Wax Museum Radio
Next broadcast April 4th Friday Night at midnight and Saturday night at 10pm on WRGG.
Hear Today In Rock and Roll History
Today In R&R History April 4th
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 4th
- April 4th Birthday, Blues legend Muddy Waters is born McKinley Morganfield in 1915 in Issaquena County, Mississippi. Waters passed away on April 30th, 1983 of a heart attack at the age of 68. He is considered the “father of modern Chicago blues” and was a major inspiration for the British blues explosion in the 1960’s.
- April 4th Birthday, Trumpeter, singer and composer Hugh Masekela, born in 1939 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
- April 4th Birthday, Pentangle bassist, a member of Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated and session player Daniel Henry Edward Thompson, born in 1939 in Teignmouth, Devon, England.
- April 4th Birthday, Songwriter Sharon Sheeley, who penned hits for Rick Nelson, Eddie Cochran, Ritchie Valens and with husband and LA radio personality Jimmie O’Neill, started the TV show Shindig! She was born in 1940 in Newport Beach, California and died following a cerebral hemorrhage on May 12th, 2002 at the age of 62.
- April 4th Birthday, most likely in 1941, R&B singer Major Lance, born in Winterville, Mississippi.
- April 4th Birthday, Original Allman Brothers bassist Berry Oakley, born in Chicago, Illinois in 1948. Oakley died in a motorcycle accident in Macon, Georgia on November 11th, 1972 at the age of 24.
- April 4th Birthday, Slade guitarist Dave Hill, born in Holbeton, Devon, England in 1946.
- April 4th Birthday, David Withers, drummer for Dire Straits, born in 1948 in Leicester, England.
- April 4th Birthday, Climax Blues Band guitarist Pete Haycock in Stafford, England in 1951.
- April 4th Birthday, Solo artist and Thin Lizzy guitarist Gary Moore, born in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1952.
Today In Rock and Roll History
April 4th
- April 4th, 1959 Stevens Records release “Hey Hey” by Icky Renrut on the 45. Renrut was Ike Turner, who wrote the song as well.
- April 4th, 1963 The Beatles record a BBC Radio session at The BBC Paris Studio, Regent Street, London, England for the Light Programme show Side By Side, recorded 11am–2pm. The session was broadcast on June 24th. Songs recorded were, “Too Much Monkey Business” written by Chuck Berry, “Love Me Do” co-written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, “Boys”co-written by Luther Dixon and Wes Farrell, “I’ll Be On My Way” co-written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, “From Me To You” co-written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. The “Side By Side” theme featuring The Beatles with The Karl Denver Trio, rebroadcasted before their set, was recorded at the afternoon session the day before, April 1st, 1963.
- April 4th, 1964 The Beatles have the top five singles in the US, “Can’t Buy Me Love” at No. 1, “Twist And Shout” at No. 2, “She Loves You” at No. 3, “I Want To Hold Your Hand” at No. 4 and “Please Please Me” at No. 5. Entering the charts on the same day, “Thank You Girl” and “You Can’t Do That.”
- April 4th, 1964 The Hollies release their second stateside single, a cover version of the Doris Troy, Gregory Carroll song “Just One Look.” The single marked The Hollies first appearance on the American charts. It was a bigger hit in the US when it charted at No. 44 when it was rereleased in 1967. In Britain, the record came out on February 21st and went to No. 2.
- April 4th, 1966 Columbia Records release The Cyrkle’s version of “Red Rubber Ball” on 45. Co-written by Paul Simon and Bruce Woodley from The Seekers, the record entered the charts in May and peaked at No. 2 on July 9th.
- April 4th, 1967 GNP Crescendo Records reissue “Can’t Seem To Make You Mine” by The Seeds on 45. Originally issued in April 1965 as the group’s first single, after the success of “Pushin’ Too Hard,” the label put it out again. The song was written by the band’s guitarist and singer Sky Saxon and was produced by Marcus Tybalt. The record peaked at No. 41 on May 27th.
- April 4th, 1967 Deram Records release “I Was Kaiser Bill’s Batman” by Whistling Jack Smith on 45. Co-written by Roger Greenaway and Roger Cooke, the record peaked at No. 20 on June 3rd.
- April 4th, 1967 Buffalo Springfield record “Bluebird” at Sunset Sound Studios in Hollywood, California. Written by Stephen Stills, who co-produced the track with Ahmet Ertegun, it was their follow up to the hit single “For What It’s Worth.” The group would release three different studio versions of the song, a two-minute, a four-and-a-half-minute album version and an extended nine-minute jam version 1973. Atco Records released the song as a single on July 1st. The record entered the charts in July and peaked at No. 58 on August 5th.
- April 4th, 1968 Gordy Records release “Forget Me Not” as the B-side of “I Promise To Wait My Love” by Martha and The Vandellas. “Forget Me Not” was co-written by Motown staff writers Richard Morris and Sylvia Moy and produced by Norman Whitfield. The record peaked at No. 93 on June 29th.
- April 4th, 1970 Deram Records release “Cricklewood Green,” the fifth album by Ten Years After. Recorded at Olympic Studio 1 with the band producing the sessions with engineer Andy Johns and, on one track, George Chkiantz. The album reached No. 14 on May 16th.
- April 4th, 1970 Elektra Records release “You Make Me Real” backed with “Roadhouse Blues” by The Doors on 45. “You Make Me Real” was written by singer Jim Morrison. “Roadhouse Blues” was penned collectively by the band, Morrison, Robbie Kreiger, John Densmore and Ray Manzarek. John Sebastian played harmonica on the track. Both sides of the single entered the charts a week later and peaked at No. 50 on May 2nd.
- April 4th, 1970 Janis Joplin holds a reunion concert with Big Brother and The Holding Company in San Francisco.
- April 4th, 1970 “Come Running” by Van Morrison enters the singles charts. It was, however, the records’ B-side, “Crazy Love,” that became the bigger hit. “Crazy Love” was written by Van Morrison and co-produced by Morrison and Lewis Merenstein and included on his album, “Moondance.” The record peaked at No. 39 on April 25th.
- April 4th, 1970 “Lucifer” by The Bob Seger System enters the singles charts following a February release on Capitol Records. The track was recorded at GM Studios in Detroit, Michigan for Seger’s 1970 LP “Mongrel.” Written by Bob Seger, the single slipped from the charts and re-entered again in May peaking at No. 84 on May 9th.
- April 4th, 1972 London Records release “Rio Grande Mud,” the second studio album by ZZ Top. Sessions for the album were recorded at Robin Hood Studios in Tyler, Texas with producer Bill Ham from September 1971 through January 1972. The LP peaked at No. 104 on June 17th.
- April 4th, 1972 Motown Records release “Little Bitty Pretty One” by The Jackson 5. The song was written and sung by Bobby Day in 1957. The Jackson 5 version was co-produced by Jerry Marcellino and Mel Larson. The record entered the singles charts two weeks later, peaking at No. 13 on May 27th.
- April 4th, 1974 Motown Records release “Sleepin’” by Diana Ross on 45. Co-written by Ronald Miller and Terry Etlinger, the record entered the charts in May and peaked at No. 70 on June 1st.
- April 4th, 1975 CBS Records in Britain release “Once Bitten Twice Shy,” the debut solo single by Ian Hunter. The record came out in America in June. “Once Bitten Twice Shy” peaked at No. 14 in Britain but didn’t chart in the US. On the same day, April 4th, CBS in Britain release the self-titled first solo album by Ian Hunter. Recorded from January through March at AIR Studios in London with Hunter and Mick Ronson co-producing. Future Foreigner drummer Dennis Elliot plays on the record. The LP peaked at No. 21 in Britain, No. 50 in the US, on June 28th.
- April 4th, 1976 War record the song “Summer” with producer Jerry Goldstein to be included on the group’s forthcoming “Greatest Hits” album. Co-written by the band with Goldstein, the track was released as a single on June 21st. “Summer” peaked at No. 7 on September 25th.
- April 4th, 1981 Chicago’s Styx make their mark as the top band in America when their latest album, “Paradise Theater” reaches No. 1 on the LP charts.
- April 4th, 1987 “I’m No Angel” by The Gregg Allman Band enters the singles charts. The song was co-written by Tony Colton and Phil Palmer, first recorded by Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers in 1982. The record charted for ten weeks and peaked at No. 49 on May 9th.
- April 4th, 2012 The surviving members of The Jacksons, Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon and Tito, announced that they were reforming for the first time since 1984. A six week series of concert dates during June and July called The Unity Tour, would see them perform their classic hits once again.
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.
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Jonas Reingold in The Wax Museum
Click image to hear Chris Palladino's Wax Museum Interview with Jonas Reingold
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The Buckinghams Radio Show
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Robert Fripp Radio Oz interview 7/25/85
King Crimson guitarist Radio Oz interview
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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.
