Saturday, April 19, 2008

This Date In Music History- April 19

Happy Record Store Day!!

In 2003, Madonna's Web site Madonna.com was hacked, with the hacker making her entire new album American Life available as free MP3 downloads.

Mark Volman (Flo of the Turtles-- "Happy Together") turns 61.

The late Bobby Russell (sang "Saturday Morning Confusion" and wrote songs like "Honey" and "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia") was born in 1941.

Jackie Wilson made his debut at the Copacabana in New York in 1962.

In 1993, saxophonist Steve Douglas, 55, died of heart failure while in a recording session with guitarist Ry Cooder. He played on "Da Doo Ron Ron" and "Be My Baby," produced by his school chum Phil Spector.

1980- Women hold the top five positions on the country music chart for the first time ever: Crystal Gayle heads the list, followed by Dottie West, Debby Boone, Emmylou Harris, and Tammy Wynette (with George Jones).

In 1968, John and George follow Paul and Ringo's lead and leave the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram in Rishikesh, India, two weeks before their studies are complete. Lennon later wrote "Sexy Sadie" about the yogi's attraction to fellow acolyte Mia Farrow. All four Beatles will later renounce their association with the Maharishi.

Animal’s organist Alan Price was born in County Durham, England in 1941. In addition to being an early advocate of Randy Newman, Price had a solo career that included writing the songs for O Lucky Man!

1986 - Prince became only the 5th songwriter to have two top ten hits at the same time. The songs were "Kiss" (Prince and the Revolution) and "Manic Monday" (Bangles).

Layne Staley (Alice in Chains) was found dead in his apartment in 2002. Drug overdose is listed as the probable cause. Coroner says he may have been dead for up to two weeks before his body was discovered.

In 1958, a 13 year old British teen named Laurie London had the best selling song in the US with an up-tempo version of the gospel song "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands". Although the song was a hit on both sides of the Atlantic, none of London's follow-up releases cracked the US top 100.

In 1965, the film T.A.M.I. (Teen-Age Music International) Show featuring the Rolling Stones, the Supremes, the Four Tops, James Brown, The Beach Boys and Smokey Robinson & The Miracles opened in London under the title Teenage Command Performance.

Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel reunited for a European tour in 1982 after the success of their New York Central Park concert the year before. Tensions between the pair cause them to split again before they can tour the US and by the time the album they were working on came out 18 months later, all traces of Garfunkel's contributions had been electronically removed. Now that is payback.

Pete Seeger left the Weavers in 1959 after they record a commercial for Lucky Strikes cigarettes over his objections.

Today in 1980, the song "Call Me" by Blondie topped the charts and stayed there for 6 weeks.

Also in 1980, Brian Johnson is now AC/DC’s new lead singer, replacing the deceased Bon Scott. “Back In Black” is the first album with Johnson.