April 23 Music History Report

BIRTHDAYS

Roy Orbison (1936) The Traveling Wilburys singer/guitarist/songwriter/co-founder and solo singer/guitarist/songwriter (died 1988) age 52 – heart attack

Ray Peterson (1938) singer [“Tell Laura I Love Her”/”Corrina, Corrina”] (died 2005) age 65 – cancer

Dale Houston (1940) Dale & Grace singer/co-founder [“I’m Leaving It Up to You”/”Stop and Think It Over”] (died 2007) age 67 – heart failure

Glenn Cornick (1947) Jethro Tull bassist/songwriter/co-founder (died 2014) age 67 – congestive heart failure

Steve Clark (1960) Def Leppard guitarist/songwriter (1991) age 30 – respiratory failure brought on by alcohol and prescription drug overdose

Tommy DeCarlo (1965) Boston lead singer/songwriter/keyboardist [current]

Stan Frazier (1968) Sugar Ray drummer/songwriter/co-founder [“Fly”/”Every Morning”]

Josh Kiszka (1996) Greta Van Fleet lead singer/songwriter/co-founder [“current”] [“Black Smoke Rising”/””Highway Tune”/”You’re the One”/When the Curtain Falls”]

Jacob “Jake” Kiszka (1996) Greta Van Fleet lead guitarist/songwriter/co-founder [“current”] [“Black Smoke Rising”/””Highway Tune”/”You’re the One”/When the Curtain Falls”]

DEATHS

Johnny Thunders [born John Genzale Jr.] (1991) New York Dolls guitarist/songwriter/co-founder and solo singer/songwriter/guitarist (born 1952) age 38 – drug overdose?

Tom King (2011) The Outsiders guitarist/songwriter/founder [“Time Won’t Let Me”] (born 1942) age 68 – congestive heart failure

Chris Ethridge (2012) The Flying Burrito Brothers bassist (born 1947) age 65 – pancreatic cancer

CHARTS

In 1977, “Don’t Leave Me This Way” by Thelma Houston hits No. 1 – 1 week (only No. 1 single)

In 1983, “Come on Eileen” by Dexys Midnight Runners hits No. 1 – 1 week (only No. 1 single)

In 1988, Where Do Broken Hearts Go” by Whitney Houston hits No. 1 – 2 weeks (seventh of 11 No. 1 singles and seventh consecutive No. 1 single)

NEW RELEASES

(Albums)

In 1969, A&M Records releases the debut studio album from Joe Cocker, “With a Little Help From My Friends”; Billboard 200: 35; 500,000 copies U.S.; “With a Little Help From My Friends”

In 1971, Rolling Stones Records releases the 11th American studio album from the Rolling Stones, “Sticky Fingers”; Billboard 200: 1 (4 weeks); 10 million copies (4 million copies U.S.); Rolling Stone 500: 63; “Brown Sugar,” “Wild Horses,” “Bitch,” “Dead Flowers”

In 1976, Rolling Stones Records releases the 15th American studio album from the Rolling Stones, “Black and Blue”; Billboard 200: 1 (4 weeks); 1 million copies U.S.; “Fool to Cry,” “Hot Stuff”

In 1976, Sire Records releases the debut studio album from the Ramones, “Ramones”; Billboard 200: 111; 500,000 copies U.S.; Rolling Stone 500: 33; “Blitzkrieg Bop,” “Beat on the Brat,” “Judy is a Punk,” “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend,” “Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue”

In 1979, Atlantic Records releases the sixth studio album from ABBA, “Voulez-Vous”: Billboard 200: 19, 2 million copies (500,000 copies U.S.); “Chiquitita,” “Does Your Mother Know”

In 1985, Columbia Records and CBS Records releases the charity record, “We are the World”; Billboard 200: 1 (3 weeks); 3 million copies U.S.; “We are the World,” USA for Africa; “Tears are Not Enough,” Northern Lights

In 1991, Columbia Records releases the seventh studio album from Michael Bolton, “Time, Love & Tenderness”; Billboard 200; 36; 8 million copies U.S.; “When a Man Loves a Woman,” “Love is a Wonderful Thing,” “Time, Love and Tenderness”

In 2016, Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records releases the sixth studio album from Beyoncé, “Lemonade”; Billboard 200: 1 (1 week); 2 million copies (1 million copies U.S.); Grammy Award: Best Urban Contemporary Album; “Formation,” “Sorry,” “Hold Up,” “Freedom”

(Singles)

1965, “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch),” The Four Tops