This Week in Rock History: April 8 – April 14
Born This Week in Rock History
4/8/1944 – Keef Hartley (Drums, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Keef Hartley Band)
4/8/1947 – Steve Howe (Guitar, Yes)
4/8/1962 – Izzy Stradlin (Guitar, Guns N’ Roses)
4/8/1963 – Julian Lennon (Rock Singer-Songwriter)
4/9/1945 – Steve Gadd (jazz drummer)
4/9/1932 – Carl Perkins (Rock and Roll Singer-Songwriter)
4/10/1947 – Bunny Livingston (Percussion, Bob Marley & The Wailers)
4/10/1959 – Brian Setzer (singer/guitarist. Stray Cats)
4/11/1987 – Joss Stone (Soul Singer)
4/12/1940 – Herbie Hancock (Jazz Pianist)
4/12/1915 – Hound Dog Taylor (pivotal blues musician)
4/12/1921 – Shakey Jake Harris (Blues Singer/Harp player)
4/12/1944 – John Kay (Lead Vocals & Guitar, Steppenwolf)
4/13/1944 – Jack Casady (Bass, Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna)
4/13/1945 – Lowell George (guitarist/singer, Little Feat)
4/13/1946 – Al Green (Soul Singer-Songwriter)
4/14/1945 – Ritchie Blackmore (Guitar, Deep Purple)
Died This Week in Rock History
4/8/2001 – Pedro Depestre Gonzales (violinist – Buena Vista Social Club)
4/8/2001 – Van Stephenson (Country singer-songwriter – Blackhawk)
4/9/1988 – Dave Prater (Vocals, Sam and Dave)
4/9/2009 – Randy Cain (Soul Singer for Delfonics)
4/9/1988 – Brook Benton (Soul Singer)
4/10/2009 – Rocky Hill (Blues musician)
4/10/1958 – Chuck Willis (Blues Singer-Songwriter)
4/11/2006 – June Pointer (Pointer Sisters)
4/11/2017 – J. Geils (guitar, J. Geils Band)
4/12/1999 – Boxcar Willie (Country Singer)
4/13/2005 – Johnnie Johnson (Blues and Rock and Roll Pianist)
4/13/2004 – Ritchie Cordell (Songwriter)
4/14/2015 – Percy Sledge (RNR Inductee- Singer Songwriter
Music Releases and Top of the Charts:
4/8/1977 – The Clash by The Clash is released
4/9/1979 – Supertramp’s Breakfast in America is certified Gold
4/9/1983 – David Bowie hits #1 with “Let’s Dance” featuring Stevie Ray Vaughan
4/10/1973 – Led Zeppelin’s LP Houses Of The Holy is certified gold
4/10/1976 – Peter Frampton hits #1 with Frampton Comes Alive
4/11/1970 – The Beatles’ “Let It Be” hits #1
4/12/1954 – Big Joe Turner’s “Shake, Rattle, And Roll” was released
4/13/1963 – The Beach Boys, “Surfin’ USA” was released
4/13/1974 – Elton John’s “Bennie And The Jets” hits #1
4/13/1974 – Paul McCartney and Wings’ LP Band On The Run hits #1
4/13/1973 – The Wailers, led by Bob Marley, release fifth studio album, Catch a Fire.
4/14/1988 – Public Enemy’s sophomore album, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, is released.
This Week in Rock History:
4/8/1994 – The RIAA proclaims that Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” is now the fourth best-selling album in US history, passing the 13 million copies sold mark in that country. If you haven’t heard it, give it a listen, it’s pretty good.
4/8/2006 – The Rolling Stones make their mainland China debut in Shanghai! Setlist opens with “Start Me Up” and the encore was “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” and “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.” Bringin’ all the hits! However, three songs were banned from being played: Brown Sugar, Honky Tonk Women, and Rough Justice. Boo!
4/9/1966 – During a Yardbirds show in Marseilles, France, guitarist Jeff Beck collapses from exhaustion; eleven years later to the day, his former bandmate Jimmy Page causes the end of a Led Zeppelin gig in Chicago when he’s struck down by stomach cramps. No record of former Yard bird Eric Clapton’s having a show-ending medical problem on April 9th.
4/9/1967 – The Doors play before their first large crowd when they appear (along with Jefferson Airplane) in front of 3,000 at a show in Venice, CA. No known complete setlist exists, although Setlist.fm reports that the band played “When the Music’s Over” and “Back Door Man” during the show.
4/9/1973 – Queen play their first show since being signed, a “showcase” gig at London’s Marquee Club.
4/10/1959- Leo Fender patents the successor to his popular “Telecaster” model of electric guitar, this time called the “Stratocaster. “And isn’t she beeeeyouuuutiful?
4/10/1970 – The Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek drags Jim Morrison off the stage after the Dionysian front man asks the audience, “Would you like to see my genitals?” The theater management then quickly cut power. No word on the audience’s response.
4/10/1970 – Paul McCartney announces the end of The Beatles. In his statement he said, “I have no future plans to record or appear with The Beatles again, or to write any music with John.”
4 / 11 / 1961- New York City gets its first introduction to a young folksinger named Bob Dylan when he makes his live Gotham debut at Gerde’s Folk City, opening for John Lee Hooker and performing a new song entitled “Blowin’ In The Wind.” Mr. Dylan would go on to have a nice career.
4/11/1968 – Janis Joplin makes her television debut when Big Brother and the Holding Company perform on ABC-TV’s variety show Hollywood Palace.
4/12/1961 – At tonight’s Grammy ceremonies, Ray Charles takes home four awards, including a Best Male Vocal for “Georgia On My Mind.”
4/12/1973 – Stevie Wonder becomes one of the first rock stars to appear on PBS-TV’s Sesame Street.
4/13/2010 – Ron Isley of The Isley Brothers is released from jail after serving 3 years for tax evasion.
4/14/1970 – Creedence Clearwater Revival makes their live UK debut at London’s Royal Albert Hall.