16 APRIL
In Music History
1953 Peter Garrett, frontman of the Aussie rock band Midnight Oil, is born in Wahroonga, Sydney. He pursues a law career before joining the band.
1947 Rock drummer Lee Kerslake (of Uriah Heep, Blizzard of Ozz) is born in Winton, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
1947 Rock singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty (of Stealers Wheel) is born in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland.
1943 Blues rocker Dave Peverett (of Foghat, Savoy Brown) is born in Dulwich, London, England.
1939 Dusty Springfield is born Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien in West Hampstead, North London, England.
1936 Country entertainer Judy Lynn is born Judy Lynn Voiten in Boise, Idaho.
1935 Bobby Vinton is born Stanley Robert Vintula in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania.
1930 Jazz flautist Herbie Mann is born Herbert Jay Solomon in Brooklyn, New York.
1929 Singer-songwriter Ed Townsend, who co-wrote Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On," is born in Fayetteville, Tennessee.
1929 R&B singer Roy Hamilton ("Unchained Melody," "You'll Never Walk Alone") is born in Leesburg, Georgia.
1924 Rudy Pompilli (tenor saxophonist for Bill Haley & His Comets) is born in Chester, Pennsylvania.
1924 Film composer Henry Mancini ("Moon River") is born Enrico Nicola Mancini in Cleveland, Ohio.
Tribute Concert Celebrates Nelson Mandela's Release
1990The Nelson Mandela: An International Tribute for a Free South Africa concert is held in Wembley Stadium, London, to celebrate the release of Mandela, who had been imprisoned since 1962. Neil Young, Peter Gabriel, Lou Reed, Tracy Chapman, Jackson Browne and Bonnie Raitt all perform.
Read more16 APRIL
Featured Events
2007 Ornette Coleman wins the Pulitzer Prize for music for his 2006 album, Sound Grammar, the first jazz work to receive the honor.
1996 Kiss perform at the Grammys in full makeup and glorious costumes. It's just the second time since 1980 (following their 1995 MTV Unplugged taping) that all four original members have been on stage together.
1991 The Temple of the Dog album is released. The one-off project is a tribute to Andrew Wood, the Mother Love Bone lead singer who died in 1990. Temple of the Dog is comprised of Soundgarden members Chris Cornell and Matt Cameron, along with Stone Gossard, Jeff Ament, Mike McCready, and Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam.More
1974 Queen make their US live debut at Regis College in Denver, Colorado, supporting Mott the Hoople. Their trek ends early when Brian May develops hepatitis a month later.
1971 The Rolling Stones issue "Brown Sugar," the first release on their own label, Rolling Stones Records.
1964 Needing one more song for his album, Dean Martin records "Everybody Loves Somebody," which his friend Frank Sinatra recorded in 1948 and several other singers tried in the '50s. Martin's version is the first to hit, and it hits big, knocking The Beatles off the top spot in August.
1955 Kool Herc is born in Kingston, Jamaica. Born Clive Campbell, his stage name is based on "Hercules," a nickname he earns for his strength. When he is 12, his family moves to the Bronx, where Herc becomes a DJ, throwing dance parties where MCs talk over extended breakbeats he creates with two turntables, one of the most important developments in hip-hop.
1944 On shore leave from the Merchant Marines, Woody Guthrie arrives at Folkway Records' studios in New York City, where he starts recording with the label's founder, Moses Asch, in what becomes known as the "Asch recordings." Among the songs recorded during these sessions is "This Land Is Your Land," which becomes an iconic populist protest anthem, covered by countless artists including Pete Seeger and Bruce Springsteen.More
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