Sunday April the 20th

ON THIS DAY in 1908
jazz percussionist, vibraphone virtuoso and bandleader Lionel Hampton was born in Louisville, Kentucky.
                                                            
Hampton was with the Benny Goodman quartet for their legendary 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert, where his performance on such tunes as "Stompin' at the Savoy" and "Avalon" established him as a major jazz soloist. After leaving Goodman in 1940, Hampton led his own band on and off for more than 30 years. Hampton died of a heart attack on August 31st, 2002 at age 94.

In 1922, Radio Specialties Ltd opened CFCQ Vancouver using 40 watts of power on 450 meters (666 khz). Studios were at 791 Dunsmuir. CFCQ became CKMO in 1928 & C-FUN in 1955.

In 1925, Latin bandleader Tito (Ernest) Puente was born in New York City. He is best known for dance-oriented mambo and latin jazz compositions that helped keep his career going for 50 years. He recorded over 100 albums and won 10 Grammys. He died of heart disease June 1, 2000 at age 75.

In 1931, Louis Armstrong recorded the classic, When It's Sleepy Time Down South, for Okeh Records. Satchmo would use the tune as his theme song for decades. The song was waxed in Chicago.

In 1946, "Deirdre of the Sorrows,'' the first full-length opera commissioned by the CBC, was broadcast on the radio network. In 1966, under the title "Deirdre,'' it became the first Canadian opera produced by the Canadian Opera Company. The music was by Healey Willan, the text by John Coulter.

            
In 1947, comedian Fred Allen of Allen's Alley fame didn't find things so funny when censors cut him off the air during his NBC radio broadcast. Allen was telling a joke about a mythical network vice-president when he was suddenly taken off the air. One moment please...

In 1951, soul singer & songwriter Luther Vandross was born in Manhattan, NY. During his career, Vandross sold over 25 million albums and won eight Grammy awards. He died July 1, 2005 two years after a diabetes-related stroke, at age 54.

On this day in 1952, "The Big Show" with hostess Talullah Bankhead finished a two year run on the NBC Radio Network.  It had been bigtime radio's last kick at staving off the tidal wave of television.

In 1959, Canadian tenor Edward Johnson died in his hometown of Guelph, Ontario at 81. A triumph in the leading role in the North American premiere of Oscar Straus's ''A Waltz Dream'' made him an overnight star in 1908. After more than a decade in Europe, Johnson made his Metropolitan Opera debut in 1922.. He was one of the Met's most admired artists for 13 seasons, then spent 15 years as the company's general manager.

Also on this date in 1959, 13-year-old Dolly Parton released her first single, "Puppy Love.''
            
            
Still in 1959, Desilu Playhouse on CBS-TV presented a two-part show titled, The Untouchables starting this night. Robert Stack starred in the program and became a major television star when The Untouchables become a weekly network series in the fall of 1959.

In 1961, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) gave approval for FM stereo broadcasting. It would be another five or six years before FM stations went "underground" or "progressive" to attract listeners who were tired of the lack of audio quality on AM stations. FM stations to that time had broadcast in glorious monaural sound.

Also in 1961, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Runaway'' by Del Shannon.

In 1962, George Chandler, owner of Vancouver's CJOR AM600, died aged just 55.  He had bought New Westminster's CFXC in 1926, moved it to Vancouver and changed call letters. By late 1930 CJOR was installed in studios at 840 Howe St. in the basement of the Grosvenor Hotel where it remained throughout the next 53 years.

In 1968, the British rock group Deep Purple played their first live concert in Denmark. They were a hit in North America that year with their single "Hush,'' but it was not until 1969 that Deep Purple became popular in their home country.

In 1971, Barbra Streisand recorded "We've Only Just Begun."

In 1974, the song "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" by MFSB featuring the Three Degrees topped the charts and stayed there for 2 weeks.

            
In 1976, the Rolling Stones' "Black and Blue" album was released.

In 1979, Johnny Carson was said to be leaving The Tonight Show. Newspapers around the country gave details about why the comedian and late-night host was said to be unhappy after 17 years on the show. Guess what? More moola, more vacation time and a four-day week (not working Mondays) was enough for the "Great Carsoni" to hang around NBC for another 12 years...

In 1981, John Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas began a 30-day prison term in Los Angeles for cocaine possession. The rest of his five-year sentence was traded for 250 days of community service.

In 1985, the British pop music group Wham!, featuring George Michael, became the first to release cassettes in the People's Republic of China. Selections from two of the group's albums were packaged and sold on the tape.

In 1987, Bob Dylan joined U-2 on stage in Los Angeles to perform "I Shall Be Released'' and "Knockin' On Heaven's Door.''

          
In 1988, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Where Do Broken Hearts Go'' by Whitney Houston.

In 1989, scientists announced the successful testing of high-definition TV.

In 1990, singer Janet Jackson received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In 1991, singer and guitarist Steve Marriott, former leader of the Small Faces and Humble Pie, died in a house fire northeast of London. He was 44. The Small Faces' only top-20 hit in North America was 1967's "Itchykoo Park," but their "mod rock" made them big stars in their native Britain. Marriott left the Small Faces in 1969 to form the hard-rocking Humble Pie. He was replaced by Rod Stewart, and the Small Faces became simply the Faces.

Also in 1991, the song "You're in Love" by Wilson Phillips topped the charts .. but only for a week.

In 1992, Madonna and Time-Warner signed a deal reported to be worth as much as 60 million dollars. The deal included the formation of Maverick, an entertainment company to be run by Madonna and her manager. Madonna called the package, comparable to Michael Jackson's deal with Sony, "the perfect marriage of art and commerce."

Also in 1992, 72-thousand fans jammed Wembley Stadium in London for an all-star charity concert honouring Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury, who had died five months earlier of AIDS. Nearly 100 performers joined in the tribute, which raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the fight against AIDS. The show included Elton John performing with Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses, Def Leppard joining the three surviving members of Queen, and Annie Lennox duetting with David Bowie. The concert was broadcast to 70 countries.

              
Still in 1992, English comedian & TV star Benny Hill, famous for his sight gags & buxom women on the pratfall-filled Benny Hill Show, was found dead of a heart attack at age 67.

Also on this date in 1992, Johnny Shines, one of the last of the original Delta blues guitarists and singers, died in Tuscaloosa, Alabama at 76.

In 1993, Windsor Ont.'s Shania Twain released her self-titled debut album.

In 1994, Barbra Streisand gave her first London concert in 28 years at Wembley Stadium.

In 1996, tickets ranging in price from $27.50 - $85.00 went on sale for the KISS reunion tour. This marked the first time in 15 years that all four original members of the '70's rock group had joined together in original costume and face paint.

In 1997, Michael Jackson was on hand to unveil a wax statue of himself at the Grevin Museum of Wax in Paris. Jackson provided one of his own outfits to dress the statue.

In 1999, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that Death Row Records founder Marion "Suge" Knight was a suspect in the murder of the Notorious B.I.G. The rapper, a Bad Boy/Arista artist, was killed in a drive-by shooting in 1997.
  
              
Also in 1999, Senor Wences, the Spanish comedian & ventriloquist who drew faces on his fist & was a big hit on TV's Ed Sullivan Show, died three days after his 103rd birthday.  

Still in 1999, the "No Security" tour, the Rolling Stones' first arena outing in 20 years wrapped with a make-up date at the San Jose Arena in California. The tour grossed more than $64.6 million from only 33 dates.

In 2002, 1940s and '50s crooner Alan Dale died at 73. Born Aldo Sigismondi in New York City, Dale hosted weekly radio and T-V shows while still in his early 20's. His hits included "Oh, Marie'' and "Cherry Pink'' -- which stayed on the charts for 30 weeks in 1955. Dale scored another hit in 1956 with "Heart of My Heart.''


Today's Birthdays:

Actress Nina Foch (Navy NCIS, Tales of the City, War & Remembrance) is 84.

Actress Elena Verdugo (Meet Millie, Marcus Welby MD) is 82.

Actor George Takei (Star Trek) is 71.

Singer Johnny Tillotson is 69.

Actor Ryan O'Neal (Miss Match, Bull) is 67.

Keyboardist Craig Frost of Grand Funk Railroad is 60.

Actor Gregory Itzin (24, Bull, Murder One) is 60.

Actress Jessica Lange (Streetcar Named Desire, Sybil) is 59.

Actor Clint Howard (Gentle Ben) is 49.

Country singer Wade Hayes is 39.

Actor Shemar Moore (Criminal Minds) is 38.

Actress Carmen Electra (Baywatch, Hyperion Bay, Summerland) is 36.

Bassist-keyboardist Marty Crandall of The Shins is 33.

Actor Joey Lawrence (Blossom) is 32.


Chart Toppers

April 20

1950
If I Knew You Were Comin’ I’d’ve Baked a Cake - Eileen Barton
Music, Music, Music - Teresa Brewer
Peter Cottontail - Gene Autry
Long Gone Lonesome Blues - Hank Williams

1958
He’s Got the Whole World (In His Hands) - Laurie London
Book of Love - The Monotones
Don’t You Just Know It - Huey (Piano) Smith & The Clowns
Oh Lonesome Me - Don Gibson

1966
The Ballad of the Green Berets - SSgt Barry Sadler
(You’re My) Soul and Inspiration - The Righteous Brothers
Daydream - The Lovin’ Spoonful
I Want to Go with You - Eddy Arnold

1974
TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia) - MFSB featuring The Three Degrees
Best Thing that Ever Happened to Me - Gladys Knight & The Pips
The Loco-Motion - Grand Funk
A Very Special Love Song - Charlie Rich

1982
I Love Rock ’N Roll - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
We Got the Beat - Go-Go’s
Chariots of Fire - Titles - Vangelis
The Clown - Conway Twitty

1990
I’ll Be Your Everything - Tommy Page
Don’t Wanna Fall in Love - Jane Child
Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinead O’Connor
Five Minutes - Lorrie Morgan