willem Dudok, Dutch architect (Hilversum Town Hall), dies at 89 1975 - Chiang Kai-Shek, Nationalist Chinese leader, dies at 87 1976 - Ruth P Thomson, writer, dies 1978 - Nicolas Nabokov, composer (Holy Devil), dies at 74 1978 - Reinoud Anders, Dutch actor (Unrest of Grave), dies at 65 1979 - M Marie Widlow, softball pitcher (Hall of Fame 1957), dies at 61 1979 - Milton Ager, US composer, dies at 85 1981 - Bob "The Bear" Hite, singer (Canned Heat-Goin' up the Country), dies 1983 - Ana Maria, Salvador guerilla leader, murdered 1984 - Jimmy Kenndy, British songwriter (South of the Border), dies 1984 - Ral Donner, singer/narrator, dies at 41 1990 - Nancy Hawkes, (1946 best dress woman), dies at 73 1990 - Ronald E Evans, astronaut (Apollo 17), dies of a heart attack at 57 1991 - Bill Ponsford, cricketer (Test avg 48 22, 1st-class avg 65 18), dies 1992 - Isaac Asimov, Sci-Fi author (I Robot), dies from kidney failure at 72 1992 - Molly Picon, Yiddish actress (Milk & Honey), dies of Alzheimers at 94 1993 - Divya Bharati, "Baby Doll" Indies actress (Diwana), dies in car at 19 1993 - Hedi Amira Nouira, PM of Tunisia (1970-80), dies 1994 - Agatha Uwilingiyimana, Rwanda/1st female PM in Africa, assassinated 1994 - Cyprian Niayamira, president of Burundi (1993-94), assassinated 1994 - **** Cary, jazz musician, dies at 77 1994 - Juv‚nal Habayarimana, president of Rwanda (1973), assassinated 1994 - Patricia Louise Dalton, chair (Sherlock Holmes Society), dies at 75 1994 - Theo Bosch, humanist/architect (Amsterdam), dies at 54 1995 - Vieno J Sukselainen, PM of Finland (1959-61), dies 1996 - Greer Garson, actress (Goodbye Mr Chips), dies at 92 1997 - Jack Kent Cooke, NFL owner (Wash Redskins), dies at 84 |
On April 6 in music history ..
1925 - Eddie Cantor recorded the standard, If You Knew Susie, for Columbia Records. There was none classier 1944 - Top of the Charts was - It’s Love, Love, Love - The Guy Lombardo Orchestra (vocal: Skip Nelson), Besame Mucho - The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra (vocal: Bob Eberly & Kitty Kallen, I Love You - Bing Crosby,Too Late to Worry, Too Blue to Cry - Al Dexter 1956 - Paramount Pictures signs Elvis Presley to a three-picture deal only five days after he makes his first screen test in Hollywood 1956 - Capitol Tower, the home of Capitol Records in Hollywood, CA, was dedicated. The building was the first circular office tower designed in America. It is 13 stories tall and 92 feet in diameter. At night, a light at the tip of the tower blinks the letters "H-O-L-L-Y-W-O-O-D" in Morse Code 1957 - Elvis Presley's "All Shook Up" is released 1966 - The Beatles `Rubber Soul', 18th week in the Top 10 (UK New Musical Express chart). 1966 - Beatles recording sessions - Studio 3. 8.00pm-1.15am. Recording: `Mark I' (working title of `Tomorrow Never Knows') (takes 1-3). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick; 2nd Engineer: Phil McDonald. 1967 - Beatles recording sessions - Studio 2 (control room only). 7.00pm-1.00am. Mono mixing: Crossfades for LP; `Good Morning Good Morning' (remixes 1, 2, from take 11). Stereo mixing: `Good Morning Good Morning' (remixes 1-5, from take 11). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick; 2nd Engineer: Richard Lush 1968 - Steve Miller, on tour in England, writes an article for Billboard decrying the British rock scene as "more an industry than a scene...It's at a low, lifeless point...The only good bands I've seen are Traffic, Marmalade and Procul Harum. I've seen bands doing queer bits in their underwear to get attention." 1968 - Apple Corps Ltd., the Beatles' new record company and management and publishing firm, opens offices at 95 Wigmore Street, London 1968 - Pink Floyd announces founder Syd Barrett has officially left the group. He suffering from psychiatric disorders compounded by drug use (LSD) 1969 - Ike and Tina Turner, Procul Harum, John Mayall and others appear at the first, as last, Palm Springs Pop Festival and San Andreas Boogie in Palm Springs, California. The festival site holds 15,000 people but 25,000 show up which meant more force needed to disperse the crowd and the rioting 1971 - Rolling Stones Records was formed to promote the hits of The Rolling Stones. The famous Stones trademark, the lips logo, became widely used. Brown Sugar was the first hit by the Rolling Stones on the new label, followed by Wild Horses, Tumbling Dice and Bill Gates’ favorite song, Start Me Up 1973 - The Stylistics received a gold record for their ballad hit, Break Up to Make Up. The Philadelphia soul group placed 10 hits on the pop charts in the 1970s. More of their gold record winners include: You Are Everything, Betcha By Golly Wow, I’m Stone in Love With You and You Make Me Feel Brand New 1974 - "Ladies and Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones" opens at New York City's Ziegfeld Theatre. The premiere is turned into an event: a 40-foot hight Rolling Stone winged tongue that rises in the air, 2,000 white doves are released and a 65-foot long dragon is flown in from San Francisco 1974 - The California Jam rock festival pulls in 200,000 people to see such acts as Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Black Oak Arkansas and the Eagles. The event runs with no problems, in fact it begins 15 minutes early 1979 - The punk/new wave group Blondie has its first big hit in the U.S. with "Heart of Glass." The tune goes platinum on this date, two months after it hit Number One 1979 - Rod Stewart marries actor George Hamilton's ex-wife Alana Hamilton in Beverly Hills 1985 - Miami Steve Van Zandt announces that he's leaving the E Street Band. Springsteen hires on guitarist Nils Lofgren as the replacement 1985 - The country group, Alabama, went five-for-five as the album 40 Hour Week grabbed the top spot on the Billboard country chart. The group had a number one album for each of the previous five years. The popularity of the quartet (three are cousins from Fort Payne, AL) continues today. 1990 - Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee suffers a mild concussion in New Haven, CT. when he falls after swinging from a scaffolding above an elevated drum kit 1999 - Tipper Gore, wife of Vice-President and presidential candidate Al Gore, sits in on conga drums with former Grateful Dead members Bob Weir and Mickey Hart during a fundraiser for her husband's presidential campaign in San Jose, California. They play "Queen Jane." 2000 - An all-star tribute to Joni Mitchell is held in New York featuring performances by Shawn Colvin, James Taylor, Cyndi Lauper, Richard Thompson, Sweet Honey, Elton John, Cassandra Wilson, Wynonna Judd, k.d. lang, Bryan Adams, and Mary Chapin Carpenter. The special is aired on TNT 10 days later Famous birthdays 1885 - Canadian conductor and cellist Rosario Bourdon was born in Longueill, Quebec. He toured Europe as a child prodigy - billed simply as Rosario - before returning to Canada in 1900. In 1909, Bourdon began recording for the Victor Talking Machine Company in the US, later becoming the firm's house cellist. He played on recordings by such renowned artists as Enrico Caruso, John McCormack and Alma Gluck. He also conducted recordings by the Victor Concert and Symphony Orchestras. In 1935, he conducted the opening concert of (the Societe des Concerts symphoniques de Montreal) the forerunner of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. Rosario Bourdon died in New York in 1961. 1905 - Bob Wills, the man who originated the style of music known as western swing, was born near Kosse, Texas. Wills and his Texas Playboys, a swing band with country overtones, were a fixture for nearly 25 years on station KVOO in Tulsa, Oklahoma, beginning in 1933. Wills's band played a mixture of country ballads, blues and jazz, with horns and fiddles figuring prominently in the arrangements. In April 1940, when Wills recorded his own composition, "San Antonio Rose," featuring the vocal talents of Tommy Duncan, the disc sold a million copies. Another version by Bing Crosby was also a million-seller. More hits followed, but the Second World War caused the breakup of the Playboys. When Wills reformed the group after the war, it was a much smaller band in which fiddles predominated. Wills health began to suffer in the 1960s, and he suffered two heart attacks and a stroke.In December 1973, he attended his last record date. Many of the original Texas Playboys and Merle Haggard were there, but during the session, Wills suffered a second stroke. He never regained consciousness, and died in May 1975. 1924 - Conductor Sarah Caldwell. 1936 - Singer Sylvia Robinson, of the '50s duo of Mickey and Sylvia. 1937 - Doug Dillard of the electric bluegrass band the Dillards. 1937 - Country singer Merle Haggard is born in Bakersfield, CA. 1942 - Jazz singer Flora Purim. 1943 - Mary Wilson of the Supremes was born in Detroit. The Supremes were the most successful female group of the 1960s, and were largely responsible for finally breaking the color bar that kept rhythm-and-blues artists from major success in pop music. The trio had 12 number-one singles, beginning in 1964 with "Where Did Our Love Go." Supremes' leader Diana Ross departed the group in 1969 for a successful solo career, but the trio kept going until the late 1970s. Mary Wilson later performed with a pair of backup singers as Mary Wilson and the Supremes. The 1981 Broadway hit "Dreamgirls" was based on the Supremes' story. 1944 - Michelle Phillips of the Mamas and Papas is born in Long Beach, CA. 1945 - Hugh Grundy, drummer with the '60s British group, the Zombies. 1947 - British pop vocalist Kiki Dee. 1947 - David Gilmour, lead guitarist and vocalist with Pink Floyd, was born in Cambridge, England. Gilmour joined the group in 1967 after their first album, "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn," had been released. He replaced Syd Barrett, whose behavior was becoming increasingly erratic, some said because of excessive experimenting with LSD. Pink Floyd's commercial breakthrough came in 1973 with "The Dark Side of the Moon." It became the longest-charting rock LP in Billboard's history, and was still on the album chart 15 years after its release. 1953 - Phil Alvin, lead singer and guitarist with the Blasters, an '80s roots music revival band. Famous deaths 1967 - Singer Nelson Eddy, whose operatic-style duets with Jeanette MacDonald were big favorites in movies and on records in the 1930s, died at age 66. Their first movie together was "Naughty Marietta" in 1935. From it came MacDonald and Eddy's most popular recording, "Indian Love Call." Half a dozen other movie musicals followed, among them "Rose Marie" and "Girl of the Golden West." 1998 - Wendy O.Williams former singer of The Plasmatics died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds. |
On April 7 in music history ..
1945 - At the Top of the Charts was - My Dreams are Getting Better All the Time - The Pied Pipers, I’m Beginning to See the Light - The Harry James Orchestra (vocal: Kitty Kallen),A Little on the Lonely Side - The Guy Lombardo Orchestra (vocal: Jimmy Brown),Shame on You - Spade Cooley 1949 - The musical "South Pacific" by Rogers and Hammerstein debuted on Broadway. 1954 - Gee, by The Crows, became the first rhythm and blues single to gain attention on pop music charts. Gee, written by William Davis, the baritone of The Crows, made it to #17 on the pop music chart and stayed for one week. This was also one of the first songs by a black group to be played on white radio stations. The Crows came together in the late 1940s in New York City, singing on street corners. Daniel ‘Sonny’ Norton (lead singer), Harold Major (tenor), Gerald Hamilton (bass) and Davis entered a talent contest at the Apollo Theatre and that was the beginning of their recording career. The group split up in the late 1950s. 1956 - Little Richard's "Long Tall Sally" is released. 1956 - The CBS Radio Network premieres the first regularly scheduled national broadcast rock & roll show, "Rock 'n Roll Dance Party," with Alan Freed as host 1962 - Mick Jagger and Keith Richards meet Brian Jones at the Ealing Club, a London hangout for those who like the blues... 1963 - Appearing at The Savoy Ballroom, Portsmouth, England, The Beatles 1966 - Beatles recording sessions - Studio 3. 2.30-7.15pm. Recording: `Mark I' (working title of `Tomorrow Never Knows') (overdub onto take 3). Studio 3. 8.15pm-1.30am. Recording: `Got To Get You Into My Life' (takes 1-5). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick; 2nd Engineer: Phil McDonald.Dub of effects for `Tomorrow Never Knows'. 1967 - Sonny & Cher's "Good Times" movie debuted in Chicago, IL. 1967 - Beatles recording sessions - Paul flies to Los Angeles.Studio 2 (control room only). 7.00pm-1.00am. Stereo mixing: Crossfades for LP; `With A Little Help From My Friends' (remixes 1-3, from take 11); `Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite!' (remixes 1-8, from take 9); `Fixing A Hole' (remix 1, from take 3); `Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds' (remixes 1-5, from take 8). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick; 2nd Engineer: Richard Lush 1969 - Beatles recording sessions - Abbey Road, Studio unknown. Mono mixing: `Get Back' (remix 5); `Don't Let Me Down' (remix 1). Stereo mixing: `Get Back' (remix 1); `Don't Let Me Down' (remix 1). Producer: George Martin?; Engineer: Glyn Johns; 2nd Engineer: Jerry Boys.Session booked by Paul to improve the `Get Back' mix. The stereo mixes are, initially, for use in the US. End of sessions for `Get Back'/`Don't Let Me Down'. 1970 - On The US Top 5 singles chart at No.5, ‘Bridge Over Trouble Water’ Simon & Garfunkel, N0.4, ‘Spirit In The Sky’ Norman Greenbaum’ No.3, ‘Instant Karma’ John Lennon, No.2, ‘ABC’ The Jackson Five and No.1, ‘Let It Be’, The Beatles 1972 - Appearing at The Empire Pool, London, The Grateful Dead, tickets £1 1973 - Vicki Lawrence got her number one single as The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia made it to the top of the pop charts on this day. Lawrence had become well known as the comedienne who played Eunice’s mother on The Carol Burnett Show and Mama’s Family 1973 - Diana Ross started a two week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Lady Sings The Blues.'(The story of Billie Holiday) 1974 - MCA Records releases Elton John's "Daniel." The song makes it to #2. 1975 - Beverly Sills made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in Gioacchino Rossini's "Siege of Corinth." 1975 - Richie Blackmore, lead guitar player for Deep Purple, leaves the group to form his own band, Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow. Tommy Bolin is named as Blackmore's replacement. However, next year they give it up after making one more record, Come Taste the Band. 1977 - The Clash releases its long awaited self-titled debut album, less than a year after their formation. Lauched by singer/guitarist Mick Jones his first recruit was Paul Simonon, who agreed to play bass despite having little or no previous musical experience. They were joined by guitarist Keith Levine (who left, but later emerged as a member of John 'Rotten' Lydon's Public Image Ltd, and drummer Terry Chimes, while Bernie Rhodes, an associate of the Sex Pistols guru Malcolm Mclaren, became the group's manager. However, the vital spark was when singer/guitarist Joe Strummer was persuaded to leave The 101ers. The debut album was recorded over three weekends. Chimes who was quickly at logger heads with the others was replaced by Nicky 'Topper' Headon. 1979 - The two-day California Music Festival at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum opens. 110,000 people pour in and the show makes $1.2 million. The promoters declaire a financial loss though performers like Aerosmith, the Bootown Rats, Cheap Trick, Ted Nugent and Van Halen make appearances. 1979 - Siousie And The Banshees played a charity gig for MENCAP, but after crowd trouble were latter faced with a £2,000 Bill for seat damage 1979 - The Doobie Brothers went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Minute By Minute', the groups only US chart topper 1981 - Guitarist Steve Marriott — formerly with Faces and then with Humble Pie — accidentally crushes his fingers in a revolving door in Chicago. 1981 - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band started their first European tour in Hamburg, Germany,Springsteen’s first tour outside North America which would take in 10 countries. 1984 - A record 40 British acts appeared on the US top 100 singles chart 1985 - Prince ended his 32-city tour and said that he was withdrawing from live performances for “an indeterminate number of years.” The last city on the tour was Miami, FL. He meant it so much, he even changed his a symbol and the name TAFKAP (The Artist Formerly Known As Prince). 1985 - Wham! became the first Western act to play in China 1985 - At Farm Aid IV, Gay-activist,Elton John performed "Candle in the Wind" for Ryan White. White, a young boy with AIDS, died later the same day 1987 - Ozzy Osbourne sends evangelist Oral Roberts a dollar for "psychiatric treatment" after Roberts announced that God would take his life unless he received $1 million in donations. 1988 - Alice Cooper simulates hanging himself during a London concert. The safety rope snaps, and Cooper dangles by the neck for several seconds before being rescued by a member of his stage crew. 1990 - Motley Crue's Tommy Lee was injured when performing a stunt during a concert, falling 20 feet from a lighting rig 1990 - Taylor Dayne went to No.1 on the US singles chart with the Diane Warren song 'Love Will Lead You Back', a No.69 hit in the UK. 1990 - The Carpenters started a two week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Only Yesterday', The LP went back to the top at the end of April 1990 for a further five weeks. 1990 - Bonnie Raitt started a three week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Nick Of Time.' 1994 - Courtney Love is arrested on drug charges in Beverly Hills, CA, one day before her husband, Kurt Cobain, is found dead in Seattle. The charges against Love are eventually dropped when it turns out the "drugs" in question are prescription medication. 1994 - US soul singer Percy Sledge pleaded guilty to tax evasion 1995 - Eddie Van Halen is briefly detained after he tries to carry a loaded gun onto a commercial flight. He later pleads no contest and is fined $300. 1995 - Hundreds turn out at a South-Central Los Angeles church for a memorial service for rapper Eric "Eazy-E" Wright. 1995 - Airport police seized a loaded pistol from Eddie Van Halen's carry-on luggage. No charges were filed 1996 - Take That went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their 'Greatest Hits’ album 1997 - Oasis singer Liam Gallagher marries actress Patsy Kensit. 1997 - An Amsterdam university began offering a course entitled "Madonna 101." 1998 - Mary Bono, the widow of Sonny Bono, won a special election to serve out the remainder of her husband's congressional term 1998 - Singer George Michael is arrested in a public restroom in Beverly Hills for "engaging in a lewd act." He is sentenced to community service for the incident. Days later, Michael finally acknowledges his homosexuality 2000 - Michael Abram attended a hearing for his attempt to murder George Harrison and his wife Olivia on December 30, 1999. Abram was ordered to appear for trial, but a date was not set 2001 - Paul McCartney bought the four-bedroom Beverly Hills home of Courtney Love for $3.995m. The gated 1930's house has it's own pool and 1.5 acres of land. 2002 - UK Pop Idol runner-up Gareth Gates was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with his version of ‘Unchained Melody.’ (making Gates the seventh act to have a Top 40 hit with the song). Jennifer Lopez was at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Ain’t It Funny.’ And Celine Dion had the UK & US No.1 album ‘A New Day Has Come.’ 2003 - Avril Lavigne dominated Canada's national music awards, the Junos. winning four prizes including best single, album and new artist. Shania Twain who hosted the show won three awards and Best group went to Sum 41 Famous birthdays 1908 - Percy Faith 1915 - Billie Holiday 1937 - Charles Thomas (Drifters) 1938 - Spencer Dryden (Jefferson Airplane) 1943 - Mick Abrahams (Jethro Tull) 1943 - Chris Taylor White, bass player for the '60s British group, the Zombies. 1946 - Bill Kreutzman (Grateful Dead) 1946 - Matthew Fisher, the original organist with Procul Harum, was born in England. The classical rock band scored a worldwide smash in 1967 with "A Whiter Shade of Pale." The organ line played by Fisher was lifted directly from Bach's "Suite Number Three in D Major." Fisher left Procul Harum in 1970 after the group's third album. He later recorded several solo LP's. 1946 - Peter Wolf, lead singer for the J. Geils Band, was born in New York City. Although the band is named for guitarist Jerome Geils, Wolf is the group's songwriter and on-stage focus. Wolf was a disc jockey in Boston and played with a group called the Hallucinations before joining the J. Geils Band in 1967. The band's first hit was "Looking for a Love" in 1971, and two year's later their album "Bloodshot" was certified gold. Other hit albums by the J. Geils Band include "Sanctuary," "Love Stinks" and "Freeze-Frame." 1947 - Florian Schneider (Kraftwerk) 1947 - Pat Bennett (Chiffons) 1948 - Carol Douglas (Chantels) 1948 - 1960s pop singer Little Peggy March, whose real name is Margaret Battavio, was born in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. She was heard singing at a cousin's wedding, and someone passed the word along to RCA Victor. She was only 15 when she recorded "I Will Follow Him," which topped the Billboard Hot 100 in the spring of 1963. 1949 - Bryan Gannett (Flower Garden) 1949 - John Oats 1950 - Steve Ellis (Love Affair) 1951 - Janis Ian 1952 - Bruce Gary (The Knack) 1952 - Ernie Isley of the Isley Brothers. 1960 - Simon Climie 1963 - Dance music singer Taylor Dayne, whose real name is Leslie Wunderman. Famous deaths 1963 - Jack Anglin of the country duo Johnnie and Jack died in a car accident while en route to a memorial service for singer Patsy Cline. Cline, along with Hawkshaw Hawkins and Cowboy Copas, had been killed in a plane crash two days earlier. Johnnie and Jack had such country hits in the 1950s as "Poison Love" and "Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight." 1981 - Kit Lambert died after falling down a flight of stairs at his mother’s home in London. Lambert managed The Who from 1964 - 1967 and produced the ‘Tommy’ album 1994 - Lee Brilleaux singer and harmonica player with Dr Feelgood died of throat cancer. (1979 UK No.9 single 'Milk And Alcohol'). 1998 - Carlos Vega, a Los Angeles drummer best known for his work with James Taylor, dies of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound. 1998 - American Country singer Tammy Wynette died aged 55. Scored 12 hit singles including 'Stand By Your Man', sold over 30 million records world-wide, married five times and once filed for bankruptcy. 2000 - Bass player and singer with The Tornadoes Heinz died aged 57.The group had the Joe Meek produced 1962 UK & US No.1 single ‘ Telstar’, making them the first UK group to score a US No.1 single. |
On April 8 in music history ..
1946 - Top of the Charts - Oh, What It Seemed to Be - The Frankie Carle Orchestra (vocal: Marjorie Hughes), Personality - Johnny Mercer, You Won’t Be Satisfied - The Les Brown Orchestra (vocal: Doris Day),Guitar Polka - Al Dexter 1964 - The Supremes recorded "Where Did Our Love Go." The song was their first No. 1 single 1966 - The Elvis Presley movie "Frankie And Johnny" opened at the Victoria Theatre in London 1966 - Beatles recording sessions - Studio 2. 2.30-9.00pm. Recording: `Got To Get You Into My Life' (takes 6-8). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick; 2nd Engineer: Phil McDonald 1967 - Lesley Gore performed "California Nights" on "American Bandstand." 1968 - The Petula Clark TV special "Petula" aired on NBC 1971 - Chicago became the first rock group to play Carnegie Hall in New York City 1972 - Helen Reddy performed "No Sad Song" on "American Bandstand." 1973 - Neil Young's docu-autobiography, "Journey through the Past," premieres at the US Film Festival in Dallas. Young is typically ambiguous when describing the film, a bunch of scenes and images throughout his career: "It's a collection of thoughts. Every scene meant something to me -- although with some of them I can't say what." 1974 - Elton John earns another gold record. "Bennie and the Jets" has John smiling even more as it's a big hit on the R&B charts as wel l 1975 - Minnie Riperton receives her only gold record for "Lovin' You," her recent Number One record 1975 - Aerosmith released "Toys in the Attic." 1977 - The Damned becomes the first British punk group to perform in America. They play New York's legendary CBGB's 1978 - Elvis Presley's album "He Walks Beside Me" hit #37 in the U.K 1978 - Ashford and Simpson performed "Don't Cost You Nothing" on "American Bandstand." 1979 - Van Halen began their first world tour 1985 - The single "We Are the World" was the #1 Billboard Pop Hit 1989 - Lol Tolhurst, keyboardist and founding member of the Cure, left the band 1991 - A lawsuit, filed against Virgin Records, claims that Paula Abdul did not do all the singing on her hit album, "Forever Your Girl." Virgin eventually won 1996 - Ted Nugent, a staunch hunting advocate, demonstrates archery at the state capitol in Lansing, MI. Nugent declares the sport a way to keep kids off alcohol and drugs 1998 - It was reported that Ronnie Wood (Rolling Stones) had caught on fire aboard a small boat in the islands south of Rio de Janneiro. An engine had been the cause of the fire. 1998 - Tommy Lee of Motley Crue was jailed (for 6 months) after breaking a probation order 2000 - Santana performs at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium with people who collaborated with him on his Supernatural album including Dave Matthews, Lauryn Hill and Everlast 2003 - Lisa Marie Presley's debut album "To Whom It May Concern" was released Famous birthdays 1922 - Jazz singer and pianist Carmen McRae is born in New York City. 1923 - Opera singer Franco Corelli. 1933 - Broadway lyricist Fred Ebb was born. He is best known for the musical "Cabaret," which opened in New York in November, 1966 and ran for 1,166 performances. The original cast included Joel Grey, Jill Haworth and Lotte Lenya. Grey reprised his role in the 1972 film version of "Cabaret," which also starred Liza Minelli. The film won a number of Oscars. 1941 - '60s soul singer J.J. Jackson. 1944 - Rock singer Roger Chapman. 1947 - Rock guitarist Steve Howe was born in London. Originally with a British underground band called Tomorrow, Howe later became one of the stars of the art-rock group Yes. Yes was tremendously popular in the 1970's with such hit albums as "Close to the Edge," "Yessongs" and "Tales From Topographic Oceans." After the demise of Yes in 1980, Steve Howe became part of the supergroup Asia. And at the close of the decade he joined a group of ex-Yes men in Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman and Howe, a Yes reunion in all but name. 1963 - Julian Lennon, the son of John and Cynthia, was born in Liverpool. His first appeared on record playing drums on the last track of his father's "Walls and Bridges" album in 1974. Julian became a successful solo artist in 1985 when his song "Valotte" hit the pop charts. 1951 - Mel Schacher, bass player with Question Mark and the Mysterians and Grand Funk Railroad. 1953 - Adam Woods of The Fixx. 1954 - Country singer and actor John Schneider. 1962 - Rock guitarist Izzy Stradlin, formerly of Guns n' Roses. 1964 - Rapper Biz Markie (MAR-KEE'), whose real name is Marcel Hall. Famous deaths 1976 - Folk singer Phil Ochs hangs himself in Queens, New York. 1983 - Danny Rapp, lead singer of Danny and the Juniors was found dead of an apparant self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He was 41. 1994 - Kurt Cobain, lead singer of the pioneering grunge rock band Nirvana, was found dead in his Seattle home of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. A suicide note was found nearby. Cobain was 27.His death came a month after he was hospitalized in Rome for a drug-induced coma.Nirvana gave grunge a national following in 1991 with the multi-million-selling album "Nevermind," which contained the hit "Smells Like Teen Spirit." A second best-selling album, "In Utero," followed in 1993.At a memorial service two days after Cobain's death, several thousand fans gathered to hear a tape recording of his widow, Courtney Love, lead singer for the band Hole, reading portions of his suicide note. 1997 - Singer-songwriter Laura Nyro (NERO) died in New York of ovarian cancer. She was 49. Nyro's albums were college favorites in the late 1960's and early '70s, but she was better known as a songwriter who provided hits for other performers. Among them were "And When I Die" for Blood, Sweat and Tears, "Wedding Bell Blues" and "Stoned Soul Picnic" for the Fifth Dimension and "Eli's Coming" for Three Dog Night. 2001 - Van Stephenson, a former member of the country group BlackHawk, dies at his Nashville-area home after a long struggle with melanoma. He is 45. 2001 - Violinist Pedro Depestre Gonzales, 55, dies while performing at a concert with Buena Vista Social Club bassist Cachaito Lopez in Basel, Switzerland. Gonzalez collapses shortly after performing a solo during the concert by the internationally renowned Cuban musician. |
On April 9 in music history ..
1939 - Marian Anderson performed at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. She had been denied the use of Constitution Hall by the Daughters of the American Revolution. 1940 - Jimmy Dorsey and his orchestra recorded "Six Lessons from Madame La Zonga." 1956 - Singer Nat King Cole is beaten up by a group of racial segregationists in Birmingham, Alabama. 1956 - Gene Vincent recorded the classic rock ‘n roll song 'Bebop-A-Lula.' 1958 - Bill Haley and the Comets open their first tour of South America in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The month-long juncket will take them to Sao Paulo, Montevideo and Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. 1964 - Capitol and Vee Jay Records settle their feud out of court over the rights to recordings by the Beatles. Capitol wins. 1965 - The Rolling Stones make their first live appearance on British TV's "Ready Steady Go!" 1965 - Bruce Johnston joins the Beach Boys, in place of Brian Wilson. 1966 - Jeff Beck collapsed onstage during a Yardbirds concert in France 1966 - Percy Sledge's "When A Man Loves A Woman" is released. 1966 - Jr. Walker and the All Stars' "(I'm A) Roadrunner" is released. 1966 - The Righteous Brothers started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'You're My Soul And Inspiration', it made No.15 in the UK 1966 - 'Blue Turns To Grey', a song written by Jagger and Richards gave Cliff Richard a No.15 hit 1968 - appearing at The Odeon Glasgow, Gene Pitney supported by Status Quo. 1969 - David Bowie (Bi-Sexual) met future wife Angie Barnett for the first time at The Speakeasy Club, London. 1969 - King Crimson — with line-up Robert Fripp, Greg Lake and Ian McDonald — debuts at the Speakeasy Club in London. 1973 - Paul McCartney releases "My Love," a ballad which will be the biggest hit of his solo career thus far. It goes to Number One for four weeks. 1973 - Newly signed to EMI Records, Queen played a showcase gig at the Marquee Club, London for their new record label. 1974 - Terry Jacks was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Seasons In The Sun.' 1977 - The Swedish pop group Abba made its debut at number one on the American pop charts, as Dancing Queen became the most popular record in the U.S. 1981 - The Sam Goody record chain and a top company executive are convicted of trafficking in pirated tapes. 1981 - On this week’s UK Indie album chart, No.5, Crass, ‘Stations Of The Crass’, No.4, Toyah, ‘Toyah! Toyah! Toyah!’, No.3, Joy Division, ‘Closer’, No.2, Adam and the Ants, ‘Dirk Wears White Sox’, No.1, Theatre Of Hate, ‘He Who Dares Wins.’ 1983 - King kicked off a 19 date UK tour at Belfast Maysfield Leisure Centre 1983 - David Bowie was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Let's Dance’, his third UK No.1 1988 - Billy Ocean started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car', a No.3 hit in the UK. 1988 - Pet Shop Boys had their fourth UK No.1 single with 'Heart.' 1989 - Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman announces he's to marry 19 year old Mandy Smith. He reveals the two have been dating for 6 years. 1989 - Rolling Stone Bill Wyman announced his forthcoming marriage to 19 year old Mandy Smith. He revealed the two had been dating for six years 1990 - Billy Idol released the single "Cradle of Love." 1991 - Kiss drummer Eric Carr has a malignant tumor removed from his heart at a New York hospital. 1993 - Take That released 'It Only Takes A Minute', in the US, along with a Take That breakfast cereal box 1994 - Pantera entered the US album chart at No.1 with 'Far Beyond Driven'. 1994 - R Kelly started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Bump N' Grind', his first US No.1, a No.8 hit in the UK. 1994 - Take That scored their fourth UK No.1 single with 'Everything Changes.' 1997 - A&M Records issues a press release stating that the members of Soundgarden have mutually and amicably decided to disband. 1997 - A&M Records issued a press release stating that the members of Soundgarden have mutually and amicably decided to disband. 1998 - A Los Angeles Superior Court jury awarded Michael Jackson $2.7 million in damages in a defamation-of-character suit against Victor Gutierrez of the TV show Hard Copy. 1999 - Faith Hill began her first solo tour "Faith Hill's This Kiss Tour" in Minneapolis, MN. 2000 - Craig David went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Fill Me In'. He became the youngest UK male solo artist to reach No.1. 2000 - Moby started a five week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Play' 2002 - Eminem agreed to pay $100,000 minus attorney's fees to a man who had filed a civil lawsuit against him for allegedly hitting him in the head and face with an unloaded handgun. The man, John Guerra, had kissed Eminem's wife Kim 2003 - Paul McCartney played his first Manchester show in 24 years when he appeared at the MEN Arena as part of his Back In The World Tour 2003 Famous birthdays 1932 - Rock 'n' Roll pioneer Carl Perkins was born in Jackson, Tennessee. He wrote "Blue Suede Shoes" which Elvis Presley turned into a hit record in 1956. Perkins' own version was on the charts as well. Perkins' career came to an abrupt halt in March of '56 when he was involved in a car accident which almost claimed his life. He resumed his career after several months in hospital, but he never had another hit of the magnitude of "Blue Suede Shoes." Perkins died January(2003). 1943 - Terry Knight, lead singer of Terry Knight and the Pack, was born in Flint, Michigan. The group was the forerunner to the most successful American rock band of the 1970's, Grand Funk Railroad. Knight managed Grand Funk - but did not perform with them - until a bitter series of lawsuits between him and the group in 1973. 1944 - Emil Stucchio, lead singer of the Classics, was born in Brooklyn, New York. The one national hit for this street-corner group was "Til Then" in June 1963. 1944 - Gene Parsons, formerly of the Byrds. 1945 - Jazz and rock drummer Steve Gadd 1945 - Country singer Con Hunley 1945 - Country singer Gus Hardin 1948 - Phil Wright, lead singer of the English quintet Paper Lace, whose "The Night Chicago Died" went to number one in 1974; and Chico Ryan of the rock revival group Sha Na Na. 1953 - Country singer Hal Ketchum. 1959 - Dave Innis of Restless Heart. Famous deaths 1976 - Folk singer and songwriter Phil Ochs hanged himself in the bathroom of his sister's home in Far Rockaway, New York. His suicide came only two days after his last performance - with Bob Dylan at a benefit show for victims of Chile's military junta. 1988 - Singer Brook Benton, whose smooth baritone produced a string of hits in the 1950's and '60s, died in New York of bacterial meningitis. He was 56. One of his biggest years was 1959, when he had four top-20 hits - "It's Just a Matter of Time," "So Many Ways," "Endlessly" and "Thank You Pretty Baby." Benton's career was revived in 1970 when his "Rainy Night in Georgia" went to number four on the Billboard pop chart.Also dying on this date in 1988, 1988 - Dave Prater, one-half of the soul duo Sam and Dave. Prater died in a car crash in Georgia. He was 50. Prater met partner Sam Moore in Miami in 1958. Sam and Dave's Memphis-style soul was popular throughout the 1960's on such hits as "Hold On I'm Comin" and "Soul Man," which won a Grammy Award. The duo, never on the best of terms, broke up in 1981. Sam and Dave gained renewed popularity in 1978 when the Blues Brothers, John Belushi and Dan Ackroyd, revived "Soul Man." Prater then reformed the duo with a new partner, Sam Daniels. 1997 - Mae Boren Axton, who co-wrote the Elvis Presley hit "Heartbreak Hotel," was found dead at her home in Hendersonville, Tennessee. She was 82. Axton's songs were also recorded by such country stars as Patsy Cline, Faron Young and Hank Snow. She was the mother of singer and songwriter Hoyt Axton. 2002 - Musician, composer and instrument maker Juno Lewis dies at the age of 70 of complications from a stroke. Lewis was best known for his "Kulu Se Mama" composition on one of jazz saxophonist John Coltrane's final recordings. |
On April 12 in music history ..
1939 - One of the classic theme songs of the Big Band era was recorded for Decca. Woody Herman’s orchestra recorded Woodchopper’s Ball 1950 - Top of the Charts - If I Knew You Were Comin’ I’d’ve Baked a Cake - Eileen Barton,Music, Music, Music - Teresa Brewer,Peter Cottontail - Gene Autry,Long Gone Lonesome Blues - Hank Williams 1954 - Joe Turner's "Shake, Rattle and Roll" is released. 1954 - Bill Haley and His Comets recorded Rock Around the Clock for Decca Records on this day in 1954. The song was recorded at the Pythian Temple, “a big, barnlike building with great echo,” in New York City. Rock Around the Clock was formally released a month later.Most rock historians feel the tune, featured in the 1955 film Blackboard Jungle, ushered in the era of rock ’n’ roll. It hit number one on June 29, 1955 and stayed there for eight weeks, remaining on the charts for a total of 24 weeks.Rock Around the Clock was not Haley’s first recording, however. He had waxed three other songs, all for Decca: Shake, Rattle and Roll, Dim, Dim the Lights, and Mambo Rock. And, through 1974, Haley and his group charted 14 hits, including, See You Later, Alligator from 1956. Rock Around the Clock was re-released in 1974. On its second run it made it to number 30 on the pop charts.Haley died of a heart attack in Harlingen, TX on February 9, 1981. He was posthumously awarded the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1982 for Rock Around the Clock. The record has now sold over 25,000,000 copies. 1955 - "Your Hit Parade," a nationally broadcast radio program featuring the hit records of the day, celebrates its 20th anniversary. 1961 - The winners of the third annual Grammy Awards are announced. For the first time, rock & roll is noticeably absent. The big winner is Ray Charles,who wins Best Vocal Performance (Male), Best Performance by a Pop Single Artist for "Georgia on My Mind," Best Vocal Performance (Album) for The Genius of Ray Charles and Best R&B Performance for "Let the Good Times Roll. 1962 - Columbia Records tapes Bob Dylan's concert at Town Hall, New York City, eventually releasing the recording as Tomorrow Is a Long Time. 1963 - Bob Dylan performs at his first major solo concert at Town Hall in New York City. Billboard's review is typical of public reaction: "Dylan . . . is the stuff of which legends are made . . . His talent will be around for a long, long time." 1964 - - Philadelphia singer Chubby Checker (The Twist) married former Miss World, the Dutch-born beauty Catharina Lodders 1966 - Jan Berry, half of the hitmaking surf-rock vocal duo Jan and Dean, runs his Corvette into an parked truck on L.A.'s Whittier Boulevard. Berry suffers total physical paralysis for over a year as well as extensive brain damage which makes it nearly impossible to return to performing. They do give it a try in 1973 but it turns out to be a fiasco. 1968 - Life magazine does a piece on the Doors called "Wicked Go the Doors." Jim Morrison, reports writer Fred Powledge, "is 24 years old, out of U.C.L.A. and he appears in public and on his records to be moody, tempermental, enchanted in the mind and extremely stoned on something." 1968 - Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention perform at the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Dinner in New York City. Zappa looks down at the audience and declares the event "a load of pompous hokum . . . All year long you people have manufactured this crap, now for one night you're gonna have to listen to it!" Zappa later remarks, "We played the ugliest **** we could . . . That's what they expected us to play." 1969 - Simon & Garfunkel's "The Boxer" is released. 1969 - The 11th annual Grammy Awards are given out. The big winners include Simon & Garfunkel who won Record of the Year for Mrs. Robinson and Jose Feliciano who won Best New Artist. 1971 - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's live Four Way Street is certified gold even before it hits the LP chart. The double record set makes it to number one giving the quartet the distinction of two number one albums in two tries. It's the last LP the four will record together. 1975 - Linda Ronstadt's "When Will I Be Loved" is released. 1975 - The movie version of Tommy opens. 1979 - The former vocalist with Elvin Bishop, Mickey Thomas, replaces Marty Balin as lead singer with Jefferson Starship. 1997 - The Fugees play the first of two homecoming concerts in Haiti to raise money for Haitian refugees. The concerts end up costing more than they raised. 1999 - A judge in Fort Lauderdale, FL, gives Bobby Brown a 90-day suspended sentence for showing up drunk to serve his jail time for a 1996 one-car accident that allegedly occurred when he was "under the influence." Famous birthdays 1913 - Jazz vibraharp player and bandleader Lionel Hampton was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He is best known for his association with Benny Goodman, and for leading his own big band. Hampton was with the Goodman quartet for the legendary 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert, where his performance on such tunes as "Stompin' at the Savoy" and "Avalon" established him as a major jazz soloist. Hampton put together his own band after leaving Goodman in 1940, leading an orchestra on and off for more than 30 years. The Lionel Hampton band's theme song was "Flying Home." 1925 - Country singer Ned Miller, famous for the 1962 hit "From a Jack to a King." 1930 - Herbert Khaury, better known as Tiny Tim, was born in New York City. With his ukelele and his squeaky falsetto voice, he became the most successful novelty act of the 1960's. "Tip Toe Through the Tulips," a Top-20 hit in 1966, is the Tiny Tim record most people remember. He died of a heart attack on November 29th, 1996, after performing his signature song at a benefit in Minneapolis. 1940 - Revered Jazz keyboardist Herbie Hancock is born in Chicago, IL. 1942 - Larry Ramos, guitarist for the Association, is born in Waimea, Kauai, HI. 1944 - John Kay, leader of Steppenwolf, was born in Germany. His real name is Joachim Krauledat. Steppenwolf began as a Toronto-based band called the Sparrow in 1964. The group moved to the US in 1966 before splitting up in 1967. Kay then formed Steppenwolf, using some of the members of the Sparrow. The name Steppenwolf is taken from the Herman Hesse novel. Steppenwolf had a dozen hits in the late '60s and early '70s, the biggest of which were "Born to Be Wild" and "Magic Carpet Ride." The original band broke up in 1972. After bogus groups began performing under the Steppenwolf name, John Kay reformed the band in the 1980s. 1945 - Guitarist/vocalist Miller Anderson is born in Johnstone, Scotland. Although widely unheard of, he was involved with many influential musicians. Since cutting his musical teeth in bands with Ian Hunter (pre-Mott The Hoople) and Bill Bruford (pre-King Crimson and Yes), Anderson was a member of such bands as the Keef Hartley Band, Savoy Brown, T. Rex, Mountain, the Spencer Davis Group as well as backing such acts as Jon Lord and Donovan. 1950 - David Cassidy is born in New York, NY. Cassidy became an overnight teen idol as Keith Partridge from the hit '70s TV series. 1954 - Guitarist Pat Travers is born in Toronto. 1956 - Alexander Briley of the Village People. 1957 - Country singer Vince Gill. 1958 - Echo and the Bunnymen guitarist Will Sergeant is born in Liverpool, England. 1962 - Singer/songwriter Art Alexis of Everclear is born. 1967 - Hispanic rapper Mellow Man Ace (real name Ulpiano Sergio Reyez) is born in Havana, Cuba. Famous deaths 1990 - Herbert Mills of the Mills Brothers dies of viral meningitis. He was 77 years old. 1998 - Music industry veteran James B. Conkling, who helped launch Warner Bros. Records and the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, dies at Sutter Oaks Alzheimer's Hospital in Sacramento, Calif. He is 83. 1999 - Boxcar Willie dies of leukemia in Branson, Mo. He is 67. The country singer, born Lecil Travis Martin, adopted the "Boxcar" persona due to his love of railroads. 2002 - Italian singer Alex Baroni is declared dead at the Santo Spirito hospital in Rome. He is 36. Baroni had been in a coma since March 19, following a motorcycle accident in Rome. |
On April 13 in music history ..
1956 - The UK top 20 became The Top 30 for the first time 1957 - Elvis climbs to the top of the pop charts again with the hit "All Shook Up." 1957 - Elvis Presley was the first contributor to a new Memphis fundraiser calle "Coffee Day For Crippled Children." 1960 - Johnny Tillotson performed "Earth Angel" and "Pleading My Love" on "American Bandstand." 1962 - The Beatles made their third trip to Germany for a 48 night residency at The Star Club, Hamburg 1962 - Neil Sedaka performed "King of Clowns" on "American Bandstand." 1965 - Beatles recording sessions - Studio 2. 7.00-11.00pm. Recording: `Help!' (takes 1-12). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Norman Smith; 2nd Engineer: Ken Scott 1965 - Winners of the seventh annual Grammy Awards are announced. Record of the Year is "The Girl from Ipanema" by Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto. The Beatles win Best Performance by a Vocal Group for "A Hard Days Night" and the group is voted Best New Artists. 1966 - Beatles recording sessions - Studio 3. 2.30-6.30pm. Recording: `Granny Smith' (working title of `Love You To') (tape reduction take 6 into take 7, overdub onto take 7). Mono mixing: `Granny Smith' (working title of `Love You To') (remixes 1-3, from take 7). Editing: `Granny Smith' (working title of `Love You To') (of mono remixes 1-3).Studio 3. 8.00pm-2.30am. Recording: `Paperback Writer' (takes 1-2). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick; 2nd Engineer: Richard Lush 1967 - "Catch My Soul" closes after grossing over half a million dollars. Jerry Lee Lewis portrayed the villian Iago in the modernized version of Shakespeare's Othello and received the best reviews. He played it straight except he brought a new approach when he once ad-libbed "Great Balls of Fire My Friend Roderigo!" in Act V. 1967 - The Rolling Stones perform their first concert behind the Iron Curtain at the Palace of Culture in Warsaw, Poland. Police with batons and tear gas bombs are required to subdue 2,000 fans hoping to get into the sold-out show. 1967 - The Temptations' "All I Need" is released. 1967 - Nancy and Frank Sinatra were at UK No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Somethin’ Stupid', making them the only father and daughter to have a No.1 single as a team. 1968 - Bobby Goldsboro started a five week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Honey', it made No.2 on the UK chart and also No.2 when re-issued in 1975. 1970 - Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" and the album Chicago Transit Authority both go gold. 1970 - Appearing at Friars, Aylesbury, Genesis. Peter Gabriel, Mike Rutherford, Tony Banks and band received £10 for the gig 1971 - The Rolling Stones release "Brown Sugar" the first record on their own label, Rolling Stones Records, which introduces the infamous tongue-and-lips logo. On May 29, the song becomes a number one single. 1973 - When the J. Geils Band appear on ABC-TV's "In Concert" to sing their hit "Give It to Me," they're censored because of the song's lyric "Get it up." The same thing happens to Curtis Mayfield on "Soul Train" when he performs "Pusherman." 1973 - The Who's Roger Daltrey releases his first solo album. The material is composed by songwriters Leo Sayer and David Courtney and is produced by Adam Faith. Daltry makes it to #45. 1974 - Maureen McGovern performed "The Morning After" on "American Bandstand." 1974 - Stories performed "If It Feels Good, Do It" on "American Bandstand." 1974 - Gay-activist,Elton John went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Bennie And The Jets', his second US No.1, it made No.37 in the UK. 1974 - Paul McCartney's 'Band On The Run', went to No.1 on the US album charts, McCartney's third US No.1, which went on to sell over 6 million copies world-wide. 1979 - Five days into Van Halen's latest tour, David Lee Roth collapses from exhaustion on stage in Spokane, Washington. 1980 - Sham 69 kicked off an UK tour appearing at The Top Rank in Cardiff. 1980 - The musical Grease closed after 3883 performances in New York and having grossed over $8 million 1982 - Less than three weeks after being busted in Los Angeles on cocaine possession charges, David Crosby is arrested again — this time in his dressing room at Cardi's, a Dallas nightclub — after police find him in possession of cocaine as well as a gun. 1985 - The Gap Band performed "I Found My Baby" on "American Bandstand." 1985 - USA for Africa started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'We Are The World.' 1986 - In France, Prince filmed the video for the song "Mountains." 1991 - Londonbeat went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'I've Been Thinking About You', a No.2 hit in the UK. 1993 - Appearing at Newcastle University, The Orb, England, tickets £8.50. 1994 - The Los Angeles Times reports that Kurt Cobain's March drug overdose in Rome had been a failed suicide attempt 1997 - The Notorius B.I.G. was at No.1 on the US album charts with 'Life After Death.' 1999 - Michael Jackson announced that all proceeds from his single "What More Can I Give?" would be donated to help ethnic Albanian refugees from Kosovo 1999 - Yoko Ono sued Fredieric Seaman over personal effects of the late John Lennon. Seaman, a former assistant to Lennon, was accused of "an elaborate scheme" to "exploit Lennon's death by stealing priceless personal and sentimental items." 2000 - Heather Mills won $316,700 in damages for a 1993 accident that involved a British motorcycle officer. Mills, Paul McCartney's girlfriend, received the out-of-court-settlement without any admission of guilt for the loss of her left leg. 2002 - Thieves broke in to a house in Bexhill, Sussex and stole a hi-fi system and several CD's. They left albums by Madonna, Robbie Williams and Oasis but took the owners entire Showaddywaddy collection. 2003 - The Beatles Apple Corp company was listed as Britain's fastest profit-growth firm with an annual profit growth of 194% Famous birthdays 1895 - Violinist Olga Rudge is born. 1919 - Singer and actor Howard Keel was born in Gillespie, Illinois. Keel's strong baritone was featured in such 1950's movie musicals as "Annie Get Your Gun," "Show Boat, "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" and "Kismet." His career was revived in the 1980's with a featured role on the television series "Dallas." 1940 - Chambers Brothers percussionist Lester Chambers. 1942 - Movie and TV composer Bill Conti. 1943 - Eve Graham of the New Seekers. 1944 - Brian Pendleton, guitarist with The Pretty Things. 1944 - Jack Casady, bass player with Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna, was born in Washington, DC. The Airplane was one of the most important groups to emerge from the San Francisco area during the 1960's. "Somebody to Love" and "White Rabbit" were their big hits. Jack Casady and guitarist Jorma Kaukonen from the Airplane formed the group Hot Tuna in 1970. 1945 - Guitarist Lowell George of Little Feat is born. 1946 - Jim Pons of the Turtles and also the Mothers of Invention. 1946 - Roy Loney, foundimg member of the Flaming Groovies, is born in San Francisco. The high energy, garage sound of the Flaming Groovies would contrast sharply with the indulgent music of other San Francisco groups of the late 60's and early 70's. 1946 - Singer Al Green is born in Forest City, Arkansas. Such hits as "Let's Stay Together," "I'm Still In Love With You" and "You Ought To Be With Me" made him one of the leading soul music stars of the 1970's. He later became a minister in a Memphis Pentecostal church and most of his later recordings are gospel records. 1951 - Max Weinberg, drummer for the E Street Band and also music director of "Late Night with Conan O'Brien." 1951 - Singer Peabo Bryson. 1954 - Blondie keyboardist Jimmy Destri. 1955 - Louis Johnson of the disco act the Brothers Johnson. 1957 - Wayne Lewis of the r'n'b group Atlantic Starr. Famous deaths 1995 - Leonard Rambeau, who guided the careers of Anne Murray, George Fox and Rita MacNeil, died in Toronto of cancer at age 49. He was the head of Murray's management company, as well as her personal manager. Murray called Rambeau "the only indispensable person" in her career. 2003 - Nigerian drummer Babatunde Olatunji, whose albums introduced African percussion to a wide U.S. audience, died Sunday of diabetes in Salinas, California.In 1960, Columbia released Olatunji's "Drums of Passion," one of the first major-label albums of world music. The track "Gin-Go-Lo-Ba" was reworked by Santana as "Jingo," an instrumental on the band's 1969 debut.In the early '60s, Olatunji established the Olatunji Center for African Culture in New York, with aid from John Coltrane. Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart arranged for the release of Olatunji's '80s albums on Rykodisc; the two toured together in the '90s. |
1997 - The Notorius B.I.G. was at No.1 on the US album charts with 'Life After Death.'
How ironic, 1 month earlier he was slain in the streets. The album's name was already printed. |
On April 14 in music history ..
1922 - Jeanette Vreeland sang the first radio concert from an airplane as she flew over New York City 1944 - Top of the Charts - It’s Love, Love, Love - The Guy Lombardo Orchestra (vocal: Skip Nelson),I Love You - Bing Crosby,Besame Mucho - The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra (vocal: Bob Eberly & Kitty Kallen,Too Late to Worry, Too Blue to Cry - Al Dexter 1955 - Fats Domino's "Ain't That A Shame" is released. 1956 - Ampex Corporation of Redwood City, CA demonstrated the first commercial magnetic tape recorder for sound and picture. The videotape machine had a price tag of $75,000. These early Ampex units were too large to fit in a small room. That’s back when bigger was better 1956 - Elvis Presley recorded the song "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You". 1958 - Van Cliburn won the International Tchaikovsky piano competition 1958 - Pianist Van Cliburn was presented on national TV for the first time on NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jack Paar. 1958 - Laurie London reached the top spot on the music charts with He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands, knocking Perry Como’s Catch a Falling Star down a peg or two. 1960 - Sonny Boy Williamson records "Checkin' Up on My Baby" for Chess Records in Chicago. 1960 - The musical Bye Bye Birdie opened at the Martin Beck Theatre in New York City. Chita Rivera and **** Van Dyke starred in the Broadway show which ran for 607 performances 1963 - The Rolling Stones played at The Crawdaddy Club, Richmond, members of The Beatles were in the audience. 1964 - The King Bees, (featuring a young David Bowie, then David Jones), played a wedding reception at the Jack Of Clubs in London 1965 - The Elvis Presley movie "Girl Happy" opened in the U.S. 1965 - Millie Small appears on ABC-TV's "Shindig!" performing her smash "My Boy Lollipop." Also on the show are Jerry Lee Lewis and Neil Sedaka. 1965 - The title of the Beatles' upcoming second movie is changed from "Eight Arms to Hold You" to "Help!" 1966 - The Spencer Davis Group were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Somebody Help Me’, the groups second UK No.1. 1966 - Beatles recording sessions - Studio 3. 2.30-7.30pm. Recording: `Paperback Writer' (overdub onto take 2).Studio 3 (control room only). 7.30-8.00pm. Mono mixing: `Paperback Writer' (remixes 1, 2, from take 2).Studio 3. 8.30pm-1.30am. Recording: `Rain' (takes 1-5). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick; 2nd Engineer: Richard Lush 1967 - Polydor Records releases the Bee Gees' first made-in England record, "New York mining Disaster 1941." It was released with a promotional slogan announcing "The Most Significant Talent Since the Beatles." The single goes #10 in the U.K. and #14 in the U.S. 1967 - Herman’s Hermits, featuring lead singer Peter Noone, went gold with the single, There’s a Kind of Hush. It was a two-sided hit, with the flip-side, No Milk Today, also receiving considerable play. Hush, however, was a top five song, while the ‘B’ side just made it into the top 40 at number 35 1967 - David Bowie's novelty record 'The Laughing Gnome' was released in the UK 1967 - A riot broke out at Warsaw's Palace Of Culture as The Rolling Stones made their first appearance in a Iron curtain Country, police used tear gas in a battle with 2,000 fans 1969 - Elvis Presley's single "In The Ghetto" was released 1969 - Beatles recording sessions - Studio 3. 2.30-9.00pm. Recording: `The Ballad Of John And Yoko (They're Gonna Crucify Me)' (working title of `The Ballad Of John And Yoko') (takes 1-11). Studio 3 (control room only). 9.00-11.00pm. Stereo mixing: `The Ballad Of John And Yoko (They're Gonna Crucify Me)' (working title of `The Ballad Of John And Yoko') (remixes 1-5, from take 10). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick; 2nd Engineer: John Kurlander.1st session for `The Ballad Of John And Yoko'/`Old Brown Shoe'.The recording of 'The Ballad Of John and Yoko' took place with just two Beatles, Paul McCartney and John Lennon, Paul played bass, drums and piano with John on guitars, it was also The Beatles first stereo single 1970 - Stephen Stills breaks his wrist in a car accident, resulting in the cancellation of an American tour by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Stills drove into a parked vehicle while watching a police patrol car in his rear-view mirror. 1970 - Creedence Clearwater Revival made their live UK debut when they played the first of two nights at The Royal Albert Hall, London. 1971 - The Illinois Crime Commission issued a list of 'drug-oriented records' including Jefferson Aiplanes 'White Rabbit', Procol Harums 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale' and The Beatles 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds' 1972 - David Bowie releases the first single from his conceptual The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars — "Starman" backed with "Suffragette City." Ziggy will remain on the LP chart for more than a year and will finally break Bowie in the U.S. 1973 - Led Zeppelin started a two week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Houses Of The Holy', also made No.1 in the US 1974 - Pete Townshend appears for the first time as a soloist. The Who guitarist performs at the Roundhouse in London, accompanied only by his homemade tapes. 1975 - After rumour's that Jimmy Page, Steve Marriott, Jeff Beck and Chris Spedding will replace Mick Taylor as guitarist in The Rolling Stones, a press release confirmed that Ron Wood would be joining the band for their forthcoming American tour. 1975 - Art Garfunkel started a six week run at No.1 in the UK with the theme from the film 'Watership Down', 'Bright Eyes' which went on to become the biggest selling single of the year. 1976 - Bay City Rollers singer Eric Faulkner almost dies after swalling Seconal and Valium tablets. The 21 year old, after recovering, admits to being very tired from the group's hecktic schedule. 1976 - Motown Records and Stevie Wonder hold a news conference to announce he's signed a "$13 million-plus" contract renewal with the label. 1978 - Joy Division played at the 'Stiff Test/Chiswick Challenge', at Raffters in Manchester and are seen by future manager Rob Gretton and then journalist Tony Wilson. 1979 - The Doobie Brothers went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'What A Fool Believes', the groups second US No.1, it made No.31 in the UK. 1979 - Arpeggio performed "Love and Desire" on "American Bandstand." 1979 - Edwin Starr performed "Contact" on "American Bandstand." 1980 - Gary Numan releases "The Touring Principle," a 45 minute concert video. It is the first commercially available home rock videocassette. 1980 - Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run" is named the official state song of New Jersey. 1983 - Appearing at the De Montfort Hall, Leicester, Tears For Fears. Spandau Ballet played at The Royal Albert Hall, London 1984 - Patti Austin performed "It's Gonna Be Special" on "American Bandstand." 1984 - "Weird Al" Yankovic's parody "Eat It" hit #12 in the U.S. 1984 - The Alarm performed "Marching On" and "68 Guns" on "American Bandstand." 1984 - The video for Billy Idol's "Rebel Yell" was aired on "American Bandstand." 1990 - Madonna had her seventh UK No.1 single with 'Vogue.' 1990 - Tommy Page went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'I'll Be Your Everything', his only hit in the UK reaching No.53 1994 - Drummer Paul Hester abruptly quits Crowded House following a concert by the Australian group in Atlanta. Hester cites the grind of touring and says he felt himself drifting away from fellow band members Neil Finn and Nick Seymour. 1994 - The King County, WA, medical examiner says Kurt Cobain had been dead three days when his body was found. The doctor also states that the Nirvana lead singer had taken heroin and Valium the day he shot himself 1999 - It was reported that Prince intended to re-record the entire catalog of his music and re-release it. 2001 - Sean "Puffy" Combs, (a.k.a P. Diddy), was arrested in Miami for riding a scooter in South Beach on a suspended driver's license. He was released 20 minutes later after signing a promise to appear in court 2002 - Ashanti started a ten week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Foolish.’ 2003 - A man was arrested accused of making up a Bjork concert then selling tickets. Alex Conate allegedly sold tickets worth $14,000 at $40 each after persuading a San Diego nightclub owner that Bjork had agreed to play there. He was accused of taking the money and moving to Hawaii, where he was arrested Famous birthdays 1933 - Singer/songwriter Buddy "Party Doll" Knox is born in Happy, Texas. He was one of a number of southern country singers who broke into rock 'n' roll in the 1950's. 1935 - Country singer Loretta Lynn (born Loretta Webb) is born in Butcher's Hollow, KY. 1945 - Ritchie Blackmore, guitarist with Deep Purple and Rainbow, is born. 1946 - Patrick Fairley, bass player for Marmalade, is born in Glasgow, Scotland 1951 - Musician Matima Kinuani Mpiosso is born. Famous deaths 1983 - Pete Farndon of the Pretenders dies of a drug overdose. He had been fired from the band the year before because of his drug problem. He was 29 years old. 1995 - Burl Ives dies at his home in Anacortes, Washington. He was 85. 1998 - UK singer Dorothy Squires died of cancer aged 83. (1953 UK No.12 single ‘I'm Walking Behind You’). 1999 - UK singer, actor Anthony Newley died of cancer. Scored 12 UK Top 40 singles from 1959 -1962 including the No.1 single 'Why.' 2002 - Joey Ramone (real name Jeffrey Hyman), lead singer of legendary punk band the Ramones, dies of lymphatic cancer. Joey was 49 |
On April 15 in music history ..
1927 - Serge Koussevitsky directed the Boston Symphony in the first performance of Frederick Converse’s symphony, Flivver Ten Million, a salute to the ‘Tin Lizzie’ automobile 1957 - Elvis Presley visited the estate he just bought 1958 - The Ames Brothers performed "A Very Precious Love" on "American Bandstand." 1960 - Freddy Cannon performed "Jump Over" and "The Urge" on "American Bandstand." 1965 - The Crew-Cuts' cover of the Penguins' 1954 Number One R&B hit "Earth Angel" begins a 20-week run on the British charts.(The Crew-Cut hair syle is what is known as 'high&tight' in the 90's. It went outta style when long hair came into fashion with the British Invasion of the 60's) 1966 - Decca Records releases the Rolling Stones' Aftermath in Britain. It is the first Stones album to contain all original material. In two weeks, it will hit number one for a nine-week stay at that position on the U.K. album chart. In the U.S., Aftermath will reach #2. 1966 - Appearing live at the Blackpool Odeon, Jimi Hendrix, The Walker Brothers, Cat Stevens and Engelbert Humperdink, tickets 5 and 10 shillings. 1967 - Martha & the Vandellas performed "Jimmy Mack" on "American Bandstand." 1967 - The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band performed "Buy for Me the Rain" on "American Bandstand." 1967 - Decca Records releases the Who's second album — Happy Jack — in the U.S. The record peaks at #24, making it the Who's first record to crack the top 70. 1969 - Elvis Presley signed a contract for his appearance at the Las Vegas International Hotel in August 1971 - Rolling Stone magazine reports that the Illinois Crime Commission has issued a list of "drug oriented rock records." Included are" "Lets Go Get Stoned," "A Whiter Shade of Pale" and "White Rabbit." 1971 - The Beatles won an Oscar for Best Film Music (Original Song Score) for "Let It Be." 1972 - Roberta Flack started a six week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with the Ewan MacColl song 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face'. A No.14 hit in the UK. The song was featured in the Clint Eastwood film 'Play Misty For Me.' 1972 - Bobby Vinton performed "Every Day of My Life" on "American Bandstand." 1972 - The Five Man Electrical Band performed "Signs" and "Absolutely Right" on "American Bandstand." 1973 - Bette Midler receives a gold album for her recording debut. One of the year's hottest entertainers, Midler combines her schtick with elements of the big band era of the '40s and '50s. 1975 - Appearing at Pittsburgh Stanley Theater, Kiss, Rush and the Heavy Metal Kids 1976 - Gary Wright's "Love Is Alive" single is released. 1977 - Ronnie van Zant and Gary Rossington of Lynyrd Skynyrd present a gold disc awarded to them for One More from the Road to Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson. This is in appreciation of their fans in Atlanta and because the LP was recorded there. 1978 - Television were forced to postpone their gig at Bristol's Colston Hall after the 40 foot truck carrying their equipment was involved in a crash killing the driver 1982 - Billy Joel is seriously hurt in a motorcycle accident on Long Island, New York. He goes to hospital and stays for over a month undergoing therapy on his injured hand. 1982 - Rolling Stone magazine reports on the growing trend towards EP's, or "Mini-Albums," which have been succesfully released by the B-52's, Devo, New Order and the Pretenders. 1986 - .38 Special's "Like No Other Night" becomes the first compact disc single released in North America. 1988 - Prince's song "Alphabet St." was released in the U.K. 1989 - Apollonia appeared on "Soul Train." 1989 - American all Girl group The Bangles started a four week run at No.1 in the UK with the single 'Eternal Flame.' 1989 - The Fine Young Cannibals went to No.1 in the US singles chart with 'She Drives Me Crazy.' 1989 - Tone Loc went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Loc-ed After Dark'. 1995 - Montell Jordan started a seven week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'This Is How We Do It', a No.11 hit in the UK. 1996 - Milli Vanilli singer Rob Pilatus was jailed for 90 days by a Los Angeles judge for three violent attacks and parole violation 1996 - The rest of Jerry Garcia's ashes are scattered near the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. A small portion had been scattered in the Ganges River in India 11 days earlier. 1997 - Michael Jackson's single "Blood On The Dance Floor" was released 1999 - The film "Entropy" makes its world debut at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival. The movie features U2 in their acting debut. Bono is the only band member with lines in the romantic comedy starring Stephen Dorff and co-produced by Robert DeNiro. The band plays themselves 2001 - Janet Jackson started a six week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'All For You.' 2001 - Stereophonics started a two week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Jeep.' 2003 - Beyonce was sued by the Wilhemina Artist Agency who claimed she hadn’t paid them the commission for her L'Oréal ads. The agency claimed the singer refused to pass on the 10 percent of the $1m (£640,000) deal which was brokered by the agency Famous birthdays 1898 - Bessie Smith, considered to be the greatest woman blues singer, was born in Knoxville, Tennessee. Between 1923 and 1933 she recorded more than 100 blues, such as "St. Louis Blues," "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" and "Gimme a Pig-Foot and a Bottle of Beer." She influenced every female blues singer to follow, from Billie Holiday to Janis Joplin. Bessie Smith died following a car crash near Clarkedale, Mississippi on September 26th, 1937. 1924 - British conductor Neville Marriner. 1933 - Country singer Roy Clark was born in Meaherrin, Virginia. Clark, who has recorded more than 40 albums, had his first top-10 hit in 1963 with "Tips of My Fingers." His other successes include "Yesterday When I Was Young," "If I Had to Do It All Over Again" and "Come Live With Me," his only country charttopper, from 1973. Clark is also a versatile musician, playing guitar, banjo and violin, among other instruments. He's is familiar to millions of TV viewers as co-host of "Hee Haw." 1936 - Bluesman Frank Frost. 1939 - British rock 'n' roller Marty Wilde, whose real name is Reginald Smith. 1942 - Allan Clarke, lead singer of the Hollies. 1944 - Rock singer and producer Dave Edmunds was born in Cardiff, Wales. He had a big international hit in 1970 with "I Hear You Knocking," a remake of an old blues song by Smiley Lewis. Later in the decade, he began fronting a traditional rock 'n' roll band called Rockpile with bass player Nick Lowe. Among the artists Edmunds has produced are the Stray Cats, the Everly Brothers, Jeff Beck and the Fabulous Thunderbirds. 1947 - Wooley Wolstenholme, keyboards player and vocalist with Barclay James Harvest. 1966 - Dance music singer Samantha Fox. Famous deaths 1970 - Pioneer record company owner George Goldner died in New York City at the age of 52. Goldner was one of the first to recognize that black groups could score on the pop charts if their records were produced with the white audience in mind. Starting with "Crying in the Chapel" by the Orioles in 1953, Goldner had great success with New York street corner groups. Some of the other acts he recorded included Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, the Crows and the Chantels. Goldner eventually gambled away most of the fortune he made with his dozen or more record labels. 2001 - Joey Ramone (real name Jeffrey Hyman), frontman of the Ramones and the voice of punk rock in America, succumbs to lymphatic cancer. He was 49 years old. |
Quote:
Adios Amigo!    |
On April 16 in music history ..
1956 - One week after CBS unveiled the first national rock & roll show, ABC airs its own: "Rhythm on Parade," which is broadcast live from the Flam Show Bar in Detroit. 1958 - Dion & The Belmonts performed "I Wonder Why" on "American Bandstand." 1964 - The Rolling Stones first album was released in the UK, it went to No.1 two weeks later 1965 - The Hollies open their first tour of the U.S. at the Brooklyn Paramount theater in New York. At this point they had only one very minor hit in America, their Hot 100 cover of Doris Troy's "Just One Look." It's not until the following year that the group will crack the US top ten with "Bus Stop." 1966 - Bob Dylan's "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35" is released. 1966 - Norma Tanega performed "Walkin' My Cat Named Dog" on "American Bandstand." 1966 - Eddie Holman performed "This Can't Be True" on "American Bandstand." 1966 - Beatles recording sessions - Studio 2. 2.30pm-1.30am. Recording: `Rain' (overdub onto take 5, tape reduction take 5 into take 6; takes 7-8). Mono mixing: `Rain' (remixes 1-4, from take 7). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick; 2nd Engineer: Richard Lush 1967 - Cream appeared at the 'Daily Express Record Star Show', at The Empire Pool, Wembley 1969 - Beatles recording sessions - Studio 3. 2.30-5.00pm. Recording: `Old Brown Shoe' (take 1). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Phil McDonald; 2nd Engineer: Richard Lush.Studio 3. 7.00pm-2.45am. Recording: `Old Brown Shoe' (takes 1-4); `Something (takes 1-13). Stereo mixing: `Old Brown Shoe' (remixes 1-3, from take 4). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Jeff Jarratt; 2nd Engineer: Richard Lush.Recording of 2nd demo (2.30-5.00pm session) and 1st proper take (7.00pm-2.45am session) of `Old Brown Shoe'. 1969 - Desmond Dekker and the Aces were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘The Israelites’, making Dekker the first Jamaican artist to have an UK No.1 single 1972 - The Electric Light Orchestra play their first live gig at the Reading Festival in England. Most of ELO's early shows were disastrous; Roy Woods' attempt to play more than one instrument would often lead to him tripping over chords and wires just to get to them. 1973 - Paul McCartney stars in his first TV special, "James Paul McCartney," which features his wife Linda and Wings. Highlights include a rendition of "Yesterday" and footage from several concerts. 1976 - Boz Scaggs is cold-cocked by two bouncers outside the Austin, Texas blues club Antone's after attempting to go backstage to see the headliner, Bobby "Blue" Bland. Sparks flew when Scaggs was not let backstage despite him claiming he was invited by a member of Bland's group. 1977 - James Darren performed "You Take My Heart Away" on "American Bandstand." 1977 - England Dan & John Ford Coley performed "It's Sad to Be Lonely" on "American Bandstand." 1977 - Stevie Wonder enters the soul chart with what will be another of his many number one hits. "Sir Duke," a tribute to Duke Ellington, will top the charts next month. 1977 - Actor from TV's 'Starsky & Hutch David Soul went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Don't Give Up On Us', his only US hit. Also No.1 in the UK 1983 - Bonnie Tyler went to No.1 on the UK chart with her debut album and only chart topper 'Faster Than The Speed Of Night.' 1983 - Echo And The Bunnymens Ian McCulloch married Lorraine Fox 1983 - Laura Branigan performed "Solitaire" and "Deep in the Dark" on "American Bandstand." 1983 - Bryan Adams performed "Straight from the Heart" and "Cuts Like a Knife" on "American Bandstand." 1987 - Twist king Chubby Checker, jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie and conductor Leopold Stokowski are among the first ten inductees to the Philadelphia Music Foundation Hall of Fame. 1988 - The Scorpions play the first of 10 concerts in Leningrad and Moscow, becoming the first major hard rock group to play the Soviet Union. 1990 - Over 72,000 people gather at London's Wembley Stadium for an anti-aparthied concert honoring Nelson Mandela, who was recently released from prison. Performers include Peter Gabriel, Neil Young, Lou Reed, Bonnie Raitt, Simple Minds, the Neville Brothers and Tracy Chapman. 1991 - Flavor Flav of Public Enemy is sentenced in Mineola, New York to 30 days in jail for punching his girlfriend. Flav (real name William Drayton), pleads guilty to hitting Karren Ross in the face. 1993 - Paul McCartney headlines a concert at the Hollywood Bowl to celebrate Earth Day. He had last performed there as a member of the Beatles in 1965. Other performers at the concert include Ringo Starr, Steve Miller and Don Henley. 1993 - Singer/songwriter Billy Burnette announces he's leaving Fleetwood Mac to concentrate on recording country music. 1993 - David Lee Roth is arrested for buying marijuana in New York City's Washington Square Park. The judge later ordered the charges dropped if the rocker remain clean for a year. 1994 - Bonnie Raitt went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Longing In Their Hearts.' 1994 - On his 37th single release Prince had his first UK No.1 with 'The Most Beautiful Girl In The World.' 1996 - The maxi single for Michael Jackson's "They Don't Care About Us" was released 1997 - Mark Morrison was convicted with threatening a police officer with an illegal 23,000 volt electric stun gun. The singer left Maryebone Magistrates' Court in tears after being warned he was likely to be sent to prison 1998 - Los Angeles prosecutors file criminal charges against George Michael in connection with his arrest a week earlier in a Beverly Hills park restroom. The pop singer was charged with one misdemeanor count of engaging in a lewd act and admits he is a homosexual. 1999 - Randi Valli, the wife of 1960s pop singer Frankie Valli, is convicted by a Ventura, CA jury of misdemeanor battery for slapping a restaurant owner during an argument over the establishment's prices. 1999 - Sean "Puffy" Combs surrenders to New York City police to face charges in connection with the beating of a Universal Records executive one day earlier 2000 - Fragma went to No. 1 on the UK singles chart with 'Toca's Miracle.' 2003 - 52 year-old soul singer Luther Vandross sufferd a stroke Famous birthdays 1924 - Pianist, composer and orchestra leader Henry Mancini was born in Cleveland. He was a perennial winner at the Oscar and Grammy award ceremonies during the 1960's and '70s, and in fact has won more of both than any other pop artist. Mancini wrote "Moon River," song of the year in 1961, and "Days of Wine and Roses," which won the same award two years later. Mancini's "Music From Peter Gunn" was album of the year in 1958. And his recording of "Love Theme From Romeo and Juliet," on which he played piano, was a million-seller in 1969. Henry Mancini died of cancer in Beverly Hills, California, on June 14th, 1994. 1929 - Singer-actress Edie Adams. 1929 - '50s pop and rhythm-and-blues singer Roy Hamilton was born in Cleveland. Audiences regularly stormed the stage when he performed his hits, such as "You'll Never Walk Alone" and "Unchained Melody," which was the top r'n'b song of 1955. Hamilton died of a heart attack on July 20th, 1969. 1930 - Jazz flutist Herbie Mann. 1935 - Pop singer Bobby Vinton. 1939 - Dusty Springfield, Britain's leading female vocalist in the mid-1960's, was born in London.Her real name is Mary Isobel Catherine O'Brien. She took her stage name from a folk group called the Springfields, which she formed with her brother Tom. After the Springfields broke up in 1963, Dusty had a successful solo career, with such hits as "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" and "Wishin' and Hopin'."She also sang the original theme song for "The Six-Million-Dollar Man," but the song was later dropped from the television series.In 1987, Springfield combined with the Pet Shop Boys for a top-ten hit, "What Have I Done To Deserve This?".The Pet Shop Boys later co-wrote and produced tracks for her 1990 album 'Reputation' - which included the PSB penned hits 'In Private' and 'Nothing Has Been Proved'. 'Nothing Has Been Proved' was also included in the Bridget Fonda film, 'Scandal'. 1945 - Blues singer and guitarist Stefan Grossman. 1947 - '70s pop singer and songwriter Gerry Rafferty, co-leader of Stealers Wheel. 1952 - British rock musician Chas Jankel. 1963 - Jimmy Osmond, youngest of the Osmond Brothers. 1965 - Latin American rapper Gerardo, whose full name is Gerardo Mejia the Third. 1995 - Bob Seger and wife Nita become parents to daughter Samantha Char. Famous deaths 1980 - Film composer and conductor Morris Stoloff died at age 81. He was musical director of Columbia Pictures for more than two decades, beginning in 1936. Stoloff won three Academy Awards, including one for "The Jolson Story" in 1946. Ten years later, his recording of "Moonglow and Theme From Picnic" topped the Billboard chart for three weeks. 1992 - Crooner Andy Russell died in Phoenix, Arizona of complications from a stroke. He was 72. Russell reached stardom about the same time as Frank Sinatra and Perry Como. His hits in the 1940's included "Besame Mucho," "Laughing on the Outside" and the "Anniversary Song." 1999 - Skip Spence, an original member of Jefferson Airplane and founding member of Moby Grape, dies of lung cancer in a San Francisco hospital at age 52. He had battled schizophrenia and alcoholism and had been on a ventilator for 11 days before his death. |
On April 17 in music history ..
1950 - Tony Bennett makes his first recording, "Boulevard of Broken Dreams." 1955 - Fats Domino's "Ain't That a Shame," which Billboard erroneously lists for months as "Ain't It a Shame," is released on Commodore Records. 1964 - The Rolling Stones' debut album, The Rolling Stones is released in the U.K. on Decca Records. The album contains one original tune — "Tell Me." It sells more than 200,000 copies and tops the British chart for 12 weeks. 1965 - Bob Dylan's debut album 'The Freewheeling' Bob Dylan' was at No.1 on the UK chart. 1965 - Paul McCartney spent the day shopping for furniture in Portobello Road, London disguised in a cloth cap, moustache, glasses and overcoat 1965 - The Beach Boys' "Help Me Rhonda" is released. 1966 - Beatles recording sessions - Studio 2. 2.30-10.30pm. Recording: `Doctor Robert' (takes 1-7). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick; 2nd Engineer: Richard Lush 1967 - Beatles recording sessions - Studio 2 (control room only). 7.00-10.30pm. Stereo mixing: `Getting Better' (remix 1, from take 15); `She's Leaving Home' (remixes 1-6, from take 11); `When I'm Sixty-Four' (remix 1, from take 4); `Lovely Rita' (remixes 1, 2, from take 11). Editing: `She's Leaving Home' (of remix stereo 6). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick; 2nd Engineer: Richard Lush 1969 - The Band plays its first concert as an independent group. Before now, they had been backing Ronny Hawkins as the Hawks and Bob Dylan as the Band. The show is at the Winterland in San Francisco and opens a national tour to promote its first album, Music from Big Pink. 1970 - Johnny Cash performs at the White House at the invitation of President Richard M. Nixon. Nixon asked Cash to perform "Okie From Muskogee" but Cash refused since it wasn't his song. Instead, Cash sang his number one hit, "A Boy Named Sue." 1970 - Paul McCartney releases his first solo album, McCartney. The self-interview enclosed with the album basically confirms that the Beatles had broken up. 1970 - Johnny Cash played at the White house for President Nixon, who requested that he played 'A Boy Named Sue.' 1971 - All four Beatles had solo singles in the UK charts, Paul McCartney: 'Another Day', John Lennon: Power To The People', George Harrison: 'My Sweet Lord' and Ringo Starr: 'It Don't Come Easy.' 1971 - 'Motown Chartbusters Vol 5' started a three week run at No.1 on the UK chart. 1971 - Three Dog Night started a six week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Joy To The World'. The groups second US No.1; it made No.24 in the UK. 1971 - The Doors' "Love Her Madly" is released. 1973 - Pink Floyd receives a gold album for The Dark Side of the Moon, one of rock's landmark albums. The LP will remain on the charts for more than ten years and become the longest charting rock record of all time. 1973 - Tito and John Jackson from The Jackson Five were arrested for buying stolen TV and stereo equipment 1976 - "Jailbreak," Irish rockers Thin Lizzy's most successful U.S. release, enters the chart. It will peak at #18 thanks to their #12 gold single, "The Boys are Back in Town." 1976 - Veteran jazz guitarist George Benson's album "Breezin'" enters the album chart. It will go on to become one of the best-selling jazz albums of all time. The albums goes gold on June 4 and platinum on August 10. 1977 - Appearing at The Roundhouse, London, The Stanglers, Cherry Vanilla, The Police and The Jam 1980 - Bob Marley and the Wailers perform as official guests of State at Zimbabwe's Independence festival. Marley calls the event the "greatest honor of my life." 1980 - Appearing at London's Royal Albert Hall, Gerry Rafferty, tickets £2. - £6 1981 - Guitarist Eric Clapton is released from a hospital in London following treatment for stomach ulcers. 1982 - Iron Maiden's third album, The Number of the Beast, enters the U.K. LP chart at number one. The metal group says the making of the album, which contains references to Satanism, was haunted by mysterious things like amplifiers blowing out for no apparent reason and tapes losing recorded tracks and picking up strange voices. However, the best story is about a car accident their producer was involved in soon after the LP's title song was recorded. His auto repair bill came to 666 pounds, the Number of the Beast. 1982 - Buck's Fizz were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'My Camera Never Lies', the groups third No.1. 1982 - Vangelis was at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Chariots Of Fire', he also won an Oscar for best original score 1986 - Guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan cancels his European tour. He fears reprisals against Americans from Libyan terrorists in the wake of the U.S. bombing of Libya two days earlier. 1993 - David Bowie went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Black Tie White Noise' his eighth UK No.1 LP. 1993 - Former Bangles leader Susanna Hoffs married screenwriter M. Jay Roach in Los Angeles. 1994 - Pink Floyd started a four week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'The Division Bell. 2002 - Music weekly The NME published a list of the 50 most influential icons, the Top was, 10, Public Enemy, 9, U2, 8, The Jam, 7, Radiohead, 6, Oasis, 5, The Sex Pistols, 4, David Bowie, 3, The Stone Roses, 2, The Beatles and No.1 The Smiths Famous birthdays 1929 - German bandleader James Last. 1930 - Chris Barber, British trombonist and bandleader. 1934 - Record Producer Don Kirshner is born. 1941 - British rocker Billy Fury. 1944 - Canadian pop singer Bobby Curtola was born in Port Arthur, Ontario. A teen idol in Canada during the early 1960's, Curtola also made his mark internationally in 1962 with the hits "Fortune Teller" and "Aladdin." As well, he was host of two variety shows for CTV - "After Four" in 1965-66 and "Shake, Rock and Roll" in 1973-74. 1948 - Jazz-Rock Fusion Keyboardist, Producer, Arranger, Jan Hammer(Mahzvishnu Orchestra,film,tv,solo) is born. 1954 - Rock singer, guitarist and producer Michael Sembello. 1955 - Rock musician Pete Shelley, formerly of the Buzzcocks. 1959 - Stephen Singleton of the group ABC. 1972 - Keith Richards girlfriend Anita Pallenberg gave birth to their second child, daughter Dandelion. Famous deaths 1960 - Rock 'n' Roll Singer Eddie Cochran died in a car crash while on his way to the airport in London. He had just completed a tour of Britain.The car he was in skidded and crashed into a lamp post. Cochran died in hospital of severe head injuries. The other passengers, rocker Gene Vincent and Shari Sheeley, Cochran's fiancee, were seriously injured.Cochran was only 21 when he died, and had just begun to realize his potential. "Sittin' in the Balcony" in 1957 and "Summertime Blues" from 1958 were his two biggest hits 1971 - Saxophonist and singer Carmen Lombardo died in Miami at the age of 67. He performed with his brother Guy Lombardo's Royal Canadians from the band's beginning in 1923 until 1970. Lombardo was also a prolific songwriter, and he provided the Royal Canadians with such hits as "Coquette" and "Sweethearts on Parade," both from 1928, and "Boo-Hoo," a 1937 success. 1974 - Vinnie Taylor of the Rock 'n' Roll revival group Sha-Na-Na died, apparently of a heroin overdose. 1983 - Rock producer and musician Felix Pappalardi was shot and killed by his wife, Gail Collins, in New York City. He was 44. Pappalardi first claim to fame was as a producer for the Youngbloods, Joan Baez and Cream. He later became bass guitarist for the heavy metal group Mountain, which had a hit in 1970 with "Mississippi Queen." 1987 - Carlton Barrett, drummer for the reggae group, the Wailers, was shot and killed outside his home in Kingston, Jamaica. Barrett's widow and a Kingston taxi cab owner were charged with murder two weeks later. The Wailers were the late Bob Marley's backing group. 1991 - Lyricist Jack Yellen dies in Springville, N.Y. Age 97. He wrote the words for about 130 songs, including "Happy Days Are Here Again," Franklin Delano Roosevelt's 1932 campaign song. 1998 - Linda Eastman McCartney, wife of Beatle Paul McCartney, dies in Tucson, AZ while vacationing with her family. She had been suffering from cancer since 1995. 2001 - A private funeral for Joey Ramone is held at Schartz Brothers Memorial Chapel in the Forest Hills neighborhood of Queens, where Ramone grew up. 2002 - James Al Hendrix, who introduced his son, guitar legend Jimi Hendrix, to music, dies after a long battle with congestive heart failure. He is 82. |
On April 19 in music history ..
1960 - Elvis Presley released his first single since leaving the U.S. Army. The song was "Stuck On You." 1961 - The Frogmen performed "Underwater" on "American Bandstand." 1963 - Johnny Cymbal performed "Mr. Bass Man" and "Teenage Heaven" on "American Bandstand." 1965 - The film "T.A.M.I. (Teen-Age Music International) Show" featuring the Rolling Stones, Supremes Four Tops, Beach Boys, James Brown and Smokey Robinson & the Miracles opens in London under the title "Teenage Command Performance." 1965 - Elvis Presley completed work on his parts in the movie "Harum Scarum." 1966 - Beatles recording sessions -Studio 2. 2.30-12.00pm. Recording: `Doctor Robert' (overdub onto take 7). Mono mixing: `Doctor Robert' (remixes 1-3, from take 7). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick; 2nd Engineer: Richard Lush 1967 - "Somethin' Stupid" by Frank and Nancy Sinatra is certified gold. Though each has had hits, this is their only collaboration to meet with any success. 1967 - Beatles recording sessions - Studio 2 (control room only). 7.00pm-12.30am. Mono mixing: `Good Morning Good Morning' (remixes 10-23, from take 11); `Only A Northern Song' (remix 4, from take 12). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick; 2nd Engineer: Richard Lush.Mix of end hen crow in `Good Morning Good Morning' with the first guitar note of `Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)'. `Only A Northern Song' mixed to restart work on it later... 1968 - John Lennon, George Harrison and their wives leave the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram in Rishikesh, India two weeks before their study is complete. Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney have already left. Later, all four Beatles will renounce their association with the Maharishi. 1970 - Eurovision Song Contest winner Dana was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'All Kinds Of Everthing.' 1975 - Van McCoy's "The Hustle" enters the pop and R&B charts where it will later top both. The instrumental song is inspired by the dance of the same name and McCoy becomes one of the first industry people to get into the disco music scene. 1975 - The Stylistics started a two week run at No.1 on the UK chart with 'The Best Of' album 1975 - Elton John overhauls his band, firing bassist Dee Murray and drummer Nigel Olsson, one day before the release of his album Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy. 1978 - Over 40 rock & roll performers petition President Jimmy Carter to end America's commitment to nuclear power. Some of the artists include Jackson Browne, the Doobie Brothers, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Carly Simon, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor and others. They get together later on and do an anti-nuclear benefit concert. 1978 - Arista Records releases the Patti Smith Group's single "Because the Night." It is co-written by Smith and Bruce Springsteen and will become Smith's only charting single, making it to #13 later in the year. 1980 - Blondie went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Call Me', (19800419 1980 - Brian Johnson replaces the late Bon Scott as AC/DC's lead singer. Later in the month, the band begins recording Back In Black. 1980 - For the first time ever the top five artists in the US country chart were all female, Crystal Gayle who was at No.1, Dottie West, Debbie Boone, Emmylou Harris and Tammy Wynette. 1980 - Rose Royce went to No.1 on the UK album charts with their 'Greatest Hits' LP 1982 - Classix Nouveaux kicked off a 13 date UK tour at St Alans City Hall 1982 - Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, fresh from the success of their New York Central Park concert the year before, reunite for a European tour. The U.S. leg doesn't go through due to renewed tensions between the duo. 1986 - George Michael had his second UK No.1 with 'A Different Corner.’ 1986 - Prince started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Kiss', plus a song he wrote under the pseudonym 'Christopher', 'Manic Monday', was at No. 2 for The Bangles, 'Manic Monday also made No.2 in the UK 1988 - Sonny Bono is inaugurated as the Mayor of Palm Springs. 1989 - The first night of a 19 date UK tour from The Pixies started at The Top Rank, Brighton 1995 - Members of the band The Cult decide to call it quits. Tensions between founding members Billy Duffy and Ian Astbury are blamed. 1995 - The video "Elvis - The Lost Performances" was certified by the RIAA at 100,000 copies sold 1995 - The Stone Roses played their first gig in five years when the appeared at The Rockerfella Club, Oslo, Norway 1997 - A wax statue of Michael Jackson was unveiled at Paris' Grevin Museum of Wax 1998 - Robbie Williams started a two week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Life Thru A Lens.' 1999 - The Madison Square Garden marquee in New York reads "Bob Dylan, Tonight at 8pm." Problem was that Neil Young was scheduled to appear, not Dylan. Dylan's name was lopped off before the concert, but after Young finished a song during the show, he quips, "That was Bob playing guitar with me on the last song." 2000 - Phil Collins won £250,000 in a high court case over royalties with two former members of his band. The judge ruled that they had been overpaid in error but because the two musicians had no other income they would not have to pay it back 2001 - The New York Post reported that Janet Jackson was furious when Virgin Records signed Mariah Carey for $23.5 million compared to her $10 million. On April 22, 2001, Janet said, "That is so untrue, I just found out that somebody made this rumor up in New York. I sent Mariah flowers saying, 'Welcome to the family.' I'm happy for her." Famous birthdays 1928 - British bluesman Alexis Korner was born in Paris. In 1962, he founded Blues Incorporated, a group which provided a stepping stone to fame for such musicians as Jack Bruce of Cream, Charlie Watts and Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones and Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin. Alexis Korner died of cancer on New Year's Day 1984. 1942 - Larry Ramos of the Association. 1942 - Alan Price, the founder of the Animals, was born in Newcastle, England. The band was originally called the Alan Price Combo, and played mostly rhythm-and-blues songs. Group members overheard some fans talking about those "wild animals" on stage, and thus the band adopted a new name - the Animals. Price's organ work and the vocals of Eric Burdon were the core of their early hits, such as 1964's "House of the Rising Sun," an adaption by Price of a black folk song. Price left the Animals in 1965 for a solo career, which included scoring the Lindsay Anderson film "O! Lucky Man." Both Price and Burdon returned for an Animals reunion in 1983. 1944 - Mark Volman, vocalist and sax player with The Turtles, was born in Los Angeles. The Turtles had two number-one hits in 1967 - "Happy Together" and "She'd Rather Be With Me." Mark Volman later formed a duo - Flo and Eddie - with another ex-Turtle, Howard Kaylon. Both also performed with The Mothers of Invention. 1944 - Bernie Worrell, keyboardist with Parliament and Funkadelic. Famous deaths 1985 - R&B singer Willie Mabon, who recorded "I Don't Know" and "Poison Ivy" for Chess Records, dies at the age of 59. 1993 - Saxophonist Steve Douglas dies of heart failure in Los Angeles during a recording session with Ry Cooder. He was 55. His career began in high school with friend Phil Spector and included early stints with Ritchie Valens and Duane Eddy & the Rebels, with whom he played a solo on their classic "Peter Gunn." As a session musician, he played on such hits as "Da Doo Ron Ron" and "Be My Baby." 2002 - Alice in Chains' lead singer Layne Staley is found dead in his Seattle home. According to autopsy results, he actually died on April 5 of a drug overdose. Staley was 34. |
On April 20 in music history ..
1931 - Louis Armstrong recorded the classic, When It’s Sleepy Time Down South, for Okeh Records. Satchmo would use the tune as his theme song for decades. The song was waxed in Chicago, IL 1935 - Your Hit Parade, starring Kay Thompson, Charles Carlyle, Gogo DeLys and Johnny Hanser, was first broadcast on radio this night in 1935. A youngster named Frank Sinatra would later be part of the program as a featured vocalist. Your Hit Parade stayed on the radio airwaves for 24 years.Snooky Lanson would later host the program when it made the transition from radio to TV. Other long-time regulars on the TV version were: Russell Arms, Gisele MacKenzie and Dorothy Collins. They were the lucky ones who got to present the top seven songs each week.Since many songs stayed on the list for weeks on end, these vocalists had to invent new ways to present the hit parade. On April 24, 1959, Your Hit Parade died. The regulars just didn’t fit with the new rock ’n’ roll hits. Imagine, if you can, Snooky Lanson singing Hound Dog.The original title of the radio show was, Lucky Strike Hit Parade, sponsored by, you guessed it, Lucky Strike cigarettes. The cigarette company continued to sponsor the TV show (those were the days when cigarette companies sponsored lots of TV shows); and the opening theme song was Be Happy,Go Lucky 1950 - Top of the Charts - If I Knew You Were Comin’ I’d’ve Baked a Cake - Eileen Barton, Music, Music, Music - Teresa Brewer, Peter Cottontail - Gene Autry,Long Gone Lonesome Blues - Hank Williams 1955 - Elvis Presley started a job at Crown Electric driving a truck for $1 an hour 1957 - Elvis Presley's "All Shook Up" hit #1. 1958 - Top of the Charts - He’s Got the Whole World (In His Hands) - Laurie London, Book of Love - The Monotones,Don’t You Just Know It - Huey (Piano) Smith & The Clowns,Oh Lonesome Me - Don Gibson 1959 - Dolly Parton's first record, "Puppy Love," is released on Gold Band Records. Billboard's capsule review notes, "She sounds about 12 years old." She happens to be 13 years old. 1960 - Elvis Presley's return to Hollywood to film "G.I. Blues" is greeted by tremendous fanfare. Of course, it's the top story on the nightly news and even makes page one of the local newspapers. 1962 - Ketty Lester performed "Love Letters in the Sand" on "American Bandstand." 1963 - Rick Nelson and Kris Harmon were married. 1964 - The Elvis Presley movie "Viva Las Vegas" premiered. 1964 - Beatles recording sessions - Studio 2 (control room only). 2.00-3.15pm. Mono mixing: `A Hard Day's Night' (from take 9). Stereo mixing: `A Hard Day's Night' (from take 9). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Norman Smith; 2nd Engineer: A. B. Lincoln.Remixes of `A Hard Day's Night' for United Artists 1964 - The principal filming for the Elvis Presley movie "Roustabout" began 1966 - Beatles recording sessions - Studio 2. 2.30pm-2.30am. Recording: `And Your Bird Can Sing' (takes 1-2); `Taxman' (takes 1-4). Mono mixing: `And Your Bird Can Sing' (remixes 1-5, from take 2). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick; 2nd Engineer: Richard Lush 1966 - Top of the Charts - The Ballad of the Green Berets - SSgt Barry Sadler, (You’re My) Soul and Inspiration - The Righteous Brothers, Daydream - The Lovin’ Spoonful, I Want to Go with You - Eddy Arnold 1967 - Elvis Presley began rehearsals for "Clambake." 1967 - Beatles recording sessions - Studio 3 (control room only). 5.00-6.15pm. Stereo mixing: `Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)' (remix 1-10, from take 9). Producer: not assigned; Engineer: Geoff Emerick; 2nd Engineer: Richard Lush.Studio 2. 7.00pm-2.15am. Recording: `Only A Northern Song' (overdub onto take 3, overdub onto take 11). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick; 2nd Engineer: Richard Lush 1968 - The band Deep Purple, composed of Jon Lord, Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Paice, Rod vans and Nick Semper, perform their concert debut in Tastrup, Denmark. 1969 - The L.A. Free Festival in Venice, California ends in violence before it really begins with lots hurt and 117 arrested. The trouble starts when police chase one youth through the crowd on the beach. When they cuff him, the crowd starts chanting "Pig, pig, pig!" A riot ensues and none of the bands scheduled to play appear. 1969 - Beatles recording sessions - Studio 3. 7.00pm-12.45am. Recording: `I Want You' (later known as `I Want You (She's So Heavy)') (overdub onto take 1); `Oh! Darling (I'll Never Do You No Harm)' (working title of `Oh! Darling') (takes 1-26). Stereo mixing: `Oh! Darling (I'll Never Do You No Harm)' (working title of `Oh! Darling') (remix 1, from take 26). Producer: Chris Thomas; Engineer: Jeff Jarratt; 2nd Engineer: John Kurlander 1970 - Elvis Presley's single for "The Wonder of You" was released 1970 - The New York Times reports Catholic and Protestant youth groups have adopted the Yellow Submarine as a religious symbol. 1970 - The New York Times reported that Catholic and Protestant youth groups had adopted the Yellow Submarine as a religious symbol 1971 - Barbra Streisand recorded "We've Only Just Begun." 1974 - Tony Orlando & Dawn performed "It Only Hurts When I Try to Smile" on "American Bandstand." 1974 - MFSB and the Three Degrees started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'TSOP, (The Sound Of Philadelphia)' it made No.22 in the UK 1976 - The Rolling Stones' Black and Blue album is released and though the critics give it a lukewarm response and feminist protest of an ad campaign which featured a photograph of a bound and bruised model, it reaches Number One and goes platinum in two months. 1981 - One time member of the Mamas and the Papas, John Phillips is put behind bars in Los Angeles after pleading guilty to drug possesion charges. His five year sentence will be suspended after thirty days in exchange for 250 hours worth of community service.19860420 1985 - Lady Pank performed "Minus Zero" and "Hero" on "American Bandstand." 1985 - Sheena Easton performed "Swear" on "American Bandstand." 1987 - Police in Coventry, RI, say they are considering charges against a 17-year-old boy who allegedly bit the head off a gerbil during a party. The teenager says he got the idea from Ozzy Osbourne, who allegedly bit the head off a bat during a concert. 1987 - Ozzy Osbourne released the album "Tribute." It was a live album recorded with Randy Rhoads. Rhoads had died in 1982 1990 - Janet Jackson was awarded with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame 1991 - Wilson Phillips scored their third US No.1 single with 'You're In Love', a No.29 hit in the UK. 1992 - 72,000 fans jam Wembley Stadium in London for an all-star charity concert honoring Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury, who died five months earlier of AIDS. Nearly 100 performers join in the tribute, including Elton John, Guns 'n' Roses, Roger Daltrey, Liza Minnelli, David Bowie, George Michael, Def Leppard, and Spinal Tap. The event raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for the fight against AIDS. 1992 - Madonna signed a deal with Time Warner to set up a multimedia company. The deal reportedly made Madonna the highest paid woman in pop music 1993 - LaToya Jackson's husband and manager, Jack Gordon, is arrested after allegedly eating his wife with a dining room chair at their New York City apartment. 1993 - Shania Twain released her self-titled debut album. 1994 - In London, Barbra Streisand began her first tour in 28 years 1995 - Appearing at The Bataclan Club, Paris, Oasis supported by The Verve. 1996 - Michael Jackson's single "They Don't Care About Us" debuted at #4 in the U.K. 1996 - Mark Morrison had his first UK No.1 single when 'Return Of The Mack' started a two week run at the top of the charts 1997 - The Chemical Brothers went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their album 'Dig Your Own Hole.' 1999 - Billy Joel performs what he says is his last public pop music concert at the Medowlands in New Jersey. He plans on devoting his efforts to classical music. 1999 - KMFDM released their last album as a group after breaking up in the previous January 2000 - Robert Plant appears at Disney's Theatre of the Stars in Orlando, Florida to leave his handprints outside the theatre 2001 - A memorial concert for former Small Faces and Humble Pie frontman Steve Marriott took place at the London Astoria with Peter Framapton, Midge Ure, Chris Farlowe and Humble Pie 2002 - Michael Jackson performed "Dangerous" at the taping of the "American Bandstand 50th Anniversary" TV special. He performed the song a second time because he was not pleased with his performance 2002 - In the dispute over who owned the rights to Nirvana's recordings Dave Grohl and Kirst Novoselic asked a Seattle Court to prove that Courtney Love was mentally stable. They told the court that Love was ‘irrational, mercurial, self-centred, unmanageable, inconsistent and unpredictable.’ They also claimed a contract was invalid because Love was 'stoned' at the time 2004 - Prince's album "Musicology" was released on Sony's Columbia Records Famous birthdays 1945 - Jimmy Winston of Small Faces 1948 - Craig Frost, keyboard player with Grand Funk Railroad 1951 - Singer Luther Vandross 1953 - Ollie Brown of the r'n'b duo Ollie and Jerry. Famous deaths 1991 - Singer and guitarist Steve Marriott, former leader of the Small Faces and Humble Pie, dies in a fire at his home northeast of London. He was 44. A coroner said Marriott took a large quantity of Valium and alcohol on the night he died but death was due to smoke inhalation. 1992 - Johnny Shines, one of the last of the original Delta blues guitarists and singers, dies in Tuscaloosa, Alabama at age 76. Shines had begun playing in the 1930's with the legendary Robert Johnson, then went to Chicago to become part of the blues scene there. 2001 - Italian conductor Giuseppe Sinopoli dies after collapsing at the podium while leading a performance of Verdi's "Aida" at Berlin's Deutsche Oper House. He is 54. 2002 - Alan Dale, a crooner of the late 1940s and '50s whose hits included the million-selling single "Heart of My Heart," dies at the age of 73 after a long illness. |
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