20 APRIL
In Music History
1991 Steve Marriott (guitarist, vocalist for The Small Faces, Humble Pie) dies in a house fire, possibly caused by a cigarette, at age 44.
1991 John Fogerty marries his second wife, Julie Lebiedzinksi, in Elkhart, Indiana. The couple met at a party following one of his concerts in 1986. "Suddenly the crowd parted, and there was the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen in my life," Fogerty said.
1985 The Commodores land their first (and only) post-Lionel Richie hit with "Nightshift," which reaches #3 in the US. The song is a tribute to Jackie Wilson and Marvin Gaye.
1981 John Phillips of The Mamas & The Papas is sentenced to five years for helping a Los Angeles-area pharmacist sell fake prescriptions, as well as drug possession. His sentence will be reduced to one month, however, after he agrees to perform 250 hours of community service in the form of anti-drug lectures.
1971 Mikey Welsh (bassist for Weezer) is born in Syracuse, New York. Welsh replaced Matt Sharp as bassist in 1998 and was replaced by Scott Shriner in 2001.
1970 Phife Dawg of A Tribe Called Quest is born in Queens, New York. His birth name: Malik Taylor.
1970 The New York Times reports on "submarine churches" inspired by the Beatles' "Yellow Submarine." Their logos are variations of a submarine with the periscope forming a peace sign.More
1969 Benny Benjamin aka "Papa Zita" (drummer for The Funk Brothers) dies of a stroke at age 43.
1968 The Rolling Stones record "Jumpin' Jack Flash."
1968 Apple Music, the Beatles' new label, runs their famous "This Man Has Talent" ads in Britain's New Musical Express, seeking demo tapes from unknown artists. Most are never heard but pile up in Apple's offices, and the majority of the label's signings are acquired through acquaintances.
1968 Deep Purple make their stage debut at the Vestpoppen, in Kastrup, Denmark.
1967 Drummer Mike Portnoy is born in Long Beach, New York. A founding member of Dream Theater, he also writes many of the band's lyrics.
1963 Rick Nelson marries his first wife, Kris Harmon, daughter of college football legend Tom Harmon and sister of actor Mark Harmon, in Los Angeles. A pregnant Kris gives birth to daughter Tracy only six months later. The couple divorce in 1982.
1959 Thirteen-year-old Dolly Parton releases her first single, the rockabilly-style love tune "Puppy Love."
1951 R&B singer Luther Vandross is born in New York City.
4/20 Becomes A Day Of Reefer Madness
1971Five friends at San Rafael High School in California coin the term "4:20" as a euphemism for smoking pot. April 20th becomes a popular day to spark one up, as does 4:20 pm. Note that the Boston song "Smokin'" clocks in at 4 minutes, 20 seconds, and if you multiply the title numbers in Bob Dylan's "Rainy Day Women #12 And #35," you get 420. Dude!
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Featured Events
2013 Five days after three people were killed in bombings at the Boston Marathon, Neil Diamond makes a surprise appearance at Fenway Park, where he performs "Sweet Caroline" at the Red Sox game against the Kansas City Royals.
1999 At his concert at the Meadowlands in New Jersey, Billy Joel announces his retirement from touring and recording pop music, as he wants to focus on classical music. His retirement doesn't last long; he returns to the stage in December. After sitting out most of 2000, he embarks on the Face to Face tour with Elton John in 2001.
1993 Looking to mimic the success of New Kids on the Block, entrepreneur Lou Pearlman sets out to create his own boy band. After auditioning hundreds of performers, he chooses five unknowns to be his Backstreet Boys.
1992 The remaining members of Queen hold the "Concert For Life" at Wembley Stadium in London, raising money for AIDS awareness in honor of their fallen frontman Freddie Mercury. David Bowie, Elton John, Guns N' Roses and George Michael all perform.
1976 George Harrison, who is good friends with Eric Idle, joins Monty Python on stage at the comedy troupe's show at New York's City Center. Dressed as a Canadian Mountie, Harrison joins the chorus for "The Lumberjack Song." No mention is made of Harrison's appearance, and few in the audience recognize him. The next night, Nilsson shows up to perform the same feat, but with disastrous results, as he falls into the audience and breaks his arm.
1974 The Soul Train theme song ("TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" by MFSB featuring The Three Degrees) hits #1 in America. MFSB, which stands for Mother Father Sister Brother, is a studio group established by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff at Philadelphia International Records.
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