April 25

Births

1917: Ella Fitzgerald (Jazz Singer)

1923: Albert King (Blues Guitarist & Singer)

1933: Jerry Leiber (Standards Composer)

1940: Al Pacino

1945: Bjorn Ulvaeus (Singer in ABBA)

1945: Stu Cook (Bass for CCR)

1958: Fish (Derek William Dick) (Singer in Marillion & Solo)

1964: Andy Bell (Singer in Erasure)

1965: Eric Avery (Bass for Jane’s Addiction)

Events

1955: The UN's commission on narcotics releases a report stating "definite connection between increased marijuana smoking and that form of entertainment known as bebop and rebop."

1967: Just days after the completion of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles embark upon their next project, recording the theme to 'Magical Mystery Tour' at Abbey Road studios in London.

1967: The Beatles recorded "All You Need Is Love" during a British TV broadcast. Marianne Faithfull sang in the chorus.

1968: The Beatles refused to perform for the Queen of England at a British Olympic Appeal Fund show because "Our decision would be the same no matter what the cause. We don't do benefits."

1970: At today's concert in Raleigh, North Carolina, the interracial band Pacific Gas and Electric is subject to verbal abuse on stage. Later, when they leave the club, four bullets are fired at their van. No one is injured.

1974: According to the new issue of Rolling Stone, "streaking" has become so popular that Yes and Gregg Allman concerts have been interrupted by the fad. At a recent Beach Boys concert, the magazine says, the band was streaked by its own crew.

1974: Pam Morrison, Jim Morrison's widow, died of a heroin overdose at the age of 27.

1977: Elvis Presley performs at the Civic Center in Saginaw, MI, with a mobile unit capturing what would be his very last recording (released on the album Moody Blue).

1977: The musical variety television special Paul Anka -- Music My Way, featuring Natalie Cole, Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band, and a host of famous cameos, airs on ABC.

1979: The film "Rock & Roll High School" starring the Ramones premiered.

1979: The Police made their debut on BBC TV's 'Top Of The Pops' performing 'Roxanne'. The single which was taken from their album Outlandos d'Amour was written from the point-of-view of a man who falls in love with a prostitute.

1981: Denny Laine leaves the trio Wings, essentially leaving Paul McCartney a solo act once more.

1993: Legendary album artist Stanley "Mouse" Miller, designer of the Grateful Dead's "Skull and Roses" logo, has his upcoming liver transplant financed by the band.

1994: After fourteen years, The Eagles reform at Warner's Burbank Studios for the first of what will be two reunion concerts chronicled on the live/studio album Hell Freezes Over.

1994: A judge finds Michael Bolton's 1991 hit "Love Is A Wonderful Thing" plagiarizes the Isley Brothers' 1966 song of the same name, despite Bolton's protests that he's never heard the song.

1994: Yankee Stadium in New York holds their first "Joe DiMaggio Day," featuring Paul Simon singing "Mrs. Robinson" (and cheers when he gets to the "Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?" part).

1999: Roger Troutman (Zapp) died at the age of 47. He had been shot several times. His brother, Larry, was found near the crime scene with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

2002: In Honduras, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes (TLC) was killed in a car crash at age 30.

2003: The parents of the late Doors frontman Jim Morrison sue the remaining members for touring with a new singer as "The Doors 21st Century" using the band's image and logo.

2003: Sinead O'Connor announced on her Web site that she was going to retire.

2003: Nina Simone is laid to rest in Carry-Le-Rouet, France, with attendees including Miriam Makeba and gifts from luminaries like Elton John.

2004: For the third time in two years, Billy Joel is involved in a minor traffic accident, driving his car into a home in Bayville, Long Island, New York. No one is injured.

2007: Singer Bobby "Boris" Pickett died due to complications from Leukemia at age 69.