March 28

 2026 

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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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March 27, 1982 — Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder release their single "Ebony & Ivory" in the U.K. Written by McCartney, the lyrics use the black and white keys of a piano as a metaphor for potential racial harmony. The record reached the top of the U.K. and U.S music charts, but the South African Broadcasting company banned it when Wonder dedicated his 1984 Academy Award for Best Original Song to Nelson Mandela.

March 28, 1953 — 26-year-old Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton charts with the original version of "Hound Dog." It reaches #1 for seven weeks on Billboard magazine's R&B chart, her only hit record.

March 28, 1964 — Heavyweight boxing champion Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali) reaches #102 on the Billboard Hot 100 with his cover version of "Stand By Me."
                                        — Radio Caroline, the U.K.'s first all-day English-language "pirate" radio station, begins broadcasting from the North Sea aboard  Fredericia, a former Danish ferry.

                         1970 — Ringo Starr releases his first solo album, Sentimental Journey, a collection of pre-rock standards.


March 30, 1953 — The Harlem, New York doo wop group The Crows record their monumental hit "Gee" at the city's Beltone Studios. It heralds the new wave in music the following year when becomes the first rock 'n' roll record to appear on the U.S. pop music charts, reaching #14.

March 31, 1956 — Elvis Presley's first smash hit, "Heartbreak Hotel," debuts. It reaches #1 on Billboard's pop chart and #3 rhythm and blues, the first of his 35 R&B chart appearances, making him the most successful white R&B performer.
                                  —  Brenda Lee ("Little Miss Dynamite") makes her U.S. network television debut when she sings the Hank Williams hit "Jambalaya" on ABC-TV's Ozark Jubilee.

April 1, 1956 — Elvis takes a Hollywood screen test for producer Hal Wallis anbd receives a three-year film contract for $450,000.
                  1977 — Presley is admitted for a six-day stay at a hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, suffering from exhaustion and intestinal flu. He dies 4½ months later.

April 1, 1984 — During a violent dispute, Marvin Gaye is shot to death the day before his 45th birthday by his minister father, Marvin Gay, Sr., in their Los Angeles home. An investigation reveals that the son had beaten his father, who ends up serving five years probation for voluntary manslaughter.

April 2, 1964 — The Beach Boys record their first #1 hit, "I Get Around." They also fire manager Murry Wilson, the father of three group members, including leader Brian Wilson who feels his dad is hindering their progress with unwelcome critiques at their recording sessions.

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)

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