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.

April 24

Births

1928: Johnny Griffin (Jazz Saxophonist)

1942: Barbra Streisand (Singer)

1943: Richard Sterban (Bass Singer in The Oak Ridge Boys)

1945: Doug Clifford (Drums in Creedence Clearwater Revival)

1951: Nigel Harrison (Bass for Blondie)

1954: Jack Blades (Bass for Night Ranger & Damn Yankees)

1957: David J (Bass for Bauhaus & Love & Rockets)

1957: Boris Williams (Drums for The Cure)

1963: Billy Gould (Bass for Faith No More)

1963: Joey Vera (Bass for Armored Saint, Fates Warning & Anthrax)

1967: Patty Schemel (Drums for Hole)

1974: Brian Marshall (Bass for Creed)

1982: Kelly Clarkson (Pop Singer)

Events

1954: Keeping an eye on the new trends, an article in this week's Billboard is entitled "Teenagers Demand Music With A Beat - Spur Rhythm And Blues."

1959: After running on Saturday nights on radio for 24 years and TV for the last nine, the final installment of the musical countdown show Your Hit Parade airs on NBC. The final Top Five: Elvis Presley, "I Need Your Love Tonight" (#5), Brook Benton, "It's Just A Matter Of Time" (#4), Ricky Nelson, "Never Be Anyone Else But You" (#3), Dodie Stevens, "Pink Shoe Laces" (#2), and the Fleetwoods at #1 with "Come Softly To Me."

1961: Bob Dylan makes his first recording -- playing harmonica on Harry Belafonte's song "Calypso King." He's paid fifty dollars.

1963: An 18-year-old Brenda Lee marries Ronnie Shacklett, one year her senior, in Nashville a mere six months after meeting him at a Jackie Wilson concert. 49 years later, the two are still together.

1968: The newly-formed Apple Records decides not to sign a young talent named David Bowie.

1969: Paul McCartney says their is no truth to rumors he is dead.

1970: Having been invited to a White House dinner by Tricia Nixon, daughter of US President Richard Nixon, the Jefferson Airplane's Grace Slick brings radical Abbie Hoffman with her, in an attempt to secretly dose Tricia with LSD during the meal. Hoffman is turned away at the door by Secret Service agents, causing Slick to leave as well.

1974: Pamela Courson the long-term companion of the late Jim Morrison died of a drugs overdose. It was Courson who found the Doors singer dead on July 3, 1971 in the bathtub of their apartment in Paris, France.

1975: Pete Ham (Guitar for Badfinger) hanged himself in the garage of his Surrey home, three days before his 28th birthday. At the time of his death his Blood alcohol content was estimated to have been 0.27%.

1976: In a parody of recent public offers, Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels goes on air and offers the Beatles the whopping sum of $3,000 if they agree to reunite on the hits NBC-TV show. And it almost happens: Paul, visiting John in his New York apartment for what would turn out to be the last time, is watching the skit with John, and both consider going across town to the studio live. However, the duo decide they're too tired.

1977: Elvis Presley made the last recordings of his life during a concert at the Saginaw, Michigan Civic Centre. Three songs from the show appeared on the posthumously released Presley album, 'Moody Blue'.

1977: Talking Heads began its first European tour, supporting the Ramones.

1979: The Police made their debut on BBC TV's 'Top Of The Pops' performing 'Roxanne'.

1979: Governor George Busbee of Georgia issues a proclamation declaring Hoagy Carmichael's "Georgia On My Mind" the new official state song. Ray Charles sings his famous version at the ceremony.

1981: New Order started work on their first album at Strawberry studios in Stockport, England.

1982: Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Ebony And Ivory.' This was McCartney's 24th No.1 hit single as a songwriter. The title was inspired by McCartney hearing Spike Milligan say "black notes, white notes, and you need to play the two to make harmony folks!". It was later named as the tenth worst song of all time by Blender magazine and in 2007 was named the worst duet in history by BBC 6 Music listeners.

1984: With questions still lingering about the death of his fifth wife, Shawn Stephens, Jerry Lee Lewis marries his sixth, Kerrie McCarver, the 22-year-old president of his fan club.

1988: Bon Jovi's manager Doc Mcgee was convicted on drug offences arising from the 1982 seizure of 40,000lb of marijuana smuggled into north Carolina from Colombia. McGee was sentenced to a five year suspended prison term and a $15,000 fine.

1990: The Fender Stratocaster that Jimi Hendrix played at the Woodstock festival was auctioned off for a record $295,000.

1990: The road crew for Roger Waters discovered an unexploded World War II era bomb while constructing the set for "The Wall" concert in Potsdamer Platz, Germany.

1992: The Cleveland Orchestra sues Michael Jackson for $7 million after it discovers the singer used part of their recording of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony on his hit album Dangerous.

1992: Kris Kross started an eight week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Jump'. The duo of Chris Smith and Chris Kelly were 12 and 13 when they recorded the song.

1992: David Bowie marries his second wife, model Iman, in Switzerland.

1992: In his hometown of Inglewood, NJ, Wilson Pickett drives his car through the mayor's front yard, yelling death threats at the house and accidentally running over an 86-year-old man. He is later arrested and found with open containers of alcohol in his car.

1994: Adam Horovitz of the Beastie Boys was sentenced to 200 hours of community service for attacking a TV cameraman during the memorial services for actor River Phoenix the previous November.

1996: It was announced that Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots) was in a drug rehab and could not perform causing the cancellation of several shows.

2002: Jewel was thrown from a horse and suffered a broken collarbone and a rib.

2004: Marion "Suge" Knight, the founder of Death Row records was released from Mule Creek State Prison in California after serving 10 months for breaking his parole on a 1997 assault. Knight was sent back to prison on 4 August for a second parole violation after he punched a parking attendant outside a Hollywood night-club in 2003.

2007: US President George W. Bush is denied a luxury suite at the Imperial Hotel in Vienna when Mick Jagger, in town with the Stones on a tour, books it first.

2007: American singer Bobby "Boris" Pickett died of leukemia at the age of 69. Scored the Halloween anthem ‘The Monster Mash’ in 1962. The song had been banned by The BBC in the UK, deemed offensive and wasn’t a hit until 1973. It was a spoof on the dance crazes popular at the time, including the Twist and the Mashed Potato.

2007: Sheryl Crow said a ban on using too much toilet paper should be introduced to help the environment. The singer suggested using "only one square per restroom visit, except, of course, on those pesky occasions where two to three could be required". Crowe made the comments on her website after touring the US on a biodiesel-powered bus to raise awareness about climate change. Crow had also designed a clothing line with what she called a "dining sleeve". The sleeve is detachable and can be replaced with another "dining sleeve" after the diner has used it to wipe his or her mouth.

2009: A man suing rapper Snoop Dogg told a court he received a ‘brutal’ beating from the star's security. Richard Monroe Jr also claimed that the rapper hit him with a microphone after he climb on stage. Mr. Monroe was asking for $22m in damages from the rapper and others. Jurors were told that as the performer started his hit ‘Gin and Juice’, at the White River Amphitheatre in Seattle, Mr. Monroe thought there was an open invitation to go up on stage and party.

2011: Hazel Dickens, a folk singer and bluegrass musician who advocated for coal miners, Die from complications from Pneumonia.

April 23

Births

1936: Roy Orbison (Guitarist & Singer)

1947: Glenn Cornick (Bass for Jethro Tull)

1952: Narada Michael Walden (Producer)

1960: David Gedge (Vocals & Guitar for The Wedding Present)

1960: Steve Clark (Guitarist with Def Leppard)

1968: Stan Frazier (Drummer for Sugar Ray)

1974: Carlos Dengler (Bass for Interpol)

1975: Jón Þór Birgisson (Singer for Sigur Ros)

1983: Taio Cruz (R&B Singer & Producer)

Events

1943: The Earl "Fatha" Hines Band, featuring then-unknowns Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, and a vocalist named Sarah Vaughan, begins a series of engagements at the Apollo in Harlem.

1956: High on his recent successes, and at the insistence of Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis Presley begins a disastrous concert stint at the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas where he opens for comedian Shecky Greene. The middle-aged audience, miles removed from Elvis' teen fanbase, are completely indifferent to him, and his contract is soon torn up after only one week of a two-week engagement. However, while there, Presley witnesses a band called Freddie Bell and the Bellboys doing a wild rave-up version of Big Mama Thornton's blues hit "Hound Dog." He soon works it into the live act.

1962: The Beatles make their first appearance on record when Tony Sheridan's version of the standard "My Bonnie," featuring the Fab Four as backup, is released by Decca. The single is not a hit.

1963: Jan and Dean recorded "Surf City".

1969: Los Angeles' famed folk and rock club The Ash Grove, launching pad for everyone from Linda Ronstadt to Canned Heat, catches fire and nearly burns to the ground.

1971: The Rolling Stones released their classic album, Sticky Fingers in the UK. The album made No.1 in the UK and the US and was the bands first release on Atlantic records. The cover a pair of jeans with a working zip was designed by Andy Warhol who was paid $30,000 for the art work which featured a photo of actor Joe Dallesandro's crotch clad in tight blue jeans (assumed by many fans to be Mick Jagger).

1974: Just before being scheduled to appear as guest host on NBC-TV's Tonight Show, Mama Cass (Mama’s & The Papa’s) collapses from exhaustion.

1976: The Ramones released their eponymous debut album. On the same day The Sex Pistols played The Nashville Rooms, London supporting The 101'ers who featured Clash vocalist Joe Strummer.

1977: Adam And The Ants made their debut at the Roxy Club, London.

1978: Sex Pistols bass player Sid Vicious filmed his version of 'My Way' for the Sex Pistols' film 'The Great Rock n Roll Swindle.'

1981: Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins join Johnny Cash onstage at his show in Stuttgart, West Germany, performing their hits and some mutual country, blues, and gospel favorites. The concert is later released as the LP The Survivors.

1983: Dexy's Midnight Runners went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Come On Eileen' the group's only US No.1.

1985: Liberace guest-stars as himself on today's episode of NBC-TV's long-running soap Another World.

1987: Carole King sues her former label head and mentor, Lou Adler, for $400,000 in royalties and the publishing rights to some of her older recordings from the late Sixties.

1988: During tonight's Bruce Springsteen concert at the Sports Arena in Los Angeles, CA, Roy Orbison, celebrating his 52nd birthday, is brought onstage so that fans can sing "Happy Birthday" to him.

1988: Whitney Houston smashed a chart record held by The Beatles and The Bee Gees when 'Where Do Broken Hearts Go', became her seventh consecutive US No.1.

1991: Founding member of The New York Dolls Johnny Thunders (John Anthony Genzale, Jr), died of a drug overdose at age 38. He renamed himself Johnny Thunders, after a comic book of the same name. The influential New York Dolls formed in 1972 and made just two albums. A teenage Morrissey acted as president of the UK branch of the New York Dolls fan club. Formed The Heartbreakers with Dolls drummer Jerry Nolan, and Television bassist Richard Hell.

1995: London's Sunday Times reports that Peter Hodgson, whose father once lent Paul McCartney his tape recorder, had found a reel-to-reel of the Beatles' first recordings in his attic. Made in 1959, the tape features sixteen songs, including "Hello Little Girl," written by Lennon and McCartney but given to another band, and Ray Charles' "Hallelujah, I Love Her So."

2008: Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora was sentenced to three years probation after admitting to driving under the influence of alcohol. 48-year-old Sambora who was not at the court hearing would also have to attend first offender alcohol awareness classes. He was arrested in Laguna Beach after his car was seen weaving between traffic lanes.

2008: Amy Winehouse went out on a drink and drug-fuelled spree and hit and head butted two men. After drinking all day, Amy visited the Good Mixer pub in Camden, London with Babyshambles guitarist Mik Whitnall. Inside she allegedly punched Mustapha el Mounmi in the face after he refused to give way to her at the pool table. The singer then left to visit Bar Tok in the early hours and once at the bar shouted “I am a legend get these people out. I want to take drugs.” After leaving the bar a good Samaritan tried to get her a cab, but she reportedly thought he was trying to molest her and allegedly head butted him in the face.