What Happened Today In Music

April 15th

1957 - Jerry Lee Lewis

Jerry Lee Lewis released 'Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On' on Sun Records. Written by Dave "Curlee" Williams the song was first recorded by American R&B singer Big Maybelle. The record reached No. 3 on the Billboard pop chart, No. 1 on the country charts, and No. 8 in the UK. 

1964 - The Beatles

The Beatles filmed outside shots at the Scala Theatre in Tottenham Street London for their forthcoming movie 'A Hard Day's Night'. 

1967 - Frank Sinatra

Nancy Sinatra and Frank Sinatra started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Somethin' Stupid'. They became the only father and daughter act ever to score a No.1 single. UB40 singer Ali Cambell covered the song in 1995 with his daughter Kibbi. Robbie Williams had a 2001 UK No.1 with his version of the song featuring Nicole Kidman.

1967 - Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix, The Walker Brothers, Cat Stevens and Engelbert Humperdinck all appeared at the The Odeon, Blackpool, England, tickets cost 5 and 10 shillings, ($0.70 and $1.40).

1972 - Roberta Flack

Roberta Flack started a six week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face'. Written in 1957 by political singer/songwriter Ewan MacColl for Peggy Seeger, who was later to become his wife. At the time the couple were lovers, although MacColl was married to someone else. MacColl is the father of singer/songwriter Kirsty MacColl. The song was featured in the Clint Eastwood film 'Play Misty For Me.'

1978 - Television

Television were forced to postpone their gig at Bristol's Colston Hall after the 40 foot truck carrying their equipment was involved in a crash killing the driver.

1982 - Billy Joel

Billy Joel was reported to be in ''quite good'' condition after major surgery at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York. The singer broke his left wrist when his 1978 Harley Davidson hit a car in Long Island, New York. The hospital switchboard was jammed with calls from his fans, and Joel issued a plea through a spokesman that the calls ceased because they were ''tying up lines for those people who are really sick.''

1989 - Bangles

American all girl group The Bangles started a four week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Eternal Flame.' Also a No.1 in Australia (biggest selling single of 1989) and the United States.

1996 - Rob Pilatus

Milli Vanilli singer Rob Pilatus was jailed for 90 days by a Los Angeles judge for three violent attacks and parole violation.

1996 - Jerry Garcia

The rest of Jerry Garcia's ashes were scattered near the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. A small portion had been scattered in the Ganges River in India 11 days earlier. The Grateful Deadleader had died on 9th Aug 1995.

1999 - Tammy Wynette

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.

2001 - Joey Ramone

Punk pioneer Joey Ramone (Jeffrey Ross Hyman) singer of the Ramones died after losing a long battle with lymphatic cancer aged 49. On November 30, 2003, a block of East 2nd Street in New York City was officially renamed Joey Ramone Place.

2003 - Beyonce

Beyonce was sued by the Wilhemina Artist Agency who claimed she hadn't paid them the commission for her L'Oreal ads. The agency claimed the singer refused to pass on the 10 percent of the $1m (£640,000), deal that was brokered by the agency.

2005 - John Fred Gourrier

John Fred Gourrier, singer from John Fred and his Playboy Band died after a long battle with kidney disease aged 63. Had the 1967 US No.1 single 'Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)', a parody of The Beatles song 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds'.

2010 - Whitney Houston

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

2015 - Digital Music

It was reported that Digital music revenues matched physical sales for the first time in 2014, thanks to strong growth in the streaming market. The digital market rose 6.9% to $6.9 billion (£4.6 billion), representing 46% of all global music sales. CDs, vinyl and other physical formats also accounted for 46% of the market. Pharrell Williams's 'Happy' was the most-downloaded single globally in 2014, with Taylor Swift the most popular artist.

2019 - Les Reed

English songwriter Les Reed died age 83. His major songwriting partners were Gordon Mills, Barry Mason and Geoff Stephens, although he wrote songs with many others such as Roger Greenaway, Roger Cook, Peter Callander, and Johnny Worth. Reed co-wrote around sixty hit songs, and is best known for 'It's Not Unusual', 'Green, Green Grass of Home' and 'Delilah', (hits for Tom Jones) as well as 'The Last Waltz' (Engelbert Humperdinck). 

Born Today In Music

April 15th

1894 - Bessie Smith

Bessie Smith, US blues singer, 'Empress Of The Blues'. Songs include, 'Downhearted Blues', 'St Louis Blues', and 'Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out'. Died in a car accident on 26th September 1937

1932 - Roy Clark

American singer and musician Roy Clark, who had the 1969 US hit single, 'Yesterday, When I Was Young'. He is best known for hosting Hee Haw, a nationally televised country variety show, from 1969 to 1997. He died on 11 November 2018. 

1934 - Tim Feild

Tim Feild from the British pop-folk vocal trio The Springfields who had the 1962 US No. 20 single 'Silver Threads And Golden Needles', and the 1963 UK No.5 single 'Island Of Dreams'. The Springfields included singer Dusty Springfield and her brother, record producer Tom Springfield. Feild died on 31 May 2016.

1939 - Adolph Jacobs

American guitarist Adolph Jacobs, The Coasters. The American rhythm and blues/rock and roll vocal group scored the 1958 US No.1 single 'Yakety Yak', the 1959 US No.2 and UK No.6 single 'Charlie Brown', as well as 'Young Blood' and 'Poison Ivy'. Jacobs died on July 23rd 2014.

1939 - Marty Wilde

Marty Wild English singer and songwriter. He was one of the first generation of British pop stars to emulate American rock and roll and scored the 1959 UK No.2 single 'A Teenager In Love', and over 10 other UK Top 40 singles. He is the father of 80s singer Kim Wilde.

1940 - Clarence Satchell

American saxophonist and guitarist Clarence Satchell, The Ohio Players, who scored the 1974 US No.1 single 'Fire' and had hits with ‘Skin Tight’, ‘I Want To Be Free’ and ‘Love Roller Coaster.’ He died on 30th December 1995.

1944 - Dave Edmunds

Dave Edmunds, Welsh singer/songwriter, guitarist, actor and record producer. With Love Sculpture he had the 1968 UK No.5 single 'Sabre Dance' and the solo 1970 UK No.1 and US No.4 single 'I Hear You Knocking'. He later became a member of Rockpile.

1947 - Michael Chapman

Michael Chapman, Chinnichap productions, (producer and writer for Suzi Quatro, Mud).

1947 - Wooly Woolsenholme

Wooly Wolstenholme, from English progressive rock band Barclay James Harvest who scored eight UK Top 40 albums from 1974-87.

1948 - Michael Kamen

Michael Kamen, American composer and orchestral arranger. He worked with many acts including Pink Floyd, Queen, Eric Clapton, David Bowie, Kamen co-wrote Bryan Adams' ballad ‘(Everything I Do), I Do It for You.’ He died on 18 Nov 2003.

1962 - Nick Kamen

English male model, songwriter and musician, Nick Kamen who had the 1986 UK No.5 single 'Each Time You Break My Heart'.

1965 - Linda Perry

Linda Perry, songwriter, producer, singer, 4 Non Blondes, (1993 UK No.2 single ‘What’s Up’, 1993 UK No. 4 album ‘Bigger Better Faster More!). Wrote ‘Beautiful’ for Christina Aguilera, plus Jewel, Courtney Love, Gwen Stefani, Sugababes, Robbie Williams, Melissa Etheridge, Gavin Rossdale have all recorded her songs.

1965 - Oscar Harrison

Oscar Harrison, drummer with English rock band Ocean Colour Scene who formed in Moseley, Birmingham in 1989. They scored the 1996 UK No.4 single 'The Day We Caught The Train', plus over 12 other Top 40 singles and the 1997 UK No.1 album Marchin’ Already.

1966 - Graeme Clark

Graeme Clark, bassist with Scottish band Wet Wet Wet who formed in 1982. They are best known for their 1994 cover of The Troggs' 1960s hit 'Love Is All Around', which spent 15 weeks at No.1 on the UK charts.

1966 - Samantha Fox

Samantha Fox, former English model, singer who had the 1986 UK No.3 single 'Touch Me, I Want Your Body'.

1967 - Frankie Poullian

Frankie Poullian, bass, with The Darkness who had the 2003 UK No.2 single ‘I Believe In A Thing Called Love’, and the 2003 UK No.1 album ‘Permission To Land’. The album was certified quadruple platinum in the United Kingdom, with sales of over 1,300,000 and in 2004 the band won three Brit Awards.

1968 - Edward John O'Brien

Edward John O'Brien, guitarist, Radiohead. Their 1993 debut single 'Creep' was initially unsuccessful, but it became a worldwide hit several months after the release of their debut album, 'Pablo Honey'. Their 1997 album OK Computer appeared in many 1997 critics' lists and listener polls for best album of the year.

1978 - Luis Fonsi

Puerto Rican singer songwriter and actor Luis Fonsi best known for the song 'Despacito', a remix with Justin Bieber and Daddy Yankee was No.1 in 2017.

1978 - Chris Stapleton

American country and bluegrass musician Chris Stapleton who scored the 2015 US No.1 album Traveller. Stapleton who is a former member of The SteelDrivers has also written hits for Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Adele and George Strait.

1980 - Patrick Carney

Patrick Carney, American drummer for The Black Keys, who had the 2014 US No.1 album Turn Blue. He also has a side-project rock band called Drummer.

1987 - Iyaz

Keidran Jones, better known by his stage name Iyaz, a British Virgin Islander, singer-songwriter and dancer. He is known for his singles ‘Replay’, ‘Solo’ and ‘Pretty Girls’. He released his debut album Replay in 2009.