Born on this day in 1945, Bob The Bear Hite, vocalist and harmonica player with Canned Heat. He died on April 5th 1981
In 1954, because of what she described as public outrage over the lascivious nature of several recent "race" recordings, U.S. Congresswoman Ruth Thompson (R-Michigan) tried but failed to pass a bill forbidding distribution of any "obscene, lewd, lascivious, or filthy publication, picture, disc, transcription, or other article capable of producing sound."
In 1955, sales of 45 rpm records outsold 78 rpm discs in the US for the first time. It's believed the number 45 came from taking 78 and subtracting Columbia's 33 rpm. RCA introduced the first 45 on March 31, 1949 when they released 104 single vinyl records. The first 45 to hit the Billboard charts was "You're Adorable" by Perry Como, on May 7th, 1949.
Also in 1955, R&B singer LaVern Baker appeals to the United States Congress in a letter to Michigan Representative Charles Digges Jr., to revise the Copyright Act of 1909. She says that recording artists should be protected against "note-for-note copying" of already recorded R&B tunes and arrangements by white artists and arrangers. Her request was denied.
In 1958, Perry Como was at #1 on the UK singles chart with "Magic Moments," the 2nd #1 in a row for writers Burt Bacharach and Hal David. It stayed at #1 for eight weeks.
In 1962, trumpeter Al Hirt recorded Allen Toussaint's "Java." Released as a single late the following year, it became Hirt's biggest hit, peaking at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning him a Gold Record.
In 1964, the Beatles worked on the final mixes for "Can't Buy Me Love" and "You Can't Do That" tracks. The single, which was released the following month, topped the charts all over the world.
In 1965, Guitarist Jimmy Page released a solo single called "She Just Satisfies" in the UK. Page played all the instruments on it except for the drums, and produced the track, as well as singing lead vocals.
In 1966, Nancy Sinatra went to #1 on the US singles chart with 'These Boots Are Made For Walking', also a UK #1.
In 1966, the Beatles' LP "Rubber Soul" rose to #1 on the Billboard Hot 200 chart, becoming the group's seventh US album chart topper. Paul McCartney conceived the album's title after overhearing someone's description of Mick Jagger's singing style as "plastic soul." To date, the album has sold over six million copies in America.
In 1972, Joe Tex's funk record "I Gotcha" enters the Billboard Pop chart and begins its climb to #2. Much the success of the song is rumored to be Tex's slurred delivery of the line Told you not to play with my affection, which caused many listeners to mistake the last word for one that rhymes with it.
Also in 1972, Sonny Geraci led his group, Climax, to the top of the Cashbox Magazine Best Sellers Chart with a song called "Precious And Few". Geraci was no stranger to recording success, as he had been the lead singer for The Outsiders' four Billboard Top 40 singles, including "Time Won't Let Me" in 1966.
In 1977, Sherman Garnes from Frankie Lymon And The Teenagers, died during open-heart surgery. They had the 1956 UK #1 and US #6 single "Why Do Fools Fall In Love."
In 1977, the Eagles went to #1 on the US singles chart with "New Kid On Town," the group's third US #1, a No.20 hit n the UK.
In 1978, Vladimir Horowitz marked the 50th anniversary of his U.S. debut with a performance at the White House.
In 1980, after seeing U2 play at Dublin's National Boxing Stadium in front of 2,400 people; Rob Partridge and Bill Stewart from Island Records in the UK offered the band a recording contract.
In 1985, at the 27th annual Grammy Awards, Tina Turner's "What's Love Got To Do With It" is named Best Record and Best Song, while Cyndi Lauper wins Best New Artist. Additionally, Chuck Berry received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy.
In 1987, the LP "The Beatles", more commonly called 'The White Album,' became the first Beatles' LP to be issued on CD. According to the Recording Industry Association of America, the disc is group's best-selling album, going 19-times Platinum and is the tenth-best-selling album of all time in the United States.
In 1989, jazz trumpeter Roy Eldridge, who played in the big bands of Gene Krupa and Artie Shaw, died at the age of 78.
In 1990, 53 year old Cornell Gunter, former lead singer of The Coasters died in a hail of gunfire when an unknown assailant sprayed his '78 Camaro at a Las Vegas intersection.
In 1990, Sinead O'Connor was at #1 on the UK singles chart with 'Nothing Compares 2 U.' Her version of the Prince penned song was also a #1 hit in 18 other countries.
In 1995, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant began a world tour to support their reunion album "No Quarter."
In 1997, songwriter Ben Raleigh died after setting fire to his bath robe while cooking. During his career Ben wrote Johnny Mathis'"Wonderful Wonderful", Lesley Gore's "She's A Fool", Joey Powers'"Midnight Mary", Lou Rawls'"Love Is A Hurtin' Thing", Ray Peterson's "Tell Laura I Love Her" and many others.
In 2000, Lonestar started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart with "Amazed."
In 2002, the Eagles, John Fogerty, Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks are among those taking part in Four Concerts for Artists' Rights, held in the Los Angeles area to raise funds for the Recording Artists Coalition. The organization is working toward changes in the California Labor Code that affect recording artists.
In 2008, Apple announced that the iTunes Store had surpassed Best Buy to become the second largest music seller in the U.S. The number one seller at the time was Wal-Mart.
In 2008, Buddy Miles, who played drums for Wilson Pickett, The Delfonics and The Ink Spots before founding The Electric Flag with Mike Bloomfield and later joined Jimi Hendrix in Band Of Gypsys, died from congestive heart failure. He was 60.
In 2009, A 10-minute version of The Beatles''Revolution 1' was leaked onto the internet, giving fans a never-before-heard listen of what the White Album sessions must have been like. Only two copies of the take were made when the song was completed on June 4th, 1968. One copy left the studio with Lennon that day and the other remained behind. It was unclear which copy appeared on the bootleg, nor how anyone acquired it.
In 2011, Mark Tulin, bassist for The Electric Prunes on their 1967 hit "I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)", suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 62.
birthdays today include (among others): Fats Domino (86), Mitch Ryder (69),.Sandie Shaw (67) and.Michael Bolton (61)