April 24th

Musical birthdays today include Shirley MacLaine (90), Barbra Streisand (82), Oak Ridge Boys vocalist Richard Sterban (81), CCR drummer Doug Clifford (79), Véronique Sanson (75), former Blondie bassist Nigel Harrison (73), ex-Night Ranger bassist Jack Blades (70), The Damned co-founder Ray 'Captain Sensible' Burns (70), former Bauhaus bassist David Haskins AKA David J (67), ex-Cure drummer Boris Williams (67), Faith No More bassist Billy Gould (61), Creed bassist Brian Marshall (51), Kelly Clarkson (42), and All-American Rejects lead singer Tyson Ritter (40). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for soul singer Freddie Scott, who would have been 90 today... for jazzman Joe Henderson, who would have been 87... for former Hughes Corporation vocalist St. Clair Lee, who would have been 80... for bluesman Otis Spann, who died on this date in 1970... for Badfinger frontman Pete Ham, who took his own life today in 1975 at the age of 27... and for R&B singer and former Duke Ellington vocalist Al Hibbler, who left us today in 2001. 

Also on April 24th: Haydn finishes his oratorio Die Jahrezeiten [The Seasons] and conducts the premier himself on the same evening at the Schwarzenberg Palace in Vienna (1801)... Laurens Hammond files for a patent for his electric organ (1934)... Buddy Holly has a posthumous № 1 in the UK with the Paul Anka song 'It Doesn't Matter Anymore' (1959)... Bob Dylan makes his first ever paid appearance in a recording studio, contributing harmonica to the song 'Calypso King' on the Harry Belafonte album The Midnight Special... Del Shannon is at № 1 on the Billboard singles chart with 'Runaway' (1961)... Apple Records turn down the chance to sign David Bowie... At 69, Louis Armstrong becomes the oldest man ever to have a British № 1 when 'What a Wonderful World' tops the UK chart (1968)... In Nashville, Bob Dylan begins the recording sessions that will produce the album Self Portrait (1969)...  John Lennon's single 'Woman Is the Nigger of the World' was released in the US. The song peaks at № 57, as numerous American radio stations refuse to play it. Yoko Ono first used the phrase in a magazine interview in 1967, and Lennon later explained that he was making the point that women deserved higher status in society (1972)... RCA release David Bowie's album Diamond Dogs (1974)... Paul and Linda McCartney spend the evening with John Lennon at the latter's apartment in the Dakota in NYC and watch Saturday Night Live on TV. The show's producer Lorne Michaels appears on the air asking The Beatles to turn up and play three songs live. Lennon and McCartney discuss taking a cab to the studio, but decide they are too tired. The evening is the last time that John and Paul see each other (1976)... Ray Charles' 'Georgia on My Mind' is voted the official state song by the Georgia Assembly (1979)... New Order begin recording their first album at Strawberry Studios in Stockport, just outside of Manchester (1981)... The road crew for Roger Waters uncover an unexploded WWII bomb while constructing the set for the forthcoming 'The Wall' concert on Potsdamerplatz in Berlin (1990)... David Bowie marries Somali actress and supermodel Iman in a small private ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland (1992)... Oasis release the single 'Some Might Say', which goes on to give the group their first UK № 1 (1995)... Dixie Chicks launch a publicity campaign to explain their position with regard to the controversy generated by Natalie Maines' statements about the Iraq war. During a prime-time interview with Diane Sawyer, Maines says she remains proud of her original statement. The band also appear naked [with private parts strategically covered] on the current cover of Entertainment Weekly magazine, with slogans such as 'Traitors', 'Saddam's Angels', 'Dixie Sluts', 'Proud Americans', 'Hero', 'Free Speech', and 'Brave' printed on their bodies. The slogans represent the labels, both positive and negative, that have been placed on them in the aftermath of Maines' stand (2003)... Sheryl Crow says that a ban on using too much toilet paper should be introduced to help the environment. The singer suggests using 'only one square per restroom visit, except, of course, on those pesky occasions where two to three could be required'. Crow made the comments on her website after touring the US on a biodiesel-powered bus to raise awareness about climate change. Crow has also designed a clothing line with what she called a 'dining sleeve'. The sleeve is detachable and can be replaced with another 'dining sleeve' after the diner has used it to wipe his or her mouth... Sounds True Records release Hudson River Wind Meditations, Lou Reed's final solo album (2007).