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ON THIS DAY IN THIS MUSIC

May 4th

1956 - Gene Vincent

Gene Vincent recorded the classic rock 'n roll song 'Be Bop-A-Lula', at Owen Bradley's studio in Nashville, Tennessee. The song went on to be a US & UK Top 20 hit in this year. Vincent has said that he wrote the words to the song after being inspired by a comic strip called "Little Lulu".

1961 - The Marcels

The Marcels were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with the Rodgers & Hart song from the 1930s 'Blue Moon', their only UK No.1.

1967 - Jimi Hendrix

The Jimi Hendrix Experience appeared on UK TV's Top Of The Pops, performing 'Purple Haze'. During afternoon rehearsals for the show, Mick Jagger went into the studio to see Jimi.

(note not the TOTP performance here for copyright infringement reasons)

1970 - Neil Young

Four students at Kent University were killed and eleven wounded by National Guard troops at a campus demonstration protesting the escalation of the Vietnam War. The incident inspired Neil Young to compose 'Ohio' which became a hit for Crosby Stills Nash & Young. For those students gunned down. I was a student and this hit me hard. They are coming for you with guns! And they will shoot you if they can . . . . . .

I was studying art and my hero and subject of my final year thesis the father of Pop Art, Richard Hamilton, produced this print . . .

Kent State print - Richard Hamilton 1970

Riochard's seminal piece here was about the shock of the media when we saw the deaths on television. The source of his print was broadcast live footage videotape shown on the news. I am proud to say his piece and others are now taught in schools!

1987 - Paul Butterfield

American blues vocalist, harmonica player Paul Butterfield, who fronted The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, died at his home in North Hollywood, California, of drug-related heart failure, he was 44. Essentially a drinker he suffered from peritonitis and was treated with the strongest painkillers. Although on record as being anti hard drugs the irony is that he died from an overdose of diamorphine (heroin) and complications around cirrhosis and the affects of alcohol. He had gained international recognition, as one of the early acts performing during the Summer of Love, at Monterey Pop Festival and Woodstock festival.

My favourite harmonic player . . .this is the man who made me give up trying to play the darned thing!

From the second reunion gig of members of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band: Paul Butterfield - harp, vocals, Mike Bloomfield - guitar, Mark Naftalin - piano, John Kahn - bass, and Billy Mundi - drums. Location: Fenway Theater, Boston - December 10-11 1971. Video Recording © 1971, 2013 Robert C Lewis.