In 1942, Glenn Miller & His Orchestra, featuring trumpeter Billy May, recorded "American Patrol," their swing band version of a march tune written in 1885. The Miller single peaked at #15 in the summer of '42.
In 1946, at RCA Victor Studio 2 in New York City, Perry Como recorded "Surrender."
In 1955, Elvis Presley, Scotty Moore, Bill Black, Slim Whitman, Johnny Horton and Floyd Cramer all appeared on the Louisiana Hayride.
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In 1956, in Memphis, Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two recorded "I Walk The Line." The single remained on the record charts for over 43 weeks, and sold over 2 million copies.
In 1957, Elvis Presley played before a combined audience of 23,000 people in two concerts at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. The second of the concerts, for 15,000 fans, was the largest audience Elvis had faced to date. His opening acts included an Irish tenor, a tap dancer and a comedian who imitated a woman taking off a girdle. Presley performed formally outside the US only four times in his career - the two concerts in Toronto, one the following night in Ottawa, and one in Vancouver later in 1957.
In 1960, Lonnie Donegan becomes the first British artist to enter the UK chart at #1 when "My Old Man's A Dustman" debuts at the top. The only previous artist to achieve this feat was Elvis Presley.
In 1964, Brian Wilson produced the instrumental track for the Beach Boys'"I Get Around." It was during this session that Brian Wilson dismissed his father Murry as the group's manager. The vocals were recorded during a session eight days later on April 10. The lead vocal features Mike Love on the verses and Brian Wilson on the choruses with backing vocals from Brian, Carl & Dennis Wilson, Mike Love and Alan Jardine (the soari Brian Wilson). It became the group's first #1 hit in the US.
In 1964, Elvis Presley released the "Kissin' Cousins" movie soundtrack album.
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In 1965, Freddie And The Dreamers recorded "Do The Freddie," a song that was put together quickly after American audiences wanted to know more about the swaying motion that lead singer Fred Garrity seemed to do on stage. Although it reached #18 in the US, it was dismissed as "silly" in the UK and never released.
Also in 1965, the UK music show Ready Steady Go! takes on a temporary name change to Ready Steady Goes Live!. Acts would now perform their songs live instead of miming to their records. The series ran until December 23rd, 1966, with the last show being titled Ready Steady Goes!.
In 1966, Jan & Dean, Sonny & Cher, the Mamas & the Papas, the Turtles, Otis Redding, Donovan and Bob Lind put on a charity concert at the Hollywood Bowl.
In 1966, Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass became the first act to have four entries simultaneously in the Top 10 of the Billboard album chart.
In 1967, eighteen year old Steve Winwood left The Spencer Davis Group to join Dave Mason, Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood in Traffic. Winwood had been with Spencer Davis since he was 15.
In 1967, at a Rolling Stones concert in Austria, a person threw a smoke bomb on the stage leading to a riot. 154 fans were arrested.
In 1968, the Jimi Hendrix Experience performed at the Paul Sauvé Arena in Montréal.
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In 1969, Frank Sinatra's version of "My Way" entered the Billboard Hot 100 where it would rise to #27. In the UK, the song would spend an amazing 75 weeks in the Top 40, peaking at #5.
In 1969, the Vogues, Flip Wilson, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans were the featured guests on CBS-TV's "The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour."
In 1969, the group Child, which included a young Bruce Springsteen, made their live debut in Wanamassa, NJ.
In 1970, Phil Spector completed final editing and mixing for the Beatles''Let It Be' album, 16 months after the "Get Back" project began.
In 1970, at Lyle Tuttle's shop on Seventh Street in San Francisco, Janis Joplin got two (and her only) tattoos – a Florentine bracelet on the outer part of her left wrist, and a little heart on one of her breasts. She explained, "See, the one on my wrist is for everybody, the one on my tit is for me and my friends, just a little treat for the boys, like icing on the cake."
In 1972, John Lennon and Yoko Ono held a news conference in New York to discuss their appeal of the Immigration Department's decision to deport John.
On this day in 1973, "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia" by Vicki Lawrence was the #1 song.
In 1974, the British pirate radio station Piccadilly Radio went on the air.
In 1977, Fleetwood Mac's 'Rumors' album went to #1 on the Billboard chart where it stayed for 31 weeks. Worldwide, the LP would sell over 25 million copies.
In 1981, back catalog albums got a boost when Columbia started their "Nice Price" campaign.
In 1987, U2 kicked off their 29-date North American Joshua Tree tour at the Arizona State Activity Centre. During the concert, Bono introduced a version of "Helter Skelter" by announcing "This is a song Charles Manson stole from the Beatles. We're stealing it back."
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In 1987, jazz drummer Buddy Rich died of complications caused by a brain tumor at the age of 69.
In 1990, Eric Clapton was fined and lost his drivers license for three months after being clocked at 105 MPH.
In 1992, singer Paula Kelly who performed with the bands of Dick Stabile, Artie Shaw, Al Donohue, and Glenn Miller, and was a member of the Modernaires vocal quartet, died at age 72.
In 1998, model/dancer/singer Rob Pilatus, one half of pop duo Milli Vanilli, was found dead in a Frankfurt Hotel room after apparently taking a lethal combination of drugs and alcohol. He was 32.
In 1998, drummer Cor van der Beek of the Shocking Blue died at the age of 49.
In 2001, Mariah Carey signed with Virgin for three albums in what was, at the time, the biggest recording deal in history.
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In 2003, R&B singer Edwin Starr died following a heart attack at age 61.
In 2003, in Denver, dozens of fans walked out of a Pearl Jam concert after singer Eddie Vedder used a microphone stand to impale a mask of U.S. President George W. Bush.
In 2004, Paul Atkinson, guitarist for The Zombies, lost his battle with liver and kidney disease. He was 58. The band's biggest hits included "She's Not There", "Tell Her No" and "Time Of The Season."
In 2006, a John Lennon schoolbook containing the then-12-year-old's drawing of Lewis Carroll's poem "The Walrus and the Carpenter" sold at auction for £126,500, ($239,733). The poem inspired Lennon to write the Beatles' song "I Am the Walrus." A ship's log book written by Lennon during a stormy trip to Bermuda in 1980 sold for £12,000, ($22,741). A letter from Paul McCartney to his bandmates Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr failed to get its £50,000, ($94,742) minimum required bid.
In 2009, jazz saxophonist/flautist Bud Shank, who played the flute solo in "California Dreamin'" by the Mamas & the Papas, died of pulmonary embolism at age 82.
In 2010, two men received minor injuries and a third suffered a broken leg when part of the stage being set up for a concert by Elton John at the Chichen Itza ruins in Mexico collapsed during construction.
In 2011, Elton John and Leon Russell performed together on NBC-TV's "Saturday Night Live."
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birthdays today include (among others): Leon Russell (72), Emmylou Harris (67), David Robinson (Cars) (61), Greg Camp (Smash Mouth) (44), Jesse Carmichael (Maroon 5) (35)
In 1946, at RCA Victor Studio 2 in New York City, Perry Como recorded "Surrender."
In 1955, Elvis Presley, Scotty Moore, Bill Black, Slim Whitman, Johnny Horton and Floyd Cramer all appeared on the Louisiana Hayride.
In 1957, Elvis Presley played before a combined audience of 23,000 people in two concerts at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. The second of the concerts, for 15,000 fans, was the largest audience Elvis had faced to date. His opening acts included an Irish tenor, a tap dancer and a comedian who imitated a woman taking off a girdle. Presley performed formally outside the US only four times in his career - the two concerts in Toronto, one the following night in Ottawa, and one in Vancouver later in 1957.
In 1960, Lonnie Donegan becomes the first British artist to enter the UK chart at #1 when "My Old Man's A Dustman" debuts at the top. The only previous artist to achieve this feat was Elvis Presley.
In 1964, Brian Wilson produced the instrumental track for the Beach Boys'"I Get Around." It was during this session that Brian Wilson dismissed his father Murry as the group's manager. The vocals were recorded during a session eight days later on April 10. The lead vocal features Mike Love on the verses and Brian Wilson on the choruses with backing vocals from Brian, Carl & Dennis Wilson, Mike Love and Alan Jardine (the soari Brian Wilson). It became the group's first #1 hit in the US.
In 1964, Elvis Presley released the "Kissin' Cousins" movie soundtrack album.
Also in 1965, the UK music show Ready Steady Go! takes on a temporary name change to Ready Steady Goes Live!. Acts would now perform their songs live instead of miming to their records. The series ran until December 23rd, 1966, with the last show being titled Ready Steady Goes!.
In 1966, Jan & Dean, Sonny & Cher, the Mamas & the Papas, the Turtles, Otis Redding, Donovan and Bob Lind put on a charity concert at the Hollywood Bowl.
In 1966, Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass became the first act to have four entries simultaneously in the Top 10 of the Billboard album chart.
In 1967, eighteen year old Steve Winwood left The Spencer Davis Group to join Dave Mason, Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood in Traffic. Winwood had been with Spencer Davis since he was 15.
In 1967, at a Rolling Stones concert in Austria, a person threw a smoke bomb on the stage leading to a riot. 154 fans were arrested.
In 1968, the Jimi Hendrix Experience performed at the Paul Sauvé Arena in Montréal.
In 1969, the Vogues, Flip Wilson, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans were the featured guests on CBS-TV's "The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour."
In 1969, the group Child, which included a young Bruce Springsteen, made their live debut in Wanamassa, NJ.
In 1970, Phil Spector completed final editing and mixing for the Beatles''Let It Be' album, 16 months after the "Get Back" project began.
In 1970, at Lyle Tuttle's shop on Seventh Street in San Francisco, Janis Joplin got two (and her only) tattoos – a Florentine bracelet on the outer part of her left wrist, and a little heart on one of her breasts. She explained, "See, the one on my wrist is for everybody, the one on my tit is for me and my friends, just a little treat for the boys, like icing on the cake."
In 1972, John Lennon and Yoko Ono held a news conference in New York to discuss their appeal of the Immigration Department's decision to deport John.
On this day in 1973, "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia" by Vicki Lawrence was the #1 song.
In 1974, the British pirate radio station Piccadilly Radio went on the air.
In 1977, Fleetwood Mac's 'Rumors' album went to #1 on the Billboard chart where it stayed for 31 weeks. Worldwide, the LP would sell over 25 million copies.
In 1981, back catalog albums got a boost when Columbia started their "Nice Price" campaign.
In 1987, U2 kicked off their 29-date North American Joshua Tree tour at the Arizona State Activity Centre. During the concert, Bono introduced a version of "Helter Skelter" by announcing "This is a song Charles Manson stole from the Beatles. We're stealing it back."
In 1990, Eric Clapton was fined and lost his drivers license for three months after being clocked at 105 MPH.
In 1992, singer Paula Kelly who performed with the bands of Dick Stabile, Artie Shaw, Al Donohue, and Glenn Miller, and was a member of the Modernaires vocal quartet, died at age 72.
In 1998, model/dancer/singer Rob Pilatus, one half of pop duo Milli Vanilli, was found dead in a Frankfurt Hotel room after apparently taking a lethal combination of drugs and alcohol. He was 32.
In 1998, drummer Cor van der Beek of the Shocking Blue died at the age of 49.
In 2001, Mariah Carey signed with Virgin for three albums in what was, at the time, the biggest recording deal in history.
In 2003, in Denver, dozens of fans walked out of a Pearl Jam concert after singer Eddie Vedder used a microphone stand to impale a mask of U.S. President George W. Bush.
In 2004, Paul Atkinson, guitarist for The Zombies, lost his battle with liver and kidney disease. He was 58. The band's biggest hits included "She's Not There", "Tell Her No" and "Time Of The Season."
In 2006, a John Lennon schoolbook containing the then-12-year-old's drawing of Lewis Carroll's poem "The Walrus and the Carpenter" sold at auction for £126,500, ($239,733). The poem inspired Lennon to write the Beatles' song "I Am the Walrus." A ship's log book written by Lennon during a stormy trip to Bermuda in 1980 sold for £12,000, ($22,741). A letter from Paul McCartney to his bandmates Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr failed to get its £50,000, ($94,742) minimum required bid.
In 2009, jazz saxophonist/flautist Bud Shank, who played the flute solo in "California Dreamin'" by the Mamas & the Papas, died of pulmonary embolism at age 82.
In 2010, two men received minor injuries and a third suffered a broken leg when part of the stage being set up for a concert by Elton John at the Chichen Itza ruins in Mexico collapsed during construction.
In 2011, Elton John and Leon Russell performed together on NBC-TV's "Saturday Night Live."
