ON THIS DAY IN BLACK MUSIC HISTORY: APRIL 5

#1 Song 1975:  “Lovin’ You,” Minnie Riperton

 

Born:  Tony Williams (the Platters), 1928; Leroy Griffin (the Nutmegs), 1934; Ronnie White (the Miracles), 1939; Nicholas Caldwell (the Whispers), 1944

 

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1952   Elmore James (the King of the Slide Guitar) charted with “Dust My Broom,” reaching #9 R&B. It was the first of many cover recordings by rock ‘n’ roll and blues artists to emanate from the rich catalogue of blues great Robert Johnson, who made his last recordings in 1937.

 

 

1957   Frankie Lymon stated in an interview with Britain’s Melody Maker magazine that “he preferred progressive jazz (Dave Brubeck, Stan Kenton, Ted Heath), to rock ‘n’ roll.”

 

1958   Clyde McPhatter, Sam Cooke, Jimmy Reed, and many more performed at the start of an eighty-date tour called Irving Feld’s Greatest Show of Stars, 1958 in Norfolk, VA.

 

1968   James Brown made a national TV plea for calm after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the subsequent riots in many cities. Its reassuring effect was followed by an official commendation from Vice President Hubert Humphrey.

 

1977   Richie Havens performed at a fund-raiser with John Sebastian and Jackson Browne to help endangered whales and dolphins. The Los Angeles concert raised more than $150,000.

 

1984   Michael Jackson took home the Best Video Award at the second annual American Video Awards for The Making of Michael Jackson’s Thriller.

 

1985   USA for Africa’s single “We Are the World” was played simultaneously over 5,000 radio stations around the world at 3:50 P.M. Greenwich Time.

 

1990   Michael Jackson visited the White House at President Bush’s invitation.

 

1995   Whitney Houston’s first album, Whitney Houston, was certified a 12-million-seller by the RIAA.