Friday April the 18th

ON THIS DAY in 1846
the telegraph ticker was patented by R.E. House of New York City.

In 1877, Charles Cros wrote a paper on that described the process of recording and reproducing sound. In France, Mr. Cros is still regarded as the inventor of the phonograph, while on this side of the Atlantic, Thomas Edison gets the credit.

            
In 1918, guitarist Tony Mottola was born in Kearney New Jersey. Nicknamed 'Mr. Big,' he was one of the most prolific and respected studio musicians of the post-World War Two era. He played with the CBS studio orchestra, and with Raymond Scott backing up a young Frank Sinatra and Perry Como; was the arranger for Como's TV variety show.  After a stroke & double pneumonia he died Aug. 9 2004 at age 86.

In 1929, Red Nichols and his Five Pennies recorded the Glenn Miller arrangement of Indiana for Brunswick Records. Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa and Jack Teagarden were all part of the recording session that took place in New York City.

In 1936, Gene Autry, the most successful of all the singing cowboys of the '30s and '40s, recorded "Back in the Saddle Again.''

            
In 1944, London Ontario-born Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians had a #1 Billboard Pop Hit with It's Love-Love-Love; one of 26 No. 1 songs for the orchestra, the only dance band to ever sell more than 100 million records.

In 1945, in Europe, Clandestine Radio 1212, after having broadcast pro-Nazi propaganda for months, turned and used its influence to trap 350,000 German troops.

In 1946, rock & roll singer/guitarist/drummer Alexander (Skip) Spence was born at Windsor Ontario in 1926. Spence was lead vocalist of Moby Grape, and also played with Jefferson Airplane and Quicksilver Messenger Service. He died April 16 1999 at age 72, a victim of lung cancer & alcoholism.

In 1952, Canadian composer, cellist and music teacher Leo Smith died in Toronto at 70. Smith influenced many of Canada's future musical leaders through his teachings at the University of Toronto from 1927 to '50. Among his pupils were Louis Applebaum, John Beckwith and Margaret Sargent.

In 1957, comedian Johnny Carson turned briefly to TV acting in a role on the Playhouse 90 production of Three Men on a Horse on CBS-TV. Carson, of Who Do You Trust? fame, was five years from becoming the host of The Tonight Show.

            
Also in 1957, Buddy Knox, who was in the Army Reserve, began six months of active duty. His hit at the time was "Party Doll."

In 1959, actor/director Irving Cummings, the host of radio's Lux Radio Theatre in its final years, died at age 70.

In 1960, the Mutual Broadcasting System was sold to the 3M Company of Minnesota for $1.25 million. Previously, the network had been owned by MONY (Mutual of New York).

In 1963, singer Bobby Bare recorded his soon-to-be-smash hit "Detroit City."

In 1965, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Game of Love'' by Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders.

            
In 1966, Bob Hope was back to host the Oscars, and received a gold medal, the Honorary Award for unique and distinguished service to the film industry and the Academy."The Sound of Music" won for best picture and best director; the Oscar for the Best Music/Song from a 1965 movie was The Shadow of Your Smile from The Sandpiper.

In 1971, the Jackson 5, Danny Thomas and Bill Cosby were guests on Diana Ross' solo TV special "diana."

In 1974, James Brown, the "Godfather of Soul", received a gold record this for the single, The Payback. Of the 44 hits that Brown would put on the charts over three decades, he received only one other gold record -- for Get on the Good Foot - Part 1 in 1972.

In 1975, Ottawa ended tax breaks for Canadians advertising on US border TV stations and in foreign owned Canadian magazines.

            
Also in 1975, Alice Cooper's first TV special, "Welcome To My Nightmare: The Making Of A Record Album" aired.

In 1977, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Don't Leave Me This Way'' by Thelma Houston.

In 1979, the TV show "Real People" premiered on NBC.  

In 1981, the progressive rock band Yes broke up after the release of the album "Drama.'' The group was re-formed two years later by original lead vocalist Jon Anderson.

In 1983, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Come on Eileen'' by Dexys Midnight Runners.

            
In 1984, Michael Jackson faced surgery in Los Angeles. Doctors performed scalp surgery to repair damage done after the megastar's hair caught fire during the filming of a Pepsi commercial on January 27. Jackson was hospitalized and recuperated for months before he could return to work. His single recording of Thriller had been certified platinum in February, 1984.

In 1985, the sequined "King of Show Business", Liberace, broke his own record for ticket sales at Radio City Music Hall. Liberace grossed more than $2,000,000 for his engagement in the historic New York City venue.

Also in 1985, Wham! became the first Western act to release a pop album, "Make It Big," in China

            
In 1990, author W. O. Mitchell won the Steven Leacock Humour Award for 'According to Jake and the Kid,' published in 1989 by McClelland & Stewart. He also won for the original 'Jake and the Kid' in 1962.  The books formed the basis for successful radio & TV series of the same name.

In 1992, authorities in Hobart, Australia allowed killer Richard Dickinson out of prison to see his idol, Bob Dylan, perform. Dickinson had trampled his mother to death in 1987 while Dylan's "One More Cup of Coffee for the Road'' played in the background. He then sprinkled instant coffee over the body. Mom had complained the music was too loud.

In 1994, TV star Roseanne Arnold filed for divorce from Tom Arnold. Charges were dropped, but she refiled less than a month later.

In 1996, musician and record producer Bernard Edwards, a leading creative force behind the disco music of the '70s, was found dead in a Tokyo hotel room.. He was 43. Edwards and Nile Rodgers formed the group Chic, which had number-one hits with "Le Freak" in 1978 and "Good Times" the following year. They also produced albums for Diana Ross and Rod Stewart, and wrote and produced disco hits like Sister Sledge's "We Are Family."

            
In 1998, country group Diamond Rio were inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. The band opened their performance with their first number one hit "Meet in the Middle."

In 2001, bebop tenor saxophonist Billy Mitchell died at 74. He was known for a deep sound that borrowed from Lester Young and Coleman Hawkins. Mitchell played in the bands of Woody Herman, Dizzy Gillespie and Count Basie.

In 2002, police arrested actor Robert Blake (Baretta, Hell Town) in the shooting death of his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, nearly a year earlier. Blake was acquitted at his criminal trial but found liable in a civil trial.

            
In 2003, soul singer Etta James received her star (#2,223) on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.


Today's Birthdays:

Actress Barbara Hale (Perry Mason) is 86.

Actor James Drury (The Virginian, Firehouse) is 74.

Actor Robert Hooks (Dynasty, The Hoop Life, Supercarrier) is 71.

Actress Hayley Mills (The Love Boat, Good Morning Miss Bliss) is 62.

Actor James Woods (Shark) is 61.

Actress-director Dorothy Lyman (Life Goes On, Mama's Family) is 61.

Actress Cindy Pickett (Hyperion Bay) is 61.

Country keyboardist Walt Richmond of The Tractors is 61.

Country bassist Jim Scholten of Sawyer Brown is 56.

Toronto-born actor Rick Moranis (SCTV) is 55.

Actor Eric Roberts (Heroes, Less Than Perfect) is 52.

Actress Melody Thomas Scott (Young and the Restless) is 52.

Actor John James (Dynasty, The Colbys) is 52.

Bassist Les Pattinson of Echo and the Bunnymen is 50.

Actress Jane Leeves (Frasier) is 47.

Talk show host Conan O'Brien is 45.

Actor Eric McCormack (Will and Grace) is 45.

Actress Maria Bello (ER) is 41.

Rock musician Greg Eklund (The Oolahs) is 38.

Rhythm-and-blues singer Trina of Trina and Tamara is 34.

Actress Melissa Joan Hart (Sabrina the Teenage Witch) is 32.

Actor Sean Maguire (The Class, EastEnders) is 32.

Actress America Ferrera (Ugly Betty) is 24.

Actress Alia Shawkat (Arrested Development) is 19.


Chart Toppers

April 18

1948
Now is the Hour - Bing Crosby
I’m Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover - The Art Mooney Orchestra
But Beautiful - Frank Sinatra
Anytime - Eddy Arnold

1956
Heartbreak Hotel/I Was the One - Elvis Presley
The Poor People of Paris - Les Baxter
Long Tall Sally - Little Richard
Blue Suede Shoes - Carl Perkins

1964
Can’t Buy Me Love - The Beatles
Twist and Shout - The Beatles
Suspicion - Terry Stafford
Understand Your Man - Johnny Cash

1972
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Roberta Flack
I Gotcha - Joe Tex
Rockin’ Robin - Michael Jackson
My Hang-Up is You - Freddie Hart

1980
Another Brick in the Wall - Pink Floyd
Call Me - Blondie
Ride like the Wind - Christopher Cross
Honky Tonk Blues - Charley Pride

1988
Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car - Billy Ocean
Devil Inside - INXS
Where Do Broken Hearts Go - Whitney Houston
I Wanna Dance with You - Eddie Rabbitt