Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers began a two week stint at The London Palladium and started a British tour. The Harlem teen Quintet was the first Rock & Roll vocal group to have a #1 record in England when “Why Do Fools Fall In Love” topped the U.K. charts in August.
After a violent dispute Marvin Gaye was shot by his ranting Reverend father, Marvin Gaye Sr., in their Los Angeles home. Marvin Jr. would have been 45 the next day.
Top Single:
“Stayin’ Alive” The Bee Gees #2 1978
“A Horse With No Name” America #1 1972
Birthday:
Rudolph Isley (Isley Brothers) 1939
Phil Margo (Tokens) 1942
Danny Brooks (Dovells) 1942
The Penguins, Shirley Gunter & The Flairs and The Chuckles appeared at Utica New York’s Avon Theater.
Top Single:
“Melody Of Love” The Four Aces #7 1955
Birthday:
Marvin Gaye (Moonglows) 1939
England’s BBC radio banned the Coasters “Charlie Brown” because of its inclusion of the word “spitball.” Two weeks after massive listener protests, they rescinded the ban.
Top Single:
“Blue Moon” The Marcels #1 1961
Birthday:
Joe Canzano (Duprees) 1943
Tony Orlando (Dawn) 1944
The Platters “Twilight Time” (#1 Pop & R&B) was released.
The Beatles has an incredible 12 singles in the Top 100 including all of the Top 5 (#5 “Please, Please Me”, #4 “I Want To Hold Your Hand”, #3 “She Loves You”, #2 “Twist & Shout”, #1 “Can’t Buy Me Love”.
Top Single:
“Harbor Lights” The Platters #8 1960
“Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” Starship #1 1987
Birthday:
Margo Sylvia (Tuneweavers) 1936
Frankie Lymon stated in an interview with Britain’s Melody Maker magazine that “he preferred progressive jazz (Dave Brubeck, Stan Kenton and Ted Heath) to Rock & Roll.”
Johnny Mathis’ “Greatest Hits” album hit the charts. It remained there for, what was then, a record 490 weeks. Almost 10 years.
Top Single:
“Working My Way Back To You/Forgive Me Girl” The Spinners #2 1980
“Lovin’ You” Minnie Ripperton #1 1975
Birthday:
Tony Williams (Platters) 1928
Ronnie White (Miracles) 1939
Nick Caldwell (Whispers) 1944
Sixteen year old Lelsey Gore heard her recording of “It’s My Party” on New York’s WINS radio while driving home from school. The Quincey Jones-produced recording had only been cut a few days earlier (and was not even officially released yet).
Top Single:
“He’s So Fine” The Chiffons #1 1963
The Righteous Brothers and The Ronettes #1 1965
Birthday:
Michelle Phillips (The Mamas & The Papas) 1944
Bob Marley 1945
The Bay Bops (Brooklyn N.Y.), one of the first white Doo Wop groups had their debut disc (“Joanie”) released. Also released was Norman Fox and The Robroys classic, “Dance, Girl Dance.” The Robroys were an integrated group with a terrific, underrated white lead singer.
The Rolling Stones were formed when Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Brian Jones met at The Ealing Blues Club in London.
Top Single:
“Why Do Fools Fall in Love” Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers #1 R&B 1956
“The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia” Vickie Lawrence #1 1973
Birthday:
Charlie Thomas (Drifters) 1937
The Platters left Los Angeles for a five and a half month tour of Europe thru 22 cities in 12 countries.
The Chi-Lites charted with “Oh Girl” which became their only #1.
Top Single:
“In The Rain” The Dramatics #1 R&B 1972
“Happy Together” The Turtles #1 1967
The Mama’s & The Papa’s only #1, “Monday, Monday” charted.
Top Single:
“Ko Ko Mo” The Crew Cuts #6 1955
Billy Ward & The Dominoes “Tenderly” and The Harptones “My Memories Of You” were released.
While performing for an all-white audience in Birmingham, Alabama Nat “King” Cole was beaten senseless while on stage.
Top Single:
“Dedicated To The One I Love” The Shirelles #3 1961
“Disco Lady” Johnny Taylor #1 1976
Birthday:
Nate Nelson (Flamingos) 1932
Danny Woods (Chairman of The Board) 1944
The Clovers received a gold disc for sales of 2 million records, The award was for the combined sales of their first nine singles up to their newest release, “Crawlin”.
Bob Dylan appeared at N.Y.C.’s Gerde’s Folk City in his first professional gig opening for John Lee Hoocker. Prior to that he lasted three weeks as a member of Bobby Vee’s backing band, The Shadows, before he was fired.
Top Single:
“ABC” The Jackson Five #2 1970
“Can’t Buy Me Love” The Beatles #1 1964
The Four Lovers (formerly The Variatones) recorded their first six sides for RCA. Four of the six were issued on two EP singles the same day in April, “You’re The Apple OF MY Eye” (#62 Pop) and “Honey Love.” Within four years they would be calling themselves The Four Seasons.
Bill Haley & The Comets made their first recordings for Decca including “Rock Around The Clock”.
Top Single:
“Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine IN,” The 5th Dimension #1 1969
The Beatles recorded the title song to Help! at Abbey Road Studios after a day of working on the film at Britain’s Twickenham Film Studios. It was originally done in a slow, acoustic arrangement, but producer George Martin felt it should be done faster, and though John Lennon had misgivings, that’s the say it was done.
The Rolling Stones debuted behind the “Iron Curtain” in Warsaw, Poland. When a riot broke out police dispersed the crowd with tear gas.
Top Single:
“Special Lady” Ray, Goodman & Brown #6 1980
“All Shock Up” Elvis Presley #1 1957
The Cleftones classic, “Little Girl Of Mine” (Gee #57 Pop, #8 R&B) was released as was The Teenagers “I Want You To Be My Girl” (Gee, #13 Pop, #3 R&B)
Top Single:
“I Will Wait” The Four Buddies #10 R&B 1951
“Johnny Angel” Shelly Fabares #1 1962
Hartford, Connecticut’s State Theater held an “All-Star” show featuring The Moonglows, Cleftones, Solitaires, Willows, Schoolboys, Royaltones and Dean Barlow & The Crickets.
Roy Orbison hit the Pop Top 10 for the first time in over 24 years with “You Got It”. Unfortunately, the Texas legend never knew of his chart rebirth. He died four months earlier.
Top Single:
“Bernadette” The Four Tops #4 1967
“The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” Roberta Flack #1 1972
The Marcels recorded five sides including “That Old Black Magic.”
Top Single:
“Rock Love” The Fontane Sisters #14 1955
Birthday:
Roy Hamilton (The Searchlight Singers) 1929
Dusty Springfield (The Springfields) 1939
Jimmy Osmond (The Osmonds) 1963
Detroit’s Fortune records signed a young local group, The Diablos. They would go on to become the influence of 60’s legend, Smokey Robinson of the Miracles.
Ann Wilson and Heart charted on their way to #35 and their first of 30 hits thru 1993 when “Crazy On You” jumped on the Hot 100 today.
Top Single:
“Please Love Me Forever” Kathy Jean & The Roommates #13 1961
“Joy To The World” Three Dog Night #1 1971
Jackie Wilson & The Dominoes recorded their first sides for Decca including “St. Theresa Of The Roses” and six others in Los Angeles.
Gary U.S. Bonds’ “This Little Girl” was released reaching #11. It was written and co-produced by him and Bruce Springsteen, an long time fan of Bonds. It was also Gary’s first hit in 19 years.
The Bangles reach #2 with “Manic Monday” (written by Prince) but could not displace his “Kiss” from the #1 spot.
Elvis (who developed a fear of flying) boarded a train to Los Angeles from Memphis to begin shooting his new film G.I. Blues, a story about a young U.S. soldier in Germany.
Top Single:
“One Mint Julip” The Clovers #9 R&B 1952
“Philadelphia Freedom” The Elton John Band #1 1975
The Moonglows performed at Alan Freed’s annual Moondog Ball in Ohio’s Akron Armory.
The Beatles recorded “Daisy Hawkins” for the “Sgt. Pepper” album but before it was done it was re-titled “Eleanor Rigby” after Paul McCartney saw the name on a clothing store in Bristol.
Top Single:
“Come Softly To Me” The Fleetwoods #1 1959
Melba Records President Morty Craft announced the signing of a new group from Brooklyn called The Tokens wit a young lead singer named Neil Sedaka.
The Rolling Stones and The Beatles met for the first time at The Crawdaddy Club in West London where the Stones were the regular Sunday night performers.
Top Single:
“Twilight Time” The Platters #1 1958
“Heartbreak Hotel” Elvis Presley #1 1956
Birthday:
Ernie Maresca (The Sevilles) 1939
Little Anthony & The Imperials recorded “I’m On The Outside Looking In” (#15 Pop), their first hit in almost five years.
Over 750,000 people crammed Central Park in New York City for the Earth Day festivities including a show starring Hall & Oats, Ben E. King and the B-52’s.
Top Single:
“Betcha By Golly Wow” The Stylistics #6 1972
“Something Special” Nancy & Frank Sinatra
Birthday:
Glen Campbell (Beach Boys) 1936
The Royals single, “Work With ME Annie” was issued beginning the era of “The Answer Record.” It became so popular (#22 Pop, #1 R&B) that the group renamed themselves Hand Ballard & The MIdnighters to avoid confusion with The Five Royales.
Top Single: “Sloop John B” The Beach Boys #8 1966
The Pastels (“Been So Long”) appeared on Alan Freed’s
Big Beat” show at Milwaukee’s Riverside Theater along with Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis and Buddy Hollly & The Crickets. The Pastels lead singer, Dee Irwin went on to solo success with “Swingin’ On A Star” (#38, 1963)
Robert Zimmerman performed on record for the first time when he played harmonica for Harry Belafonte’s “Midnight Special” album and earned $50. He soon became better known for his songs and singing as Bob Dylan.
Top Single:
“Baby Blue” The Echoes #14 1961
“Runaway Sue” Del Shannon #1 1961
Birthday:
Freddie Scott (The Symphonics) 1933
Bernard Henderson (Hues Corporation) 1944
Ann Kelly (Hues Corporation) 1947
Dion & The Belmonts charted with “When You Wish Upon A Star” only months before Dion split to go solo.
Top Single: “They Way You Do The Things You Do” The Temptations #14 1964
“Stuck On You” Elvis Presley #1 1960
Gladys Knight & The Pips “The Way We Were” charted becoming their 33rd of a career 42 top 100 singles.
Rod Stewart was robbed on Hollywood Blvd. in Los Angeles while standing next to his $50,000 Porsche.
Top Single:
“Middle Of The Night” The Clovers #5 R&B 1952
“Kiss” Prince #1 1986
Birthday:
Maurice Williams (Zodiacs) 1938
Ringo Starr married actress Barbara Bach in Durango, Mexico after the pair grunted their way thru starring roles in the movie, “Caveman.”
Top Single:
“I Will Follow Him” Little Peggy March #1 1963
The Drifters recorded their terrific, “drip Drop.” It was the last charter (#58 Pop) for the original group. Dion & The Del-Satins would later do a hit ”Power Doo Wop0” version in 1963 (#6)
Paul McCartney’s post-Beatles group Wings broke up.
Top Single:
“Soldier Boy” The Shirelles #4 1962
“Good Luck Charm” Elvis Presley #1 1962
Birthday:
Emma Pought (Bobbettes) 1942
The Dubs now legendary, “Don’t Ask Me To Be Lonely” (Gone #72) was released to less then enthusiastic reviewer response which in part stated: “A slow, dirge like ballad that is definitely on the dull side… a grand hodge podge of sound, is weak.”
The musical “Hair” opened on Broadway in New York. It ran for over 1,750 performances.
Top Single:
“The Happening” The Supremes #8 1967
“Night Fever” The Bee Gees #1 1978
Birthday:
Carl Gardner (Coasters) 1928
Bob Miranda (Happenings) 1942
Carnie Wilson (Wilson-Phillips) 1968
The McGuire Sisters “Goodnight, Sweetheart Goodnight” was released and became their first top 10 hit (#7).
Top Single:
“Monday, Monday” The Mama’s & The Papa’s #3 1966
Birthday:
Merill Osmond (Osmonds) 1953