On this day in music, April 17, 1960, American singer-songwriter Eddie Cochran died at the age of 21 in a car crash while on tour in England. Born Ray Edward Cochran in Minnesota, the teen heartthrob began his music career in 1954 as part of a duo called the Cochran Brothers before launching his solo career. He co-wrote most of his biggest hits, including “Summertime Blues” (a Top 10 US smash in 1958) and “Three Steps To Heaven” (a 1960 UK chart-topper).
In 1991, Nirvana performed “Smells Like Teen Spirit” live for the first time at a Seattle club called the OK Hotel. The iconic song, which became an era-defining international hit, appeared on the grunge band’s second album Nevermind.
In 1982, the Greek composer Vangelis (born Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou) scored his first and only No.1 on the US album chart with Chariots Of Fire, the soundtrack to director Hugh Hudson’s film about two British athletes competing in the 1924 Olympic Games. The album later won the Academy Award for Best Original Score.
In 1965, Bob Dylan‘s second studio album, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, rose to No.1 in the UK. It was the first of six chart-topping LPs the Minnesota-born singer/songwriter scored in Britain between 1964 and 1970.
In 1998, Linda McCartney died at the age of 56 following a battle with breast cancer. Born Linda Eastman, she was a noted rock photographer before marrying Beatle Paul McCartney in 1969 and joining her husband’s new band, Wings, in 1971 on vocals and keyboards. She was also renowned for her work as an animal rights activist and was a passionate advocate for vegetarianism.
In 1971, all four ex-Beatles were in the UK singles chart at the same time. George Harrison’s “My Sweet Lord” went to No.1 while Paul McCartney’s “Another Day,” Ringo Starr’s “It Don’t Come Easy” and John Lennon’s “Power To The People” all made the Top 10.
In 1995, Texas governor George W. Bush declared April 16 “Selena Day” to commemorate the birthday and life of singer Selena Quintanilla Pérez, dubbed the “Madonna of Tejano music.” The announcement came two weeks after Selena’s tragic murder at the age of 23 by her fan club president.
In 1973, country-rock pioneers Eagles released Desperado, their second studio album. Containing the iconic title song as well as the hit singles “Tequila Sunrise” and “Outlaw Man,” the LP stalled at No. 41 in the US album charts but was eventually certified double platinum.
BORN ON APRIL 17
1930: Chris Barber
1934: Don Kirshner (Songwriter, Manager, Music Publisher)
1940: Billy Fury
1948: Jan Hammer (Mahavishnu Orchestra)
1955: Pete Shelley (Buzzcocks)
1964: James Keenan (Tool)
1967: Liz Phair
1970: Redman
1974: Victoria Beckham (The Spice Girls)
1989: Avi Kaplan (Pentatonix)
On April 16th, 2025, at approximately 11:50 a.m. the Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office was alerted to a motor vehicle crash with injuries near the intersection of 15th Street SE and 120th Avenue SE. Deputies arriving on the scene found a 2023 Jeep Wrangler in the northwest ditch. The driver, Michael Dolezal, age 70, of Willmar was ejected. Dolezal was transported by Life Link III for treatment of his injuries. A 2021 Ford F-250 was traveling north on 15th Street SE and failed to stop for the stop sign at 120th Avenue, striking the 2023 Jeep. The driver, Blake Fossen, age 31, of Kandiyohi and his passenger, Logan Redepenning, age 23, of Willmar were treated at the scene for minor injuries. The crash remains under investigation.
Assisting the Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office were the Blomkest Fire Department, Blomkest First Responders, Kandiyohi County Rescue Squad, CentraCare Ambulance, Life Link III, and the Willmar Fire Department.
The annual Golden Fleece Lodge #89 Vidalia onion sale is underway. The cost is $14 for a 10-pound bag. To place orders, call Jim Curry at 221-1925.
Curry says the onions will be delivered the second week of May. He says the Litchfield Masons began the Vidalia onion sale back in 2015.
Curry says proceeds will go towards scholarships for Litchfield High School seniors as they award three scholarships of $2,000 each every year. He says he’s ordered six tons of onions this year and in the past ten years, they’ve sold over 20,000 pounds. Again, to place orders, call Jim Curry at 221-1925 – or contact any other member of the Litchfield Masons.
Historical Events
1492 – Christopher Columbus signs a contract with the Spanish monarchs to find the “Indies” with the stated goal of converting people to Catholicism. This promises him 10% of all riches found, and the governorship of any lands encountered.
1684 – Dutch East India Company signs treaty with Sultan Hadji of Banten (Java) to aid him in a civil war with his father in exchange for sole right to trade in the Sultanate
1977 – Christian-democrats win Belgium parliamentary election
1983 – Grete Waltz runs female world record marathon (2:25:29)
2017 – 121st Boston Marathon: Kenyan double; Geoffrey Kirui takes men’s title in 2:09:37; Edna Kiplagat women’s champion in 2:21:52
Famous Birthdays
1622 – Henry Vaughan, English poet (Silex Scintillans), born in Newton St. Bridget, Brecknockshire, Wales (d. 1695)
1845 – Isabel Barrows, American editor and penologist (Conference on Negro Question), born in Irasburg, Vermont (d. 1913)
1947 – Linda Martin, Irish singer and TV presenter, born in Belfast, Northern Ireland
1961 – Norman Cowans, Jamaican cricketer (England fast bowler in 19 Tests 1982-85), born in St. Mary, Jamaica
1971 – David Oliver, Canadian NHL right wing (Edmonton Oilers), born in Sechelt, British Columbia, Canada
Famous Deaths
858 – Benedict III, Italian Pope (855-58), dies
1713 – David Hollatz, Pomeranian dogmatician (b. 1648)
1948 – Johan Paul van Limburg Stirum, Dutch diplomat (Governor General of the Dutch East Indies 1916-21), dies at 75
1987 – Cecil Harmsworth King, Irish-British owner of Mirror Group Newspapers, dies at 86
2003 – Robert Atkins, American cardiologist, known for the Atkins diet, dies at 72
Retail spending — one of the key drivers in the economy — saw its biggest jump in more than two years during March, as more people rushed to buy cars and other big-ticket items ahead of President Donald Trump's new tariffs.
Spending at stores, restaurants and car dealerships grew 1.4 percent in March compared to February, according to Wednesday's data from the Commerce Department. That's the biggest increase since January 2023 — and the driver was mainly autos.
Spending on cars, trucks and auto parts rose more than 5 percent over last month.
Automakers have offered discounts and shoppers rushed to auto lots in anticipation of prices rising as a result of new tariffs, which Trump announced last month and started applying for many imported vehicles early in April.
The car data group Cox Automotive had reported March as delivering the hottest new car sales in four years. Economists at Cox Automotive now predict the car-buying might last a couple of months before tariff-fueled price increases would cause sales to slow.
Even with a notable rise in retail sales last month, there are concerns that consumer spending could wane as the wider effects of tariffs kick in. Major retailers and big brands have begun scaling back their financial forecasts for the year.
The latest survey of consumer sentiment by the University of Michigan is noting steep declines in how people feel about the future of the economy, as anxiety rises over tariffs' impact on prices. But March data, for now, still has people spending generously — on building and gardening supplies, sporting goods and going out to eat.
"The job market is holding tough and incomes are rising, and those are the main factors that drive consumer spending," said Robert Frick, an economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, in a statement.
For comparison, retail spending in February barely rose, and it declined in January. Compared to a year ago, retail sales in March increased 4.6 percent.
NPR's Camila Domonoske contributed to this report.
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