TODAY IN HISTORY - April 23rd
1936 - Born this day, Roy Orbison [The Big O], in Vernon, Texas. A member of The Teen Kings. During 1965, Roy toured Australia, New Zealand and the Far East with The Rolling Stones, Dionne Warwick and Rolf Harris. He toured the UK in 1967 with The Small Faces, Jeff Beck and Paul and Barry Ryan. His biggest hit was the 1964 UK and US No.1 single Pretty Woman, which went on to sell over 7 million worldwide. He also had 30 other UK Top 40 and 20 US singles including Only the lonely, Crying, Pretty Paper, and Ooby Dooby.
He joined George Harrison as a member of The Travelling Wilburys in 1988, 1988 UK No.21 single Handle With Care. 25 years earlier The Beatles made their radio debut singing a Roy Orbison song. Roy's first wife, Claudette, was killed when a truck pulled out of a side road and collided with the motorbike that she and her husband were riding on, she was 25. Also during a UK tour in 1968, Roy's house in Nashville burnt down, his two eldest sons both died in the blaze. In 1988, Roy celebrated his 52nd birthday at a Bruce Springsteen concert during which the audience sang happy birthday to him. He played his final ever gig in 1988 when he appeared in Cleveland, Ohio. Roy died of a heart attack on 6 December 1988.
1956 - Elvis Presley made his Las Vegas debut at the New Frontier Hotel, when he opened for the Freddie Martin Orchestra and comedian Shecky Greene. With Heartbreak Hotel at the top of the pop music charts, one can imagine the excitement generated by the new ‘King of rock and roll’. Even with a number one hit, Elvis was not yet well-received by the middle-aged audience. Management of the Frontier was so unimpressed, they gave Elvis his walking papers after one week of a two-week engagement.
1960 - Born this day, Steve Clark, guitar, Def Leppard, 1987 UK No.6 single Animal, 1987 world wide No.1 album Hysteria, 1988 US No.1 single Love Bites. Died 8 January 1991.
1969 - The Beatles started a six week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with Get Back, their 16th UK No.1.
1975 - Peter Ham, singer and songwriter with Badfinger committed suicide by hanging himself. He co-wrote Without You, which was a hit for Harry Nilson and Mariah Carey.
1978 - Sex Pistol bass player Sid Vicious filmed his version of My Way for the Sex Pistols' film The Great Rock n Roll Swindle.
1983 - David Bowie started a three week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with the Nile Rodgers produced Let's Dance, featuring the title track which made No.1 on the US and UK singles chart, and also China Girl.
1983 - Dexy's Midnight Runners went to No.1 on the US singles chart with Come On Eileen. It was the groups only US No.1.
1988 - Roy Orbison celebrated his 52nd birthday at a Bruce Springsteen concert, during which the audience sang happy birthday to him.
1992 - George Michael announced he was donating $500,000 royalties from the sale of Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me, to various British and American charities.
1997 - Club boss Paul Donavan was fined over £2,000 after being found guilty of tricking fans that he had Peter Andre appearing at his club in the West Midlands. He had in fact an act called Peter Andrex a puppet who threw toilet rolls.
2013 – Bryan Adam’s plays Vector Arena (Auckland).
1936 - Born this day, Roy Orbison [The Big O], in Vernon, Texas. A member of The Teen Kings. During 1965, Roy toured Australia, New Zealand and the Far East with The Rolling Stones, Dionne Warwick and Rolf Harris. He toured the UK in 1967 with The Small Faces, Jeff Beck and Paul and Barry Ryan. His biggest hit was the 1964 UK and US No.1 single Pretty Woman, which went on to sell over 7 million worldwide. He also had 30 other UK Top 40 and 20 US singles including Only the lonely, Crying, Pretty Paper, and Ooby Dooby.
He joined George Harrison as a member of The Travelling Wilburys in 1988, 1988 UK No.21 single Handle With Care. 25 years earlier The Beatles made their radio debut singing a Roy Orbison song. Roy's first wife, Claudette, was killed when a truck pulled out of a side road and collided with the motorbike that she and her husband were riding on, she was 25. Also during a UK tour in 1968, Roy's house in Nashville burnt down, his two eldest sons both died in the blaze. In 1988, Roy celebrated his 52nd birthday at a Bruce Springsteen concert during which the audience sang happy birthday to him. He played his final ever gig in 1988 when he appeared in Cleveland, Ohio. Roy died of a heart attack on 6 December 1988.
1956 - Elvis Presley made his Las Vegas debut at the New Frontier Hotel, when he opened for the Freddie Martin Orchestra and comedian Shecky Greene. With Heartbreak Hotel at the top of the pop music charts, one can imagine the excitement generated by the new ‘King of rock and roll’. Even with a number one hit, Elvis was not yet well-received by the middle-aged audience. Management of the Frontier was so unimpressed, they gave Elvis his walking papers after one week of a two-week engagement.
1960 - Born this day, Steve Clark, guitar, Def Leppard, 1987 UK No.6 single Animal, 1987 world wide No.1 album Hysteria, 1988 US No.1 single Love Bites. Died 8 January 1991.
1969 - The Beatles started a six week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with Get Back, their 16th UK No.1.
1975 - Peter Ham, singer and songwriter with Badfinger committed suicide by hanging himself. He co-wrote Without You, which was a hit for Harry Nilson and Mariah Carey.
1978 - Sex Pistol bass player Sid Vicious filmed his version of My Way for the Sex Pistols' film The Great Rock n Roll Swindle.
1983 - David Bowie started a three week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with the Nile Rodgers produced Let's Dance, featuring the title track which made No.1 on the US and UK singles chart, and also China Girl.
1983 - Dexy's Midnight Runners went to No.1 on the US singles chart with Come On Eileen. It was the groups only US No.1.
1988 - Roy Orbison celebrated his 52nd birthday at a Bruce Springsteen concert, during which the audience sang happy birthday to him.
1992 - George Michael announced he was donating $500,000 royalties from the sale of Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me, to various British and American charities.
1997 - Club boss Paul Donavan was fined over £2,000 after being found guilty of tricking fans that he had Peter Andre appearing at his club in the West Midlands. He had in fact an act called Peter Andrex a puppet who threw toilet rolls.
2013 – Bryan Adam’s plays Vector Arena (Auckland).