EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON THIS DAY APRIL 18 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day April 18 in 1970 – Irish singer Dana topped the UK Singles chart with ‘All Kinds of Everything’, the song with which she won the Eurovision Song Contest in March representing Ireland.
1974 – James Brown received a Gold Plaque by the Recording Industry Association of America for his chart-topping single ‘The Payback’. It was his second and last single to be certified Gold by the RIAA.
1981 – Pop rock band Bucks Fizz reached No.1 in the UK with ‘Making Your Mind Up’. Just like Dana, they also won the Eurovision Song Contest with their chart-topper, but representing the UK.
1987 – With ‘I Knew You Were Waiting (for Me)’, George Michael and Aretha Franklin topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The duet was an international hit that year and it reached No.1 in six other countries, including the UK.
1987 – A new show dedicated to the rising genre of heavy metal called Headbangers Ball aired on MTV.
1992 – With their fifth studio album ‘Adrenalize’, hard rock group Def Leppard hit No.1 on the US Billboard 200 chart for the first of five consecutive weeks.
1992 – Scottish singer Annie Lennox reached number one in the United Kingdom with her debut solo studio album ‘Diva’
1992 – With ‘Deeply Dippy’, pop band Right Said Fred hit number one in the UK for the first of three weeks straight.
1996 – American bass guitarist and record producer Bernard Edwards died from pneumonia, aged 43. Best remembered as the co-founder of the band Chic.
1998 – Singer and songwriter Robbie Williams scored his first number one album as a solo artist in the UK with his debut LP ‘Life thru a Lens’.
2009 – Scottish record producer and DJ Calvin Harris scored his first solo No.1 single in the UK with ‘I’m Not Alone’.
2009 – The Black Eyed Peas started an unbelievable run of 26 consecutive weeks at No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100. They first topped the chart for twelve weeks straight with ‘Boom Boom Pow’, then on July 11 the group extended their stint for fourteen more weeks with ‘I Gotta Feeling’.
2012 – Radio and television personality Richard “Dick” Clark died from a heart attack, aged 82. Best known for hosting the music and dance TV program American Bandstand from 1956 until 1988.
2013 – The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony was held at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles. Inductees – Heart, Albert King, Donna Summer, Randy Newman, Rush and Public Enemy.
2013 – English graphic designer and music video director Storm Thorgerson died at the age of 69. He worked with music acts such as Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Yes, Muse and many others. Best known for designing the cover of ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ which is now one of the most recognizable album covers in the world.
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2013 – American bassist Cordell “Boogie” Mosson died at the age of 60. Best known for his work with the funk rock band Parliament – Funkadelic.
2014 – American soul singer and songwriter Deon Jackson died at the age of 68. Best known for his 1965 hit song ‘Love Makes the World Go Round’.
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2015 – The number one album in the United Kingdom on this day was ‘Future Hearts’ by the pop rock band All Time Low.
2015 – The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony was held at Public Hall in Cleveland, Ohio. Inductees – The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Lou Reed, Green Day, Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble, and Bill Withers.
2015 – With his fourth studio album ‘The Album About Nothing’, rapper Wale topped the US Billboard 200 chart.
2020 – Canadian rapper Drake became the first male artist to have three singles debut at No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with ‘Toosie Slide’.
BORN ON THIS DAY APRIL 18 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1906 – Multi-genre pianist and singer Eurreal ‘Little Brother’ Montgomery was born in Kentwood, Louisiana.
1918 – American jazz guitarist Anthony ‘Tony’ Mottola was born in Kearny, New Jersey. Best known for releasing over 30 albums and for collaborating with artists such as Ray Charles, Charles Magnante, Frank Sinatra and others.
1924 – Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown was born in Vinton, Louisiana.
1935 – American record producer Paul Rothchild was born in Brooklyn, New York. Best known for his work with The Doors and Janis Joplin.
1939 – Piano player and arranger Glen Dee Hardin was born in Wellington, Texas. Best known for his work with musicians such as Elvis Presley, John Denver, Roy Orbison and Ricky Nelson among others.
1940 – British multi-instrumentalist Michael Vickers was born in Staines-upon-Thames, England. He rose to fame as a member of the rock band Manfred Mann.
1943 – Drummer Clyde Stubblefield was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Best known for his work with James Brown.
1946 – Canadian-American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Alexander “Skip” Spence was born on this day in Windsor, Canada. Best known as a member of the bands Moby Grape, Quicksilver Messenger Service, and Jefferson Airplane.
1946 – Singer and saxophone player Lennie Baker was born in Whitman, Massachusetts. Best known for his work with the groups Danny and the Juniors and Sha Na Na. He also appeared in the famous musical romantic comedy film “Grease”.
1953 – Drummer and founding member of the bands Elements and Pat Metheny Group, Daniel Gottlieb was born in New York City.
1958 – Founding member, bass guitarist, and co-songwriter of the band Echo & the Bunnymen, Les Pattinson was born Ormskirk, England.
1962 – Pop music singer Shirlie Holliman was born in Bushey Heath, England. Best known as one half of the duo Pepsi & Shirlie.
1964 – English percussionist, DJ, and dancer Mark Berry also known by his stage name Bez was born in Bolton. He rose to fame as a member of the rock bands Happy Mondays and Black Grape.
1970 – American multi-instrumentalist Greg Eklund was born in Jacksonville, Florida. Best known as a member of the rock band Everclear from 1994 until 2003.
1974 – American guitarist, singer, and songwriter Mark Tremonti was born in Detroit, Michigan. He came to prominence as a founding member of the rock bands Creed and Alter Bridge.