April 29 Music History Report

BIRTHDAYS

Edward “Duke” Ellington (1899) jazz pianist/composer/bandleader (1974) age 75 – lung cancer and pneumonia

Carl Gardner (1928) The Coasters lead singer/founder [“Yakety Yak”/”Down in Mexico”/”Charlie Brown”] (died 2011) age 83 – congestive heart failure/vascular dementia

Willie Nelson (1933) The Highwaymen singer/songwriter/guitarist/co-founder and solo singer/songwriter/guitarist [“Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain”/”On the Road Again”]

Otis Rush Jr. (1934) blues guitarist/singer/songwriter (died 2018) age 84 – stroke complications

Zubin Mehta (1936) conductor

Klaus Voormann (1938) Manfred Mann bassist and Plastic Ono Band bassist

Duane Allen (1943) The Oak Ridge Boys lead singer [“Elvira”]

Tammi Terrell [born Thomasina Montgomery] (1945) singer [“You’re All I Need to Get By”/Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing] (died 1970) age 24 – brain cancer

Joel Larson (1947) Grass Roots drummer

Tommy James [born Thomas Jackson] (1947) Tommy James and the Shondells singer/songwriter/founder [current]

Mark Kendall (1957) Great White lead guitarist/co-founder [current] [“Rock Me”/”Once Bitten, Twice Shy”]

Philip King (1960) Lush bassist/co-founder and Jesus and Mary Chain bassist

Carnie Wilson (1968) Wilson Phillips singer/co-founder [current] [“Hold On”/”Release Me”]

Master P [born Percy Miller] (1970) rapper

Tamara “Taj” Johnson-George (1971) Sisters With Voices singer/co-founder, also actress

Mike Hogan (1973) The Cranberries bassist/co-founder

DEATHS

Mick Ronson (1993) Spiders from Mars guitarist/co-founder and Mott the Hoople guitarist (born 1946) age 46 – liver cancer

CHARTS

In 1950, “The Third Man Theme” by Anton Karas hits No. 1 – 11 weeks (only No. 1 single)

NEW RELEASES

(Albums)

In 1967, White Whale Records releases third studio album from the Turtles, “Happy Together”; Billboard 200: 25; She’s Rather Be With Me,” “Happy Together”

In 1970, Bell Records releases the fifth studio album from The 5th Dimension, “Portrait”; Billboard 200: 20; “One Less Bell to Answer,” “Puppet Man”

In 1981, Warner Bros. releases the fourth studio album from Van Halen, “Fair Warning”; Billboard 200: 5; 2 million copies U.S.; “So This is Love?,” “Mean Street”

In 1982, Chrysalis Records releases the debut studio album from Toni Basil, “Word of Mouth”; Billboard 200: 22; 500,000 copies U.S.; “Mickey”

In 1983, Columbia Records releases the second studio album from Men at Work, “Cargo”; Billboard 200: 3; 3 million copies U.S.; “Overkill,” “It’s a Mistake”

In 1985, RCA Records releases the fifth studio album from Eurythmics, “Be Yourself Tonight”; Billboard 200: 9; 2 million copies (1 million copies U.S.); “Would I Lie to You,” “Sisters are Doin’ It for Themselves” (with Aretha Franklin)

(Singles)

1963, “It’s My Party,” Lesley Gore

1967, “Respect,” Aretha Franklin

1979, “Dance the Night Away,” Van Halen

COMINGS/GOINGS

In 1967, singer Cindy Birdsong makes her concert debut with The Supremes, replacing Flo Ballard.

In 1980, singer Ronnie James Dio makes his concert debut with Black Sabbath, replacing Ozzy Osbourne.

NOTEWORTHY

In 1968, the musical “Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical” opened on Broadway at the Biltmore Theatre.

In 1976, following a gig in Memphis, Tennessee, Bruce Springsteen takes a cab to Graceland and tries to get in to see Elvis Presley. Failing that, he climbed the wall and was chased away by guards assuming he was a crazy fan. Elvis was not home at the time.