This Day in Music

In 2001, 49-year-old Joey Ramone, the frontman of the iconic punk band the Ramones, succumbed to a long-term battle with lymphoma. Born Jeffrey Hyman, Ramone began as a drummer when the band formed in 1974, before taking over as lead singer for their self-titled 1976 debut. Viewed as the antidote to the overindulgences of progressive rock, The Ramones helped ignite the punk-rock revolution and became renowned for their short, fast songs, driving guitars, and infectious choruses. Joey’s first solo album, Don’t Worry About Me, which included a cover of Louis Armstrong’s “What A Wonderful World,” was released posthumously in 2002.

In 1972, soul singer Roberta Flack scored her first US No.1 with “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” which spent six weeks at the top of Billboard’s Hot 100. It was the North Carolina singer/pianist’s version of a folk ballad that was written in 1957 by British singer-songwriter Ewan MacColl. While Flack recorded the song in 1969, it was overlooked until the actor and film director Clint Eastwood revived the tune in the soundtrack of his 1971 movie, Play Misty For Me.

In 1957, Jerry Lee Lewis released his first charting single, “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” for Sam Phillips’ Memphis-based Sun label. The song, previously recorded in 1955 by blues singer Big Maybelle, stalled at No.3 on the Hot 100 but topped the US country and R&B charts.

In 1996, the remainder of Grateful Dead leader Jerry Garcia’s ashes were scattered near San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge after a small portion had been dispersed in India’s Ganges River 11 days earlier. Garcia died on August 9 of the previous year.

BORN ON APRIL 15

1894: Bessie Smith (Blues singer)
1965: Linda Perry (4 Non Blondes)
1967: Frankie Poullian (The Darkness)
1968: Ed O’Brien (Radiohead)
1978: Luis Fonsi
1978: Chris Stapleton
1980: Patrick Carney (The Black Keys)
1987: Iyaz (Singer-songwriter and dancer)