I am starting a new weekly feature called “This Week In Music History,” which will be posted every Sunday. I will list the birthdays first and then assorted dates and historic events, some interesting, some amusing and some that may be sad. Obviously, my time and space is limited so this will not be an all-inclusive list, but I hope that everyone finds this to be an interesting feature. That said - let’s roll with the first of many:
Sunday April 5
Mike McCready - Pearl Jam (1966)
Dave Holland - Judas Priest (1944)
Crispian St. Peters - "Pied Piper" turns 65
Billy Bland is 77
Agnetha Faltskog - ABBA is 59
In 1981, Canned Heat vocalist Bob "the Bear" Hite died from a heart attack at the age of 36. He helped bring the sound of American blues to rock music.
R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck was acquitted of air rage charges in 2002. Buck was alleged to have gone on a drunken rampage after drinking 15 glasses of wine during a transatlantic flight to London in 2001.
In 2002, Layne Staley died of a drug overdose, eight years to the day after Kurt Cobain committed suicide. The Alice in Chains singer's body was not found until several days later.
Kurt Cobain (Nirvana) killed himself with a shotgun in 1994. He was found three days later.
In 2005, Aberdeen, Wash., added the legend "Come As You Are" to their "Welcome to Aberdeen" sign on the 11th anniversary of Kurt Cobain's death.
The late Tony Williams of the Platters ("Only You") was born in 1928.
Gene Pitney died of a heart attack while on tour in Wales in 2006.
In Danny Rapp of Danny & the Juniors ("At The Hop") died of a self-inflicted gunshot.
A tornado killed 235 people in Tupelo, Mississippi in 1936. Significant? Certainly was, because one year-old Elvis Presley and his family survived.
The Searchers appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1964. They were the first British Invasion group to appear on the show after the Beatles. It was the Searchers' U.S. debut.
Led Zeppelin released their seventh studio album, "Presence" in 1976.
In 1985, an estimated 5,000 radio stations around the world simultaneously played the song "We Are the World."
Construction began on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland in 1993.
Colin "Cozy" Powell died in a car crash in 1998. He was 50 years old.
Monday April 6
Markku Lappalainen – Hoobastank (1973)
Frank Black - The Pixies (1965)
Michelle Phillips -The Mamas and the Papas (1944)
John Stax -The Pretty Things (1944)
Merle Haggard (1937)
Capitol Tower, the home of Capitol Records in Hollywood, CA, was dedicated in 1956. It was the first circular office tower designed in America. It is 13 stories tall and 92 feet in diameter.
Elvis Presley's "All Shook Up" was released in 1957.
Apple Corps Ltd., the Beatles' record company and management and publishing firm, opened in 1968.
In 1968, Pink Floyd announced founder Syd Barrett had officially left the group due to his suffering from psychiatric disorders compounded by drug use.
Wendy O. Williams (The Plasmatics) committed suicide in 1998.
"Ladies and Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones" opened at New York City's Ziegfeld Theatre in 1974. It was the first concert film to feature a soundtrack in quadraphonic sound.
The Rolling Stones record label (with the infamous "lips" logo) debuts in 1971.
Guitarist Niki Sullivan, a one-time member of Buddy Holly & the Crickets, died in his sleep in Sugar Creek, Michigan in 2004. He was 66.
Billy Joel cracks the top 40 for the first time in 1974 with "Piano Man."
The Beatles' Anthology Volume 2 went to #1 on the U.S. albums chart in 1996.
The first lady of country music, Tammy Wynette, died in 1998 (age 56).
In 2000, the Black Crowes were sued by an Ohio teenager who claimed he suffered permanent hearing damage from sitting in the second row of a 1999 concert by the band. Uh, it’s a concert, the music is supposed to be loud.
The Beach Boys recorded "California Girls" in 1965.
The Kingsmen recorded "Louie Louie" in 1963.
In 1962, the Russian newspaper, Pravda warned Communist youth about the dangers of doing the twist.
Tuesday April 7
The late Bruce Gary -The Knack (1952)
Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann was born today in 1946.
John Oates -Hall and Oates (1949)
Mick Abrahams -Blodwyn Pig, Jethro Tull (1942)
Patricia Bennett - The Chiffons (1947)
Billie Holiday - Jazz singer (1915)
Ravi Shankar - sitarist, was George Harrison's sitar teacher (1920)
Bobby Bare ("Detroit City") was born in 1935.
Janis Ian ("Society's Child") turns 58.
In 1988, Alice Cooper nearly hangs himself for real at a concert rehearsal when a safety rope breaks.
Ritchie Blackmore leaves Deep Purple to form Rainbow in 1975.
Mick Jagger & Keith Richards meet Brian Jones for the first time in 1962 at a London jazz club.
"Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" from "Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid" wins the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1970.
America braced itself for an electronica invasion in 1997 as the Chemical Brothers released their second album, Dig Your Own Hole. It peaked at #14 in the Billboard chart.
John Lennon recorded "Give Peace a Chance" in his Toronto hotel room in 1969. It becomes his first solo single.
In1987, after preacher Oral Roberts informs his TV congregation that God will kill him if he doesn't raise $1 million in donations, rock funnyman Ozzy Osbourne sends him a dollar to be put toward psychiatric treatment.
In 2004, The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry reported that global music sales fell 7.6 percent over the last year. They blamed the slump on piracy, poor economic performance, and the rise in DVD and video game sales.
An Amsterdam university began offering a course entitled "Madonna 101” in 1997.
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.
Wednesday April 8
Izzy Stradlin - Gun's 'N Roses (1962)
Julian Lennon (1963)
Dave Rountree - Blur (1963)
Peter Case - Yes (1947)
Steve Howe - Yes, Asia (1947)
Mel Schacher - Grand Funk Railroad (1951)
Chris Frantz - Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club (1951)
J.J. Jackson ("But It's Alright") is 68
In 1994, Kurt Cobain (Nirvana) was found dead at the age of 27. He had committed suicide three days before.
In 1971, Chicago became the first rock group to sell out a week of shows at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Neil Young premiered his home movie collection Journey Through the Past today at the U.S. Film Festival in Dallas in 1973. Young explained the film as "a collection of thoughts," adding that "every scene meant something to me - although with some of them I can't say what."
Aerosmith released "Toys in the Attic" in 1975.
Wango Tango- In 1996, In Lansing, Mich., rocker Ted Nugent gives an archery demonstration. He says the sport is an excellent distraction for kids, as opposed to taking drugs.
In 1977, the Damned became the first English punk group to play New York's famed club CBGB. At their hotel, they discover that the Rolling Stones have left them a birthday cake, seven meringue pies, and three prostitutes.
Van Halen began their first world tour in 1979.
Forty-nine year old Laura Nyro died of ovarian cancer at her home in Danbury, Conn in 1997. A profound concert artist, she also wrote an array of hits for others, including "And When I Die," "Stoned Soul Picnic," "Stoney End," and "Eli's Comin'."
The Supremes recorded "Where Did Our Love Go" (their first #1 single) in 1964.
Thursday April 9
Kevin Martin - Candlebox (1969)
Joe Peters - Grant Lee Buffalo (1965)
Mark Kelly – Marillion (1961)
Hal Ketchum - Country singer (1953)
Les Gray - Mud (1946)
The late Carl Perkins ("Blue Suede Shoes") was born in 1932
Emil Stucchio of the Classics ("Till Then") is 64
Percy Sledge's "When A Man Loves A Woman" was released in 1966.
In 1984, R.E.M. released their second album,” Reckoning.”
At the Oscars in 1984, Irene Cara's "Flashdance ... What a Feeling" wins Best Original Song.
In 1973, Paul McCartney released the song "My Love."
Queen had its debut performance in 1973 at the Marquee Theater in London.
In 1976, renowned protest singer Phil Ochs hangs himself at his sister's house in the Far Rockaway section of New York. He was 35.
Gene Vincent recorded "Be-Bop-a-Lula" in 1956.
King Crimson made their live debut in 1969 at London's Speakeasy.
In 2004, lawyers for "Cheeseburgers in Paradise" singer Jimmy Buffett force a Maryland hamburger stand owner to change the name of his eaterie from "Cheeseburgers 'n' Paradise" to "Beef 'n' Buns 'n' Paradise."
In 2003, Linkin Park retained the #1 spot for a second week with their Meteora album. Detroit rockers the White Stripes have the highest new entry with Elephant lumbering in at #6.
That’s just sick #1- In 1989, Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman, 52, announced that he was engaged to 19-year-old Mandy Smith, whom he had been dating for six years.
That’s just sick #2 – In 1998 Former Wham! singer George Michael was arrested at Will Rogers Park in Beverly Hills, Calif., after allegedly performing in a lewd act in a public restroom.
Dave Prater of Sam & Dave ("Soul Man") dies in a car crash near Sycamore, Georgia, 1988
Paul McCartney quits the Beatles in 1970 (the group's breakup was announced to the press the next day).
In 1964, Capitol Records reached an out-of-court settlement with Vee-Jay Records over Beatles records it claimed the latter did not have the right to release.
Friday April 10
Reni - Stone Roses (1964)
Brian Setzer - Stray Cats (1959)
Steven Gustafson - 10,000 Maniacs (1957)
Dave Peveret – Foghat (1950)
Innovative Funkadelic guitarist Eddie Hazel, who wrote the band's classic "Maggot Brain," was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1950.
Tim "Herb" Alexander – Primus (1965)
Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds was born in Indianapolis in 1959. As well as having hits of his own like 1994's "When Can I See You," he has written songs for Boyz II Men, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Paula Abdul, and many others.
Bunny Wailer, one of the original Wailers, who kicked off a successful solo career with the 1976 album Black Heart Man, was born Neville O'Reilly Livingstone in Kingston, Jamaica in 1947.
Original Beatle Stuart Sutcliffe died in Hamburg in 1962. His artistic ideas and close friendship with John Lennon had a lasting influence on the band. In fact, Sutcliffe's picture appears on the cover of Sgt. Pepper.
In 1970, Doors frontman Jim Morrison asked a concert audience if they would like something belonging to him that rhymes with "sock." Fortunately, Ray Manzarek carries him off stage before he can find what he's alluding to.
Bobby Darin recorded "Splish Splash” in 1958.
Mickey Hart joined the Grateful Dead in 1968
Leo Fender patented the Stratocaster guitar in 1956.
Chuck Willis died of peritonitis in 1958. As well as popularizing the rock anthem "C.C. Rider," the self-styled "King of Stroll" wore a turban on stage.
Isaac Hayes won an Oscarin 1972 for the Best Music, Original Song award for the song "Shaft.”
In 2000, Sony Music Entertainment announced that it planned to make its first commercial digital downloads available to U.S. consumers. Sony said it would offer about 50 hit songs from Lauryn Hill, Pearl Jam, Michael Jackson, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and others.
The late Sheb Wooley ("Purple People Eater") was born in 1921.
Little Eva ("The Loco-Motion") died of cervical cancer in 2003.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer was formed in 1970.
Peter Frampton's Frampton Comes Alive! topped the album chart in 1976, where it will remain for the next 10 weeks.
In 1994, in Seattle, 10,000 people gathered for a vigil for the late Kurt Cobain.
Courtney Love thanks them for their support and tearfully reads from Cobain's suicide note.
Saturday April 11
Chris Difford – Squeeze (1954)
Neville Staple - The Specials (1956)
Dylan Keefe - Marcy Playground (1970)
Joss Stone (1987)
The SPEBSQSA (Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America) was founded in 1936. I did not know that. Why not just call it MNWTH (Music Nobody Wants To Hear)?
James Brown debuts on the R&B charts in 1956 with "Please, Please, Please."
In 1961, Bob Dylan makes his first live performance in New York, opening for John Lee Hooker. The venue was Gerde's Folk City. Dylan airs some new material, including "Blowin' in the Wind."
Peter Green announced that he would be leaving Fleetwood Mac in 1970.
Savage Garden released their self-titled debut album in 1997.
Nirvana's In Utero album was certified double-platinum in 1994.
In 1967, on the way back from visiting the Beach Boys' Smile sessions, Paul McCartney dreams up the idea for the Beatles' film Magical Mystery Tour.
The late Richard Berry was born in 1935. He originally wrote and recorded the controversial frat anthem "Louie Louie," which became one of the most-covered songs in rock.
June Pointer of the Pointer Sisters ("Fairytale") died of cancer in 2006.
Paul McCartney gave a twenty-minute concert from the roof of a building he owns in London in 1997.
Big Brother & the Holding Company made their national TV debut on ABC's "Hollywood Palace" in 1968.
Ringo Starr guests on Fox-TV's "The Simpsons" in 1991.
Shooby-be-doo-be-doo-Frank Sinatra recorded "Strangers In The Night" in 1966.
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