From the MCRFB music calendar:
Events on this date: APRIL 9
1962: At tonight’s Academy Awards ceremony in Santa Monica, California, Henry Mancini wins Best Original Song for “Moon River,” his contribution to the film Breakfast At Tifanny’s.
1964: The Vee-Jay record label suffers a fatal blow when it settles out of court with Capitol Records, who charged that nonpayment of royalties invalidated the label’s licensing agreement to sell the Beatles’ first few singles in the United States.
1965: Bruce Johnston replaces Brian Wilson in the touring band of the Beach Boys, Brian having suffered a nervous breakdown while on the band’s recent flight to Houston, Texas.
1966: During a Yardbirds show in Marseilles, France, guitarist Jeff Beck collapses from exhaustion while on stage; eleven years later to the day in 1977, Jimmy Page causes the end of a Led Zeppelin gig in Chicago when he is struck down with stomach cramps.
1966: The Righteous Brothers’ “(You’re My) Soul And Inspiration” hits No. 1 on the charts.
1967: The Doors play before their first large crowd when they appear (along with Jefferson Airplane ) in front of 3,000 at a show in Venice, California.
1973: Queen play their first show since being signed, a “showcase” gig at London’s Marquee Club.
1974: Bruce Springsteen meets rock critic Jon Landau, who would go on to manage the singer and successfully hype him as “rock and roll’s future.
1977: Abba’s “Dancing Queen” hits No. 1 on the Billboard chart.
1979: At tonight’s Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, Best Original Song goes to Donna Summer’s “Last Dance,” from the flop movie Thank God It’s Friday.
1982: Having revived her career in the UK with a hit cover of Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together,” Tina Turner begins a comeback tour in London.
1989: Rolling Stone bassist Bill Wyman, 52, announces his intention to marry model Mandy Smith, 19, further shocking the public by revealing that he’s been dating Mandy for the past six years — with her mother’s permission. The marriage would last just under two years.
2003: Willie Nelson holds public celebrations of his 70th birthday at the Beacon Theater in New York. Featured performers included, among many others, Ray Charles, Eric Clapton, Paul Simon, ZZ Top, Leon Russell, and country singer Ray Price.
And that’s a few of the events which took place in pop music history, on this day…. April 9.
