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Hear Today In Rock and Roll History
Today In R&R History April 3rd
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 3rd
- April 3rd Birthday, Earth, Wind & Fire trombonist and bassist Louis Satterfield, born in 1937 in Shaw, Mississippi. He passed away on September 27th, 2004 at the age of 67.
- April 3rd Birthday, Songwriter Jeff Barry, born Joel Adelberg in 1938 in Brooklyn, New York City, who along with his wife Ellie Greenwich, wrote “Be My Baby,” “Chapel Of Love,” “Hanky Panky,” “Leader Of The Pack,” and many more hits.
- April 3rd Birthday, The Spinners singer Phillippe Walker, born in 1941 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He died on July 14th, 1984 at the age of 43.
- April 3rd Birthday, Jan Berry of Jan and Dean, born William Jan Berry in 1941 in Los Angeles, California. He passed away on March 26th, 2004 at the age of 62.
- April 3rd Birthday, Singer and guitarist Billy Joe Royal, born in 1942 in Valdosta, Georgia. He passed away on October 6th, 2015 at the age of 73.
- April 3rd Birthday, The Band pianist Richard Manuel, born in Stratford, Ontario, Canada in 1943. He died on March 4th, 1986 at the age of 42.
- April 3rd Birthday, Singer Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitas, professionally known as Tony Orlando, born in 1944 in New York City.
- April 3rd Birthday, Elton John Band bassist Dee Murray, born David Murray Oates in Gillingham, Kent, England in 1946. He died of a stroke on January 15th, 1992 at the age of 45.
- April 3rd Birthday, Guitarist, singer, songwriter Richard Thompson born in Notting Hill Gate, London, England in 1949. Thompson was an original member of Fairport Convention.
- April 3rd Birthday, Kansas violinist, guitarist and solo artist David Ragsdale, born in 1958 in Columbus, Georgia.
- April 3rd Birthday, Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach, born Sebastian Bierk in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada in 1968.
Today In Rock and Roll History
April 3rd
- April 3rd, 1954 Federal Records release “Space Guitar” by Young John Watson on 45 and 78 rpm records. Written by Watson, the track was recorded on February 1stin Los Angeles with Watson on guitar, Bill Gaither on tenor sax, Devonia Williams on piano, Mario Delagarde on bass and Charles Pendergraph on drums. Watson would later change his professional name to Johnny “Guitar” Watson
- April 3rd, 1956 Elvis Presley makes an appearance on The Milton Berle Show, live from the flight deck of the USS Hancock. Elvis earns five thousand dollars for performing “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Money, Honey,” and “Blue Suede Shoes.” It’s estimated that one out of every four Americans watched the show.
- April 3rd, 1960 The Everly Brothers begin their first British tour in London supported by The Crickets.
- April 3rd, 1960 Elvis Presley records “It’s Now Or Never” and “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee with producer Billy Porter. “It’s Now Or Never” is based on two popular songs, the Italian song of the Neapolitan language, “’O Sole Mio” and “There’s No Tomorrow,” recorded by singer Tony Martin in 1949, which inspired Presley’s version. “It’s Now or Never” sold twenty million copies, one of the best-selling singles of all time, entered the US charts in July and peaked at No. 1 on August 20th.
- April 3rd, 1963 The Beatles record a BBC Radio session at The Playhouse Theatre, London, England for the Light Programme show, Easy Beat, recorded before a live studio audience 8:30-9:45pm. The session was broadcast on April 7th, 1963. Songs recorded, all Lennon and McCartney songs, were “Please Please Me,” “Misery” and “From Me To You.”
- April 3rd, 1964 Cilla Black records “You’re My World” with producer George Martin at EMI Studios in London. Issued as a single, the record entered the charts in July following a May release, one of three records Cilla placed in the American charts. “You’re My World” peaked at No. 28 on August 1st.
- April 3rd, 1964 Bob Dylan enters the British Pop Singles charts for the first time with “The Times They Are A Changing.” The song was never issued as a single in America. Dylan wrote the song as a deliberate attempt to create an anthem of change for the time, influenced by Irish and Scottish ballads.
- April 3rd, 1965 “See You At The Go-Go” by Dobie Gray enters the charts following a March release on Charger Records. The track was the follow up to Gray’s hit “The In-Crowd,” recorded with members of The Wrecking Crew group of studio musicians, with Carol Kaye on bass, Hal Blaine on drums and Larry Knechtel on keyboards. The record peaked at No. 69 on May 1st.
- April 3rd, 1965 Philles Records release “Just Once In My Life” by The Righteous Brothers on 45. The song was co-written by producer Phil Spector with Gerry Goffin and Carole King. The studio session was arranged by Jack Nitzche. The single peaked at No. 9 on May 15th.
- April 3rd, 1965 “Wooly Bully” by Sam The Sham and The Pharaohs enters the singles charts following a February release on MGM Records. The song was recorded at Phillips Recording Service in Memphis, Tennessee, owned by Sam Phillips. Written by the band’s front man, Domingo “Sam” Samudio, it was released as a single on the independent Memphis-based XL label in 1964 and was picked up for national distribution by MGM Records. On May 11th, Sam The Sham and the Pharaohs performed “Wooly Bully” on the NBC-TV program Hullabaloo. At the time the song was at No. 10 in America. Nineteen days later, May 30th, 1965 it peaked at No. 2. The single sold over three million copies, was nominated for a Grammy and was certified a Gold Record on August 5th.
- April 3rd, 1967 Cream record “Strange Brew” at Atlantic Studios in New York City. Issued as the band’s third single in Britain on June 9th, on Reaction Records, the song was co-written by the record’s producer, Felix Pappalardi and his wife Gail Collins, with an arrangement by Eric Clapton. The single peaked at No. 17 in England, came out on June 10th in the US, but didn’t chart.
- April 3rd, 1968 Columbia Records release “Bookends,” the fourth studio album by Simon and Garfunkel. Co-produced by the duo with Roy Halee, sessions for the LP included Hal Blaine on drums, Joe Osborn on bass, Larry Knechtel on piano, keyboards and bass guitar on “Mrs. Robinson.” “Bookends” featured the hits “Mrs. Robinson,” Fakin’ It,” “A Hazy Shade Of Winter,” and “At The Zoo.” It was the last Simon & Garfunkel album to be mixed in separate mono and stereo LP releases. The record peaked at No. 1 on May 25th.
- April 3rd, 1968 Donovan records “Hurdy Gurdy Man” at CBS Studios, London. There is some dispute regarding the musicians who performed on the song. Among the musicians who may or may not be on the track are Allan Holdsworth, Jimmy Page and Alan Parker on the electric guitar, John Bonham or Clem Cattini drumming on the recording, along with John Paul Jones, who arranged and played bass on the track. Released May 31st, the single entered the charts in June and went to No. 5 on August 3rd.
- April 3rd, 1969 RCA Records release the “Harry” LP by Harry Nilsson. Session musicians on the record include Larry Knechtel on bass, Tom Scott on saxophone, flutist Jim Horn and Jim Gordon on drums. Co-produced by Nilsson and Rick Jarrard, the album peaked at No. 120 on November 1st.
- April 3rd, 1969 American keyboardist Billy Preston becomes one of the first recording artists to sign with The Beatles’ Apple Records label. Billy had participated in the band’s “Get Back” recording sessions that January.
- April 3rd, 1970 Elektra Records release the debut single by Los Angeles band Crabby Appleton, “Go Back.” Written by band guitarist and singer Michael Fennelly and produced by Don Galluci, the single peaked at No. 36 on July 18th.
- April 3rd, 1970 Elton John’s “Border Song” is released as a single in Britain. Sessions for the track were recorded with producer Gus Dudgeon in January 1970, at Trident Studios in London, with a string and brass arrangement by Paul Buckmaster. The song came out as a single in July in the US, entered the charts on August 15thand peaked at No. 92 a week later.
- April 3rd, 1971 “Me And You And A Dog Named Boo,” became the first single by Lobo to chart. His first single came out credited to his given name, Kent Lavoie the previous November. His first to be released under the new moniker, the song was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York City with producers Phil Gernhart. With a songwriting credit on the label listed as Kent Lavoie, “Me And You And A Dog Named Boo” peaked at No. 5 on April 15th.
- April 3rd, 1971 Detroit-based Hot Wax Records release “Want Ads” by Honey Cone on 45. The song was co-written by General Norman Johnson, Barney Perkins and the track’s producer, Greg Perry. “Want Ads” features Ray Parker, Jr. on rhythm guitar. The record entered the charts a week later, went to No. 1 on June 12thand earned a Gold Record for a million copies sold.
- April 3rd, 1971 Capitol Records release “Brownsville,” the first single by Joy Of Cooking. The song was co-written by Toni Brown, Terry Garthwaite and also gave credit to Delta Blues songwriter Furry Lewis. Produced by John Palladino, the record peaked at No. 66 on May 29th.
- April 3rd, 1971 The Guess Who’s “Broken” backed with “Albert Flasher” is released on 45 by RCA Victor Records. “Albert Flasher” was promoted to A-side status in mid-May. Sessions for the song were produced by Jack Richardson. The song’s title came when songwriter Burton Cummings saw a button labeled “alert flasher” on a radio station broadcast console. The record entered the singles charts two weeks later and reached No. 13 in Canada, No. 28 in Australia and No. 29 in America, on June 26th.
- April 3rd, 1971 “I Was Wondering” backed with “Where Evil Grows” by The Poppy Family enters the charts on London Records. Both songs were written and produced by Terry Jacks. “I Was Wondering” peaked at No. 100 that week, but the record’s B-side had a run of its own. Entering the charts in July the track went to No. 45 on September 25th.
- April 3rd, 1973 Lynyrd Skynryd record their signature song, “Free Bird” at Studio One, Doraville, Georgia with producer Al Kooper during sessions for their debut album, “Pronounced Lynyrd Skynryd.” The song was co-written by guitarist Allen Collins and singer Ronnie Van Zant. Not released until after the success of “Sweet Home Alabama” from their second LP, the single was issued on November 16th, 1974 and became their second Top Forty hit, peaking at No. 19 on January 25th, 1975, nearly two years after it was recorded. A live version of the song charted in 1976.
- April 3rd, 1974 A&M Records release “Live European Tour” by Billy Preston. The LP was recorded from September 1st through October 27th, 1973 while Billy and his band opened for The Rolling Stones. The record featured Stones’ guitarist Mick Taylor on guitar, was produced by Preston and engineered by Andy Johns.
- April 3rd, 1976 Columbia Records release “Amigos,” the seventh studio album by Santana. The record was produced by David Rubinson at Wally Heider Studios in San Francisco, California. The first with new vocalist Greg Walker and the last with original Santana bassist David Brown, the LP peaked at No. 10 on June 5th.
- April 3rd, 1976 A&M Records release the “Marriott” album, the first solo record by Small Faces and Humble Pie singer and guitarist Steve Marriot. The LP was co-produced by Kenny Kerner and Richie Wise. Guest musicians on the record include David Spinozza, former Humble Pie drummer Greg Ridley, Ian Wallace and David Foster.
- April 3rd, 1976 Manfred Mann’s Earth Band enters the charts for the first time with the Bruce Springsteen written song “Spirit In The Night.” Initially released in October 1975 with group guitarist Mick Rogers on vocals, the record was reissued with Chris Thomas singing lead. The 45 version is half the length of the band’s “The Roaring Silence” album version, simply fading out the track halfway through the song. The record peaked at No. 40 on June 4th.
- April 3rd, 1982 “Right The First Time” by Gamma enters the singles charts on Elektra Records. Co-written by guitarist Ronnie Montrose, Mitchell Froom and Jerry Stahl, the single reached No. 77 on April 24th.
- April 3rd, 1988 George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty and Roy Orbison, the quintet known as The Traveling Wilburys, record “Handle With Care” in Malibu, Florida. Released as a single on October 17th, the song was the first recording made by the group, although it was originally intended as a bonus track on a European single by George Harrison. When he and Jeff Lynne presented the song to Harrison’s record company, the executives insisted it was too good for that purpose, a decision that resulted in the formation of the Wilburys. The record peaked at No. 45 on December 10th.
- April 3rd, 1995 Virgin Records release “Thrak” by King Crimson. The 1980’s lineup of Robert Fripp, Bill Bruford, Adrian Belew and Tony Levin was augmented by drummer Pat Mastellato and bassist Trey Gunn. The LP was recorded at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios in Wiltshire, England from October through December 1994. Co-produced by King Crimson and David Botrill, the record peaked at No. 83 on May 13th.
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
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The Cool Song Of The Week
Cool Song Of The Week 3/29 R Dean Taylor
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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.
