This Date in Rock Music History: April 12

1954:  Bill Haley & the Comets recorded (We're Gonna') Rock Around The Clock", the song that started the Rock Era, at the Pythian Temple Studios in New York City.











1961:  Dee Clark released the single "Raindrops" on Vee-Jay Records.
1963:  Bob Dylan appeared in concert for the first time at the Town Hall in New York City.
1964:  Chubby Checker and the former Miss World Catherina Lodders were married at the Temple Lutheran Church in Pennsauken, New Jersey. 






 




1965:  The Byrds released the single "Mr. Tambourine Man".








 

1966:  Jan Berry of Jan & Dean was seriously injured when he crashed his car into a parked truck on Whittier Boulevard in Los Angeles.  The crash site was eerily close to the section of Sunset Boulevard that Jan & Dean had made famous in the song "Dead Man's Curve".  Berry spent several weeks in a como, was paralyzed for a year and could only speak after four years of surgery.  He died from complications of the accident on March 27, 2004.









1969:  The 5th Dimension moved into the #1 position with "Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In".  The song would go on to spend six weeks at the top and become one of the top songs of the rock era.  The rest of the Top Ten on April 12:  "You've Made Me So Very Happy" by Blood, Sweat & Tears at #2, "Tommy Roe's former #1 "Dizzy" at #3, "Galveston" by Glen Campbell at #4, "Time Of The Season" from the Zombies at 5, "Only The Strong Survive" by Jerry Butler coming in at #6, the Isley Brothers moving into the top Ten at #7 with "It's Your Thing", the Cowsills taking an 18-8 jump with "Hair", "Run Away Child, Running Wild" by the Temptations at #9 and "Twenty-Five Miles" from Edwin Starr at #10.
1969:  "Galveston" by Glen Campbell was #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart for the third straight week.





                                                "Smiling Phases" from B, S & T...

1969:  The incredible self-titled Blood, Sweat & Tears moved back to #1 on the Album chart.
1971:  The live album by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (Four Way Street) was certified Gold before it appeared on the Album chart.  (Note:  some websites mistakenly place the date of certification as April 11.  The correct date, according to the official website of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is April 12.)
1975:  David Bowie announced his retirement for the second time, saying "I've rocked my roll."
1975:  Pink Floyd played the first of two performances at the Cow Palace in Daly City, California.
1975:  Al Green moved to #1 on the R&B chart with "L-O-V-E (Love)".









1975:  "Philadelphia Freedom" by Elton John was the new #1 song.  The rest of the Top Ten:  Minnie Riperton's "Lovin' You" at #2, Ringo Starr at #3 with "No No Song", "Express" by B.T. Express, "Poetry Man" by Phoebe Snow at #5, "B.J. Thomas held down #6 with "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song", "Lady Marmalade" by LaBelle at #8, Sammy Johns hit the top ten at #8 with "Chevy Van", "What Am I Gonna' Do With You" from Barry White was #9 and Rufus had #10 with "Once You Get Started".
1980:  The Spinners hit #1 in the U.K. with their cover of the Four Seasons song "Working My Way Back To You".








                    The pianist on "Get Back" had a big duet with Syreeta...

1980:  "Pink Floyd spent a fourth week at #1 with "Another Brick In The Wall".  The remainder of the Top Ten:  "Call Me" by Blondie at #2, "Working My Way Back To You" by the Spinners at #3, "Ride Like The Wind", Christopher Cross's big first song was #4, "Too Hot" by Kool and the Gang was #5, Ray, Goodman & Brown had #6 with "Special Lady", "With You I'm Born Again" by Billy Preston & Syreeta made a 15-7 jump, Queen tumbled to #8 with their former #1 "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", the Eagles were at #9 with "I Can't Tell You Why" and Michael Jackson's "Off The Wall" was #10.
1980:  "Lost in Love" by Air Supply was the #1 Adult Contemporary song, taking over from "Three Times In Love" by Tommy James.







                                             Mellencamp had a hot song...

1986:  Falco spent his third and final week at #1 with "Rock Me Amadeus".  The rest of the Top Five:  "Kiss" by Prince was #2, the Bangles had the #3 song with "Manic Monday", "R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A." was #4 for John Mellencamp and "What You Need" by INXS was #5.
1986:  Stevie Wonder had the top AC song with "Overjoyed".
1986:  Belinda Carlisle married actor Morgan Mason.








1988:  Sonny Bono was elected mayor of Palm Springs, California.
1989:  The guy who fused Country and Rock & Roll, Garth Brooks released his self-titled album.  After that, Country music sounded more like Rock & Roll than Country.
1989:  Great White released the album Twice Shy.  (Note:  some websites report that the album was released April 18.  While there are unfortunately no credible sources for either date, our best research indicates that the April 18 date is more likely.)
1989:  Two DJ's on KLOS in Los Angeles asked whatever happened to David Cassidy.  Cassidy called the station and the DJ's invited him onto the show.  Cassidy played three songs live and shortly afterwards, was signed by a new record label.
1990:  Fleetwood Mac began a five-day performance at the Sydney Entertainment Centre in Sydney, Australia.




 
1992:  Don Henley led 6,000 people in a Walk for Walden Woods to preserve the Massachusetts wild area made famous by Henry Thoreau.
1996:  Jan & Dean, the Ventures, the Chantays and the Surfaris were inducted into the Hollywood Rock Walk in California.
1997:  The Fugees performed two concerts in Haiti to raise money for refugees.

1997:  R. Kelly started a three-week run at #1 in the U.K. with "I Believe I Can Fly".

1997:  The Notorious B.I.G. moved from #176 to #1 on the Album chart with Life After Death, the biggest jump to the top of the Rock Era.  Falling Into You was moving back up the chart for Celine Dion after 55 weeks of release while Spice by the Spice Girls was third.
2002:  In today's episode of Dangerous Inmates Run Rap Music, Nate Dogg was the latest rapper to go to jail; Dogg was charged with marijuana possession and possession of a stolen firearm, and thrown into an Arizona jail where he belongs.  Book 'em, Dano!
2005:  Britney Spears announced she was pregnant.
2005:  Mariah Carey's The Emancipation of Mimi entered the Album chart at #1.
2012:  Andrew Love, saxophonist with the Memphis Horns, died of complications from Alzheimer's disease in Memphis, Tennessee at the age of 70.  Love worked with Elvis Presley, Neil Diamond, U2, James Taylor, the Doobie Brothers, Sting, Dusty Springfield, Al Green, Alicia Keys, Bonnie Raitt and Otis Redding, among others.


Born This Day:

1919:  Billy Vaughn, who charted 42 hits in the early years of the Rock Era ("Sail Along Silvery Moon" and his version of "Wheels") was born in Glasgow, Kentucky; died September 26, 1991 of peritoneal mesothelioma in Escondido, California. 
1925:  Ned Miller ("From A Jack To A King" from 1962) was born in Rains, Utah.  (Note:  some websites say that Miller was born in Raines, Utah.  There has never been a town by that name in Utah--the correct spelling is Rains.)

1944:  Joachim Krauledat (John Kay), vocalist and leader of Steppenwolf, was born in Tilsit, Germany.
1951:  Alexander Briley of the Village People was born in Harlem, New York.  (Note:  some websites report that Briley was born in Manhattan, New York, while others say he was born in New York City itself.  One is too specific--Harlem is not a town but a neighborhood, while the other is too broad--New York City is made up of several boroughs, and not everyone from the area was born in the city itself.  The official place of birth is Manhattan, New York.)








 
1950:  David Cassidy of the Partridge Family and a solo artist, was born in New York City.
1952:  Ronnie Smith, original trumpet player for KC and the Sunshine Band who also worked with Gloria Estefan; died January 21, 2012.  (Note:  some websites claim Smith died January 26, but the correct date is January 21, according to the newspapers 'The Miami Herald' and 'The Sun-Sentinel'.)
1954:  Pat Travers ("Boom Boom (Out Go the Lights)") was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
1958:  Will Sergeant of Echo and the Bunnymen ("The Cutter") was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England.  (Note:  some websites report that Sergeant was born in Melling, England.  While there are no credible sources for either city, our best research indicates that Will was born in Liverpool, and grew up in Melling.)
1962:  Art Alexakis, singer-songwriter and guitarist of Everclear, was born in Los Angeles.
1964:  Amy Ray, guitarist and singer with the Indigo Girls, was born in Decatur, Georgia.
1970:  Nicholas Lofton Hexum, rhythm guitarist and vocalist of 311, was born in Madison, Wisconsin.
1978:  Guy Berryman, bassist for Coldplay, was born in Kirkcaldy, Scotland.
1980:  Brian McFadden, singer with Westlife, was born in Dublin, Ireland.
1987:  Brendon Urie, singer-songwriter, keyboardist and rhythm guitarist with Panic at the Disco, was born in Summerlin, Nevada.  (Note:  several websites report Urie was born in Las Vegas, and one says he was born in Summerline, Nevada.  There is no such town in Nevada; the correct spelling is Summerlin.  Although there are no credible sources for his birthplace, our best research indicates he was born in Summerlin.)

Prelude to The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*: Whitney Houston's "So Emotional"

The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era* is a fluid ranking.  While very consistent, the exact rankings can sometimes change weekly or even in a day, as new sales and airplay certifications are made.  The special we are presenting was first broadcast in 1979, and has been updated numerous times since.  When the brand new version premieres on May 21 on Inside The Rock Era, it will be a "snapshot" of The Top 500* on that date, and will reflect 60 years of information. 

We will showcase ten great songs each day, wrapping up the special on July 9, which will be 60 years to the day that the Rock Era began (July 9, 1955).  That is the day that the first Rock & Roll song, "Rock Around The Clock" by Bill Haley & the Comets, reached #1 on the Singles chart.

Prior to that gigantic music special, we continue to present some great songs just outside the list.  Enjoy Whitney Houston...

Calendar* Correction: Apple Corps Ads in 1968

Some websites, including one prominent Beatles authority, reports that  Apple Corps (the Beatles' company) took out advertisements that appeared in Billboard and New Musical Express magazines asking for tapes from unknown artists to release records on the Apple label. This is false.  Both magazines were printed on Saturdays, which in 1968 fell on April 20.  

Calendar* Correction: Elvis Presley Movie Viva Las Vegas

 

 

The movie Viva Las Vegas starring Elvis Presley and Ann Margaret certainly stirred up conversation:  about the obvious on-screen chemistry of the two, about their off-screen romance, etc.  There is also much confusion as to the opening of the movie.  Some websites report the movie premiered in New York City on April 20, while some say it premiered May 20.  Some say the movie opened in theaters on April 20, while others say it was May 17, May 20, June 7, or June 17.  The book Elvis Presley:  Silver Screen Icon by Steve Templeton shows that the movie premiered in New York City on April 20, and opened nationally on June 17.  Billboard magazine reports the premiere was April 20, but that doesn't jive with a couple of other reports.  Turner Classic Movies reports that Viva Las Vegas premiered on May 20.  And the newspaper The New York Times printed a review on May 21, 1964.  It is extremely unlikely that The Times would do a review in May on a movie which either premiered or opened in April.  So, while there is conflicting information among credible sources, we believe, based on the review in The New York Times, that the movie premiered in New York City on May 20.  It is then logical that the movie opened nationwide on June 17.

Calendar* Clarification: Elvis Arriving To Film 'G.I. Blues'

Several websites report that Elvis Presley flew to Hollywood, California to begin filming G.I. Blues on April 20, 1960.  He took the train.

This Date in Rock Music History: April 11

1956:  James Brown made his debut on the R&B charts with "Please, Please, Please".
1960:  Dinah Washington & Brook Benton had the #1 R&B song for the 10th week--"Baby (You've Got What It Takes)".
1967:  The Elvis Presley song "Stuck On You" recorded the fourth biggest jump in rock history, moving from #84 to #17 on this date. 
1960:  Percy Faith & Orchestra remained at #1 for the eighth consecutive week with "The Theme From 'A Summer Place'".

1961:  Bob Dylan made his public debut opening for John Lee Hooker at Gerdes' Folk City in the Greenwich Village section of New York City.









1961:  Ray Charles won four Grammy awards, including Best Male Vocal Performance for "Georgia On My Mind".

1962:  The Elvis Presley movie Follow That Dream premiered in Ocala, Florida.








1963:  Nat King Cole recorded "Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer".

1963:  Gerry and the Pacemakers were #1 in the U.K. with "How Do You Do It".

1964:  Louis Armstrong remained at #1 for a third week on the Easy Listening chart with "Hello Dolly!".







1964:  The Beatles, who had set a Rock Era record the week before by owning all five of the Top Five songs on April 4, a record that still stands, moved "Do You Want To Know A Secret" from #46 to #14.










                  The Dave Clark Five joined the invasion led by the Beatles...

1964:  The Beatles spent their second week at #1 with "Can't Buy Me Love".  The rest of the Top 10 on April 11:  #2 "Twist And Shout" by the Beatles, #3--"Suspicion" from Terry Stafford, #5 "She Loves You" by the Beatles, #5 was "Hello, Dolly!" from Louis Armstrong, #6 "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)" by Betty Everett, #7 "I Want To Hold Your Hand" by the Beatles, #8 "Glad All Over" from the Dave Clark Five, #9 "Please Please Me" by the Beatles and #10 "Don't Let The Rain Come Down" by the Serendipity Singers.
1965:  The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Animals, the Moody Blues, Donovan, the Seekers, the Kinks, Freddie and the Dreams, Tom Jones, Herman's Hermits, Them and Cilia Black played at London's Wembley Empire Pool following the New Musical Express Poll.
1966:  Frank Sinatra recorded "Strangers In The Night".
1967:  The movie Good Times, starring Sonny & Cher, premiered in Austin, Texas.  (Note:  some websites claim that the movie opened in theatres on April 7, and one website says it opened on May 12.  There is an original review of the movie which appeared in 'The Chicago Tribune' on April 24, 1967, so that discounts the May 12 date as being the national or world premiere.  The April 29, 1967 edition of 'Billboard' says that "Sonny and Cher returned to Hollywood last Sunday (April 16) after a week-long Texas tour at openings of their new film 'Good Times'."  This refutes the April 7 date, since a week-long tour that began on Monday April 10 and ended April 16 could not have included April 7.) 
1967:  The Rolling Stones played two shows at the Olympia Theatre in Paris.
1968:  Big Brother & the Holding Company made their television debut on the ABC-TV show Hollywood Palace.
1969:  Led Zeppelin debuted on the Album chart with their first album.

1969:  Paul McCartney married Linda Eastman at the Marylebone Register Office in London..
1970:  Peter Green announced he was leaving Fleetwood Mac in Munich, Germany while the group was on a European tour. 
1970:  The Beatles reached #1 on the Adult chart with "Let It Be".









1970:  The Beatles moved into the #1 spot with "Let It Be", taking the place of the long-running "Bridge Over Troubled Water".  The classic "Let It Be" was the Beatles' 19th #1, overtaking Elvis Presley's 18.  The Fab Four would also hit #1 a few weeks later with their 20th and final #1 "The Long And Winding Road".  The remainder of the Top Ten--#2 "ABC" by the Jackson Five, #3 Instant Karma (We All Shine On)" by John Lennon, Norman Greenbaum had #4 with "Spirit In The Sky", Simon and Garfunkel were at #5 with their former #1 "Bridge Over Troubled Water", #6 was "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes"" by Edison Lighthouse, #7 was Frijid Pink's version of "House Of The Rising Sun", Badfinger had #8 with "Come And Get It", #9 was Bobby Sherman's "Easy Come, Easy Go" and the Jaggerz had #10 with "The Rapper".



                  "The Boxer" helped give Simon & Garfunkel their masterpiece...

1970:  Simon & Garfunkel had a landmark album with Bridge Over Troubled Water, now in its seventh week at #1.  Hey Jude from the Beatles was second while Deja Vu from Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young was third.  The debut by Santana moved up to #4 after 32 weeks and Led Zeppelin II was right behind.  The rest of the Top 10:  Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5, the Doors with Morrison Hotel/Hard Rock Cafe, the Beatles and Abbey Road, Chicago II and the Temptations at #10 with Psychedelic Shack.
1972:  Elvis Presley was given the keys to the city of Roanoke, Virginia.
1973:  The movie That'll Be the Day, starring Ringo Starr and David Essex, opened in London.




 
1976:  Queen performed at the Entertainment Centre in Perth, Australia.











1977:  The Steve Miller Band released the single "Jet Airliner".  Don't accept a radio station that does not play "Threshold" as an intro.1978:  Aretha Franklin married actor Glynn Turman.  The Four Tops sang the Stevie Wonder song "Isn't She Lovely" at the wedding.











Thomas climbed aboard the Starship...


1979:  Mickey Thomas replaced founding member Marty Balin in Jefferson Starship.
1981:  Eddie Van Halen and actress Valerie Bertinelli were married.








1981:  Juice Newton hit #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart with her fantastic remake of the Merilee Rush song "Angel Of The Morning".










1981:  Hall & Oates moved into the #1 slot with "Kiss On My List", replacing Blondie's "Rapture" which fell to #2.  The rest of the Top Ten on April 11:  "The Best Of Times" by Styx, "Woman" by John Lennon at #4, "Just The Two Of Us" by Bill Withers & Grover Washington, Jr., Sheena Easton, moving into the top Ten at #6 with her first hit "Morning Train", Don McLean held down #7 with "Crying", Steve Winwood had his first solo hit "While You See A Chance" at #8, REO Speedwagon was at #9 with the former #1 "Keep On Loving You" and the Police slid into the top ten with "Don't Stand So Close To Me".








                                                The title track from 'Winelight'...

1981:  The great album Winelight from Grover Washington, Jr. moved from 13 to 5 on the Album chart.
1983:  R.E.M. released their first album Murmur in the U.S.








 
                                 Lou Gramm gave us "Midnight Blue"...

1987:  Starship spent a second week at #1 with "Nothing's Gonna' Stop Us Now".  The rest of the Top Ten--"Lean On Me" from Club Nouveau, "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" by Aretha Franklin & George Michael, Genesis had #4 with "Tonight, Tonight, Tonight", Crowded House rose to #5 with "Don't Dream It's Over", Expose fell to #6 with "Come Go With Me", Prince's "Sign 'O' The Times" was #7, Lou Gramm moved into the Top Ten with "Midnight Blue", Wang Chung had position #9 with "Let's Go!" and Steve Winwood had another top ten with "The Finer Things".
1987:  Prince scored a #1 R&B hit with "Sign 'O' The Times".
1987:  Starship owned the top AC song with "Nothing's Gonna' Stop Us Now".




 
1988:  Cher won Best Actress at the Academy Awards for Moonstruck.
1990:  The Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona named four newly discovered asteroids after the four members of the Beatles.
1990:  Elton John sang at the funeral of AIDS victim Ryan White.
1992:  Def Leppard had a second #1 in the U.K. with the album Adrenalize.

                          Pearl Jam with one of four appearances on 'SNL'... 


1992:  Pearl Jam appeared on Saturday Night Live in New York City.
1992:  "Save The Best For Last" by Vanessa Williams held on to #1 on the R&B chart for a third week.
1992:  Vanessa Williams had the top AC song for a third week with "Save The Best For Last".








 
1994:  The Nirvana album In Utero was certified double platinum (2 million copies).
2002:  Kid Rock and Pamela Anderson were engaged.








 
2002:  Sir Elton John testified before Congress that the United States was obliged to help prevent the global spread of AIDS.
2002:  A housing project in Detroit, Michigan named streets after Aretha Franklin and several other Motown stars.









2006:  June Pointer of the Pointer Sisters died of cancer in Los Angeles at the age of 52.
2010:  "The Million Dollar Quartet", a stage musical based on the meeting of Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash in the studios of Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee in 1956, opened at the Nederlander Theatre on Broadway.

Born This Day:
1934:  Cleotha Staples of the Staple Singers was born in Drew, Mississippi; died February 21, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois.
1935:  Richard Berry, songwriter of "Louie Louie", was born in Extension, Louisiana; died of heart failure in Los Angeles January 23, 1997.
1958:  Stuart Adamson, vocalist, songwriter and guitarist of Big Country, was born in Manchester, England; commited suicide in Honolulu, Hawai'i December 16, 2001.
1965:  Nigel Pulsford of Bush was born in Newport, Monmouthshire, England.

1966:  Lisa Stansfield was born in Rochdale, Lancashire, England.
1970:  Dylan Keefe, bassist and founding member of Marcy Playground, was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
1978:  Tom Thacker, vocalist and guitarist with Sum 41, was born in Langley, British Columbia, Canada.
1987:  Joss Stone was born in Dover, Kent, England.

Prelude to The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*: Neil Sedaka with "Laughter In The Rain"

Neil Sedaka was a star in the 1950's, yet another artist who was cooled down by the Beatles.  But he came back strong in 1974 with this #1 song...

Calendar* Clarification: Les Pattinson

Allmusic.com and a few other websites report that Les Pattinson, bassist and co-songwriter of Echo and the Bunnymen ("The Cutter"), was born April 18, 1958 in  Ormskirk, Merseyside, England.  Ormskirk is not included in the county of Merseyside--it is in Lancashire.  Even if it were, the county of Merseyside was not created until April 1, 1974, long after Pattinson was born.

Calendar* Correction: Cancellation of Men At Work, INXS and Midnight Oil 2001 Tour

Several websites report that Midnight Oil backed out of a proposed tour with INXS and Men At Work on April 18, 2001.  This is incorrect.  The news broke when INXS reported the cancellation on its official website on April 13.

This Date in Rock Music History: April 10

1956:  Nat "King" Cole was attacked on stage by five racial weirdos during a show at the Municipal Hall in Birmingham, Alabama.  Police arrested the sick people, hauled them to jail, and Cole returned later that night to thrill the crowd in a second show.

1957:  Ricky Nelson performed for the first time on the television show The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, singing "I'm Walking".

1958:  Bobby Darin recorded "Splish Splash" at Atlantic Studios in New York City.  

1958:  Chuck Willis ("C.C. Rider"), who had suffered stomach ulcers for years, died during surgery for peritonitis in Atlanta, Georgia at the age of 30.  (Note:  some websites mistakenly say Willis died in a car accident.  Other sites claim he died in Chicago, Illinois.  According to the books  'Rhythm and Blues, Rap, and Hip-hop' by Frank Hoffmann and 'The Last Sultan:  The Life and Times of Ahmet Ertegun' by Robert Greenfield, Willis died of periodontitis during surgery in Atlanta.  The book 'Hanging the Peachtree Bandit:  The True Tale of Atlanta's Infamous Frank DuPre' by Tom Hughes also confirms that Willis died in Atlanta.) 

1962:  Former Beatles' bass player Stuart Sutcliffe died in Hamburg, Germany at the age of 21 of a cerebral hemorrhage from a brain aneurysm.
1965:  Roger Miller spent a ninth week at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart with "King Of The Road", which was written in Boise, Idaho.






                                             The unstoppable Supremes...

1964:  The brand new Top Five in the U.S. were "I'm Telling You Now" by Freddie & the Dreamers, the former #1 "Stop! In the Name of Love" by the Supremes at #2, "Can't You Hear My Heartbeat" by Herman's Hermits coming in at #3, "Shotgun" by Jr. Walker & the All Stars at 4 and "The Birds And The Bees" by Jewel Akens at position #5.
1965:  We were first introduced to England's Tom Jones, who debuted on the chart with his first career single, "It's Not Unusual".

1965:  Dusty Springfield, the Zombies and Bobby Vee completed a U.K. package tour at the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, Wales.











1967:  The Young Rascals released the single "Groovin'".

1967:  Marvin Gaye finished recording his version of "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" after five sessions that began on February 3.

1967:  "Something Stupid" by Frank and Nancy Sinatra became the first father-daughter song to ever hit #1.

1968:  Cliff Richard had his ninth #1 in the U.K. with "Congratulations", the British entry in the 1968 Eurovision Song Contest.

1968:  Drummer Mickey Hart joined the Grateful Dead.
1970:  Emerson, Lake & Palmer formed.







                                    Some early EJ for you--"Take Me to the Pilot"...

1970:  Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin teamed up for the first time on the album Elton John, which was released on this date.










1970:  The Temptations spent a second week at #1 with their biggest hit "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me".  The rest of the Top Ten--"What's Going On" by Marvin Gaye, the quick-rising "Joy To The World" by Three Dog Night, "She's A Lady" by Tom Jones at #4, "For All We Know" by the Carpenters, #6 was the former #1 "Me And Bobby McGee" by Janis Joplin, the Partridge Family had #7 with "Doesn't Somebody Want To Be Wanted", Paul McCartney had #8 with "Another Day", Ike and Tina Turner hit #9 with their version of "Proud Mary" and Brewer & Shipley entered the Top Ten with "One Toke Over The Line".

1970:  Paul McCartney issued a press release announcing that the Beatles had broken up.  "I have no future plans to record or appear with the Beatles again," McCartney said.

1971:  He had written songs for other artists, most notably "Leaving On A Jet Plane" for Peter, Paul & Mary, but on this date, John Denver took the beginning steps toward becoming one of The Top 100 Artists of the Rock Era*.  John made his debut on the charts with his first career single,  "Take Me Home, Country Roads".


 

1972:  Isaac Hayes took home the Oscar for the Best Original Song From a Motion picture with "Theme From 'Shaft'".







                                                                                    The Bellamy Brothers with their biggest hit...

1976:  The brand new Singles chart was out and Johnnie Taylor was on top with "Disco Lady".  Gary Wright was headed for #1 but for now he'd have to settle for #2 with "Dream Weaver".  He was followed by the #3 "Lonely Night (Angel Face)", Captain & Tennille's hit of the Neil Sedaka song, the Bellamy Brothers at #4 with "Let Your Love Flow", Maxine Nightingale's "Right Back Where We Started From", Aerosmith's first Top Ten song "Dream On" at #6, "Boogie Fever", the #7 song by the Sylvers, Dr. Hook's "Only Sixteen" at #8, "Sweet Love", the great song from the Commodores at #9 and David Bowie's "Golden Years" at 10.








Fans were quickly finding out about this great album...

1976:  Peter Frampton rose to #1 with the incredible Frampton Comes Alive, the biggest "live" album in rock history.










1978:  Gerry Rafferty released the single "Baker Street".

       
                           Huey Lewis & the News introduced themselves...

1982:  "I Love Rock 'N Roll" spent a fourth week at #1 for Joan Jett & the Blackhearts.  The Go Go's edged up to #2 with "We Got The Beat", with Vangelis hitting #3 with "Chariots Of Fire - Titles".  #4 was the J. Geils Band's second big hit "Freeze Frame", followed in the Top Ten by Olivia Newton-John at #5 with "Make A Move On Me", Rick Springfield's "Don't Talk To Strangers" at #6, one of the top songs to ever peak at #2--Journey's "Open Arms", falling to #7, "That Girl" by Stevie Wonder at #8, Bertie Higgins' "Key Largo" at #9 and the first hit from Huey Lewis & the News, "Do You Believe In Love" at #10.

1985:  Madonna began her North American Tour with the first of three shows at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle, Washington.  The Beach Boys were the opening act.

1991:  Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits was a guest star on Quantum Leap on ABC-TV.

1993:  Depeche Mode debuted on the Album chart with Songs of Faith and Devotion.
1993:  Canada's Snow spent a five straight week at #1 with "Informer".  

1994:  Over 5,000 fans attended a U.S. public memorial service for Kurt Cobain at Seattle Flag Pavilion.

1994:  Mariah Carey had the #1 U.K. album with Music Box.













1995:  Boyz II Men released the single "Water Runs Dry".











1995:  Monica released the single "Don't Take It Personal (Just One Of Dem (sic) Days)".

1999:  Tom Petty was the guest performer on Saturday Night Live.

1999:  Paul McCartney, Chrissie Hynde, George Michael, Elvis Costello and Sinead O'Connor performed at a charity tribute concert for the late Linda McCartney at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

1999:  TLC began a four-week stay at the top with "No Scrubs".
2002:  James Hodges, Governor of South Carolina, declared James Brown the "Godfather of Soul".











She gave us "The Loco-Motion" to remember her by...

2003:  Little Eva ("The Loco-Motion") died in Kinston, North Carolina at the age of 59 of cervical cancer.

2005:  Natalie Imbruglia had the #1 album in the U.K. with Counting Down the Days.

2006:  Coldplay singer Chris Martin and actress Gwyneth Paltrow announced they had named their second child Moses Martin (born April 8).
2011:  Hall & Oates received the TV Land Music Icon Award in New York City.







2012:  Bonnie Raitt released the album Slipstream.
2014:  Linda Ronstadt, Hall & Oates, KISS, and artists which frankly do not belong, were inducted into the "Rock And Roll Hall of Fame".
 

Born This Day:

                    Dr. Demento couldn't have been happier with the birth of Sheb Wooley...


1921:  Sheb Wooley ("The Purple People Eater") was born in Erick, Oklahoma; died of leukemia in Nashville, Tennessee on September 16, 2003.
1921:  Martin Denny ("Quiet Village" from 1959) was born in New York City; died in Honolulu, Hawai'i March 2, 2005.

1932:  Nate Nelson of the Flamingos ("I Only Have Eyes for You") and the Platters; died June 1,1984 of heart disease in Boston, Massachusetts.

1936:  Bobbie Smith, vocalist with the Spinners, was born in Abbeyville, Georgia; died March 16, 2013 in Detroit.  (Note:  some websites claim Smith was born in Detroit Michigan, but according to the newspaper 'The New York Times' and other credible sources, Smith was born in Abbeyville.)

1947:  Karl Russell of the Hues Corporation ("Rock The Boat") was born in Columbus, Ohio.

1947:  Neville O'Riley Livingston ("Bunning Livingston"), percussion and vocals for Bob Marley and the Wailers, was born in Kingston, Jamaica.

1948:  Fred Smith, bassist with Television, was born in New York City.

1950:  Ernest Stewart, keyboardist with KC and the Sunshine Band, died April 26, 1997 in Opa Locka, Florida of an apparent asthma attack.

 
1950:  Eddie Hazel, elite guitarist of Parliament and Funkadelic was born in Brooklyn, New York; died of internal bleeding and liver failure in Plainfield, New Jersey on December 23, 1992.

1953:  Terre Roche, songwriter who worked with Paul Simon (album There Goes Rhymin' Simon) and Loudon Wainwright, was born in New York City.

1957:  Steven Gustafson, bassist of 10,000 Maniacs, was born in Seville, Spain.








1959:  Brian Setzer, great guitar player, songwriter and vocalist with the Stray Cats, was born in Massapequa, New York.  (Note:  some websites claim Setzer was born in New York City.  According to both 'MTV' and 'Guitar World', Brian was born in Massapequa.)

1959:  Katrina Leskanich, lead singer and guitarist of Katrina and the Waves ("Walking On Sunshine"), was born in Topeka, Kansas.








 
1959:  Kenneth Edmonds (Babyface), singer-songwriter, keyboardist, guitarist and producer, was born in Indianapolis, Indiana.

1970:  Mike Mushok, lead guitarist with Staind, was born in Manhasset, New York.

1980:  Bryce Dane Soderberg, bassist and singer with Lifehouse, was born in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

1984:  Mandy Moore was born in Nashua, New Hampshire.