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Hear Today In Rock and Roll History
Today In R&R History April 2nd
Daily Rock and Roll History, Birthday and short music clips.
A year long, day by day look back at this date in Rock History in 3-5 minute segments. Now airing WRGG in Greencastle, PA.
Rock and Roll Birthdays
April 2nd
- April 2nd Birthday, Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist Marvin Gaye, born in Washington, DC in 1939. Gaye died a day before his birthday in 1984, shot and killed by his father after a heated family argument at the age of 44. Gaye’s father received probation after pleading guilty to manslaughter. Charges of first-degree murder were dropped after doctors discovered Marvin Sr. had a brain tumor.
- April 2nd Birthday, Singer, songwriter, keyboard player and solo artist Leon Russell, born Claude Russell Bridges in Lawton, Oklahoma in 1942. He died on November 13th, 2016 at the age of 74.
- April 2nd Birthday, Jazz guitarist Larry Coryell born in Galveston, Texas in 1943. He died on February 19th, 2017 at the age of 73.
- April 2nd Birthday, Guess Who guitarist Kurt Winter, born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada in 1946. Winter died on December 14th, 1997 at the age of 51.
- April 2nd Birthday, Singer, songwriter and guitarist Emmylou Harris, born in 1947 in Birmingham, Alabama.
- April 2nd Birthday, Singer, songwriter, drummer, keyboardist and solo artist Joe Vitale Jr. Vitale was born in 1949 in Canton, Ohio.
- April 2ndBirthday, Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist Leon Wilkeson, born in 1952 in Newport, Rhode Island. He died on July 27th, 2001 at the age of 49.
- April 2nd Birthday, Drummer David Robinson, a member of Jonathan Richman’s Modern Lovers and The Cars, born in Malden, Massachusetts in 1949.
- April 2nd Birthday, Procol Harum, Robin Trower, Eric Clapton bassist and prolific studio musician David Bronze, born in Billericay, Essex, England in 1952.
Today In Rock and Roll History
April 2nd
- April 2nd, 1956 Johnny Cash records “I Walk The Line” at Sun Studios in Memphis. Sun released the record on May 1st. The single went to No. 17 on the Pop Singles charts and No. 1 on the Country charts.
- April 2nd, 1964 Recording sessions began for The Beach Boys’ “I Get Around.” Completed a week later, the single came out May 11th. Although all of the Beach Boys either played or sang on the record, noted session man Hal Blaine was brought in to play drums. “I Get Around” became the first US No. 1 single for The Beach Boys on July 4th. By July “I Get Around” sold nearly two million copies. The 45 reached No. 7 in the Britain.
- April 2nd, 1965 The Who make their first ever BBC Radio appearance on The Joe Loss Pop Show.
- April 2nd, 1966 Red Bird Records release The Shangri-Las “He Cried” on 45. The song was co-written by Greg Richards and Ted Daryll. The single was produced by George “Shadow” Morton. The record peaked at No. 65 on May 14th.
- April 2nd, 1966 “Daydream,” the second album by The Lovin’ Spoonful, enters the charts following a March release on Kama Sutra Records. Featuring two top ten hits, “Daydream and “You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice,” the LP peaked at No. 10 on June 11th.
- April 2nd, 1968 Columbia Records release The Byrds’ “You Ain’t Going Nowhere,” on 45. Written by Bob Dylan, it was the lead single from The Byrds’ “Sweethearts Of The Rodeo” album. The record was produced by Gary Usher, entered the charts in May peaking at No. 74 on June 8th, predating Dylan’s own version by three years.
- April 2nd, 1969 Tamla Records release “Too Busy Thinking About My Baby” by Marvin Gaye on 45. Co-written by Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong and Janie Bradford, the song was first released by The Temptations on their 1966 album “Gettin’ Ready.” Eddie Kendricks sings lead on the recording, also produced by Whitfield. Jimmy Ruffin also recorded a version with The Temptations singing backing vocals in 1966, but the recording went unreleased at the time. The Marvin Gaye version was issued as the follow up to “I Heard It Through The Grapevine,” and reached No. 4 on June 28th, selling nearly two million copies of the single.
- April 2nd, 1971 Columbia Records release Johnny Winter’s cover version of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards’ “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” on 45. The record peaked at No. 89 on May 1st.
- April 2nd, 1971 Apple Records release “It Don’t Come Easy” by Ringo Starr on 45 in Britain, out April 16th in the US. The song was recorded three times. Initial sessions began on March 8th at Trident Studios in London, co-written by Ringo Starr with producer George Harrison. Further overdubs were taped in October. “It Don’t Come Easy” features Harrison on guitar, Gary Wright on piano, Klauss Voorman on bass and Pete Ham and Tommy Evans from Badfinger on backing vocals. In America, “It Don’t Come Easy” entered the charts a month later and peaked at No. 4 on June 5th.
- April 2nd, 1973 Capitol Records release two double record Beatles collections, “1962-1966” and “1967-1970.” The early years collection peaked at No. 3 on May 19th. The later years compilation went to No. 1 on May 26th.
- April 2nd, 1974 Columbia Records release “The Golden Age Of Rock and Roll” by Mott The Hoople following a March 15th release in England. Written by Ian Hunter, the record entered the US singles charts on June 8th and peaked at No. 96. In Britain, “The Golden Age Of Rock ‘n’ Roll” went to No. 16.
- April 2nd, 1975 Kiss release their fifth single, “Rock and Roll All Night,” a studio track from their “Dressed To Kill” album. The record peaked at No. 69 on June 14th. On November 15th, a live version from the LP “Kiss Alive” entered the charts and launched Kiss as a major concert attraction, later peaking at No. 12 on January 24th, 1976.
- April 2nd, 1975 Swan Song Records release “Straight Shooter,” the second album by Bad Company. Recorded at Clearwell Castle in Gloucestershire, England with the band self-producing, just three months after the release of their first LP. The record peaked at No. 3 on May 31st.
- April 2nd, 1975 Swan Song Records release “Trampled Under Foot” by Led Zeppelin on 45. The song evolved out of a jam session in 1972 and is credited to Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones. Much rehearsal went into perfecting the relentless semi-funk riff that dominates this song. John Paul Jones has credited Stevie Wonder with the inspiration for the beat in his song “Superstition” from 1972, which he played on a clavinet. “Trampled Under Foot” entered the singles charts in April and peaked at No. 38 on May 17th.
- April 2nd, 1977 “Heavy Weather,” the eighth album by Weather Report enters the album charts following a March release on Columbia Records. The record peaked at No. 30 on May 21st.
- April 2nd, 1977 The debut American single by Canadian band Klaatu, “Sub Rosa Subway” backed with “Calling Occupants” enters the US singles charts on Capitol Records. A lack of publicity about who Klaatu were and rumors in the press that the band could be The Beatles in disguise sent buyers into record stores to find the band’s music. “Calling Occupants” became a hit for The Carpenters in September. Co-written and produced by the group, both sides of the single charted for six weeks, peaking at No. 62 on April 30th.
- April 2nd, 1977 Polydor Records release “Tokyo Joe” by Bryan Ferry on 45. Written by Ferry, the song was the second single from his “In Your Mind” LP, co-produced by Bryan Ferry and Steve Nye.
- April 2nd, 1977 Columbia Records Dave Mason’s “So High (Rock Me Baby and Roll Me Away).” Co-written by Jack Conrad and Mentor Williams and issued from Mason’s “Let It Flow” LP, the record entered the singles charts in May and peaked at No. 89 on June 4th.
- April 2nd, 1982 Island Records in Britain release “A Celebration” by U2 on 45. Produced by Steve Lilliwhite and written collectively by the band, the single was issued as a stand-alone single between the “October” album and the band’s third LP “War.” The B-side was also a no-LP track written by the band, “Trash Trampoline And The Party Girl.” “A Celebration” went to No 47 in the British singles charts.
- April 2nd, 1983 Following a March release in the USA, MCA Records in Britain release “Cat People (Putting Out Fire)” by David Bowie on 45. The record was produced by Georgio Moroder, who co-wrote the song with David Bowie. The song would later be rerecorded and released on Bowie’s “Let’s Dance” LP in 1983.
- April 2nd, 1984 Columbia Records in the US release “The Final Cut” the twelfth studio album by Pink Floyd. Originally planned as a soundtrack album for the band’s 1982 film Pink Floyd The Wall, “The Final Cut” was recorded in eight studios in Britain, from July through December 1982, the band working with various studio musicians. It was the first album by the band without keyboardist Rick Wright and the last Floyd album with bassist Roger Waters.
- April 2nd, 1999 Cooking Vinyl Records release “Easter Theatre” by XTC on 45. Co-produced by Haydyn Bendall and Nick Davies, the song was written by Andy Partridge. Prarie Price guested on drums on the studio track.
Miscellaneous April
- April 1953 Specialty Records release “Don’t Take It Out On Me” backed with “Lucy Mae Blues,” the third single by Texas electric blues guitarist Frankie Lee Sims. Both songs were written by Frankie Lee Sims, a cousin to musician Lightnin’ Hopkins. “Lucy Mae Blues” became a regional hit in Texas.
- April 1954 Specialty Records release “The Story Of My Life” backed with “A Letter To My Girl Friend,” the third single by electric blues pioneer Guitar Slim and His Band. Both songs were written by Slim, credited to his given name Eddie Jones.
- April 1963 Ron Romans record “Tell Me” and “Love Of My Life.” Daani Records released them as the A and B-side of a single. The A-side was written by Frank Zappa associate Kenny Williams, while “Love Of My Life” was a Zappa/Dave Aerni co-write. The song was recorded at PAL Recording Studio in Cucamonga, California with Zappa playing guitar and drums. Zappa rerecorded “Love Of My Life” with The Mothers Of Invention on the 1968 LP “Cruising With Ruben and The Jets.
- April 1964 Chess records release the “Folk Singer” album, the fourth by Muddy Waters. The album features Waters on acoustic guitar, Willie Dixon on string bass, Clifton James on drums and Buddy Guy on acoustic guitar.
- April 1965 Fantasy Records release “Where You Been” backed with “You Came Walking,” the second single by The Golliwogs on 45. Both sides were co-written by Tom and John Fogerty, using the names Rann Wild and Toby Green. The Golliwogs renamed themselves Creedence Clearwater Revival in 1967.
- April 1966 Are You Kidding Me? Records issue “The Ballad Of The Yellow Beret” backed with “Florida Time” by The Beach Bums, actually Bob Seger’s first released record. Done as an answer record to Sgt. Barry Sandler’s “The Ballad Of The Green Beret,” “The Ballad Of The Yellow Beret” is executed in a humorous manner but the lyrics are a sharp criticism of men who dodged the draft in the US. The song is credited to D. Dodger. “Florida Time” is closer to the style of The Beach Boys, written by long-time Seger producer “Punch,” with both sides produced and arranged by The Omens.
- April 1966 Paradise Records out of Texas release “Splash Day” backed with “Life’s A Misery” by The Warlocks on 45. The band featured brothers Rocky and Dusty Hill. The band would change their name to American Blues when drummer Frank Beard joined. Beard and Dusty Hill would later join Billy Gibbons in ZZ Top.
- April 1969 Liberty Records in Britain release “Folkjoke Opus,” the third album by Roy Harper. Produced by Shel Talmy, the LP sessions included Nicky Hopkins on piano and Clem Cattini on drums. Ron Geesin scored the arrangements on the record.
- April 1970 CBS Records in Britain release “Zero She Flies,” the third album by Al Stewart. The LP was produced by Roy Guest at Sound Technics Studios in London. Gerry Conway and Trevor Lucas from Fairport Convention played sessions on the record.
- April 1971 Harvest Records release “Stormcock,” the fifth studio album by Roy Harper. Produced by Peter Jenner at EMI Studios in London, David Bedford played keyboards and did the arrangements and Jimmy Page played guitar on “The Same Old Rock,” credited as S. Favius Mercurius.
- April 1973 Chrysalis Record in England release “Parcel Of Rogues,” the fifth studio album by Steeleye Span. The LP was co-produced by Steeleye Span and Jerry Boys at Sound Techniques Studios in Chelsea, London. The band toured the album in the US opening for Jethro Tull.
- April 1975 Asylum Records release “Fountain Of Sorrow” by Jackson Browne on 45. Written by Browne, it was the second single issued from his “Late For The Sky” LP. The 45 version was two minutes shorter than the nearly seven-minute-long album version.
- April 1975 Bob Seger releases “Beautiful Loser,” his first single for Capitol Records. The 45 peaked at No. 103 on the Pop Singles charts.
- April 1978 DB Records in Georgia release “Rock Lobster” backed with “52 Girls,” the debut single by The B-52’s. The A-side was co-written by Fred Schneider and Ricky Wilson. “52 Girls” was co-written by Jeremy Ayers and Ricky Wilson.
- April 1978 Virgin Records release “This Is Pop” backed with “Heatwave,” the third single by XTC. “This Is Pop” was written by Andy Partridge and “Heatwave” was written by Colin Moulding. Both songs were produced by Robert John “Mutt” Lange. The A-side was an album track, re-recorded for its’ single release.
- April 1979 Asylum Records release “Alison,” Linda Ronstadt’s cover version of the Elvis Costello song on 45, produced by Peter Asher.
- April 1980 Harvest Records release “The Unknown Soldier,” the tenth studio album by Roy Harper. Co-produced by Harper and Peter Jenner at Abbey Road Studios in London, David Gilmour Andy Roberts, Andy Newmark, Kate Bush, B.J. Cole, Pete Wingfield and others play on the record. David Bedford did the orchestral arrangements.
- April 1981 RCA Records release the soundtrack to the movie Christiane F., Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo. The record was a collection of previously released songs by David Bowie that spanned the years 1976-1978. Bowie appears in an in-concert sequence of the movie during the Isolar Tour of 1976.
- April 1982 Warner Brothers Records release “Deep Sleep” by The B-52’s on 45. The track came from the David Byne produced “Mesopotamia” EP, recorded at Blank Tape Studios in New York City. The song was co-written by Keith Strickland, Kate Pierson and Robert Waldrop.
- April 1982 Woody Records in Britain release “O.T.T.” backed with “Mystery Song” by Roy Wood on 45. Both songs were written and produced by Roy Wood.
Craig Maher / Exo-X-Xeno Wax Museum Interview
Craig Maher from Exo-X-Xeno talking about the 2025 album "Luminous Voyage"
- Click picture to listen to the interview with Craig talking about the Exo-X-Xeno project with Yes members Billy Sherwood, Jay Shellen and Patrick Moraz.
Nektar Wax Museum interview 4/11/25
Nektar interviewed on the second night of the 2025 "Mission To Mars" Tour
- Click image to hear the exclusive the Wax Museum interview with Nektar discussiing the current tour, future plans and group history.
The Paul Bielatowicz Band Wax Museum interview 4/11/25
The Paul Bielatowicz Band interviewed on their 2025 Spring Tour
- Click image to hear the exclusive the Wax Museum interview with The Paul Bielatowicz Band discussiing the current tour and future plans.
Music and conversation with Andy Tillison of The Tangent
Wax Museum interview May 2024
- Click image to hear The Wax Museum's Andy Tillison interview
This Week In Rock and Roll History
This Week In Rock and Roll History week of March 29th
This Week In Rock and Roll History is a weekly one hour look back at the songs, the artists, and the stories behind the music of the rock and roll era.
Jonas Reingold Interview
Jonas Reingold in The Wax Museum
Click image to hear Chris Palladino's Wax Museum Interview with Jonas Reingold
Carl Giammarese / The Buckinghams Interview
The Buckinghams Radio Show
Click image to hear Chris Palladino's interviews on WRGG with Carl Giammarese from The Buckinghams in 2022 and 2024
The Cool Song Of The Week
Cool Song Of The Week 3/29 R Dean Taylor
Cool songs from the Rock and Roll Era, Closet Classics and more.
Robert Fripp Radio Oz interview 7/25/85
King Crimson guitarist Radio Oz interview
- Click Fripp's image to hear the King Crimson guitarist, record producer, solo artist in this 1985 interview for the WARX Sunday night Radio Oz program. Fripp discusses his then current Guitar Craft courses, King Crimson stories, his start in the music business, and more.
Annie Haslam 2019 Wax Museum interview
Annie Haslam "In Words and Music"
- Click picture to hear Annie Haslam "In Words and Music". The iconic Renaissance singer talks at length about music, her life, and artwork for an exclusive interview in The Wax Museum.
Tommy James Wax Museum Interview January 2019
Tommy James
- Click picture to hear Tommy promoting all his planned 2019 activities; new album, Sirius XM radio show, touring, new movie, etc.
From the Radio Oz interview archives
Firesign Theatre interview 1980
- Click picture to listen to this archival interview with The Firesign Theatre recorded during their 1980 Fighting Clowns tour of the US for Radio Oz now available for purchase in the Firesign Theatre's "Fighting Clowns" of Hollywood" collection! Also check out this Tiny Ossman interview from 1995 -
Woody Lissauer Wax Museum Interview 2/22/20
Baltimore based Woody Lissauer steps up to the Wax Museum microphones for this in depth interview!
- Click picture to listen to the Wax Museum interview with Woody Lissauer and his latest album "Trouble The Water" with Barbara Ireland and Steve Caplan.
