Monday, April 7, 2008

This Day In Music History- April 7

Eleanora Fagan Gough, a.k.a. Billie Holiday, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1915.

Chicago blues legend Willie Dixon returned to Chess Records in 1959 (after a three-year hiatus), during which he produced an impressive roster of blues artists – including Buddy Guy, Otis Rush and Magic Sam – for crosstown rival Cobra Records.

King Crimson was formed in 1969.

Crosby, Stills & Nash's double live album '4 Way Street' was released in 1971. Showcasing the group's range and versatility, it includes group performances and solo spots. I believe Neil Young also contributed as well.

Bobby Bare ("Detroit City" and the real singer of "All-American Boy") turns 73.

John Oates of Hall & Oates ("Sara Smile") is 59.

Janis Ian ("At Seventeen") is 57.

The late Percy Faith ("Theme From A Summer Place") was born in 1908.

Charlie Thomas of the Drifters ("There Goes My Baby") turns 71.

In 1988, Alice Cooper nearly hanged himself for real at a concert rehearsal when a safety rope breaks. Ahh the price of fame.

Today in 1962, the song "Johnny Angel" by Shelley Fabares topped the charts and stayed there for 2 weeks.

In 1956, CBS Radio premiered Rock 'n' Roll Dance Party, hosted by DJ Alan Freed. It's the first nationally broadcast rock 'n' roll radio show.

In 1962, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards first meet Brian Jones at an Alexis Korner gig in London.

John Lennon recorded "Give Peace a Chance" in his Toronto hotel room in 1969. It becomes his first solo single.

In 1987, after preacher Oral Roberts informed his TV congregation that God will kill him if he doesn't raise $1 million in donations, rock funnyman Ozzy Osbourne sent him a dollar to be put toward psychiatric treatment. (way to go Ozzie!)

1997 - An Amsterdam university began offering a course entitled "Madonna 101." Interesting….

The Knack’s drummer Bruce Gary was born in 1952.

Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann was born in 1946.

Jethro Tull’s original guitarist, Mick Abrahams, was born in Luton, Bedfordshire, England in 1943. In ’68, conflicts between Abrahams and frontman Ian Anderson over the group’s musical direction force Abrahams to depart.

In 1981, the Who's former manager, Kit Lambert died after falling down a flight of stairs in his mother's home in London, England. Along with his partner Chris Stamp, Lambert guided the Who from 1964 through 1967 and produced many of their albums including "The Who Sell Out" and "Tommy".

In 1985, Wham! became the first western rock group to play live in China.

In 1998, singer George Michael was arrested in a public restroom in Beverly Hills for lewd conduct. He acknowledges his homosexuality on CNN a few days later and was sentenced to community service for the incident.