This Day In Music - April 20th

April 20th: On this Day

(from thisdayinmusic.com)

2003, Godsmack were at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Faceless.’

2002, in the dispute over who owned the rights to Nirvana's recordings Dave Grohl and Kirst Novoselic asked a Seattle Court to prove that Courtney Love was mentally stable. They told the court that Love was 'irrational, mercurial, self-centred, unmanageable, inconsistent and unpredictable.' They also claimed a contract was invalid because Love was 'stoned' at the time.

2001, a memorial concert took place for former Small Faces and Humble Pie front man Steve Marriott at the London Astoria with Peter Frampton, Midge Ure, Chris Farlowe and Humble Pie.

2000, Robert Plant appeared at Disney's Theatre of the Stars in Orlando, Florida to leave his handprints outside the theatre.

1997, The Chemical Brothers went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their album 'Dig Your Own Hole.'

1996, Mark Morrison had his first UK No.1 single when 'Return Of The Mack' started a two-week run at the top of the charts.

1995, Appearing at The Bataclan Club, Paris, Oasis supported by The Verve.

1992, 'A Concert For Life' took place at Wembley Stadium as a tribute to Freddie Mercury and for aids awareness. Extreme, Bob Geldof, U2, Def Leppard, Guns N' Roses, George Michael with Queen, Elton John, Annie Lennox and David Bowie all appeared.

1991, Wilson Phillips scored their third US No.1 single with 'You're In Love', a No.29 hit in the UK.

1990, Janet Jackson was bestowed with a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame at the start of 'Janet Jackson week' in Los Angeles.

1985, the charity record 'We Are The World' by USA For Africa was at No.1 on the UK singles chart. The all-star cast included Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, Bruce Springsteen, Diana Ross, Bob Dylan plus the composer's of the track, Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie.

1982, Appearing at The Colston Hall, Bristol, England, The Cure.

1981, John Phillips of The Mamas and the Papas was jailed for five years after pleading guilty to drug possession charges; the sentence was suspended after 30 days. Phillips started touring the US lecturing against the dangers of taking drugs.

1979, lighting director Billy Duffy was killed in a accident during a Kate Bush concert in Southampton, England. 21-year old Duffy fell twenty feet through an open trap door on the stage. Kate Bush held a benefit concert on 12th May with Peter Gabriel and Steve Harley at London's Hammersmith Odeon for his family.

1974, MFSB and the Three Degrees started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'TSOP, (The Sound Of Philadelphia), a No.22 hit in the UK.

1970, The New York Times reported that Catholic and Protestant youth groups had adopted the Yellow Submarine as a religious symbol.

1970, Traffic, Mott The Hoople, If and Bronco all appeared at The Roundhouse, London, tickets, 25 shillings.

1968, Deep Purple made their live debut in Tastrup, Denmark.

1959, 13-year old country singer Dolly Parton released her first single 'Puppy Love.' The song also gave Donny Osmond a No.1 UK hit in 1972.

1957, Elvis Presley started an eight week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'All Shook Up.' It went on to be the biggest single of 1957 selling over 2 million copies.

April 20th: Born on this day

1972, Born on this day, Stephen Marley, Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers, (1988 UK No.22 single 'Tomorrow People').

1972, Born on this day Carmen Electra, The Pussycat Dolls, (2005, US No.2 & UK No.1 with their debut single ‘Don't Cha’ featuring Busta Rhymes). The Pussycat Dolls became only the fourth ever girl band to enter the UK charts at No.1 with their debut single. (The other’s being the Spice Girls, B*Witched and Girls Aloud). Carmen has appeared in Playboy magazine and Baywatch and MTV's Singled Out.

1971, Born on this day, Mikey Welsh, bass, Weezer, (1995 UK No.12 single, 'Buddy Holly').

1951, Born on this day, Luther Vandross, soul singer, (1989 UK No.13 single 'Never Too Much', first released 1983, US N0.10 and UK No.2 single with Janet Jackson 'The Best Things In Life Are Free'). Also worked with David Bowie, Mariah Carey. Vandross died on 2nd July 2005 aged 54, two years after suffering a major stroke.

1948, Born on this day, Craig Frost, Grand Funk Railroad, (1974 US No.1 single 'The Locomotion').

1945, Born on this day, Jimmy Winston, organ, Small Faces, (left in Nov 1965).

1939, Born on this day, Johnny Tillotson, singer, (1960 US No.2 and 1961 UK No.1 single 'Poetry In Motion').

April 20th: Three steps to heaven

2002, American singer Alan Dale died. During the 50's he had his own US TV & radio show, 1955 US No.7 single 'Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White.'

1991, Steve Marriott leader of Small Faces And Humble Pie, died in a fire at his home in Essex. His work became a major influence for many 90's bands. As a child actor he played parts in Dixon of Dock Green and The Artful Dodger in Oliver. Member of Small Faces (1967 UK No.3 & US No.16 single 'Itchycoo Park', plus 1968 No.1 UK album 'Ogden's Nut Gone Flake'), Formed Humble Pie who had the 1969 UK No.4 single 'Natural Born Bugie'.