This Day in Music
On this day in music, April 22, 1978, reggae icon Bob Marley returned to the stage in Jamaica for the first time after he was wounded in the chest and arm by seven gunmen who broke into his house on December 3rd, 1976. Held at Kingston’s National Stadium, The One Love Peace Concert also marked Marley’s return from exile in the UK. Dubbed “The Third World Woodstock,” the reggae extravaganza aimed to unite a country being torn apart by political violence. During his performance of the song “Jammin’,” Marley famously persuaded political rivals Michael Manley and Edward Seaga to join him on stage and link hands.
In 2013, Richie Havens, the soul-folk troubadour who opened the legendary 1969 Woodstock rock festival, died at 72. Renowned for his raspy voice and highly rhythmic guitar playing, Havens recorded 21 studio albums between 1966 and 2008.
In 2003, esteemed songwriter Felice Bryant died at the age of 77. Born Matilda Genevieve Scaduto in Milwaukee, she penned many of her songs with her husband Boudleaux Bryant, including several hits for the Everly Brothers (“Bye Bye Love,” “All I Have To Do Is Dream,” “Wake Up Little Susie”) and Buddy Holly’s “Raining In My Heart.” Among those who recorded the couple’s songs were Simon And Garfunkel, Count Basie, and R.E.M.
In 1966, influential British garage band The Troggs released their single “Wild Thing” in the US, where it would soon reach No.1. The Chip Taylor-penned song spawned a host of cover versions, from Jimi Hendrix to The Damned and even Rolf Harris.
In 2008, it was disclosed by British showbusiness entrepreneur Bill Kenwright in a radio interview that Elvis Presley – who, it was claimed, had never set foot in England – secretly visited London in 1958, where he was given a tour of the city and its landmarks by entertainer Tommy Steele.
BORN ON APRIL 22
1922: Charles Mingus
1936: Glen Campbell
1937: Jack Nitzsche (Producer, Songwriter)
1950: Peter Frampton
1951: Paul Carrack (Ace)
1956: Kenny Lyons (The Lemonheads)
1974: Shavo Odadjian (System of a Down)
1984: Amelle Berrabah (Sugababes)
1990: Machine Gun Kelly
