This Day in Music
On this day in music, April 25, 2002, TLC member Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes perished at the age of 30 in an automobile accident while shooting a documentary in Honduras. The Philadelphia-born singer and rapper rose to fame as one-third of the groundbreaking Atlanta-based trio TLC, with whom she recorded three albums, including 1994’s CrazySexyCool, featuring the No.1 US hit singles “Creep” and “Waterfalls.” Lopes also made a solo album, 2001’s Supernova.
In 1990, Jimi Hendrix’s Olympic White Fender Stratocaster, with which he closed the legendary Woodstock festival in 1969, fetched $295,000 at auction when it was bought by Italian TV host and music critic, Gabriele Ansaloni. Hendrix famously concluded his two-hour Woodstock set with a rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner.”
In 1987, Madonna became the first female artist to chalk up four UK No.1 hits when “La Isla Bonita” reached the top spot. The track was the fifth single culled from her third studio album, True Blue. She went on to top the UK singles chart a record-breaking 13 times.
In 1977, Elvis Presley was captured on tape for the final time when his concert at the Michigan Civic Center in Saginaw was recorded by RCA. Three songs from that show appeared as part of an album called Moody Blue, a blend of studio and live tracks, which was released in July 1977, a month before Elvis’ death.
In 1954, singer, songwriter, and pianist Johnnie Ray scored his first of three UK No.1s with “Such a Night.” Dubbed the “Father of Rock and Roll” by Tony Bennett, the Oregon-born star only bagged a solitary US No.1: 1951’s “Cry,” a pleading tearjerker that became his signature tune and highlighted Ray’s prowess as an emotive balladeer.
In 2007, 69-year-old singer-comedian Bobby “Boris” Pickett died following a battle with leukemia. He was best known for his uncanny Boris Karloff impersonation on “Monster Mash,” which he co-wrote and performed with his group The Crypt-Kickers. The 1962 horror-themed spoof, which parodied dance-craze records of the time, became a million-selling No.1 hit in the US, but was initially banned by the BBC for purportedly being “too morbid.” The BBC eventually lifted their ban and in 1973, “Monster Mash” made No. 3 on the UK singles chart. Today, it remains a perennial Halloween favourite.
BORN ON APRIL 25
1918: Ella Fitzgerald
1923: Albert King
1933: Jerry Leiber (Songwriter)
1943: Tony Christie
1945: Stu Cook (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
1945: Björn Ulvaeus (ABBA)
1958: Fish (Marillion)
1964: Andy Bell (Erasure)
1965: Simon Fowler (Ocean Colour Scene)
1965: Eric Avery (Jane’s Addiction)
1980: Jacob Underwood (O-Town)
1994: Sam Fender (Singer/songwriter)
