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April in Music History
 During
the first week of April in1961, members of H.B. and the Checkmates were
lynched in the Hermiston, Oregon town square by members of the Society
for the Moral Protection of America's Youth, after the mob is driven into
a murderous frenzy by the group's bitonal version of "Louie Louie".
During 1997, three and a half decades later, a network of "All Louie
Louie 24/7" radio stations opened across the country. In 1979, Frank
Sinatra joined the Grateful Dead for a headline stint at Caesar's Palace
in Las Vegas. in 1998, San Francisco police responded to a domestic violence
call. Pat Metheny and live-in roommate Kenny G, were in a huff over which
color drapes to get for the dining room.
This month in1982, Anita Bryant of Florida Orange Juice fame undergoes
a sex change operation in Geneva and changes her name to Andrew. During
this month in 1980, Downbeat's Annual Readers' Poll award for Best New
Jazz Album goes to Neil Diamond for the soundtrack to his hit movie "The
Jazz Singer". In1975, Charles Mingus teams up with Donna Summer to
record the classic disco album, Dance Trance Connection. In1991, James
Brown escapes from the Georgia state prison in a daring daylight jailbreak
amid a hail of gunfire, but is recaptured after a 24-hour standoff and
resolution of a hostage crisis.
"Yummy Yummy Yummy I Got Love in My Tummy" by The 1910 Fruit
Gum Conspiracy climbs to the top of the billboard charts this month in
1982 and remains there for the next 18 months becoming the longest-running
hit record of all time. In1965, Elvis frees the slaves at Graceland. On
April 1,1956, violence erupts on the stage of the Lawrence Welk Show when
Welk goes berserk after an apparent overdose of amphetamines. Confronted
about the incident in a Jack Parr interview two months later, Welk denies
that it ever happened, saying "It was a really, really good show!"
In 2000, hard rapper Ja Rule breaks down crying on the set of Oprah,
acknowledging that his violent lyrics "are really the cries for help
of a lost child, heartbroken by an emotionally distant mother". In1982,
the ruling family of Tanzania is overthrown by communist insurgents and
flees to the U.S. where the son and heir to the throne, Prince Mumbala
Tumba, begins a career as a pop music star, known simply as Prince. In
2000, as a harbinger of their downward-spiralling career track, alternative
rockers Limp Bizkit play the WTO street riots in Seattle ...their sturm-and-drang-ridden
set seems to have a narcotizing impact on the anarchist crowd which becomes
docile and agreeable to police orders...and this concludes the April Fools'
month in history.
This month in 1998, tabloids fly off supermarket racks when George Michael
gets popped performing "a lewd act" in a Beverly Hills public
theatre. This month marks the debuts of two bands that though miles apart
in styles, cast long, influential shadows: in '69, art rockers King Crimson
break through with a gig at London's Speakeasy...four years later, glamrockers
Queen do the same at the city's Marquee Theatre. In 1985, Billboard's
#1 pop entry is "We Are The World"...the feelgood ditty is penned
by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and is performed by just about all
of popdom's glitterati. In 1974, the #1 spot is owned by Elton John's
"Benny and the Jets"...the tune first comes out as the B-side
of "Candle in the Wind" and then takes on a life of its own.
"Candle" in turn has its second heyday when it becomes the theme
song for Princess Di's mourners.
During this month in 1954, Bill Haley and The Comets wax "(We're Gonna)
Rock Around The Clock" marking what many believe is the beginning
of the rock era...in 1961, a folksinger from Minnesota opens for John
Lee Hooker at New York's Gerde's Folk City...his name is Robert Zimmerman
(Bob Dylan). This month in 1957, Ricky Nelson sings on his family's sitcom
"The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet"...with good looks and
an innocuous crooning style, his whitebread makeover of Fats Domino's
"I'm Walking" leaves teens all over America swooning...according
to some, it marks the first incursion of rock on national TV.
In1979-Siouxsie and The Banshees play a charity concert at London's Rainbow
Theatre...their fans go berserk and cause so much damage that once the
costs are paid out, there's precious little left over for charity. On
April 7, 1994, Courtney Love is busted on drug charges following a reported
overdose. She and the cops are unaware that Kurt Cobain is dead in the
couple's greenhouse. It's not until April 8th that an electrician discovers
the body. Cobain had shot himself on the 5th. In 1966, Jan Berry, half
of the singing duo Jan & Dean, is severely injured when he wipes out
his 'Vette...ironically, some of Jan & Dean's biggest hits such as
"Dead Man's Curve" revolve around fast cars.
This month in 1967, The Rolling Stones gave their first performance behind
the Iron Curtain, which broke into a riot when 7,000 people were locked
out. In 1965, "Girl from Ipanema" won a Grammy for Stan Getz
and Astrud Gilberto. That same year, the Beatles win Best New Artist of
the Year. In 1940, Glenn Miller is "In the Mood" to top the
charts. In 1999, a month following the $50 million wrongful death suit
filed by three of her daughters, Tammy Wynette's year-dead corpse is dug
up and autopsied...the suit charges that her husband George Richey and
Wynette's doctor kept her strung out on narcotics and failed to give her
proper medical attention...the medical examiner finds inadequate evidence
to support this claim.
In 1973, the number one pop toe-tapper is "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round
the Old Oak Tree" by Tony Orlando and Dawn. In 1951, Les Paul and
Mary Ford top the charts with "How High the Moon". This month
in 1946, Skip Spence is born in Ontario...he grows up to help found Jefferson
Airplane and sing lead with Moby Grape. This same month in 1999, he dies
of lung cancer in Santa Cruz, CA, where he was a ward of the county. George
Michael ticks off Sony this month in 1995, by giving the single "Jesus
for a Child" a one-shot charity airing in London...the stunt raises
$112 grand and loses Michael his recording contract. He signs on with
DreamWorks.
In 1972, Electric Light Orchestra first meets the world at the Greyhound
Club in Surrey, England (or The Fox & Greyhound in Croydon, depending
on your reference). In 1998, postwar country music fans grieve the loss
of Rose Maddox, who dies two years after releasing an original CD that
wins her a Grammy nomination. In 1970, Paul McCartney releases his first
solo album, "McCartney". It is carefully timed to coincide with
the release of the Beatles' "Get Back". Felix Pappalardi, producer
of Cream and bassist with Mountain, is gunned down in his New York apartment
this month in 1983, his wife is charged with second degree murder...later
she gets four years after claiming she shot him while he gave her a lesson
in how to use the gun...in the middle of the night.
In 1956, Buddy Holly releases his first single, "Blue Days, Black
Nights". Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders top the charts this month
in 1965 with "Game of Love". Four years later MC5 gets dropped
by Elektra after placing an ad reading "F*ck Hudsons" in a Detroit
newspaper. Hudsons is a local record shop that refuses to stock MC5 albums.
This month in 1955, Alan Freed presented his first rock 'n' roll show at
Brooklyn's Paramount Theater and contrary to usual practice, there was
no color bar. In 1956, Nat King Cole was attacked and beaten after a show
in Birmingham, Alabama.
Also in 1956, Elvis played Las Vegas for the first time, but didn't go
over well (his two-month appearance ended after one month) and The Coasters
signed with Atlantic Records . In1961, The Beatles made their debut at
the Cavern Club in Liverpool, England, and Elvis made his last stage appearance
for nearly eight years at Bloch Arena in Hawaii.
In 1961, Bob Dylan earned a $50 session fee for playing harmonica on Harry
Belafonte's "Midnight Special" ... and the 1961 No. 1 Billboard
Pop Hit was "Runaway" by Del Shannon.
Shannon was also the first artist to put a Lennon and McCartney song on
the American charts. The song was "From Me to You" and it hit
the charts in 1963, before the release of the Beatles debut American single,
"I Wanna Hold Your Hand". In 1969, John Lennon officially changed
his middle name from Winston to Ono, and Paul McCartney denied that "Paul
is dead," the hot rumor of the day.
In 1964, the Rolling Stones released their debut album ... 35 years or
so later, in 1999, their No Security arena tour grossed a cool
64 million for 33 shows. In 1977, Elvis recorded for the last time at
The Civic Center in Saginaw, Michigan, and Studio 54, the center of the
disco universe, opened in New York. In 1981, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash,
and Carl Perkins performed together in West Germany and the concert was
later released as the LP The Survivors. In 1980, The English Beat
released Britain's first digitally recorded single, "Mirror in the
Bathroom".
In 1981, John Phillips was sentenced to eight years after pleading guilty
to drug dealing but actually spent only 30 days behind bars. In 1996,
tickets went on sale for the KISS reunion tour, the first time in fifteen
years that the '70s stars were together again on stage in original makeup.
Harry Belafonté secured a $1 million record deal in 1957 with RCA
Records. He had a number of hits in 1956 and ’57, including his classic
rendition of Mary’s Boy Child, as well as five top 3 albums in those
same years. Harry Belafonté had a special guest playing harmonica
on his Calypso King album in 1961. A $50 fee was paid out to Bob Dylan.Dion
and The Belmonts and Laurie Records both had their first hit when the
band’s, I Wonder Why, made the top 40 in 1958. Less than a month
after the release of his 1965 debut album, John Mayall and his blues band
performed on Ready Steady Goes Live! in the U.K. In those few months, Mayall
fired guitarist Roger Dean and hired Eric Clapton in his place.
Many other members would come and go, including John McVie, Peter Green,
Jack Bruce and Mick Fleetwood. Clapton stuck around for several months
before going off to Greece, but returned that fall, just in time to record
the famous Blues Breakers album with Mayall and company. John Winston
Lennon became John Ono Lennon in 1969. Bob Welch joined Fleetwood Mac
in 1971 after Jeremy Spencer left to join The Children of God religious
cult. Fleetwood Mac then recorded the Future Games, Bare Trees, Penguin
and Mystery to Me albums before Welch’s idea of moving the British
band to California was agreed upon in 1974.
The members of Grand Funk Railroad sued manager Terry Knight in 1972
for $8 million in unpaid song royalties. John Eastman, brother-in-law
of Paul McCartney, was chosen to take over the band’s business affairs.
Later that year, Knight showed up at rehearsals for the band’s, In
Concert album, and legally confiscated their equipment in the ongoing
legal battle. The Sweet earned a gold record in the U.S. when their current
hit, Little Willy, went gold in 1973. Singer/guitarist for Badfinger,
Pete Ham, committed suicide in 1975. The band had changed their name from
The Iveys and hit it big with the Paul McCartney original, Come and Get
It, in late 1969.
David Bowie was detained at the border between Poland and Russia in 1976
while customs officials confiscated Nazi memorabilia. The Thin White Duke
had been in Moscow, when his train was delayed. Bowie claimed that the
material was being used for research on a movie project about Nazi propaganda
leader, Joseph Paul Goebbels. Bowie was currently promoting his Station
to Station album and Golden Years single. Denny Laine officially left
Wings in 1981 after putting up with Paul McCartney for ten years. Laine
had originally been with The Moody Blues when their first hit, Go Now,
was released in 1965. Laine sang a live version that was included on the
Wings Over America album in 1976.
Ringo Starr married former James Bond girl, Barbara Bach, in 1981. Bach
and Starr met while filming the movie, Caveman, in which they were Starring
alongside Dennis Quaid and Shelley Long. George Harrison and Paul McCartney
attended the wedding. Rod Stewart was robbed in 1982 in Los Angeles, while
standing next to his $50000 Porsche on Hollywood Boulevard. Roy Orbison
celebrated his 51st birthday by re-recording his greatest hits in 1987.
Axl Rose of Guns N’ Roses married Erin Everly, daughter of Don Everly
in 1990. Rose filed for divorce three months later. Pink Floyd had the
number 1 album in the U.S. in 1994 with The Division Bell. It was their
only studio album from the 1990s, and held the top spot for 4 months.
The Eagles played the first of two shows in 1994, recording their Hell
Freezes Over album in the process. Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh,
Don Felder and Timothy B. Schmit first got back together the previous
December for the making of a Travis Tritt video of their song, Take It
Easy, that was included on an Eagles tribute CD.
BIRTHDAYS:
April 1st: Willie Dixon (1915)
bluesman Amos Milburn (1926)
singer/actress Debbie Reynolds (1932)
Rudolph Isley (1939)
Arthur Conley (1946)
Stan Ridgway of Wall of Voodoo (1955)
April 2nd: Marvin Gaye (1939)
Leon Russell (1941)
April 3rd: Songwriter Jeff Barry (1939)
Jan Berry of Jan & Dean (1941)
Tony Orlando (1944)
Richard Manuel of The Band (1945)
April 4th: Muddy Waters(1915)
writer/actor/dancer/singer/poet laureate Maya Angelou (1928)
trumpeter/singer Hugh Masekela (1939)
Major Lance (1941)
Berry Oakley of the Allman Brothers (1948)
Pick Withers of Dire Straits (1948)
April 5th: Tony Williams (1928)
David LaFlamme of It's a Beautiful Day (1941)
Eric Burdon (1941)
Allan Clarke of the Hollies (1942)
Crispin St. Peters (1944)
Agnetha Faltskog of ABBA (1948)
April 6: Ravi Shankar (1920)
Merle Haggard (1937)
Michelle Gilliam of The Mamas And The Papas (1944)
Bob Marley (1945)
April 7: Billie Holiday (1915)
Spencer Dryden of The Jefferson Airplane (1938)
Mick Abrahams of Jethro Tull/Blodwyn Pig (1943)
Janice Ian (1951), Bruce Gary of The Knack (1952)
April 8: Jazz chanteuse Carmen McRae (1922)
Steve Howe (1947)
April 9: Carl Perkins (1932)
Terry Knight of Grand Funk Railroad (1943)
Gene Parsons of The Byrds (1944)
April 10: Glen Campbell (1938)
Righteous Brother Bobby Hatfield (1940)
Bunny Wailer born Neville O'Reilly (1947)
Brian Setzer (1960)
April 12: Herbie Hancock (1940)
John Kaye of Steppenwolf (1944)
David Cassidy (1950)
Echo & The Bunnymen's Will Sergeant (1958)
April 13: Violinist Olga Rudge (1895)
Jack Casady of Jefferson Airplane (1944)
Lowell George (1945)
Al Green (1946)
Roy Loney of the Flamin' Groovies (1946)
Peabo Bryson (1951)
Jimmy Destri of Blondie (1954)
April 14: Loretta Lynn (1935)
Ritchie Blackmore (1945)
Matima Kinuani Mpiosso (1951)
April 15: Bessie Smith (1895 or 1898 depending on your reference)
Dave Edmunds (1944)
April 16: Henry Mancini (1924)
Bobby Vinton (1935)
Dusty Springfield
born Mary O'Brien (1939)
Stefan Grossman (1945)
Gerry Rafferty (1947)
April 17: Don Kirshner (1934)
Bill Kreutzman of the Grateful Dead(1946)
April 18: Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown (1924)
Mike Vickers (1941)
Skip Spence of Moby Grape (1946)
April 19: Alan Price of the Animals (1942)
Mark Volman of the Turtles (1944)
April 20: Johnny Tillotson (1939)
Craig Frost of Grand Funk (1948)
Luther Vandross (1951)
April 21: Eric Maresca who wrote the Dion classic "The Wanderer"
(1939)
Iggy Pop (1947)
Johnny McElhone (1963)
April 22: Charles Mingus (1922)
Peter Frampton (1950)
Ace Frehley (1951)
producer Arthur Baker (1955)
April 23: Roy Orbison (1936)
Steve Clark of Def Leppard (1960)
April 24: Barbara Streisand (1944)
Doug 'Cosmo' Clifford of Creedence (1945)
Glen Cornick of Jethro Tull (1947)
April 25: Ella Fitzgerald (1918)
Albert King (1923)
Jerry Leiber (1933)
Steve Ferrone of the Average White Band (1950)
April 26: Duane Eddy (1938)
Bobby Rydell (1942)
Diana Ross (1944)
Roger Taylor of Duran Duran (1960)
April 22: Glen Campbell (1936)
Mel Carter (1943)
Peter Frampton (1950)
PaulCarrack (Squeeze / Ace / Mike + The Mechanics, 1951)
Ace Frehley(Kiss, 1951)
April 23: Roy Orbison (1936)
Ray Peterson (1939)
Steve Clark (Def Leppard (1960)
April 24: Barbra Streisand (1942)
Doug Clifford (drummer with CCR, 1945)
April 25: Ella Fitzgerald (1918)
songwriter Jerry Leiber (1933)
Fish (Marillion (1958)
April 26: Duane Eddy
Maurice Williams (both 1938)
Bobby Rydell (1942)
Gary Wright (1943)
Roger Taylor (Duran Duran, 1960)
April 27: Pete Ham (vocalist and guitar player for Badfinger, (1947)
Sheena Easton (1959)
April 28: Ann-Margret (1941)
OBITUARIES:
April 1st: Scott Joplin (1917) Marvin Gaye (1984)
rock 'n roll pioneer Jesse Stone (1999)
April 2nd: Buddy Rich (1987)
Rob Pilatus of Milli Vanilli (1998)
April 3rd: Sarah Vaughn (1990)
bluesman Roosevelt "Booba" Barnes (1996)
April 5th: Bob "The Bear" Hite of Canned Heat (1981)
Danny Rapp of Danny and the Juniors (1983)
Kurt Cobain (1994)
April 6: Jazz vibist Red Norvo (1999)
Tammy Wynette (1998)
April 7: Lee Brilleaux of Dr. Feelgood (1994)
Original Who manager Kit Lambert (1981)
April 8: Laura Nyro (1997)
April 9: Country singer Mae Axton (1997)
Dave Prater of the soul duo Sam and Dave (1988)
folksinger Phil Ochs (1976)
April 10: Early Beatle Stuart Sutcliffe (1962)
April 14: Pete Fardon of the Pretenders (1983)
April 16: Skip Spence (1999)
Rose Maddox (1998)
April 17: Linda McCartney (1998)
lyricist Jack Yellen (1991)
Felix Pappalardi (1983)
Vinnie Taylor of Sha Na Na (1974)
Eddie Cochran (1960)
April 19: Sax man Steve Douglas (1993)
April 20: Steve Marriott of Small Faces and Humble Pie (1991)
April 21: Bluesman Earl Hooker (1970)
ska trombonist Don Drummond (1971)
Sandy Denny (1978)
April 22: Earl "Fatha" Hines (1983)
April 23: Badfinger's Pete Ham commits suicide (1975), Punk rock
forerunner Johnny Thunders (1991)
April 25: Funk star Roger Troutman shot to death (1999)
April 23: Pete Ham (Badfinger) hanged himself in 1975
April 24: Otis Spann died of cancer in 1970 at the age of 40
April 27: Al Hirt died of liver failure in 1999.
Vicki Sue Robinson died at the age of 46 in 2000 of complications from
cancer
April 28: B.W. Stevenson died after heart surgery in 1988
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