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)
The 2026 Litchfield High School Prom on April 25th should be one to remember. The theme is “A Night at the Oscars” and those participating will get a sense of what it’s like in Hollywood.
Adam Stern has been helping to coordinate the special event this year and says this is what he does in his job out in Los Angeles – coordinating special event for various show premieres. He says businesses in town have really stepped up with their donations, and the props that they are utilizing will be able to be used for other events such as the Watercade coronation, Community Theatre and for prom 4 years from now.
Stern says the general public is welcome to attend Oscar party events April 25th from 2:30-to-3:30 at Litchfield High School, with the grand march – emceed by Justin Wittrock and Sarah Jones – to follow from 3:30-to-4:30 – with a live broadcast on KLFD with Brian Findley, and then the students will board buses for an event center in Coon Rapids for dinner, dancing and games. He says 220 students signed up for prom this year.
The Litchfield Community Theatre production of “Finding Nemo Jr.” opened last night and there are 3 more shows – tonight at 7 p.m., Saturday night at 7 p.m. and on Sunday at 2 p.m. – in the Bernie Aaker Auditorium.
Director Heidi Pennertz says there are 42 children in the cast and another 8 in the crew and they’ve been rehearsing for the past two months. She says it’s a fun show – pretty much like the movie – and parents should bring their children to see “Finding Nemo Jr.”
Pennertz says she’s been involved in Litchfield Community Theatre shows for the past 20 years and this is her second time directing the youth theater. She says you can get tickets for “Finding Nemo Jr.” at litchfieldcommunitytheatre.com or just get tickets at the door.
Ava is in the role of Dory in “Finding Nemo Jr.” She describes her character as a bubbly little fish with short-term memory loss and a spunky attitude.
Ava says she has also been in “Spongebob Jr.” and “Annie Jr.” but didn’t have roles as big as being Dory in “Finding Nemo Jr.” She says the rehearsals were mainly later in the afternoon and didn’t affect her school work. Again, “Finding Nemo Jr.” can be seen April 17th and 18th at 7 p.m. and on April 19th at 2 p.m. in the Bernie Aaker Auditorium in Litchfield.
On this day in music, April 16, 1994, Prince topped the UK singles charts for the first time with “The Most Beautiful Girl In The World,” a romantic ballad he issued after he changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol. Although Prince was still signed to Warner Bros at the time, the label, with whom he had a dispute, allowed him to release the song independently as a one-off project via his own NPG imprint. It was the Minneapolis star’s last US Top 10 hit during his lifetime.
In 1972, the Electric Light Orchestra made their live debut in a London pub called The Fox and Greyhound. The Birmingham-based band, which was co-founded by ex-Move members Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne, sought to create classical-influenced rock using orchestral instruments. After Wood quit to form Wizzard, the band shortened its name to ELO and went on to become one of the biggest acts of the 70s.
In 1969, Desmond Dekker and the Aces became the first Jamaican act to reach the top of the UK charts with their single, “The Israelites.” Dekker, who was born Desmond Adolphus Dacres in Kingston, was also the first reggae performer to put a record on the US charts.
In 2021, Mike Mitchell, guitarist with the US garage band The Kingsmen, died on his 77th birthday. The Oregon quintet is best remembered for their US hit, “Louie Louie,” which spent six weeks at No. 2 in 1963. It came from the album The Kingsmen In Person, which remained on the Billboard albums chart for 131 consecutive weeks.
In 1964, The Rolling Stones topped the UK albums chart for the first time with their self-titled debut, which stayed at the No.1 spot for 12 weeks. In the US, it was issued under the title England’s Newest Hit Makers with a different track listing.
In 1970, Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” single reached a million sales in the US and was awarded a gold record. Though it was scheduled as a UK single, the band’s manager persuaded the record label to cancel its release to preserve the group’s no-singles marketing policy in their home country.
In 1977, David Soul topped the US singles chart with “Don’t Give Up On Us.” Best known for his role as Hutch in the 70s cop show Starsky & Hutch, the singer/actor was a one-hit wonder in the US but in Britain racked up five hits, including two No.1s: “Don’t Give Up On Us” and “Silver Lady.”
BORN ON APRIL 16
1924: Henry Mancini
1939: Dusty Springfield
1947: Gerry Rafferty (Stealers Wheel)
1962: Jason Scheff (Chicago)
1964: Dave Pirner (Soul Asylum)
1970: Gabrielle
1971: Selena
1973: Akon
1993: Chance the Rapper
Each day a business will be featured as “Business of the Day” and every time their commercial is aired be the 7th caller and win a chance to receive KLFD Bucks to be spent at our “Business of the Day” locations.
Monday thru Friday, at 4 pm we will draw out a winner to be put into our final drawing to be held sometime later in April. Once your name has been drawn out daily and put into the final drawing, you are no longer qualified to call in. Otherwise, you can keep calling in once a day to qualify.
Our sponsors include: Miller Automotive, Litchfield Liquors, DC Diesel Tek, El Chilero, Parts City Auto Parts, Scott’s Auto, Litchfield Chrysler, Litchfield Licensing, Davis Motors, Mid Country Bank, Queen Bee’s Bar & Grill, A.M. Maus & Son, Litchfield Eagles Club, SJP Designs, Central Counties Cooperative, Edina Realty, Quality Autowerx