Music History - April 15

In 1956, Mitch Miller, music director of Columbia Records, engages in a spirited debate with Allan Freed over the "potentially negative effects of Rock 'n' Roll on teenagers" on Eric Sevareid's news program on CBS-TV. Two psychiatrists also joined the discussion.

In 1956, during a tour of Texas, Elvis Presley appeared at the Municipal Auditorium in San Antonio.

In 1958, Buddy Holly's Fender Stratocaster guitar was stolen from the Crickets' station wagon while the group stopped to have lunch before a concert in St. Louis.

In 1958, Alan Freed's "Big Beat Show" concert tour played Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis, with performances by Buddy Holly and the Crickets, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Danny & the Juniors, Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers, the Diamonds, Billy & Lillie, the Chantels, Dicky Doo and the Don'ts, Jo Ann Campbell, Larry Williams, Ed Townsend, the Pastels, and Screamin' Jay Hawkins.

In 1959, at Metropolitan Studios in New York City, Connie Francis recorded "Lipstick On Your Collar" and "Frankie."

In 1960, Freddy Cannon lip-synced "Jump Over" on ABC-TV's "American Bandstand."

In 1964, after a long day of filming for their first movie, which was still called "Beatlemania!," Ringo Starr declared that it had been "a hard day's night." John Lennon immediately began writing the song of that name on the back of an old greeting card, and it eventually became the title of the movie.

In 1965, the Supremes released the single "Back In My Arms Again." The group first performed the song nationally on the NBC variety program Hullabaloo! on Tuesday, May 11, 1965. It was the fifth consecutive and overall #1 song for the group on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart in the US from June 6, 1965 through June 12, 1965.

In 1965, at the Columbia Recording Studio in Nashville, Roger Miller recorded "Engine Engine #9."


In 1966, the Rolling Stones released the album 'Aftermath' in the UK, their first album to feature all original material.  It was the first Rolling Stones album to be recorded entirely in the US, at the RCA Studios in California, and their first album released in true stereo. The album is noted for its musical experimentation, with Brian Jones playing a variety of instruments not usually associated with rock music, including sitar on "Paint It, Black" and "Mother's Little Helper." A slightly different version of the album was issued in North America on June 20.

Also in 1966, the Spencer Davis Group scored their second UK #1 single with "Somebody Help Me," a song that failed to crack the Top 40 in the US.

And more from 1966, UK music fans were treated to a concert by Jimi Hendrix, The Walker Brothers, Cat Stevens and Englebert Humperdinck when they appeared live at the Blackpool Odeon. Tickets cost 5 and 10 shillings, ($0.70 and $1.40).

In 1967, Nancy and Frank Sinatra had the #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100, The Cashbox Best Sellers List and Britain's New Musical Express record chart with "Something Stupid." To this day, they are the only father and daughter team to have a US chart topping single. ("Unforgettable" by Natalie Cole and Nat "King" Cole reached #14 in 1991)

In 1968, at the Atlantic Studios in New York City, Aretha Franklin recorded her composition, "Think."

In 1969, Elektra Records drops Detroit's MC5 from their label after the band takes out an ad in a local paper that includes the company logo and reads "Fuck Hudsons." The band was protesting the Michigan department store's refusal to carry their albums.

In 1969, Pink Floyd appeared at the Royal Festival Hall, London, England.

In 1970, Judy Collins guested on ABC-TV's "The Johnny Cash Show."

In 1972, Roberta Flack's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" became an unlikely number one hit after it was featured in the Clint Eastwood film Play Misty For Me. It had been originally released as an album cut three years earlier. After Eastwood included it in his film, Atlantic Records rush released it as a single. The song reached #14 in the UK.

Also in 1972, Commander Cody And His Lost Planet Airmen entered the Billboard Top 40 for the first and only time with "Hot Rod Lincoln," a re-worked version of "Hot Rod Race," a #29 hit for Tiny Hill in 1951.

In 1972, Elvis Presley performed at the Coliseum in Macon, Georgia.

In 1972, Barbra Streisand, James Taylor, Carole King and Quincy Jones performed at a benefit for U.S. presidential candidate George McGovern.

On this day in 1974, "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" by MFSB was the #1 song.

In 1975, KISS, Rush and the Heavy Metal Kids all appeared at Stanley Theatre in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

In 1977, Lynyrd Skynyrd's album 'One More For The Road' was certified Gold.

In 1982, Billy Joel spent a month in hospital after breaking his left wrist when his motorcycle hit a car in Long Island, New York.

In 1985, during his Born in the USA world tour, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band played the fourth of five sold out nights at Yoyogi Olympic Pool in Tokyo, Japan.

In 1987, Queen was presented with an award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music at the 32nd annual Ivor Novello Awards in London.

In 1988, Pink Floyd kicked off a 27-date North American tour at the Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California.

In 1989, the Bangles started a four week run at #1 on the UK singles chart with "Eternal Flame." Also a #1 in Australia (biggest selling single of 1989) and the US.

In 1989, the Fine Young Cannibals went to #1 on the US singles chart with "She Drives Me Crazy."

In 1989, Tone Loc went to #1 on the US album chart with 'Loc-ed After Dark.'

In 1989, Roy Orbison had his final Top 10 single on the US chart with "You Got It," four months after he passed away. The song was written by Jeff Lynne and Tom Petty and appeared on Orbison's 'Mystery Girl' album that was released posthumously.

In 1992, the three surviving members of Queen raised over $15 million at a charity concert in memory of the late Freddie Mercury, who died in November, 1991. They were joined by David Bowie, Annie Lennox, Elton John, Guns N' Roses, Roger Daltrey, Robert Plant, Paul Young and others.

In 1996, in San Francisco, Jerry Garcia's remaining ashes were scattered near the Golden Gate Bridge. A small amount of his ashes had been scattered over the Ganges River in India on April 4.

In 1999, the body of Tammy Wynette was exhumed from her grave in an attempt to settle a dispute over how the country music legend died. A new autopsy was conducted on her a week after three of her daughters filed a wrongful death lawsuit against her doctor and her husband and manager, George Richey, claiming they were responsible for her death 12 months ago. Richey said he had requested the autopsy because of the allegations made against him.

In 2001, Joey Ramone of the '70s punk band The Ramones died of lymphatic cancer at the age of 49 . His real name was Jeff Hyman. On November 30, 2003, a block of East 2nd Street in New York City was officially renamed Joey Ramone Place. 

In 2001, Janet Jackson started a six week run at #1 on the US singles chart with "All For You."

In 2005, John Fred Gourrier, who led John Fred And His Playboy Band to Billboard's #1 spot in December 1967 with "Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)," died after a long bout with kidney disease. He was 63.

In 2010, after receiving some bad reviews and even enduring some boos during her performance, Whitney Houston brushed off criticism of her first show in the U.K. in over eleven years by insisting she was playing to a "tough crowd". She had been recently been hospitalized with chronic rhinopharyngitis, which is a swelling of the membranes in the nose and throat.

In 2011, singer/keyboardist Kent Morrill of the Wailers died of cancer at 70.

birthdays today (among others) include:  Roy Clark (81), Dave Edmunds (70), Samantha Fox (48) and Ed O'Brien (Radiohead) (46)