This Date in Rock Music History: April 5

 
1962:  In 1962, you would find the Beatles performing often at the Cavern Club in their native Liverpool, and that's where they were on this day 49 years ago.  It was a special occasion sponsored by their ever-growing fan club.  
1964:  The Searchers made their U.S. debut with an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.
1967:  The Elvis Presley movie Double Trouble premiered in theaters.







        
                                  Although they barely said "Hello", Cream said farewell...

1969:  Wichita Lineman by Glen Campbell was the new #1 album as Blood, Sweat & Tears temporarily relinquished the spot with their self-titled album.  Ball from Iron Butterfly was next with Cream's Goodbye followed by In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida by Iron Butterfly in fifth.  The rest of the Top 10:  Donovan's Greatest Hits, the Greatest Hits package from the Association moved back up to #7, Cloud Nine by the Temptations moved from 15-8, Help Yourself from Tom Jones and the latest release from CCR, Bayou Country, was #10.
1969:  Jerry Butler elevated to #1 on the R&B chart with "Only The Strong Survive".







 

                                                       Blood, Sweat & Tears...

1969:  Tommy Roe had the #1 song on this date with "Dizzy", Roe's fourth week at the top.  The 5th Dimension moved to #2 in just their fifth week with "Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In". "Time Of The Season" from the Zombies was #3, becoming that group's biggest hit and Blood, Sweat & Tears rose from 12 to 4 with "You've Made Me So Very Happy".










1972:  Elvis Presley began a 15-day tour with a concert at Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, New York.
1974:  The Guess Who hosted a charity tennis event to benefit Ballet of Canada.
1975:  The Carpenters jumped from #74 to 47 with "Only Yesterday".









1975:  Minnie Riperton grabbed the #1 song with "Lovin' You".  Elton John had to wait another week with "Philadelphia Freedom" while Ringo Starr had the "No No Song" in third place.  B.T. Express remained at 4 with "Express" and Joe Cocker had his biggest solo hit with "You Are So Beautiful".  The rest of the Top 10:  Phoebe Snow with "Poetry Man", LaBelle's former #1 "Lady Marmalade", B.J. Thomas entered the list with "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" and former #1's from Olivia Newton-John ("Have You Never Been Mellow) and Frankie Valli ("My Eyes Adored You").








"Young Americans" helped David Bowie land a Top 10 album...

1975:  Led Zeppelin held on to #1 on the Album chart for the third week with Physical Graffiti.  Have You Never Been Mellow by Olivia Newton-John was next with An Evening with John Denver in third.  Blood on the Tracks from Bob Dylan was on its way down while Perfect Angel from Minnie Riperton was still in the Top 10 after 34 weeks of release.  The rest of the Top 10:  For Earth Below from Robin Trower, Labelle's Nightbirds, Rock 'N' Roll by John Lennon, Kraftwerk was next with Autobahn and David Bowie had a rare Top 10 album with Young Americans.
1977:  Jackson Browne, John Sebastian and others raised $150,000 at an environmental charity concert in Tokyo.

1977:  David Bowie was one of the guests on The Dinah Shore Show.
1978:  Duran Duran made their first public appearance at the Lecture Theatre at Birmingham Polytechnic University in Birmingham, England.

1979:  The Genesis album Duke went to the top of the charts in the U.K.
1980:  R.E.M. appeared live for the first time at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Athens, Georgia.

1980:  Brothers Johnson snatched the new #1 on the R&B chart with "Stomp!".










1980:  One of the hottest new songs belonged to Boz Scaggs.  The Boz Man moved from 65 to 47 with "Breakdown Dead Ahead".
1980:  Pink Floyd remained at #1 with "Another Brick In The Wall".










1980:  Air Supply returned to #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart with "Lost In Love".












1982:  James Ingram & Patti Austin released the single "Baby, Come To Me".  The song peaked at #73, but when it was featured on the soap opera General Hospital, the song was re-released in October.  The second time around, it went to #1.
1982:  Record World magazine ceased publication and filed for bankruptcy.
1983:  The Beach Boys were banned from a Fourth of July concert at the White House by President Ronald Reagan's staff because they "attracted the wrong element".  After public outcry, Reagan rescinded the ban two days later.
1983:  Danny Rapp, leader of Danny and the Juniors, committed suicide at a hotel in Quartsite, Arizona.
1984:  Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" was named Top Female Video and was nominated for Video of the Year at the 2nd annual MTV Music Awards.


1984:  Marvin Gaye's funeral was at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Los Angeles.  Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, Berry Gordy and other Motown luminaries were at the service.
1985:  Gilbert O'Sullivan ("Alone Again (Naturally)") won a $2 million lawsuit against his former manager for unpaid royalties, something that became very common in the industry.

1985:  At 3:50 GMT, over 5,000 radio stations around the world played "We Are The World" by USA for Africa.  Proceeds from the single recorded by artists from the United States benefited starving people in Africa.
1985:  UB40, the Style Council, Spandau Ballet, Alison Moyet, Bronski Beat, the Pogues and Frankie Goes to Hollywood were featured on the U.K. music show The Tube.
1986:  "Kiss" from Prince & the Revolution was the new #1 R&B song.
1988:  Tracy Chapman released her great self-titled debut album on Elektra Records.
1990:  James Brown was transferred from a Georgia jail to the Lower Savannah Work Center in South Carolina.  Brown spent the last part of his sentence counseling drug abusers.

1993:  Construction began for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.  These days, it is known as the Rock and Roll Acknowledgement of Every Act Who Ever Played What We Define As Rock and Roll.
1994:  Kurt Cobain of Nirvana committed suicide at his home in Seattle, Washington.  His body wasn't discovered until three days later by a worker who was there to install a security system.  High amounts of heroin were found in his body.
1997:  The Chemical Brothers worked their way to #1 in the U.K. with "Block Rockin' Beats".  The song later won a Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.




 
1998:  Drummer Cozy Powell was killed at age 50 when his car, that he was driving at a highly dangerous 104 miles per hour, ran into crash barriers on a road in Bristol, England.  Powell had worked with Black Sabbath, Rainbow and Emerson, Lake and Palmer and was a session musician for Donovan, Jeff Beck, Roger Daltrey, Brian May, Gary Moore and Jack Bruce.

1998:  The Spice Girls gave their first-ever U.K. concert in Glasgow, Scotland.
2002:  Layne Staley, lead singer of Alice in Chains, died of a drug overdose at age 34 in Seattle, Washington.  His body was found April 19.
2003:  Paul McCartney began the U.K. portion of his "Back in the World" Tour at Hallam FM Arena in Sheffield, England.
2003:  Carlos Santana sharply criticized President George W. Bush and Iraq leader Saddam Hussein at a concert in Melbourne, Australia.  Santana said "We are the architects of the world and our agenda is different than Saddam Hussein and George Bush.  Dignity and grace are our weapons--unity, salvation and elegance."

2006:  Gene Pitney was found dead at the age of 65 in his bed in a Cardiff, Wales hotel.  Pitney was on a tour of the U.K.
2007:  Former KISS guitarist Mark St. John died of an apparent brain hemorrhage from methamphetamines at the age of 51 in Hollywood, California.  (Note:  one website claims he died in New York City, while others day he died in Hollywood or Los Angeles.  The Orange County coroner determined his cause of death, so the site that reports he died in New York City is incorrect.  Unfortunately, there are no credible sources that state his place his death, but our best information is that St. John died in Hollywood.)  
2008:  Toto performed their final concert at Dom Art Hall in Seoul, South Korea, before breaking up.
2008:  Danity Kane had the #1 album with Welcome to the Dollhouse.
2008:  Lady GaGa had the #1 U.K. album with her debut The Fame.
2009:  The Temptations sang the national anthem of the United States before the NCAA College Basketball Championship.


Born This Day:
Gale Storm, singer (six Top 10 hits in the 1950's, including "I Hear You Knockin"), actor and television star (My Little Margie) was born in Bloomington, Texas; died June 27,2009 in Danville, California.
 
1928:  Tony Williams, the amazing lead singer of the Platters, was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey; died of emphysema in New York City August 14, 1992.
1929:  Joe Meek, producer who produced the Tornadoes with their #1 "Telstar", the Honeycombs ("Have I The Right") Petula Clark, Gene Vincent, and Tom Jones, was born in Newent, Gloucestershire, England; died February 3, 1967 after killing his landlady and then himself in London.
1932:  Billy Bland ("Let The Little Girl Dance" from 1960) was born in Wilmington, North Carolina.

1935:  Peter Grant, manager of Led Zeppelin, who also worked with the Everly Brothers, Chuck Berry, the Animals, Little Richard, Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent, was born in South Norwood, Surrey, England; died of a heart attack at the age of 60 in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England on November 21, 1995.  (Some websites report that Grant was born in London, while others say he was born in South Norwood, London; he was born in the London suburb of South Norwood, according to the book 'Peter Grant:  The Man Who Led Zeppelin' by Chris Welch.  South Norwood became part of Greater London in the London Government Act of 1963, but in 1935, the year that is relevant here because it was the year Grant was born, South Norwood was in the county of Surrey.)1939:  Ronnie White of the Miracles was born in Detroit, Michigan; died of leukemia in Detroit August 26, 1995.
1941:  Dave Swarbick, singer/songwriter and elite fiddle player of Fairport Convention, was born in New Malden, Surrey, England.



 
1942:  Alan Clarke, founding member and the great lead singer of the Hollies, was born in Salford, Lancashire, England.
1944:  Nicholas Caldwell of the Whispers was born in Loma Linda, California.
1944:  Crispian St. Peters ("The Pied Piper", a #4 hit in 1966) was born in Swanley, Kent, England. 
1948:  Dave Holland, drummer of Judas Priest, was born in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England; served prison time for attempted rape of a 17-year old boy.  (Note:  some websites show his birth place as Northamptonshire, Wolverhampton, England.  Northamptonshire is a county, not a city or village.  Northampton is the county town of Northamptonshire.  Wolverhampton is a city in the West Midlands, so it is impossible for Holland to have been born in both Northamptonshire county and Wolverhampton city.)   


 

 

1950:  Agnetha Faltskog of ABBA was born in Jonkoping, Sweden. 
1951:  Everton Morton of the Beat ("Can't Get Used To Losing You").
1954:  Stan Ridgway, songwriter, lead singer and multi-instrumentalist of Wall of Voodoo, was born in Barstow, California.
1961:  Jacob Slichter, drummer of Semisonic, was born in Boston, Massachusetts.





 
1965:  Mike McCready, lead guitarist of Pearl Jam, was born in Pensacola, Florida.
1968:  Paula Cole ("I Don't Want To Wait") was born in Rockport, Massachusetts.
1973:  Pharrell Williams, the artist who gave you "Happy", and a songwriter who teamed with Chad Hugo and produced hits for Mystikal, Jay-Z, N' Sync, Britney Spears and Nelly, was born in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Prelude to The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*: Creed's "With Arms Wide Open"

On May 21, the world will find out our snapshot of The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era* on the occasion of the 60th Birthday of the Rock Era, which we are getting ready for on July 9 of this year.

In the meantime, enjoy these songs in our Prelude*.  This 2000 song from Creed went to #1 in five countries...

Prelude to The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*: Maxine Nightingale with "Right Back Where We Started From"

This woman once starred in the West End production of the musical Hair.  In 1976, Maxine Nightingale reached #2 with this smash...

Calendar* Correction: Bill Haley & the Comets

Several websites report that on April 9, 1958, Bill Haley & the Comets began a tour of South America.  According to the book Bill Haley by Otto Fuchs, the tour began April 3.

This Date in Rock Music History: April 4

1956:  Elvis Presley played the first of two nights in San Diego Arena.  The San Diego Police chief released a statement saying that if he ever performed like he did again, he would be arrested for disorderly conduct.






                                             The great group the Platters...

1958:  The Platters released the single "Twilight Time".  (Note:  several websites report that the single was released on April 7.  While there are no credible sources as to the exact date of release, there is an article in Billboard magazine, dated April 7, 1958, which says "The Platters have seldom missed, and are currently blazing with "Twilight Time", implying that the record was already released before April 7.)
1959:  Buddy Holly's song "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" hit #13.  It was the first posthumous release from Holly after his tragic plane crash.
1960:  Elvis Presley recorded "Are You Lonesome Tonight".
1960:  Percy Faith's "The Theme From 'A Summer Place'" was #1 for the seventh week in a row, and it wasn't close to done.







1964:  We were first introduced to an amazing new talent whose body of work in film, stage and music overpowers nearly everyone in the Rock Era.  Her first single debuted on the chart on this date.  It was called "People"...by Barbra Streisand.
1964: Meet the Beatles!  was the #1 album for the eighth consecutive week.






 
1964:  The Beatles had #1, #2, #3, #4 and #5 on the U.S. Singles chart.  They were #1 "Can't Buy Me Love", #2 "Love Me Do", #3 "She Loves You", #4 "I Want To Hold Your Hand" and #5 "Please Please Me".  It was the first and only time any recording act has ever achieved the feat.  The Beatles also had nine other singles on the Hot 100 for a total of 14 at the same time, also still a record for legitimate groups.
1965:  John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote "Help!", the title song for the Beatles' second movie.









1966:  Percy Sledge released the single "When A Man Loves a Woman".  (Note:  some websites naively state that the song was released on April 16.  Percy's classic debuted on the Singles chart on April 9.  It is physically impossible for a song to make the Singles chart if it has not been released as a single yet.)
1967:  Paul McCartney told Monterey Pop Festival organizer (and Beatles publicist) Derek Taylor that the Festival should invite a guitarist named Jimi Hendrix.

1967:  Jimi Hendrix appeared on the first edition of the U.K. BBC-TV show Dee Time along with Kiki Dee and Cat Stevens.
1968:  James Brown made a national television appeal for calm following the assassination of Martin Luther King.
1968:  Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Al Kooper and Ted Nugent jammed at an all-night blues, folk and rock session at the New Generation Club in New York after hearing news of Martin Luther King's assassination.

1969:  Jim Morrison of the Doors turned himself in to FBI authorities in Los Angeles, after being sought for six counts of lewd behavior and public exposure in Miami, Florida at a concert March 2.  (Note:  many websites claim this happened on April 3, but the correct date is April 4, according to the official website for the Doors and the book 'Miami's Criminal Past Uncovered' by Sergio Bustos and Luisa Yanez.)  1970:  Janis Joplin reunited with Big Brother & the Holding Company at a concert in San Francisco, California.
1970:  The Jackson 5 reached #1 on the R&B chart with "ABC".
1970:  Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" logged a sixth week at #1 on the Adult chart.







1970:  The superb album Bridge Over Troubled Water, one of The Top 20 Albums of the Rock Era* on Inside the Rock Era, was #1 on the Album chart for a sixth week.  Deja Vu, the first album to feature Neil Young with the trio of Crosby, Stills & Nash, debuted at #9.
1970:  Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young had one of the hot new songs with their version of the Joni Mitchell song "Woodstock".
1970:  The classic song "Bridge Over Troubled Water" stood tall at #1 for a sixth week for Simon & Garfunkel.  The Beatles  patiently waited with "Let It Be" while a solo hit from John Lennon--"Instant Karma" was third.
1973:  The Supremes appeared at the Granada Cinema in Tooting, England, the last date on a 20-day U.K. tour.
1977:  ABBA received a Gold record for the album Arrival.
1981:  The documentary This Is Elvis premiered at the USA Film Festival in Dallas, Texas. 
1981:  Despite having several albums that are better, Paradise Theater became Styx's first #1 album.  The Chicago group broke a record with four consecutive albums to go triple platinum (3 million sales).







1981: The legendary Smokey Robinson was the proud new owner of the #1 R&B song with his solo hit "Being With You".
1981:  Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb remained on top of the Adult Contemporary chart for the fourth week with "What Kind Of Fool".
1981:  Gino Vannelli had another big hit as "Living Inside Myself" moved from #59 to #32.






         
                                      Winwood's gift of positive thinking...

1981:  Blondie held on to #1 with "Rapture", while "Woman" by the late John Lennon was second.  Styx's "The Best Of TImes" peaked at 3 while Hall & Oates made a bid for another #1 with "Kiss On My List".  Don McLean's remake of the Roy Orbison song "Crying" remained fifth.  The rest of the Top 10:  "Hello Again" from Neil Diamond, Grover Washington, Jr. & Bill Withers edged up with "Just The Two Of Us", REO Speedwagon's former #1 "Keep On Loving You", Steve Winwood scored his first solo Top 10 with "While You See a Chance" and "What Kind Of Fool" represented the 44th career hit for Barbra Streisand and the 38th for Barry Gibb.








1985:  The Eurythmics released the single "Would I Lie To You".
1987:  "Mandolin Rain" by Bruce Hornsby was #1 on the AC chart for the third straight week.
1987:  Jody Watley controlled the R&B chart for a third week with "Looking For A New Love".  










 
1987:  U2 entered the Album chart at #7 with The Joshua Tree.  It was the highest chart debut on the Album charts in seven years.









1987:  With all their great songs, Starship officially had their second #1 song of their career with "Nothing's Gonna' Stop Us Now", although anyone who didn't have "White Rabbit", "Somebody To Love" and "Miracles" at #1 probably didn't deserve to be in the radio business.
1990:  Gloria Estefan was able to leave the hospital after her serious car crash on March 20.  Estefan required surgery to repair broken vertebrae.





1992:  Bruce Springsteen hit #1 in the U.K. with his album Human Touch.











1992:  One of The Top 10 Songs of 1992*, "Save The Best For Last" by Vanessa Williams was #1 for a third week.  Mariah Carey scored her seventh straight Top 10 to open her career as "Make It Happen" moved in.
1994:  Kurt Cobain's mother filed a missing persons report on her son.
1996:  Take That ("Back For Good") appeared on The Ivo Niehe Show on Dutch television for the final time.
1996:  Wilson Pickett was arrested for possession of cocaine while on probation, adding another year of jail time.
1996:  The ashes of Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead were scattered in the Ganges River in India.
1998:  Madonna's "Frozen" peaked at #2, tying her with Elvis Presley and Creedence Clearwater Revival for the most #2 hits in the Rock Era.






1998:  K-Ci & Jojo began three weeks at the top with their #1 song "All My Life".
1999:  The Coors album Talk On Corners reached #1 on the U.K. chart for the 10th time.  It was the biggest-selling album of 1998 in the U.K.

2000:  Pink released her first album Can't Take Me Home.
2002:  Injuries to Dave Mustaine's left arm and hand forced Megadeth to break up after 19 years.
2002:  R. Kelly was investigated on charges of child pornography in Chicago.  On June 6, he was indicted on 21 counts.
2003:  Meat Loaf announced his retirement following a last tour.  He lied, and did not in fact retire.
2003:  The Rolling Stones played their first concert in India, performing at the Palace Grounds in n Bangalore in front of 30,000 fans.
2003:  Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers premiered "Black Leather Woman" on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.






2004:  Nickelback won Best Group at the Canadian Juno Awards.
2004:  Beck married actress Marissa Ribisi at the San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, California.
2006:  In today's episode of Dangerous Inmates Run Rap Music, Rapper Black Rob was sentenced to seven years in prison for grand larceny.  And moral compass-challenged people continue to like the "music".
2008:  The Rolling Stones documentary Shine a Light opened in theaters.

 2008:  Beyonce Knowles married Jay-Z at his New York apartment.  
2008:  Procol Harum's Gary Brooker won back his full royalty rights to "A Whiter Shade Of Pale" at the Court of Appeals in London.  The decision overturned a 2006 ruling that organist Matthew Fisher was entitled to a 40% portion of the royalties for the 1967 hit after Fisher argued that he had written the organ melody for the song.  The Appeals Court ruled that there had been an "excessive delay" in the claim (40 years after the song came out).
2010:  Laughter in the Rain, a musical based on the life of Neil Sedaka, premiered at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley, England.

Born This Day:
 

1934:  Clive Davis, producer and record executive with Columbia and Arista, was born in Brooklyn, New York.  (Note:  some websites say that Davis was born in New York City, but the truth is that he was born in Brooklyn, a borough in New York, according to the book 'Whitney Houston We Love You Forever' by Jean-Pierre Hombach. 1936:  Margo Sylvia of the Tune Weavers ("Happy, Happy Birthday Baby" from 1957) was born in Woburn, Massachusetts; died of a heart attack and stroke October 25, 1991 in San Diego, California.  (Note:  'Allmusic.com' inaccurately says that Sylvia died on October 29.  She died on October 25, according to credible sources including the Associated Press and the newspaper 'The Los Angeles Times'.) 

1939:  Hugh Masekela, songwriter, singer and trumpet player who had a #1 song with his version of "Grazing In The Grass", was born in Witbank, South Africa.

1940:  Sharon Sheeley, songwriter whose credits include "Poor Little Fool" for Ricky Nelson and "Somethin' Else" for Eddie Cochran, was born in Los Angeles.  Sheeley became Cochran's girlfriend and survived the 1960 car crash that claimed Cochran's life.  Sheeley died from complications following a cerebral hemorrhage.  May 17, 2002 at the age of 62.

1939:  Major Lance ("Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um" from 1964) was born in Winterville,Mississippi; died of heart disease in Decatur, Georgia on September 3, 1994.  (Note:  some websites claim Lance was born in 1941 or 1942.  They need to see the above photo.) 
1948:  Berry Oakley, founding member and bassist for the Allman Brothers Band, was born in Chicago, Illinois; died in a motorcycle crash November 11, 1972.  
1948:  Carol Douglas, a member of the regrouped Chantels, who went on to have the hit "Doctor's Orders" in 1974, was born in Brooklyn, New York.  (Note:  several websites say that Douglas was born on April 7.  Her 'MySpace' page says she was born on April 4.  Some websites report that Douglas was born in  Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York.  Bedford-Stuyvesant is a neighborhood, not a city, and neighborhoods are not shown on official birth certificates.)
1948:  Pick Withers, original drummer for Dire Straits, was born in Leicester, England.
1952:  Dave Hill, lead guitarist for Slade, was born in Holbeton, Devon, England.  (Note:  some websites claim Hill was born in Fleet Castle, Devon, England.  First of all, it is the Fleat House and estate, not Fleet.  Second, it is a building, not a city, and will never be included on an official birth certificate.  Hill was born in the village of Holbeton in the county of Devon.)



1952:  Gary Moore, the elite guitar player and vocalist for Skid Row and Thin Lizzy who came out with the spectacular solo album Still Got the Blues, was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland; died February 6, 2011 while on holiday in Spain
1952:  Pete Haycock, lead guitarist of Climax Blues Band, was born in Stafford, Staffordshire, England.
1957:  Graeme Kelling, guitarist of Deacon Blue, was born in Paisley, Scotland; died of pancreatic cancer in Glasgow, Scotland June 10, 2004.
1966:  Mike Starr, original bassist of Alice In Chains, was born in Honolulu, Hawai'i; died March 8, 2011 from a prescription drug overdose combined with alcohol in Salt Lake City, Utah.
1971:  Josh Todd, lead singer of Buckcherry, was born in Los Angeles.
1972:  Magnus Sveningsson, bassist for the Cardigans ("Lovefool"), was born in Falköping, Sweden.

Prelude to The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*: "Stuck In The Middle With You", from Stealer's Wheel

To whet your appetite for the crème de la crème of the Rock Era, we are presenting some of the top songs that just missed qualifying for inclusion in The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*.

You know Gerry Rafferty from his huge 1978 hit "Baker Street".  Back in 1973, he was the leader of the group Stealer's Wheel, which gave us this big hit...

Prelude to The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*: "Urgent", from Foreigner

This half-British, half-American act came up with their top rock & roll song in 1981.  Like the song title, radio programmers rushed to get the song on the air.  Foreigner just misses making The Top 500* for the last 60 years...

Calendar* Correction: Carol Douglas

Several websites say that Carol Douglas ("Doctor's Orders" from 1974) was born on April 7, 1948.  Her MySpace page says she was born on April 4.  Some websites report that Douglas was born in  Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York.  Bedford-Stuyvesant is a neighborhood, not a city, and neighborhoods are not shown on official birth certificates.

Calendar* Correction: Dirk Lance

Several websites report that bass guitarist Dirk Lance left Incubus on April 7, 2003.  Billboard magazine confirms that the official announcement was made April 3 on the band's official website.

Cynthia Lennon Has Died

Cynthia Lennon, the first wife of John and mother of singer Julian, died Wednesday of cancer in Mallorca, Spain.  Cynthia was 75.

Calendar* Correction: John Lennon's Recording of "Give Peace A Chance"

Several websites report that John Lennon recorded "Give Peace A Chance" in his  hotel room in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on April 7, 1969.   According to Christie's auction house, the song was recorded June 1 in room 1742 of the La Hotel Reine Elizabeth in Montreal.  This information is confirmed by the newspaper The Star.
 

Calendar* Correction: Sonny & Cher Movie 'Good Times'

Several websites claim that the Sonny & Cher movie Good Times premiered on April 7, with one website reporting that it opened on May 12.  While the movie opened in different cities on different dates, the world premiere was April 11 in Austin, Texas.  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.  
 

Calendar* Clarification: the Platters' Television Debut

Many websites claim that when the Platters appeared on Tommy & Jimmy Dorsey's Stage Show April 7, 1956 on CBS that it was their national television debut.  This is not true.  The famous group first appeared on The Perry Como Show on February 11, 1956 on NBC-TV, as you can see in the above video clip.  This is also confirmed by TV.com as well as the book Perry Como:  A Biography and Complete Career Record by  Malcolm Macfarlane and Ken Crossland.  

 

This Date in Rock Music History: April 3

 
1956:  Elvis Presley performed "Heartbreak Hotel", "Shake Rattle and Roll" and "Blue Suede Shoes" on The Milton Berle Show live from the USS Hancock in San Diego.  Nielsen Ratings estimated that one out of four Americans tuned in.
1958:  Bill Haley & the Comets began a month-long tour of South America, performing in Buenos Aires.  (Note:  many websites claim the tour began April 9.  Haley and his group boarded a plane in Miami on April 2 and arrived in South American on April 3.  According to the book 'Bill Haley' by Otto Fuchs, the Comets began their tour on April 3.)
1960:  Elvis recorded "It's Now Or Never" and "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" at the RCA studios in Nashville, Tennessee for his upcoming album.
1960:  The Everly Brothers made their U.K. concert debut at the New Victoria Theatre in London.  The Crickets opened for the Brothers on the tour, a year-and-a-half after the death of Buddy Holly.  (Note:  many websites report that the tour began on April 6, but the correct date is April 3, as reported in the March 28th edition of 'Billboard' magazine.)
1961:  Paul Anka starred on Make Room for Daddy on CBS-TV.







  
                 "Apache", back when artists did great instrumentals...

1961:  Oh, when music was fun.  The Marcels hit #1 with "Blue Moon".  Jorgen Ingmann's "Apache", one of The Top 100 Instrumentals of the Rock Era* on Inside the Rock Era, moved to #2 while previous #1 "Surrender" from Elvis Presley, well, surrendered.  Chubby Checker and "Pony Time" took the #4 spot while the Shirelles' latest, "Dedicated To The One I Love" was on its way down.  The rest of the Top 10:  Marty Robbins and "Don't Worry", Floyd Cramer was "On The Rebound", the Everly Brothers at #8 with "Walk Right Back", Del Shannon blasted up from 21 to 9 with "Runaway" and Clarence Henry with "But I Do".
1963:  The Elvis Presley movie It Happened at the World's Fair opened in Los Angeles.
1964:  Bob Dylan scored his first hit in the U.K. with "The Times They Are A-Changin'".
1965:  "King Of The Road" by Roger Miller ruled the Easy Listening chart for an eighth week.




1965:  The Rolling Stones' new song "The Last Time" moved from #79 to 46.
1966:  Peter Tork gave a solo concert at the Troubadour in Hollywood.  He had already auditioned for the Monkees and would join the group later in the year.
1967:  In the final recording session for the Beatles' upcoming album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, George Harrison recorded the lead vocal, the sitar and some acoustical work for "Within You Without You".







 
1968:  Simon & Garfunkel released their great album Bookends.
1971:  We first heard of Lobo on this date as his first single, "Me And You And A Dog Named Boo", debuted on the chart.













                                                  Santana's "Samba Pa Ti"...

1971:  Pearl by Janis Joplin was #1 on the Album chart for a sixth week.  The Soundtrack to "Love Story" captured second with The Cry of Love from Jimi Hendrix third.  The Soundtrack to "Jesus Christ Superstar" moved up with Love Story from Andy Williams in fifth.  The rest of the Top 10:  Chicago was on their third album Chicago III while the compilation Golden Bisquits from Three Dog Night moved from 11-7, Abraxas by Santana was still in the Top 10 after 26 weeks, Elton John with Tumbleweed Connection and Barbra Streisand was at #10 with Stoney End. 
1971:  Bread had one of the hot new songs as "If" moved from #72 to #39.








1971:  The Temptations reached #1 with their classic "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)".  The late Janis Joplin was second with "Me And Bobby McGee" and the Carpenters moved up with "For All We Know".  Tom Jones checked in next with "She's A Lady" and the other version of "Proud Mary", by Tina & Ike Turner, was on its way down.










1972:  The Staple Singers released the single "I'll Take You There".
1976:  We were introduced to the sound of Billy Ocean on this date as his first career single, "Love Really Hurts Without You", debuted on the chart.









1976:  The Carpenters took their remake of the Herman's Hermits song "There's A Kind Of Hush (All Over The World)" to #1 on the Adult chart.  
1976:  The Eagles Greatest Hits 1971-1975 spent a fourth week at #1 on the Album chart.  Frampton Comes Alive!  by Peter Frampton was second again with Stanley, Idaho's Carole King at #3 with her latest Thoroughbred.  Paul Simon's fascinating album Still Crazy After All These Years remained at #4 and Desire by Bob Dylan stood pat.  The rest of the Top 10:  Run with the Pack from Bad Company, Queen's A Night at the Opera, Gary Wright's unique sound enabled him to move up to #8 with The Dream Weaver, Station to Station by David Bowie and The Outlaws' self-titled album found the Top 10.









1978:  ABBA released the single "Take A Chance On Me".
1978:  Cher's television special with guests Rod Stewart and Dolly Parton aired on ABC-TV.









This phenomenal evening reminded us how special this duo was...

1982:  The Concert in Central Park, which captured the famous reunion concert by Simon & Garfunkel that drew over 700,000 people, moved into the Top 10 on the Album chart.
1982:  "Chariots Of Fire" by Vangelis topped the Adult Contemporary chart.







 
       The J. Geils Band with their great song "Freeze-Frame"...

1982:  Joan Jett & the Blackhearts grabbed a third week at #1 with "I Love Rock 'N Roll".  Journey had one of The Top #2 Songs of the Rock Era* (six weeks at #2)--"Open Arms", The Go-Go's edged up with "We Got The Beat" while  Stevie Wonder was at 4 with "That Girl", you know, that one.  The rest of the Top 10:  "Make A Move On Me" from Olivia Newton-John, "Chariots Of Fire" from Vangelis was sixth, the J. Geils Band had another hot song with "Freeze-Frame", which moved from 10 to 7, Rick Springfield vaulted from 14 to 8 with "Don't Talk To Strangers", everyone was experiencing "Pac-Man Fever" with Buckner & Garcia and newcomer Bertie Higgins with "Key Largo".
1984:  Producer Jack Douglas won $3 million he said he was owed him by Yoko Ono for his work on the album Double Fantasy.




1984:  Huey Lewis and the News gave one of the most famous versions of the United States national anthem on Opening Day of the 1984 Major League Baseball season at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California.
1989:  23 people were arrested after thousands without tickets tried to enter a Grateful Dead concert at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
1989:  Pepsi dropped Madonna as a spokesperson like a hot potato after the release of her "Like A Prayer" video.
1990:  Sarah Vaughan ("Broken Hearted Melody) died in her home in Hidden Hills, California from lung cancer at the age of 66.  (Note:  some websites incorrectly list her place of death as Los Angeles.  Sarah died in Hidden Hills, according to the newspaper 'The Los Angeles Times'.)





 
1991:  Paul McCartney appeared on MTV's popular Unplugged series.
1993:  Depeche Mode had the #1 album in the U.K. with Songs of Faith and Devotion.
1993:  Elton John remained at #1 on the AC chart with "Simple Life".








                                "Forever" in Love" from Kenny's 'Breathless'...

1993:  The "Bodyguard" Soundtrack, which had already spent 13 weeks at #1, returned to the top of the Album chart. Breathless from Kenny G was second with Eric Clapton's Unplugged third and Ten Summoner's Tales by Sting in fourth.
1994:  An upcoming tour by Nirvana and Hole was cancelled due to Kurt Cobain's drug problems.
1996:  MC Hammer filed for bankruptcy.
1998:  Michael Jackson's daughter Paris was born.
1998:  Dave Navarro left the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
1999:  Composer Lionel Bart died of cancer at age 69 in Hammersmith, London, England.  He was the writer of "Living Doll" for Cliff Richard, the composer of the musical score for Oliver and the writer of the theme from the James Bond flick From Russia With Love.
2003:  Ashanti, Ja Rule and Redman performed for U.S. troops stationed on Long Island in New York.
2003:  Bass guitarist Dirk Lance, a founding member of Incubus, left the band, confirmed by an announcement on the group's website.  (Note:  some websites report that Lance left April 7.  'Billboard' magazine confirms that the official announcement was made April 3.)


Born This Day:
 
1924:  Doris Day was born in Cincinnati, Ohio.  (Note:  some websites incorrectly list her birth year as 1922.  She was born in 1924, according to her spokesman, 'CBS', and "Turner Classic Movies'.)
1928:  Don Gibson ("Oh Lonesome Me" from 1958) was born in Shelby, North Carolina; died of natural causes in Nashville, Tennessee on November 17, 2003.











 
1938:  Jeff Barry, writer of songs such as "Da Doo Ron Ron", "Be My Baby", "Baby I Love You", "Leader Of The Pack" and "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" and also a producer, was born in Brooklyn, New York.
1938:  Phillippe Wynne, vocalist with the Spinners, was born in Detroit, Michigan; suffered a heart attack while performing at Ivey's nightclub in Oakland, California on July 13, 1984 and died the next day.

1941:  Jan Berry of Jan & Dean was born in Los Angeles; died March 26, 2004 in Los Angeles after being in poor health from brain damage caused by a 1966 car crash.
1942:  Billie Joe Royal ("Cherry Hill Park") was born in Valdosta, Georgia; died October 6, 2015 in Morehead City, North Carolina.
1943:  Richard Manuel, songwriter, singer and multi-instrumentalist of the Band, was born in Stratford, Ontario, Canada; Manuel committed suicide in Winter Park, Florida on March 4, 1986.  (Note:  some websites list his death as March 6, but he died on March 4, according to the book 'The Last Waltz of the Band' by Neil Minturn.)
1944:  Barry Pritchard, guitarist and vocalist of the Fortunes, was born in Birmingham, England; died in Swindon, Wiltshire, England January 11, 1999.







1944:  Tony Orlando was born in New York City.










 
1949:  Richard Thompson, vocalist and elite guitarist with Fairport Convention, was born in London.
1968:  Sebastian Bach (real name Sebastian Bierk), singer of Skid Row, was born in Freeport, the Bahamas.
1974:  Drew Shirley, guitarist of Switchfoot, was born in Puerto Rico.