ON THIS DAY IN BLACK MUSIC HISTORY: APRIL 28

#1 R&B Song 1962:   “Mashed Potato Time,” Dee Dee Sharp

 

Born:   Emma Pought (the Bobbettes), 1942; Milan Williams (the Commodores), 1948

 

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1956   The New York City doo-wop group the Willows entered the charts with the singing-group standard “Church Bells May Ring,” reaching #11 R&B and #62 pop.

 

 

1958   The Drifters recorded their classic “Drip Drop.” It was the last charter (#58 pop) for the original group.

 

1958   The Charts’ “You’re the Reason.” the Solitaires’ “No More Sorrows,” and the Spaniels’ “Tina” were all released today.

 

 

 

1961   The Flamingos, the Vibrations, the Miracles, Shep & the LimeLites, Jerry Butler, and Maxine Brown played Philadelphia’s Uptown Theater while the Del Vikings performed on American Bandstand, also in Philly.

 

1963   Ray Charles performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

 

1990   MC Hammer (Stanley Burrell) charted with the dance-rap classic “U Can’t Touch This,” reaching #1 R&B (#8 pop). In its first week on the charts it reached #28, the highest position a rap song had achieved up to that time. The song appropriated the entire baseline of Rick James’ “Superfreak,” but thanks to the tenacious pursuit of his publisher, Jay Warner, james soon wound up with 50 per cent of the ownership of the new song.

 

1991   Quincy Jones recorded his album Hallelujah!, a modern-day version of Handel’s Messiah, at A&M Studios in Hollywood. On hand to sing on the album were patti LaBelle and Stevie Wonder.

 

1995   Barry White performed at the Safari Park Garden Theater in Nairobi, Kenya, becoming the first Westerner to do so.