Today in Music History for April 28:
In 1932, violinist Steven Staryk, considered the leading Canadian-born virtuoso of his generation, was born in Toronto. Staryk has served as concertmaster for world-renowned orchestras in London, Amsterdam, Chicago and Toronto.
In 1934, Charley Patton, the first great star of Delta Blues, died in Indianola, Miss., of a chronic heart condition. He was about 47 years old. Patton was a popular live performer and recording artist for both blacks and whites in the Delta area and influenced such later bluesmen as Howlin' Wolf, Big Joe Williams and Son House.
In 1946, Quebec pop singer Ginette Reno was born in Montreal. She performs equally well in both French and English, and won the performance prize at a 1972 Tokyo song festival singing Les Reed's "I Can't Let You Walk Out of My Life." Her recording of "Second Hand Man" was popular in the early '70s. In 1982, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada and in 2000 was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame. In 2004, she was made a Knight of the National Order of Quebec and released her eight-CD career retrospective. In 2011, she released her 38th studio album "La musique en moi."
In 1963, Andrew Loog Oldham saw "The Rolling Stones" perform for the first time. Oldham, who became the group's manager, had been told by "The Beatles" that he should catch the "Stones" at the Crawdaddy Club in Richmond, England.
In 1967, Petula Clark was the entertainment at a dinner for White House correspondents.
In 1968, the rock musical "Hair" opened at the Biltmore Theatre on Broadway. An off-Broadway version of the first musical to successfully adapt rock music to the stage had opened the previous October. The text and lyrics were written by two Americans (James Rado and Gerome Ragni) and Canadian Galt MacDermot contributed the music. It was a controversial production, angering many with its scenes of nudity and drug-taking and the desecration of the American flag on stage as well as its anti-war message at the height of the Vietnam conflict. The show ran for 1,729 performances, the two original cast recordings sold more than five million copies. There were also numerous hit songs from the show, including the medley of "Aquarius-Let the Sunshine In" and "Good Morning Starshine."
In 1978, "Cheap Trick" performed a concert in Tokyo's Budokan Hall that was recorded for a live album called "Cheap Trick at Budokan."
In 1980, Tommy Caldwell, bass player and vocalist with "The Marshall Tucker Band," died in Spartanburg, S.C., of injuries suffered in a car accident six days earlier. The band's LP in memory of him -- called "Dedicated" -- was released a year later.
In 1984, the first No. 1 hit for the mother-daughter country duo "The Judds," "Mama, He's Crazy," entered the U.S. country charts.
In 1986, Arista Records announced the departure of Joe Leeway from the "Thompson Twins," making the band a duo of Tom Bailey and Alannah Currie. Their hits included "Hold Me Now," "Lies" and "Doctor! Doctor!"
In 1988, singer and songwriter B.W. Stevenson died following heart surgery. He was 38. Stevenson wrote "Three Dog Night's" 1973 hit "Shambala," and also had a hit of his own that year with "My Maria."
In 1989, rock star Jon Bon Jovi married high school sweetheart Dorothea Hurley in Las Vegas.
In 1990, one of Broadway's longest running shows, "A Chorus Line," closed after 6,137 performances. Many of the original 1975 cast came on stage after the finale. The audience and cast also paid tribute to the musical's late creator, Michael Bennett. The Broadway production was seen by more than six million people over 15 years.
In 1990, "Guns N' Roses" lead singer Axl Rose married Erin Everly, daughter of Don Everly of "The Everly Brothers," in Las Vegas. A limousine chauffeur served as the witness. The marriage lasted only three weeks.
In 1998, singer Michael Bolton defended his charitable foundation against charges by a New York newspaper that the organization did not distribute most of its donations. Bolton said he was hurt by insinuations that he took money from the foundation for himself and denied he received a salary from it. The foundation was set up in 1993 to help poor and abused women and children.
In 2003, Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced the launch of its digital outlet, iTunes Music Store (now called iTunes Store). Within a few years, it became the number one music retailer in the world. In February 2013, it sold its 25 billionth download.
In 2009, singer Vern Gosdin, who recorded country music hits like the 1989 CMA song of the year "Chiseled in Stone," died at age 74. Gosdin, who was known as "The Voice," had several other hits in the 1970s and '80s including "Set 'em Up Joe," "I Can Tell by the Way You Dance" and "I'm Still Crazy." During his 30-year career, he sang gospel music, bluegrass, folk-rock and then country.
In 2010, singer Elton John was in Indianapolis to headline a celebration of the life and legacy of AIDS victim Ryan White, who was diagnosed with AIDS at age 13 after receiving a tainted transfusion of a blood-clotting agent. He died April 8, 1990, at age 18. John befriended the boy during his public battle for acceptance after he was banned from a central Indiana school at age 13, and was at Riley Children's Hospital when White died. John was a pallbearer and performed at the funeral.
In 2011, 41 members of P.E.I.'s Confederation Centre Youth Chorus sang at a mass honouring the late Pope John Paul II at St. Peter’s Basilica.
In 2012, "Heart" guitarist Nancy Wilson married music executive Geoff Bywater at Sammy Hagar's restaurant, El Paseo, outside San Francisco.
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The Canadian Press