1970 - Phil Spector

50 musicians recorded the orchestral scores for The Beatles tracks 'The Long And Winding Road' and 'Across The Universe' for the Phil Spector produced sessions. The bill for the 50 musicians was £1,126 and 5 shillings, ($1.914). When released 'The Long and Winding Road' became a US No.1 hit.

Gold Star Oldies USA pays tribute to Phillies Records in April the Wall of Sound  Phil Spector 

🎙️ What Was the Wall of Sound?

The Wall of Sound was a groundbreaking music‑production technique created by Phil Spector in the early 1960s at Gold Star Studios in Hollywood. It used large ensembles, dense layering, natural echo, and mono mixing to create a massive, emotional, orchestral pop sound that jumped out of AM radios.

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April 17, 1960 — "Summertime Blues" rocker Eddie Cochran is killed at age 21 and Gene Vincent ("Be-Bop-A-Lula") is seriously injured when their speeding taxi driver loses control and crashes into a light pole in Chippenham, England. (Photo, left: Memorial at crash site)
               1964 — The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Washington laboratory reports it cannot determine the lyrics to the 1963 Kingsmen hit "Louie, Louie" after playing it at various speeds. The FBI ends it probe, which began after receiving public complaints that the indecipherable words may have been dirty and violated laws against the interstate transportation of obscene material.

April 18, 1957 — Second Lieutenant Buddy Knox is called up for six months of active duty with the U.S. Army Reserves in his home state of Texas, during which his second hit, "Rock Your Little Baby To Sleep," is issued listing his military rank.

April 19, 1988 — Sonny Bono of Sonny & Cher is inaugurated as mayor of Palm Springs, California.

April 20, 1970 — The New York Times reports on "submarine churches" inspired by the Beatles' "Yellow Submarine." Their logos adapt the Christian fish symbol into variations of a submarine with the periscope forming a peace sign.

April 21, 1962 — Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles appear on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with a song they hadn't recorded — "I Sold My Heart To The Junkman." It was actually taped by Chicago's Starlets ("Better Tell Him No"). While touring Philadelphia, they waxed the song at the request of a used car dealer who owned a studio on his lot. He issued the recording on his Newtown label, but gave singing credit to a local group led by Patricia Holt, who became Patti LaBelle when the group adopted the Bluebelles name. The Starlets sue the record company and win $5,000 each, but the disc rises to #15 pop / #13 R&B and the Blue-Bells become stars while the Chicago group soon breaks up.
               1977 — Elvis Presley begins his final concert tour in Greensboro, North Carolina.

April 22, 1962 — Jerry Lee Lewis' first son, three-year-old Steve Allen (named after the TV host and good friend), drowns in the family pool.

April 23, 1954 — "Work With Me Annie" by the Royals is issued, beginning the era of the answer record. It becomes so popular (#1 R&B, #22 pop) that the group is renamed the Midnighters (eventually Hank Ballard & The Midnighters) to avoid confusion with the "5" Royales, who are under contract to the same record company.
               1959 — After 24 years on radio and TV, the final Saturday night broadcast of the musical countdown show Your Hit Parade airs on NBC television. 
The final Top Five:
   #5 - "I Need Your Love Tonight" (Elvis Presley)
   #4 - "It's Just A Matter Of Time" (Brook Benton)
   #3 - "Never Be Anyone Else But You" (Ricky Nelson)
   #2 - "Pink Shoe Laces" (Dodie Stevens)
   #1 - "Come Softly To Me" (The Fleetwoods)
                 2012 — The Beach Boys begin their 50th anniversary tour, which reunites Brian Wilson with fellow founders Mike Love and Al Jardine along with longtime members Bruce Johnston and David Marks.  

Sources:
Eight Days a Week (Ron Smith)
On This Day in Black Music History (Jay Warner)
Chronology of American Popular Music, 1900-2000 (Frank Hoffman)

Birthdays Singers and Song Writers 

1939 - Dusty Springfield

English singer Dusty Springfield who had her first solo UK hit single in 1963 with ‘I Only Want To Be With You’, which reached No.4, the 1966 UK No.1 & US No.4 single with 'You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me’ plus over 15 other UK Top 40 singles. With her brother Dion O'Brien ("Tom Springfield") and Tim Feild, Springfield formed the folk-pop vocal trio The Springfields. Two of their five 1961–63 top 40 UK hits 'Island of Dreams' and 'Say I Won't Be There' reached No. 5 on the charts. Her image, marked by a peroxide blonde bouffant/beehive hairstyle, heavy makeup and evening gowns, made her an icon of the Swinging Sixties. She died on 3 March 1999 age 59.

1935 - Bobby Vinton

American singer and songwriter Bobby Vinton who had the 1963 US No.1 single & 1990 UK No.2 single 'Blue Velvet', (a cover of Tony Bennett's 1951 hit) plus 29 other US Top 40 hits. As a teen idol, he became known as "The Polish Prince", as his music paid tribute to his Polish heritage and he hosted his own self-titled TV show in the late 1970s.

1929 - Ed Townsend

American singer, songwriter, producer and attorney Ed Townsend. He performed and composed 'For Your Love', a rhythm and blues doo-wop classic, and co-wrote 'Let's Get It On' with Marvin Gaye. He died on 13 August 2003.

1929 - Roy Hamilton

American singer Roy Hamilton who had the 1955 US No.6 single Unchained Melody and recorded 'You'll Never Walk Alone'. Hamilton died of a stroke on 29th July 1969.

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