This Date in Rock Music History: April 1

1955:  George Martin became the head A&R man at Parlophone Records, a division of EMI.
1956:  Elvis Presley had a screen test at Paramount Studios in Hollywood for the role of Jimmy Curry in The Rainmaker.
1957:  The Everly Brothers released "Bye Bye Love".
1957:  Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers appeared live in concert at the London Palladium
 

1961:  The hard-working Beatles kicked off 92 straight shows at the Top Ten Club in Hamburg, Germany.  The foursome played for seven hours a night on weekdays and eight hours on weekends.  
1963:  Fats Domino switched recording labels, signing with ABC-Paramount.
1964:  John Lennon was reunited with his father after 17 years.
1965:  The Who recorded a show at a Manchester, England television studio for an appearance on the television show Top of the Pops.  The group then played a concert supporting Donovan at the Town Hall in Wembley, with Rod Stewart and the Soul Agents opening for both acts.
 

1966:  David Bowie's first single, "Do Anything You Say" was released.
1966:  The Troggs recorded "Wild Thing" at Regent Sound Studio in London.

1967:  The world first heard of this great San Francisco band on this date as their first single, "Somebody to Love" debuted on the chart.  Jefferson Airplane.
1967:  The Kinks were in concert at Kelvin Hall in Glasgow, Scotland.
1967:  There was a new #1 song on the Easy Listening chart--"Somethin' Stupid", by father and daughter team Frank & Nancy Sinatra.

1967:  Simon & Garfunkel had a hot new song, as "At the Zoo" moved from #58 to #34.

            The Five Americans reached the Top 10...

1967:  The Turtles remained atop the chart with "Happy Together".  The Mamas & Papas held steady with "Dedicated to the One I Love" with former #1 "Penny Lane" from the Beatles in third.  Herman's Hermits were back with "There's a Kind of Hush" and there was a lot of chart activity with songs dropping as the Four Tops moved from 18-5 with "Bernadette".  The rest of the Top 10:  "This Is My Song" from Petula Clark, Buffalo Springfield remained at #7 with "For What It's Worth", although most stations had it higher, the Beatles had their 48th hit in four years with "Strawberry Fields Forever", Frank Sinatra & daughter Nancy moved to #9 with "Somethin' Stupid" and the Five Americans had a big hit on their hands with "Western Union".
 

1967:  The Monkees spent their 21st consecutive week at #1 on the album chart, 13 with their self-titled debut and 8 with More of the Monkees.  That was a Rock Era record, but the group was far from done.
1968:  Tommy James & the Shondells released the single "Mony Mony".
1969:  The Beach Boys sued their record label, Capitol, for $2 million in unpaid royalties.  The group also announced that they were starting their own Brothers Records label.
1970:  Musicians recorded the orchestral scores for the Beatles' songs "The Long and Winding Road" and "Across the Universe" that would be included on the Let It Be album.
 

1970:  The movie Woodstock premiered in Hollywood.
1970:  Over one million postal ticket applications were sent to Earls Court in London for the forthcoming series of six European concerts by the Rolling Stones.
1971:  Led Zeppelin performed in concert for the BBC Radio show Rock Hour at London's Paris Theater.  The group performed songs from their forthcoming fourth album.

1972:  Dr. Hook debuted on the chart with their first single, "Sylvia's Mother".
1972:  Mar Y Sol, a three-day festival in Puerto Rico, featured Rod Stewart, Alice Cooper, Emerson Lake & Palmer, the Allman Brothers and Dr. John.

                                         "Melissa"...

1972:  The Allman Brothers Band entered the Top 10 with one of their biggest career albums--Eat a Peach.
1972:  Roberta Flack wasted no time reaching #1 on the Adult chart with "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face".
1972:  America remained at #1 with "A Horse with No Name" as Neil Young continued at #2 with "Heart of Gold.  
1975:  The Bay City Rollers' TV series Shang-A-Lang premiered on ITV in the UK.
 

1976:  AC/DC made their live UK debut at the Red Cow in Hammersmith, London.
1976:  "Margaritaville" by Jimmy Buffett was released.
1976:  Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour's house was broken into and guitars valued at over £7,000 were stolen. 
 

1977:  Elvis Presley was admitted to a hospital in Memphis following fatigue and intestinal flu.  He was confined to a hospital bed for six days.
1978:  The Philadelphia Fury soccer team, owned by Paul Simon, Peter Frampton, James Taylor and others, made their debut.
1978:  The #1 song in the UK was "Denis" by Blondie.
1978: Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway rose to #1 on the R&B chart with "The Closer I Get to You".

           Clapton with one of his biggest career hits...

1978:  The Soundtrack to "Saturday Night Fever" prevailed for an 11th week at #1 on the album chart.  Eric Clapton's Slowhand provided the closest competition, but it was way behind.  The great Billy Joel album The Stranger was still third after 26 weeks with Barry Manilow's Even Now in the #4 spot.  The rest of the Top 10:  Aja from Steely Dan, George Benson with Weekend in L.A., Jackson Browne slipped with Running On Empty, Kansas moved to #8 with Point of Know Return, Queen's News of the World slipped and Styx finished the list with The Grand Illusion.

   Paul Davis's song was about as durable as they come.

1978:  "Night Fever" by the Bee Gees was #1 for a third week.  The group had now been at #1 in 10 of the last 15 weeks, and songs written by the group (they also wrote "Love Is Thicker Than Water" for Andy Gibb) had been #1 for 12 of 15 weeks.  Their previous #1--"Stayin' Alive" was second, followed by Eric Clapton's "Lay Down Sally" and Barry Manilow with "Can't Smile Without You".  Two other songs written by the Bee Gees, "Emotion" by Samantha Sang and "If I Can't Have You" from Yvonne Elliman, were next.  The rest of the Top 10:  "I Go Crazy" by Paul Davis was still in the Top 10 after 32 weeks, Andy Gibb's song mentioned above, Jay Ferguson with "Thunder Island" and Kansas moved in with "Dust in the Wind".
1979:  The Who released the album The Kids Are Alright.
 

1983:  Kirk Hammett joined Metallica.
 

1984:  One of the most shocking moments in rock history--Marvin Gaye was shot dead by his father at his parent's home in Los Angeles.  Gaye had tried to intervene in a squabble his parents were having over misplaced documents, but was killed by the gun Gaye had given his father just four months before.  Marvin Gaye, Sr. pleaded guilty to manslaughter after first-degree murder charges had been dropped due to the discovery that he had a brain tumor.
1985:  David Lee Roth quit Van Halen.
1989:  Madonna collected her third #1 album in the UK with Like A Prayer.
1989:  The Fine Young Cannibals had the only new Top 10 album--The Raw & the Cooked.
 

1989:  The Bangles went to #1 in the U.S., the UK and Australia with "Eternal Flame", their second career #1.  "Stand" by R.E.M. shot up from 14 to 8.
1991:  Mariah Carey released the single "I Don't Wanna' Cry".
1992:  Jimmy Buffett's daughter Sarah Delaney was born in Nashville, Tennessee.
1993:  Carole King, David Crosby, Kenny Loggins, Phish, and Ann & Nancy Wilson of Heart played a benefit concert in Portland, Oregon to save the forests.
1993:  Willie Nelson's tour bus crashed into a car in Riverdale, Canada, killing the car driver.
1995:  Montell Jordan had the new #1 song on the R&B chart with "This Is How We Do It".
1995:  Madonna's "Take a Bow" was #1 for a sixth week.  
1996:  Mariah Carey released the single "Always Be My Baby".

2000:  Santana's "Maria Maria" took over the #1 spot in the U.S. where it would stay for nine weeks.
2001:  Spice Girl Mel B was advised to sell her Buckinghamshire mansion because she couldn't afford to keep it.
2002:  Paul McCartney opened his "Driving USA" tour at the Oakland Arena in California.
 

2002:  Sum 41 opened a national concert tour in Philadelphia.
2003:  Pearl Jam was in concert at Denver's Pepsi Center.  Eddie Vedder took a George W. Bush mask and impaled it with his mike stand to the crowd's delight.
2004:  Paul Atkinson, guitarist with the Zombies, died at age 58 of liver and kidney disease.  Atkinson had been a record executive at Columbia at RCA, helping sign acts such as ABBA, Bruce Hornsby, Mr. Mister and Judas Priest.
2006:  Former R.E.M. drummer Bill Berry joined members of the group onstage at Georgia Theatre in Athens to play "Country Feedback".
2007:  Modest Mouse had the #1 album with We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank.


Born This Day:
 

1932:  Debbie Reynolds was born in El Paso, Texas.
1934:  Jim Ed Brown of the Browns ("The Three Bells" from 1959) and a solo artist, was born in Sparkman, Arkansas.
1939:  Rudolph Isley of the Isley Brothers was born in Cincinnati, Ohio.
1942:  Alan Blakeley of the Tremeloes ("Silence Is Golden") was born in Bromley, Kent, England; died June 10, 1996.
1942:  Phil Margo, singer and drummer of the Tokens ("The Lion Sleeps Tonight"), producer of Tony Orlando & Dawn, the Chiffons and the Happenings, and science fiction author, was born in Brooklyn, New York.
1942:  Danny Brooks, bass singer of the Dovells ("You Can't Sit Down") 
1945:  John Barbata, drummer of the Turtles, Jefferson Airplane/Starship and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and also a session guitarist for Eric Clapton, was born in Passaic, New Jersey.
 

1946:  Ronnie Lane, co-founder, vocalist and bassist with Small Faces ("Itchycoo Park"), died on June 4, 1997 (age 51) after a battle with multiple sclerosis.
1947:  Robin Scott (known as "M" on the hit "Pop Muzik" in 1979) was born in Croydon, London.
1948:  Jimmy Cliff, singer (remake of "I Can See Clearly Now") and songwriter (Cat Stevens' "Wild World"), was born in the Somerton District of St. James, Jamaica.
1948:  Simon Cowe, guitarist for Lindisfarne ("Run For Home")
1952:  Billy Currie, songwriter and keyboardist for Ultravox, was born in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England.
 

1954:  Jeff Porcaro, drummer for Toto, was born in Hartford, Connecticut.
1961:  Mark White, guitar and keyboardist for ABC, was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England.
 

1961:  Susan Boyle, singer who caught the world by storm after her appearance on Britain's Got Talent, was born in Blackburn, West Lothian, Scotland.  Susan's album I Dreamed a Dream was released shortly afterwards.
1965:  Peter O'Toole of Hothouse Flowers
1971:  Method Man (real name Clifford Smith) was born in Staten Island, New York.
1972:  Jesse Tobias, musician who has worked with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Alanis Morissette and Morrissey.
1981:  Hannah Louise Spearitt, vocalist for S Club 7, was born in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England.
1986:  Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum was born in Nashville, Tennessee.

The #41 Guitarist of the Rock Era: Mick Ronson

Up next, this extremely talented lead guitarist was a major part of David Bowie's sound in his formative years:

#41:  Mick Ronson, David Bowie, solo

28 years as an active guitarist
(guitar solo on "Width of a Circle"

Michael "Mick" Ronson was born May 26, 1946 in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England.  He was a songwriter, guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, arranger and producer best known for his work with David Bowie.

Ronson was classically trained to play piano, recorder, violin, and later, the harmonium.  He had desires to be a cellist but changed to guitar after discovering the music of Duane Eddy.  Ronson joined his first group, the Mariners, in 1963 at age 17.  Another group from Hull, the Crestas, recruited Ronson and the Crestas began to make regular appearances at local halls.


In 1965, Ronson moved to London, eventually joining the group the Voice.  But after a few dates, Ronson returned from a weekend in Hull to find his gear piled up at his home and a note explaining that the rest of the group had gone to The Bahamas.  Ronson played briefly with a soul group called the Wanted before returning to Hull.  In 1966, Ronson joined the Rats, the top local band at the time.  The Rats drew well in their hometown but trips to London and Paris did not go so well.


In March, 1970, Ronson played guitar on the track "Madman Across the Water" while Elton John was recording for his album Tumbleweed Connection.  The song featuring Ronson, however, was not included on the original release of the album but rather can be found on the 1992 compilation, Rare Masters.

Ronson was contacted to become a member of a new David Bowie backing band called the Hype.  Two days later, Ronson made his debut with Bowie on John Peel's national BBC Radio 1 show.  In April, the band began recording the album The Man Who Sold the World.  After Bowie's bass guitarist left, Ronson and Bowie took over the arrangements for the album Hunky Dory.  The backing band became known as the Spiders From Mars, which was to be the title of Bowie's next album.  Ronson provided string arrangements, lead guitar, and various instrumentation on the album, called The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.  Ronson's work on the album would be a great influence for punk rock musicians later in the Rock Era.

In 1972, Ronson arranged the strings and brass for a song on the album All the Young Dudes for Mott the Hoople, and co-produced Lou Reed's album Transformer.  Mick also contributed guitar and vocals and arranged the string ensemble for Pure Prairie League's breakthrough album Bustin' Out.  Ronson played on Bowie's Aladdin Sane album in 1973 and the covers album Pin Ups in 1973.


Ronson recorded with Morrissey and played guitar for Van Morrison on tour.  After leaving Bowie in 1973, Ronson released three solo albums, his best being his debut--Slaughter on 10th Avenue.  


Mick had a short stint with Mott the Hoople and then began a long-time collaborator with the former leader of the group, Ian Hunter.  He played guitar on the album Ian Hunter and toured as the Hunter Ronson Band.  In 1980, the pair released the live album Welcome to the Club.


Ronson played guitar on John Mellencamp's breakthrough album American Fool, most notably on "Jack & Diane".  He also played guitar for David Cassidy and Roger Daltrey, among others.


In 1990, Ronson joined Hunter again on the album Yui Orta, then played guitar on "I Feel Free", a song originally recorded by Cream that Ronson and Bowie had played live 20 years earlier, that is on Bowie's 1993 album Black Tie White Noise.


Ronson's skills were in demand by many artists, including Elton John, John Mellencamp, Morrissey, Benny Mardones.  Mick was also a member of Bob Dylan's "Rolling Thunder Revue" live band and contributed guitar and arrangements to Roger McGuinn's 1976 solo album Cardiff Rose.


Ronson played "All the Young Dudes" and "Heroes" for the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in 1992 and his final recorded session was for a group called the Wildhearts for their 1993 album Earth vs. the Wildhearts.

Ronson died of liver cancer April 29, 1993 at the age of 46.

Heaven and Huh had only been partially completed before Ronson's death and was released posthumously.  Mellencamp, Bowie, Chrissie Hynde and Martin Chambers of the Pretenders, Joe Elliott of Def Leppard and Ian Hunter all helped with the album.


The Mick Ronson Memorial Stage was constructed in Queens Gardens in his hometown of Hull.  There is also a street named after him on Bilton Grange Estate, not far from where he lived.


Ronson used a 1968 Gibson Les Paul Custom "Black Beauty" throughout his career with Bowie and afterwards.  At some point in the 1980's, Ronson switched to a rosewood fretboard Fender Telecaster.  Mick used Marshall 200 amplifiers and also owned one of the first Mesa-Boogie amps.    Ronson used a Crybaby Wah Pedal and a Sola Sound Tone Blender.

Ronson had the speed, the technique and a melodic sense.  He is The #41 Guitarist of the Rock Era*...

This Date in Rock Music History: March 31

 
1949:  The 45 rpm single record was first introduced by RCA Victor, one year after the LP record was introduced by Columbia.  Both provided better sound quality and longer playing time than the 78 rpm that had been the standard.
1956:  Brenda Lee made her television debut on Ozark Jambouree on ABC.
1957:  Elvis Presley played two concerts at the Olympia in Detroit before 24,000 fans.
 
1958:  Chuck Berry released "Johnny B. Goode".  
1958:  "Tequila" by the Champs took over at #1 on the R&B chart.
1959:  The Jimmie Rodgers Show debuted on NBC-TV.
1960:  Lonnie Donegan debuted at #1 on the UK singles chart with "My Old Man's a Dustman".

          Roy Orbison with one of his biggest career hits...

1962:  Connie Francis hit #1 in the U.S. with "Dont' Break the Heart That Loves You".  Bruce Channel gave way with "Hey! Baby" while Shelley Fabares was up nicely from 11 to 3 with "Johnny Angel".  Roy Orbison was up to 4 with "Dream Baby" while Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen dropped with the former #2 hit "Midnight In Moscow".  The rest of the Top 10:  "Slow Twistin'" from Chubby Checker, Don & Juan with "What's Your Name", the Sensations fell with "Let Me In", Elvis Presley registered his 28th Top 10 hit and 54th overall in hist seven years with "Good Luck Charm", which moved from 14-9 and Sam Cooke had #10--"Twistin' the Night Away".
 
1962:  The Beatles ventured to the South of England, appearing at the Subscription Rooms in Stroud.  The Rebel Rousers joined them in a concert that would cost 5 schillings, or about 70 cents.
1964:  The Beatles filmed a "live" television performance for use in the movie A Hard Day's Night.  The songs  that made it to the film were "I Should Have Known Better", "She Loves You", "And I Love Her" and "Tell Me Why".
1966:  The Elvis Presley movie Frankie and Johnnie premiered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
 
1967:  Jimi Hendrix stunned fans at the Astoria in London, England when he set his guitar on fire.  It was the first of many times Hendrix would pull the stunt, seen by most people at Woodstock.  
1968:  Bobby Sherman starred in an episode of The F.B.I. on ABC-TV.
1969:  The Guess Who released the single "These Eyes".
1973:  Donny Osmond had the #1 song in the UK with his remake of the Johnny Mathis song "The Twelfth of Never".
1973:  Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell had the top album with Dueling Banjos.

1973:  "Sing" rose to #1 on the Adult chart, giving the Carpenters their seventh #1 on that chart in four years, and the ninth song to reach either #1 or #2 during that time.
1973:  Gladys Knight & the Pips celebrated a third week at #1 on the R&B chart with "Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye").
           
         Gladys & the Pips with another smash...

1973: Roberta Flack returned to #1 for a fifth week with "Killing Me Softly with His Song".  Deodato was one step away with his great instrumental "Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001)".  Gladys Knight & the Pips edged up with "Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)" with previous #1 "Love Train" by the O'Jays stopping off at #4.  The Four Tops moved up with their 32nd career hit--"Ain't No Woman (Like the One I've Got)".  The rest of the Top 10:  The new song from the Stylistics, "Break Up to Make Up", Edward Bear dropped with "Last Song", the Carpenters moved into the list with "Sing" and Vicki Lawrence moved from 16 to 10 with "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia".

1975:  America released the single "Sister Golden Hair".



1975:  Grand Funk released the single "Bad Time".
1976:  The Brotherhood of Man owned the top song in the UK with "Save Your Kisses For Me".
1977:  An Elvis Presley concert in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was postponed after Elvis did not return from intermission. 
1979:  Sister Sledge had the new #1 on the R&B chart with "He's the Greatest Dancer".
1979:  "Crazy Love"  by Poco was on its way to becoming one of The Top Adult Contemporary Songs of the 1970's, as it led the way for a fourth straight week.

1979:  For the fifth week, the great album Spirits Having Flown by the Bee Gees was #1.  It held off some good albums, too, including Minute By Minute from the Doobie Brothers and the self-titled Dire Straits album.
1979:  The new song from Peaches & Herb, "Reunited", jumped from #66 to 26 on this date.

                   "Sultans of Swing" defined "cool".

1979:  "Tragedy" from the Bee Gees remained at #1 giving the trio a total of 19 weeks at #1 in the last three years for five different chart-toppers.  "I Will Survive" from Gloria Gaynor sat poised to take over while the Grammy Award winner from the Doobie Brothers, "What a Fool Believes" was third.  Donna Summer combined with Brooklyn Dreams for song #4--"Heaven Knows".  The rest of the Top 10:  "Shake Your Groove Thing" from Peaches & Herb, Dire Straits' first single, "Sultans of Swing", was sixth, Rod Stewart's former #1 "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?", Amii Stewart roared from 15 to 8 with "Knock On Wood", Bobby Caldwell with "What You Won't Do for Love" and Melissa Manchester had her first Top 10 with "Don't Cry Out Loud".

1980:  Ambrosia released the single "Biggest Part of Me".


 
1982:  Toto released the single "Rosanna".
1982:  The Doobie Brothers announced they were breaking up.

1983:  Eddy Grant released "Electric Avenue".
1983:  Rockwell ruled for a fifth week on the R&B chart with "Somebody's Watching Me".
1983:  Pink Floyd released The Final Cut, their last album with Roger Waters.

1984:  Kenny Loggins danced into the #1 spot with "Footloose", leaping over Rockwell's "Somebody's Watching Me".  Van Halen's reign was over with "Jump", the Eurythmics were up to 4 with "Here Comes the Rain Again" and newcomer Cyndi Lauper fell with "Girls Just Want to Have Fun". The rest of the Top 10:  "I Want a New Drug" from Huey Lewis & the News, which was much higher in most markets, Phil Collins had a smash in "Against All Odds", which moved from 12-7, the Pointer Sisters with "Automatic", Hall & Oates were stuck at 9 with "Adult Education" and Culture Club had another Top 10 with "Miss Me Blind".

  Only Michael Jackson topped Van Halen on this date.

1984:  With each week it remained #1, Thriller by Michael Jackson extended the Rock Era record and made it tougher that another album will ever beat it.  On this date, the count had reached 35 weeks at #1.  1984 from Van Halen was second, followed by the great "Footloose" Soundtrack.  Colour By Numbers from Culture Club was next, with Can't Slow Down by Lionel Richie and Sports from Huey Lewis & the News behind.  The rest of the Top 10:  Learning to Crawl from the Pretenders, Touch by the Eurythmics, the Police were still in it after 40 weeks with Synchronicity and Cyndi Lauper edged into the Top 10 with She's So Unusual.

1986:  Simply Red released the single "Holding Back the Years".


 
1986:  O'Kelly Isley of the Isley Brothers died at age 48 of a heart attack.
1987:  Prince released Sign O' the Times.

1989:  Guns N' Roses released the single "Patience".



1990:  Cher appeared in concert at the Starplex Amphitheater in Dallas, Texas.  Her Heart of Stone tour would gross over $70 million.
1990:  David Bowie hit #1 on the UK album chart with Changes Bowie.
1990:  Snap! had their first #1 UK song with "The Power".

                    The title from Bolton's album...

1990:  Paula Abdul completed a nine-week run at #1 on the album chart with Forever Your Girl, and all this after 89 weeks of release.  Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 and Grammy winner Nick of Time from Bonnie Raitt provided competition, with Soul Provider by Michael Bolton in fourth.

Collins was one of the most consistent artists of the period.

1990:  "Black Velvet" by Alannah Myles was #1 again with Taylor Dayne giving pursuit with "Love Will Lead You Back".  Phil Collins was at 3 with his 11th consecutive Top 10 song--"I Wish It Would Rain Down".  Tommy Page moved to 4 with "I'll Be Your Everything" and Lisa Stansfield continued to climb with "All Around the World".  The rest of the Top 10:  "Don't Wanna' Fall in Love" moved from 12 to 6 for Jane Child, Janet Jackson's former #1 "Escapade", Madonna was running out of steam with "Keep It Together", Technotronic had "Get Up!  (Before the Night Is Over)" and Luther Vandross was back with "Here and Now".  
1995:  Mexican-American singer Selena was murdered at age 23 by the president of her fan club.
1998:  The First Celebration of Female Artists Awards show took place at the Grosvenor House in London.
1998:  The video Good Times was released.  It was the only movie starring Sonny & Cher and was filmed in 1967.
2001:  Mr. Acker Bilk ("Strangers on the Shore") received the  Member of the Order of the British Empire medal for services to the music industry from Queen Elizabeth.
2002:  Barry Gibb bought his childhood home in Keppel Road, Chorlton, Manchester.

2002:  Celine Dion began the first of four weeks at the top of the UK album chart with A New Day Has Come.
2003:  The Radiohead album Hail to the Thief appeared online three months before it was due.  Guitarist Johnny Greenwood denied that the album title referred to U.S. President George W. Bush.
2003:  Toni Braxton gave birth to her second child, son Diezel Ky Braxton.
2004:  Guitarist Jesse Colburn, ex-boyfriend of Avril Lavigne, left her band to pursue other opportunities.  Craig Wood, bassist for Canada's Gob, replaced him.
 
2004:  Confessions by Usher soars to #1 on the album chart after selling 1 million copies in its first week.
2004:  Ozzy Osbourne confirmed that he was reforming Black Sabbath for a concert tour in the summer.
2005:  Marion "Suge" Knight, a rap record company boss, was ordered by the courts to pay $107 million to a woman who the court found had helped found the Death Row label in 1989 but was pushed out by Knight.


Born This Day:
 
1934:  Shirley Jones, singer with the Partridge Family and actress, was born in Charleroi, Pennsylvania.
1934:  John D. Loudermilk, who wrote "Tobacco Road" and "Indian Reservation", was born in Durham, North Carolina.
 
1935:  Herb Alpert, trumpet and vocals as leader of the 
Tijuana Brass and solo performer.  Alpert co-founded A&M Records with Jerry Moss out of his garage, later signing the Carpenters, Supertramp, Bryan Adams and the Police to name a few, was born in Los Angeles.
 
1944:  Mick Ralphs, guitarist for Mott the Hoople and Bad Company, was born in Herefordshire, England. 
1944:  Rodney Bainbridge, bassist for the Fortunes ("You've Got Your Troubles"), was born in Leicester, England; died January 10, 2008.
1946:  Al Nichol of the Turtles
1947:  Al Goodman, bass singer of the Moments ("Love On a Two-Way Street"), later renamed Ray, Goodman & Brown ("Special Lady"from 1980), was born in Jackson, Mississippi; died of heart failure on July 27, 2010.
1947:  Jon Poulos of the Buckinghams; died March 26, 1980.
1948:  Thiis Van Leer, lead singer, organist and flautist for Focus ("Hocus Pocus), was born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
1953:  Sean Hooper of Huey Lewis and the News
1954:  Tony Brock of the Babys and Tubes
 
1955:  Angus Young, lead guitarist for AC/DC, was born in Glasgow, Scotland.
1958:  Pat McGlynn, rhythm guitarist of the Bay City Rollers, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland.
1978:  Marvin Bernard (Tony Yayo), rapper with G-Unit and solo performer, was born in New York City.

The #42 Guitarist of the Rock Era: Stephen Stills

Up next, a guitarist who was there for the key moments of the 60's and beyond...

#42:  Stephen Stills, Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills & Nash, solo

51 years as an active guitarist

Stephen Arthur Stills was born January 3, 1945 and is one of the great veterans of the rock era.  After 51 years in the music business, Stills remains active with Crosby, Stills & Nash, the supergroup he helped build after leaving Buffalo Springfield.  Stills has the distinction of performing at all three of the legendary 60's Festivals--he performed with Buffalo Springfield at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival and with Crosby, Stills & Nash at both Woodstock and Altamont.

As a child, Stephen became interested in blues and folk music.  Born into a military family, Stills moved often and he graduated from high school in El Salvador.  He attended Admiral Farragut Academy in St. Petersburg, Florida and Saint Leo College Preparatory School in Saint Leo, Florida.  Stills briefly went to Louisiana State University, but dropped out in the early 1960's to pursue a music career.


Stephen played in several groups in his youth, including the Continentals, which also included Don Felder, future guitarist of the Eagles.  Stills had a solo gig at the famous coffee house in Greenwich Village, New York--Gerde's Folk City and then caught on as being part of the house vocal harmony group at Cafe Au Go Go in New York City.  Another member of what were known as the Au Go Go Singers was Richie Furay.  This nine-member ensemble toured in the Catskills and in the South but broke up on 1965.


Five members, including Stills, stuck together and formed a folk-rock group called the Company.  The Company toured Canada for six weeks, which is where Stills met guitarist Neil Young.  The Company broke up within four months and Stills did some session work, then convinced Furay to move with him to California.

Young found his way to Los Angeles as well, bringing bassist Bruce Palmer with him.  They hooked up with Stills and Furay and formed Buffalo Springfield.  Drummer Dewey Martin joined a week later.  The group blended folk, country and rock in a unique sound all their own and provided a launching pad for the careers of their members.  Buffalo Springfield made their live debut on April 11, 1966 at the famous Troubadour in Hollywood, California, opening for the Byrds.  

After a tour, Chris Hillman of the Byrds persuaded another famous club, Whisky a Go-Go on Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, to give Buffalo Springfield an audition.  This led to the group performing at Whisky from May 2 to June 18, 1966.  This gave Buffalo Springfield tremendous exposure and they took full advantage.  Their shows became packed and several record labels began showing interest.  The group signed with Atlantic Records and began recording at Gold Star Studios in Hollywood.

The Springfield released their eponymous debut album in December, 1966.  In November, Stills composed "For What It's Worth" and the song was first performed Thanksgiving night at Whisky a Go-Go.  KHJ in Los Angeles soon had the song in hot rotation on their radio station and by March of 1967, the song was a national smash.  Atlantic quickly replaced one of the songs on the album with "For What It's Worth" and re-released the album.  Stills' song proved to be a timeless classic and became a political anthem for the youth of the 1960's.    Stills also wrote "Sit Down, I Think I Love You" for the Mojo Men in 1967.

The group then released Buffalo Springfield Again, considered to be their finest effort.  The album included "Mr. Soul", "Bluebird" and "Rock & Roll Woman".  In live shows, "Bluebird" served as a springboard for an extended jam session with Stills, Young and Furay intertwining guitar solos.   Buffalo Springfield drew raves in opening for the Beach Boys for their fifth annual Thanksgiving tour.


But Palmer was deported after being arrested for drugs for a second time, with session bassist Jim Messina hired to replace him.  Then, after all the songs were recorded for a third album, another drug bust in the group (Furay, Young and Messina) led to the group breaking up.  The final album was thus titled Last Time Around and Buffalo Springfield gave their final performance in Long Beach, California in May 5, 1968. 

While Buffalo Springfield was splitting up, Stills played on the Super Session album with Al Kooper, then he joined with David Crosby, who had recently been kicked out of the group the Byrds.  At a party at the home of either Cass Elliott, or Joni Mitchell, according to various sources, Graham Nash of the Hollies joined Crosby and Stills in a version of "You Don't Have to Cry".  The three instantly realized their harmonies were something special and thus, Crosby, Stills & Nash were born.

Ahmet Ertegun of Atlantic Records, who was a big fan of Buffalo Springfield, signed the trio to a contract.  CSN also hired Elliot Roberts and David Geffen as their management team.  Both would help them tremendously.  The group's amazing self-titled album was released in 1969.  It included "Suite:  Judy Blue Eyes", "Wooden Ships" and "Helplessly Hoping", all written or co-written by Stills, as well as "Marrakesh Express" and "Long Time Gone".  


As Stills had handled most of the instruments for the album, CSN needed additional musicians, and contacted Neil Young to play for a tour.  Young came on board, but only with the condition that he could maintain a parallel solo career.  The group performed together for the first time as a quartet on August 17, 1969 at the Auditorium Theater in Chicago, Illinois.  They mentioned that the next day they were going to someplace called Woodstock but they had no idea where that was.  


Young joined the group for their second album  Deja Vu became one of The Top 100 Albums of the Rock Era*, containing the hits "Teach Your Children", "Woodstock" and "Our House" as well as a top album track--"Carry On".


The tenuous nature of the group was strained by its success and CSNY broke up after their summer tour in 1970.

All four members of CSNY released high-profile solo projects.  Close friend Jimi Hendrix, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Crosby, Nash, Call Elliot and Rita Coolidge all helped out on Stills' solo album in 1970, which included the hit "Love the One You're With".  Stephen followed with the album Stephen Stills 2.


In 1972, Stills and Chris Hillman, formerly with the Byrds, started the group Manassas.  Their eponymous double album was a mix of rock, country, blues, bluegrass and Latin music.  

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young reunited in 1974 but an album never surfaced.  Stills signed with Columbia Records and recorded three more solo albums, Stills in 1975, Illegal Stills in 1976 and Thoroughfare Gap in 1978.  Stills & Young joined for the project Long May You Run in 1976 but Young had to leave halfway through the subsequent tour because of a throat infection.  


Stills finished the tour, then permanently reunited with Crosby and Nash in 1977.  The group once again generated their trademark harmonies on CSN, which included the hit "Just a Song Before I Go".  In 1982, Crosby, Stills & Nash released Daylight Again, which included "Wasted on the Way" and Stephen's song "Southern Cross".


In 1979, Stills traveled to Cuba to play in the Havana Jam festival.  Stephen recorded solo albums in 1984 (Right by You) and 1991 (Stills Alone).    


Young joined the trio for albums in 1988 (American Dream) and 1999 (Looking Forward) and tours in 2000, 2002 and 2006.  


In 1997, Stills became the first person to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice in the same night.  He was honored for his work with both CSN and Buffalo Springfield.  Fender Guitars designed a custom guitar for Stills, a Telecaster-style guitar, and presented it to him to mark the occasion.

Stills has experimented with the guitar, flipping pickups to mimic Hendrix playing a right-handed guitar left-handed.  Stills will also use unconventional guitar tunings.  He often employs a fingerstyle method of playing, especially when he plays an acoustic guitar.  


Stills is also very good at piano, organ, congas and bass drums.  


But he excels on the guitar.  When you watch him, you are watching rock history.  He is an amazing guitar player, something most rock fans don't appreciate until they see him live.  Stephen Stills ranks #42 for the Rock Era*...

New Featured Unknown/Underrated Song--"The Day Before You Came" by ABBA

The new featured song in The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era* is one of the career best from ABBA, despite the fact that it never charted in the U.S.  (Remember you can access this song or listen to any song in the category at any time by clicking on the Tab at the top of the web page Unknown/Underrated.)

"The Day Before You Came"

by ABBA

Words and Music by Benny Anderson & Bjorn Ulvaeus


Must have left my house at eight, because I always do
My train, I'm certain, left the station just when it was due
I must have read the morning paper going into town
And having gotten through the editorial, no doubt I must have frowned
I must have made my desk around a quarter after nine
With letters to be read, and heaps of papers waiting to be signed
I must have gone to lunch at half past twelve or so
The usual place, the usual bunch
And still on top of this I'm pretty sure it must have rained
The day before you came

I must have lit my seventh cigarette at half past two
And at the time I never even noticed I was blue
I must have kept on dragging through the business of the day
Without really knowing anything, I hid a part of me away
At five I must have left, there's no exception to the rule
A matter of routine, I've done it ever since I finished school
(From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/a/abba-lyrics/the-day-before-you-came-lyrics.html)
The train back home again
Undoubtedly I must have read the evening paper then
Oh yes, I'm sure my life was well within it's usual frame
The day before you came

Must have opened my front door at eight o'clock or so
And stopped along the way to buy some Chinese food to go
I'm sure I had my dinner watching something on TV
There's not, I think, a single episode of Dallas that I didn't see
I must have gone to bed around a quarter after ten
I need a lot of sleep, and so I like to be in bed by then
I must have read a while
The latest one by Marilyn French or something in that style
It's funny, but I had no sense of living without aim
The day before you came

And turning out the light
I must have yawned and cuddled up for yet another night
And rattling on the roof I must have heard the sound of rain
The day before you came

Hits List: Rick Nelson

Rick Nelson of course began his career on his parents' television show and was a teen idol in the 1950's.  One of the many stars pushed out of the limelight by the Beatles, here is Nelson's complete Hits List:

1957:  "A Teenager's Romance" (#2)
          "I'm Walkin'" (#4)
          "You're My One and Only Love" (#14)
          "Have I Told You Lately that I Love You" (#29)
          "Be-Bop Baby" (#3)

1958:  "Stood Up" (#2, #27 U.K.)
           "Waitin' In School" (#18)
           "My Bucket's Got a Hole in It" (#12)
           "Believe What You Say" (#4)
           "Poor Little Fool" (#1, #4 U.K.)
           "Someday" (#9 U.K.)
           "Lonesome Town" (#7)
           "I Got a Feeling" (#10, #27 U.K.)
1959:  "It's Late" (#9, #3 U.K.)
           "Never Be Anyone Else But You" (#6, #14 U.K.)
           "Just a Little Too Much" (#9, #11 U.K.)
           "Sweeter Than You" (#9, #19 U.K.)
           "I Wanna' Be Loved" (#20, #30 U.K.)
           "Mighty Good" (#38)
1960:  "Young Emotions" (#12, #48 U.K.)
           "Right by My Side" (#59)
           "I'm Not Afraid" (#27)
           "Yes Sir, That's My Baby" (#34)
           "You Are the Only One" (#25)
           "Milk Cow Blues" (#79)

1961:  "Travelin' Man" (#1, #2 U.K.)
           "Hello Mary Lou" (#9, #2 U.K.)
           "A Wonder Like You" (#11)
           "Everlovin'" (#16, #23 U.K.)
1962:  "Young World" (#5, #19 U.K.)
           "Summertime" (#89)
           "Teen Age Idol" (#5, #2 Easy Listening, #39 U.K.)
           "I've Got My Eyes on You (And I Like What I See)"
           "It's Up to You" (#6, #4 EL, #22 U.K.)
           "I Need You" (#83)

1963:  "I'm in Love Again" (#67)
           "That's All" (#48)
           "You Don't Love Me Anymore (And I Can Tell)"
           "I Got a Woman" (#49)
           "If You Can't Rock Me" (#100)
           "Old Enough to Love" (#94)
           "A Long Vacation"
           "Gypsy Woman" (#62)
           "String Along" (#25)
           "There's Not a Minute"
           "Fools Rush In" (#12, #12 U.K.)
           "Down Home"
           "Today's Teardrops" (#54)
           "For You" (#6, #1 EL, #14 U.K.)
1964:  "Congratulations" (#63)
           "The Very Thought of You" (#26, #11 EL)
           "Lucky Star"
           "There's Nothing I Can Say" (#47, #18 EL)
           "Lonely Corner"
           "A Happy Guy" (#82)
1965:  "Mean Old World" (#96)
           "Come Out Dancing"
           "Say You Love Me"
1966:  "Fire Breathin' Dragon"
           "You Just Can't Quit" (#24 Canada)
           "Things You Gave Me"
1967:  "They Don't Give Medals (To Yesterday's Heroes)"
           "Take a City Bride"
1968:  "Suzanne on a Sunday Morning"
           "Dream Weaver"
1969:  "Don't Blame It on Your Wife"
           "Don't Make Promises"
           "She Belongs to Me" (#33, #27 Adult, #33 Canada)
1970:  "Easy to Be Free" (#48, #21 Adult, #46 Canada)
           "I Shall Be Released"
           "Look at Mary"
1971:  "How Long"
           "Life" (#15 Adult)

1972:  "Thank You Lord"
           "Gypsy Pilot"
           "Garden Party" (#6, #1 Adult, #41 U.K., #1 Canada)
1973:  "Palace Guard" (#65, #80 Canada)
           "Lifestream"
1974:  "Windfall" (#46 Adult)
           "One Night Stand"
           "Try (Try to Fall in Love)"
           "Rock and Roll Lady"
1977:  "You Can't Dance"
1978:  "Gimme' a Little Sign"
1979:  "Dream Lover" (#29 Adult)
           "It Hasn't Happened Yet"
           "Believe What You Say"
           "Give 'em My Number"
           "You Know What I Mean"
1986:  "Dream Lover" (re-release)
1991:  "Hello Mary Lou" (re-release in U.K.--#45)

This Date in Rock Music History: March 30

1955:  Fats Domino recorded "Blue Monday".
1957:  Buddy Knox became the first rock artist to write his own #1 song as "Party Doll" topped the charts.
1959:  "Venus" was her name, but it was also the name of the #1 song that Frankie Avalon had for the fourth week.  
1963:  Lesley Gore made her first television appearance on American Bandstand on ABC.

1963:  Skeeter Davis prevailed on the Easy Listening chart for a third week with "The End of the World".
1963:  The Chiffons climbed to #1 with "He's So Fine", which would go on to lead all songs for four weeks.  Ruby & the Romantics slipped with "Our Day Will Come" and Skeeter Davis owned #3--"The End of the World".
1964:  A great day as three excellent songs were released to radio stations.  Barbra Streisand released the single "People".
1964:  The Dave Clark Five released the single "Bits and Pieces".
1964:  Mary Wells released the single "My Guy".
1966:  The Barbra Streisand special Color Me Barbra aired on CBS-TV.
1966:  85 people were arrested in Paris, France following a Rolling Stones concert.  The Stones even spread their violence to a nice country like France.
 

1967:  Photo work for the cover of the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album began at Chelsea Manor studios in London.  The group continued work on "With a Little Help From My Friends" by adding guitars, tambourine and backing vocals.
1968:  David Bowie made his debut with the Lindsay Kemp mime troupe in Pierrot in Turquoise.
1968:  The Yardbirds performed and recorded Yardbirds Live at the Anderson Theatre. 

1968:  "Lady Madonna" hit #1 in the UK.

1968:  "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding was #1 on the R&B chart for a third week.  
1968:  Paul Mauriat had the #1 Adult song for the seventh week, the great instrumental "Love Is Blue".
1968:  The late Otis Redding remained at #1 for the third week with "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay.  For a song that had spent five weeks at #1 itself, "Love Is Blue" didn't show signs that people were tired of it--the Paul Mauriat song was still #2.  

1970:  Ray Stevens shocked everyone by coming up with the single "Everything Is Beautiful", which he released on this day.

1970:  Chicago released the single "Make Me Smile".
1974:  The Ramones made their first concert appearance at Performance Studio in New York City.
 
1974:  John Denver's Greatest Hits reached #1 on the album chart.  Court and Spark from Joni Mitchell was one step away with Tubular Bells from Mike Oldfield third.  Barbra Streisand had yet another top album with the former #1 The Way We Were and Paul McCartney & Wings were up with Band on the Run.  The rest of the Top 10:  Planet Waves from Bob Dylan & the Band, Hotcakes from Carly Simon, Love Unlimited Orchestra moved up with Rhapsody in White, Elton John was still hanging in after 24 weeks with Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and the late Jim Croce moved back in the Top 10 after 58 weeks with You Don't Mess Around with Jim.

1974:  One of John Denver's greatest songs, "Sunshine on My Shoulders", took over at #1 but Blue Swede was right on his tail with "Hooked on a Feeling".  Terry Jacks' former #1 "Seasons in the Sun"was third and "Bennie and the Jets" gave Elton John another hit.  The rest of the Top 10:  "Dark Lady" from Cher, Carly Simon & James Taylor's remake of "Mockingbird", Paul McCartney & Wings edged up with "Jet", Redbone found the Top 10 with "Come and Get Your Love", Mocedades great song "Eres Tu (Touch the Wind)" was #9 and Sister Janet Mead moved to #10 with "The Lord's Prayer".
 
1975:  Jeff Beck released his first solo album Blow By Blow.
1982:  U2 played at the San Francisco Civic Center.
1984:  David Gilmour appeared on the television show The Tube.
1984:  Greg Lake left the group Asia, and was replaced by original guitarist John Wetton.

1985:  "Nightshift" by the Commodores was once again #1 on the R&B chart.
1985:  Phil Collins set up camp at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart with "One More Night".

                      Survivor was "High On You".

1985:  Phil Collins had the new #1 song with "One More Night", leaving Madonna to wonder why a song like "Material Girl" could never reach #1.  REO Speedwagon was third with "Can't Fight This Feeling" and Teena Marie had herself a hit with "Lovergirl".  U.S.A. for Africa was up from 21 to 5 with "We Are the World".  The rest of the Top 10:  Julian Lennon with "Too Late for Goodbyes", Tina Turner's "Private Dancer", Survivor remained the same with "High on You", Madonna's new song "Crazy for You"was up from 20 to 9 and the Commodores hit the Top 10 for the ninth time with "Nightshift".

        "Freedom" helped give Wham staying power...

1985:  No Jacket Required by Phil Collins reached #1 on the album chart just four weeks after its release.  Centerfield from John Fogerty was now second, followed by Born in the U.S.A. from Bruce Springsteen and the Soundtrack to "Beverly Hills Cop".  The rest of an excellent Top 10:  Private Dancer from Tina Turner, the Like a Virgin album by Madonna, Wham!  fell from 4 to 7 with Make It Big, Wheels Are Turnin' by REO Speedwagon, Foreigner remained in the #9 spot with Agent Provocateur and the incredible Reckless album was #10 for Bryan Adams.
1989:  Gladys Knight performed without The Pips in Las Vegas.
1991:  Chensey Hawks began a five-week on at #1 on the UK charts with "The One and Only".
1991:  The Eurythmics hit #1 on the UK album chart with their Greatest Hits album.  It would remain on top for nine weeks. 
1991:  Gloria Estefan's comeback song after a serious car crash, "Coming Out of the Dark", reached #1.
1991:  Wilson Phillips reached #1 on the AC chart with "You're in Love".

                     "Vanishing" from Mariah Carey...

1991:  The incredible debut album from Mariah Carey was #1 for a fifth week.  
 
1992:  R.E.M. began work on the Automatic For the People album at Bearsville Studios in Woodstock, New York.
1994:  Pink Floyd released The Division Bell.
1996:  The Beatles had the #1 album in the UK with Anthology 2.
1996:  Alanis Morissette latched onto #1 on the album chart for a fifth week with Jagged Little Pill.
2000:  The rights to Castle Records including the Kinks catalog were sold to Sanctuary Music.
 
2000:  Mick Jagger helped dedicate a new arts centre that had been named after him at his old school, Dartford Grammar.
2003:  Limp Bizkit revealed new guitarist Mike Smith, formerly of Snot, in an appearance on Wrestlemania.
2004:  Recording industry groups in Canada, Denmark, Germany and Italy announced that they would take legal action against 247 people for trading music online.
 
2004:  The Sterephonics played a concert benefiting the Teenage Cancer Trust at London's Royal Albert Hall.  Ron Wood and Roger Daltrey join on stage in the cause.
2004:  Guns N' Roses dropped out of the Rock in Rio-Lisbon Festival due to the sudden departure of guitarist Buckethead.
2004:  Paul McCartney made an impromptu appearance with a local jazz trio at a restaurant in Truckee, California.
2004:  Timi Yuro ("Hurt") died from throat cancer at age 62.
2010:  Usher released the album Raymond v. Raymond.


Born This Day:
 
1913:  Frankie Laine was born in San Diego, California; died of heart failure in San Diego on February 6, 2007.
1930:  Rolf Harris ("Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport") was born in Bassendean, Perth, Australia.
1933:  Willie Nelson was born in Abbott, Texas.
1942:  Graeme Edge, drummer for the Moody Blues, was born in Rocester, England.
 
1945:  Eric Clapton (real name Eric Clapp) was born in Ripley, England
1948:  Jim "Dandy" Mangrum, lead singer of Black Oak Arkansas, was born in Black Oak, Arkansas.
1950:  Dave Ball, guitarist of Procol Harum, was born in Handsworth, Birmingham, England.
1950  Re Styles (real name Shirley Marie MacLeod), guitarist and vocalist with the Tubes, was born in Middleburg, the Netherlands.
1955:  Randy VanWarmer ("Just When I Needed You Most") was born in Indian Hills, Colorado; died of leukemia on January 12, 2004.
 
1962:  Stanley Kirk Burrell (MC Hammer) was born in Oakland, California.

 
1964:  Tracy Chapman was born in Cleveland, Ohio.


 
1968:  Celine Dion was born in Charlemagne, Quebec, Canada.
1976:  Mark McClelland, founder and bass guitarist of Snow Patrol, was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
 
1979:  Norah Jones was born in Brooklyn, New York.
1980:  Paul Wall (on song "Grillz" by Nelly) was born in Houston, Texas.