This Date In Music History-May 4

Birthdays:

Surf guitar great Dick Dale (1937)



Nick Fortuna of the Buckinghams ("Don't You Care") is 64

Peggy Santiglia of the Angels ("My Boyfriend's Back") and Dusk ("Angel Baby") is 66

Ed Cassidy - Spirit (1923)

Nicholas Ashford - Ashford and Simpson (1942)

George Wadenius - Blood Sweat & Tears (1945)

Zal Cleminson - Sensational Alex Harvey Band (1949)

Bruce Day - Santana (1951)

Jackie Jackson - Jackson Five (1951)

Mick Mars (real name Bob Deal) - Motley Crue (1951)

Country singer Randy Travis (1959)

Mike Dirnt - Green Day (1972)

Lance Bass - *NSYNC (1979)


They Are Missed:

In 1987, American blues vocalist, harmonica player Paul Butterfield, who fronted The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, died at his home in North Hollywood, California, of drug-related heart failure, he was 44. Gained international recognition as one of the early acts performing during the Summer of Love, at The Monterey festival and Woodstock festival.

Born on this day in 1942, Ronnie Bond, drummer, The Troggs. Bond died on November 13, 1992.



Clement Seymour Dodd died in 2004 (age 72). Producer and major force in the development of ska and reggae, made the first recordings of Bob Marley.


History:

Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps recorded "Be Bop A Lula" in 1956. The track was written three days before the session. The songs became a 1956 US #7 hit single spending 20 weeks on the US chart.

Lonnie Donegan quit Chris Barber's Jazz Band to form his own skiffle group in 1956.

Alan Freed's "Rock 'n' Roll Revue" TV show premiered on ABC television in 1957 with the Dell-Vikings, the Clovers, Guy Mitchell, Sal Mineo and "Screamin'" Jay Hawkins. It was the first prime-time network rock show.

The first Grammy Awards were given out in 1959 ("Volare" is Record of the Year).

Andy Williams started a 16-week run at #1 on the US album chart in 1963 with 'Days Of Wine And Roses'.

The Moody Blues formed in Birmingham, England in 1964.

The Young Rascals started a four week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1967 with "Groovin."

The Jimi Hendrix Experience appeared on UK TV's 'Top Of The Pops' in 1967.

In 1968, model Twiggy recommended Mary Hopkin to Paul McCartney (who eventually produces her first record).

In 1970, four students at Kent University were killed and eleven wounded by National Guard troops at a campus demonstration protesting the escalation of the Vietnam War. The incident inspired Neil Young to compose "Ohio" which became a hit for Crosby Stills Nash & Young.



Led Zeppelin opened their 1973 North American tour, which was billed as the 'biggest and most profitable rock & roll tour in the history of the United States.' The group would gross over $3 million from the dates, flying between gigs in 'The Starship' a Boeing 720 passenger jet, complete with bar, shower room, TV and video in a 30' lounge and a white fur bedroom. Big deal back then.....

Grand Funk Railroad started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1974 with their version of the Little Eva hit "The Loco- Motion." It was only the second time that a cover version had been a #1 as well as the original.



The film soundtrack to 'The Sting' by Marvin Hamlisch started a five-week run at #1 on the US album chart in 1974.

KISS performed their first concert in their hometown of New York City in 1976.

The Patti Smith Group, David Johansen, Dead Boys, Blondie, Suicide and Richard Hell & The Voidoids all appeared at a Punk Benefit at CBGB's in New York City in 1977.

In 1989, Stevie Ray Vaughan set out on what would be his last ever tour at the Orpheum Theatre, Vancouver, British Columbia. The guitarist was killed in a helicopter crash on August 27, 1999 after a concert at Alpine Valley Music Theater in Wisconsin, after playing 107 of the 110 dates.

Madonna played the first night of the North American leg on her 57-date Blond Ambition World Tour at The Summit in Houston, Texas in 1990.

In 1994, the RIAA certified that the Gin Blossoms album 'New Miserable Experience' has sold over four million copies. The album, released three years earlier, has "Hey Jealousy" and "Found Out About You."

“Evil Empire,” Rage Against The Machine’s sophomore album, was #1 in the US in 1996, selling 250,000 copies in the week of its release.

Mariah Carey started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1996 with "Always Be My Baby," her 11th US #1 hit.

Today in 1996, the song "Because You Loved Me" by Celine Dion topped the charts and stayed there for 7 weeks.

In 1997, Courtney Love placed an advert in The Seattle Times selling the house she had shared with Kurt Cobain. The five bedroom four bathroom house was on the market for $3m. The carriage house where Kurt Cobain died had been knocked down during refurbishment.

Sean Paul started a three week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 2003 with "Get Busy."

Madonna was at #1 on the US album chart in 2003 with ‘American Life’, the singers fifth US #1.

Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger punched a man in the face outside a Vancouver, BC, nightclub in 2007. According to reports the "victim" harassed Kroeger by shouting "Nickelback sucks." Well, that's just wrong and the "victim" got what he deserved.......

Bruce Springsteen was one the 15 inaugural members of the New Jersey Hall of Fame (along with Frank Sinatra and actress Meryl Streep) in the Arts & Entertainment category in 2008.

Also in 2008, thieves broke into the childhood home of Motown star Martha Reeves and stole about $1 million worth of uninsured recording equipment, including speakers, microphones and karaoke machines. A suspect was arrested at his home later in the day after he tried to sell the goods to a pawnshop for $400.

Godsmack issues their fifth studio album, "The Oracle” today (2010) The 10-track set was produced by Dave Frontman.

Also in 2010, the Hold Steady roll out “Heaven Is Whenever.” Dan Neustadt is on keyboards replacing Franz Nicolay who left the band earlier in the year. Also, New Pornographers fifth album, “Together,” and Paul Weller’s tenth solo effort, “Wake Up The Nation,” arrive. The latter features contributions by My Bloody Valentine’s Kevin Shields and The Jam’s Bruce Foxton.