What Happened Today In Music

April 7th

1962 - The Beatles

The Beatles played at the Casbah Coffee Club, Liverpool without George Harrison who was ill. This was the group's last performance before leaving for their third extended engagement in Hamburg, West Germany.

1962 - Brian Jones

While at Ealing Jazz Club, in Ealing, West London, Mick Jaggerand Keith Richards met Brian Jones for the first time. Jones was calling himself Elmo Lewis and was playing guitar with singer Paul Jones, who was performing under his real name of P. P. Pond. 

1966 - The Beatles

Working at Abbey Road studios in London, The Beatles recorded overdubs on the new John Lennon song 'Tomorrow Never Knows' and the new Paul McCartney song 'Got to Get You Into My Life' for the forthcoming  Revolver album.

1970 - Norman Greenbaum

On this week's US Top 5 singles chart; No.5, 'Bridge Over Trouble Water' by Simon and Garfunkel, No.4, 'Spirit In The Sky', Norman Greenbaum', No.3, 'Instant Karma!' by John Lennon, No.2, 'ABC' The Jackson 5 and at No.1, 'Let It Be', The Beatles. 

1978 - Police

The Police released 'Roxanne' as the first single from their debut album Outlandos d'Amour. The song was written from the point of view of a man who falls in love with a prostitute. The title came from the name of the character in the play Cyrano de Bergerac, which Sting saw on an old poster which was hanging in a hotel foyer in Paris, France where the group had been staying. The song failed to chart but when re-released in 1979, peaked at No.12 on the UK Singles Chart. 

1979 - Siouxsie and the Banshees

Siouxsie And The Banshees played a charity gig for MENCAP, but after crowd trouble were latter faced with a £2,000 bill for seat damage.

1981 - Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band kicked off their first full-scale tour in Hamburg, Germany. This was Springsteen's first tour outside North America, which would take in 10 countries.

1981 - Kit Lambert

Producer and manager, Kit Lambert died of a cerebral hemorrhage after falling down a flight of stairs at his mother's home in London, England. Lambert managed The Who from 1964-1967 and produced the 'Tommy' album. Also produced Arthur Brown's 1968 hit 'Fire'.

1985 - Wham!

Wham! became the first western pop group to perform live in China, when they played at the workers gymnasium in Beijing.

1988 - Alice Cooper

During a European tour, Alice Cooper accidentally hung himself in a rehearsal when a safety rope snapped; he dangled for several seconds before a roadie saved him.

1990 - Tommy Lee

Motley Crue's Tommy Lee was injured when performing a stunt during a concert, falling 20 feet from a lighting rig.

1994 - Lee Brilleaux

Lee Brilleaux singer, harmonica player and founding member of Dr Feelgood died of throat cancer aged 41. They had the 1979 UK No.9 single 'Milk And Alcohol' and the 1976 UK No.1 live album, Stupidity. In 1976, Brilleaux helped fund Stiff Records one of the driving forces of the 'New Wave' of the mid- to late-1970s, with a loan of £400. 

1994 - Courtney Love

Courtney Love was arrested on drugs and theft charges after a reported overdose. At this time, Love was unaware that her husband Kurt Cobain was dead at their home, (his body wasn't discovered until April 8, by an electrician who had arrived to install a security system at their house).

1994 - Percy Sledge

US soul singer Percy Sledge pleaded guilty to tax evasion after he failed to report $260,000 in income earned between 1987 and 1989. He was sentenced to serve six months in a halfway house.

1998 - George Michael

George Michael was arrested at The Will Rogers Memorial Park for committing a sex act in a public toilet. He was arrested by undercover Beverly Hills police officer Marcelo Rodriguez. Michael later said; 'I was followed into the restroom and this cop - well, I didn't know he was a cop at the time obviously started playing this game. I think it's called - I'll show you mine, you show me yours, and then when you show me yours, I'm gonna nick you!' The singer was later fined $810 (£500) after being convicted of a lewd act.

2000 - Heinz

Heinz, bass player and singer with The Tornadoes died aged 57. The group had the Joe Meek produced 1962 UK & US No.1 single 'Telstar', making them the first UK group to score a US No.1 single. Heinz had the 1963 solo hit 'Just Like Eddie', a tribute to Eddie Cochran, (which featured future Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore).

2001 - Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney bought the four-bedroom Beverly Hills home of Courtney Love for $3.995m. The gated 1930s house had its own swimming pool and 1.5 acres of land.

2002 - Gareth Gates

UK Pop Idol runner-up Gareth Gates was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with his version of 'Unchained Melody.' Making Gates the seventh act to have a Top 40 hit with the song. Jennifer Lopez was at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Ain't It Funny.' And Celine Dion had the UK & US No.1 album 'A New Day Has Come.'

2003 - Avril Lavigne

Avril Lavigne dominated Canada's national music awards the Junos, winning four prizes including best single, album and new artist. Shania Twain who hosted the show won three awards. Best group went to Sum 41.

2008 - Feist

Feist won five prizes, including album of the year at the Junos, Canada's top music awards. The Canadian singer-songwriter won single of the year for '1234', album and pop album for The Reminder, as well as artist and songwriter of the year.

2013 - Andy Johns

Andy Johns, the veteran producer and engineer died at the age of 61. He worked on many classic albums including The Rolling Stones, Exile on Main Street (1972), Television's Marquee Moon (1977), and a series of albums by Led Zeppelin during the 1970s. His sound is exemplified by Free's album Highway, which he engineered and produced. 

2015 - Don McLean

The original manuscript of Don McLean's 'American Pie' sold for $1.2m (£806,000) at a New York auction. The 16-page draft had been expected to fetch as much as $1.5m (£1m) at the Christie's sale. McLean said writing the song was 'a mystical trip into his past'. The repeatedly mentioned phrase 'the day the music died' refers to the plane crash in 1959 which killed early rock and roll performers Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens.

2016 - Jimmie Van Zant

American singer, songwriter, and guitarist Jimmie Van Zant died in a hospice in Florida after several years of treatment for liver cancer. He began playing guitar and piano as a child, mentored by his cousin Ronnie Van Zant, but largely gave up music until the 1977 plane crash in which Ronnie, the founder and lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd, was killed. He then then took up a career playing Southern rock music.

2016 - Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen cancelled a concert in North Carolina, joining business groups in condemning a state law that rolled back protection for gay and transgender people. In a statement Springsteen said, "Some things are more important than a rock show and this fight against prejudice and bigotry which is happening as I write is one of them."

2020 - John Prine

US folk and country singer John Prine died aged 73 due to complications from Covid-19. He released his debut album in 1971, and put out 19 studio albums in all. While wider mainstream success eluded him for years, he earned a sizeable following, including some of the 20th century’s greatest songwriters. Bob Dylan said in 2009: “Prine’s stuff is pure Proustian existentialism. Midwestern mind trips to the nth degree. And he writes beautiful songs.” 

2020 - Steve Farmer

American guitarist, composer and lyricist Steve Farmer died aged 71. He is best known for his composition with Ted Nugent in 1968, 'Journey to the Center of the Mind', performed by their group The Amboy Dukes.

Born Today In Music

April 7th

1915 - Billie Holiday

American jazz musician and singer-songwriter Billie Holiday, (Elinore Harris), the greatest female jazz singer of all time. Holiday released over 100 records and worked with Count Basie and Duke Ellington. During her troubled life she was arrested numerous times for drug possession. Lady Sings the Blues, a film about her life, starring Diana Ross, was released in 1972. Holiday died on 17th July 1959 from liver failure, aged 44.

1937 - Charlie Thomas

Charlie Thomas, from American doo-wop and R&B vocal group The Drifters who had the 1960 US No.1 & UK No.2 single 'Save The Last Dance For Me' and over 12 other chart hits.

1938 - Spencer Dryden

Spencer Dryden, American musician best known as drummer for Jefferson Airplane and New Riders of the Purple Sage. With Jefferson Airplane he had the 1967 US No.18 single 'White Rabbit'. Dryden died of cancer on 10th January 2005.

1943 - Alan Buck

Alan Buck, from English 1960s pop group The Four Pennies who had the 1964 UK No.1 single 'Juliet'.

1943 - Mick Abrahams

English musician Mick Abrahams, guitarist with Blodwyn Pig and the original guitarist for Jethro Tull and the Mick Abrahams Band.

1947 - Florian Schneider- Esleben

German musician Florian Schneider, best known as one of the founding members and leaders of the electronic band Kraftwerk that had successful albums such as Autobahn (1974), Trans-Europe Express (1977), The Man-Machine (1978), and Computer World (1981). David Bowie titled his 'Heroes' instrumental track 'V-2 Schneider' after Schneider and was heavily influenced by Kraftwerk's sound during his 'Berlin period' in the late 70s. Schneider died on 6 May 2020 age 73. 

1947 - Patricia Bennett

Patricia Bennett, from American all-girl group The Chiffons who had the 1963 US No.1 single 'He's So Fine', and the 1972 UK No.4 single 'Sweet Talking Guy', (first released in 1966).

1948 - Carol Douglas

Carol Douglas from African-American girl group The Chantels, who had the 1958 top 20 hit 'Maybe' and the 1961 hit 'Look In My Eyes'.

1948 - Dallas Taylor

American session drummer Dallas Taylor. He is best known as the drummer with Crosby, Stills & Nash as well as appearing on Stephen Stills' eponymous first solo album in 1970.Taylor was the drummer for Stills' group Manassas in 1972 and 1973. In 1970, Dallas sat in with The Doors accompanying John Densmore on drums. Jim Morrison acknowledges him on The Doors Live in New York album. He died of complications from viral pneumonia and kidney disease on 18 January 2015 aged 66.

1949 - John Oates

American rock, R&B and soul guitarist, singer, songwriter John Oates who with Hall and Oates had the 1982 US No.1 & UK No.6 single 'Maneater', plus five other US No.1 hit singles. Hall and Oates have sold an estimated 40 million records, making them the third-bestselling music duo of all time.

1950 - Steve Ellis

English rock and pop singer Steve Ellis from Love Affair who had the 1968 UK No.1 single 'Everlasting Love'. He was later a member of the rock band Widowmaker.

1951 - Janis Ian

American singer-songwriter Janis Ian who had the 1975 US No.3 single 'At Seventeen' and the 1975 US No.1 album Between The Lines.

1952 - Bruce Gary

American musician Bruce Gary who was best known as the drummer for The Knack. Their first single, 'My Sharona' was an international No.1 hit in 1979. Their album Get the Knack became one of the most successful debuts in history, selling over one million copies in less than two months and spending five weeks at No.1 on the Billboard album chart.

1960 - Simon Climie

English songwriter, producer Simon Climie, the former lead singer of the UK duo Climie Fisher who had the 1988 UK No.2 single, 'Love Changes Everything'. Climie has since had his songs recorded by George Michael and Aretha Franklin, Pat Benatar, Smokey Robinson and Jeff Beck and has worked with Eric Clapton on many of his albums.

1979 - Duncan James

Duncan James, singer with English boyband, Blue who had the 2002 UK No.1 single 'If You Come Back'. The group also worked alongside artists such as Stevie Wonder, Elton John and Lil' Kim.

1991 - Anne-Marie

British singer and songwriter Anne-Marie. She scored the 2016 UK No.1 single 'Rockabye', with Clean Bandit featuring Sean Paul.