In 1956, a trio known as Buddy Holly and the Two-Tunes kick off a two week tour of the Southern United States as a supporting act for George Jones and Hank Thompson.
In 1956, at the KHJ Studios in Hollywood, Frank Sinatra recorded "You Make Me Feel So Young."
In 1958, at the Annex in Hollywood, Pat Boone recorded "A Wonderful Time Up There" and "It's Too Soon To Know."
In 1959, Dion and The Belmonts perform their newest recording, "Teenager In Love," on American Bandstand. The song will reach #5 in the US and #28 in the UK.
In 1960.., Eddie Cochran arrived in England to begin a tour. He died there in a car accident on April 17.
In 1961, orchestra leader Bert Kaempfert knocked Elvis Presley out of the number one spot on the US charts after six weeks with a sleepy instrumental called "Wonderland By Night". Later in the year, Kaempfert would hire The Beatles to back Tony Sheridan on their first commercial recording, "My Bonnie."
In 1961, at Owen Bradley's Quonset Hut studio in Nashville, Brenda Lee recorded "You Can Depend On Me."
In 1961, Connie Francis was the surprised honoree on NBC-TV's "This Is Your Life."
In 1962, in Nashville, Roy Orbison recorded "Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream)." It was a big international hit for Orbison, where it reached #2 in both the Australian and the UK singles charts and #4 in the US Billboard charts.
In 1964, in Studio A at Hitsville U.S.A. in Detroit, the Temptations, with Eddie Kendricks taking lead vocal, recorded their first hit, "The Way You Do The Things You Do." Written by Miracles members Smokey Robinson and Bobby Rogers, the single was the Temptations' first charting single on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking in the Top 20 at #11 and also went to #1 on the Cash Box R&B chart
In 1965, the Beatles started a nine week run at the top of the Billboard Hot 200 album chart with 'Beatles 65,' the group's fourth US #1 LP. The record jumped from #98 the week before, making the biggest gain in chart history to that point. Also on this date in 65' Sid Bernstein approached Brian Epstein about the Beatles playing Shay Stadium.
In 1965, the UK music show Juke Box Jury, a program where four panelists review new Pop music, turns thumbs down on the Righteous Brothers' latest release, "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling," calling it "a miss." It will prove to be one of the most talked about miscalculations in the show's history, as the tune would go on to top both the UK and US charts.
In 1968, Elvis Presley released the single "Guitar Man," featuring the song's composer, Jerry Reed, on lead guitar. Reed's recording of the song had enjoyed modest chart success less than a year earlier.
In 1971, the national board of the Junior Chamber of Commerce voted Elvis Presley one of the Most Outstanding Young Men of the Year for 1970, said to have been one of Presley's most treasured achievements.
In 1973, Mick Jagger was refused a Japanese visa because of a 1969 drug bust. The event halted the Rolling Stones' plan to tour the Orient. Asked by a reporter about his personal drug use, Jagger replied, "I don't take drugs. I don't approve of drugs and I don't approve of people taking drugs...unless they're very careful."
In 1975, after years of delays, the Beatles & Company partnership was formally dissolved in a private hearing at London's High Court. It took effect on April 9.
In 1976, Graham Parker of Graham Parker & the Rumour signed his first recording contract.
In 1979, K-Mart pulled Steve Martin's 'Let's Get Small' album from their shelves for being in "bad taste."
In 1981, jazz drummer William Randolph "Cozy" Cole, who played with Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, Jelly Roll Morton, Willie Bryant and Benny Carter, died of cancer at age 71.
In 1992, Sting made a guest appearance on the Fox-TV animated series, "The Simpsons."
In 1997, a day after his birthday, David Bowie held his 50th Birthday Bash concert at New York City's Madison Square Garden. Guest performers included Frank Black, Sonic Youth, Robert Smith of the Cure, the Foo Fighters, and Lou Reed. Proceeds from the concert went to the Save The Children fund.
In 1988, Whitney Houston led the Billboard singles chart with "So Emotional", her sixth consecutive number one song. Up to that point, only The Beatles and The Bee Gees had scored six straight chart toppers.
In 1998, Cher gives an emotional eulogy at Sonny Bono's funeral in Palm Springs, California, where she praised the man who had been a husband, friend, partner, father figure and rival, calling him "the most unforgettable character I've ever met." The event was broadcast live to millions of people on CNN.
In 2002, Elton John was honored in London by the UK Coalition of People Living with HIV and AIDS, which presented him with its Hero award. The honor acknowledged his contributions to the fight against HIV and AIDS through the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
In 2003, a grand piano once owned by Elvis Presley was sold for $685,000. Music producer Robert Johnson and partner Larry Moss sold the piano to the chairman of the Blue Moon Group, Michael Muzio, who was planning to take the piano on a casino-sponsored promotional tour. He was then planning for the piano to be shown at the proposed rock museum at Walt Disney World.
In 2007, Britain's Royal Mail issued a series of Beatles postage stamps.
In 2009, Dave Dee, of the British Pop Rock group Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich, died following a three year battle with cancer at the age of 67. In the late 60's the band spent more time on the UK charts than The Beatles, scoring a number one single in 1968 with "The Legend of Xanadu".
In 2013, announcer/emcee/Country Music Hall of Famer Frank Page, a broadcaster for 65 years, died of a respiratory infection at age 87. On October 16, 1954, Wilkinson introduced radio listeners to Elvis Presley when the Memphis teenager first performed at Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium on KWKH's live music show, the "Louisiana Hayride," the state's version of the Grand Ole Opry. During a year-long series of Presley appearances on the program, Wilkinson was the first to tell an audience, "Elvis has left the building."
