Events in Music
Music Premiere
Apr 6 Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus' musical "Mamma Mia!", featuring the songs of ABBA, opens at the Prince Edward Theatre in London's West End; transfers twice to other venues; run interrupted by COVID-19 in March of 2020
Music Concert
Apr 17 Rock for the Rainforest benefit concert held at Carnegie Hall, NYC; performers include: Sting, Elton John, James Taylor, Billy Joel, Tony Bennett, Don Henley, Ricky Martin and Charles Aznavour
Birthdays in Music
- Apr 2 Audrey Nuna [Chu], Korean-American R&B singer and rapper ("Comic Sans"), born in New Jersey
- Apr 3 Sam Kiszka, American bass player (Greta Van Fleet), born in Frankenmuth, Michigan
- Apr 4 Sheku Kanneh-Mason, British classical cellist (the Chineke! Orchestra; The Kanneh-Masons), born in Nottingham, England
Lil Nas X (23 years old)
Apr 9 American singer-songwriter and rapper (Old Town Road), born in Lithia Springs, Georgia
Weddings in Music
Wayne Brady
Apr 5 Talk show host Wayne Brady (26) weds dancer Mandie Taketa
Deaths in Music
- Apr 1 Jesse Stone, American R&B pianist, songwriter (Shake, Rattle and Roll), arranger, and record producer, dies at 97
- Apr 3 Lionel Bart, English pop and theatrical music composer (Oliver), and writer, dies of liver cancer at 68
- Apr 4 Aldus Roger, American Cajun accordionist (Lafayette Playboys - "Les Haricots Sont Pas Salés"), dies at 84
- Apr 6 Red Norvo [Kenneth Norville], American jazz vibraphonist known as "Mr. Swing" (Congo Blues; Knockin' on Wood), dies at 91
- Apr 6 William Pleeth, British cellist and teacher (of Jacqueline du Pré), dies of leukemia at 83
- Apr 12 Boxcar Willie [Travis Martin], American soldier (USAF) and singer ("King Of The Road"), dies of leukemia at 67
- Apr 14 Anthony Newley, British actor and singer-songwriter (Doctor Dolittle; Goldfinger theme; Willy Wonka score), dies at 67
- Apr 16 Alexander "Skip" Spence, Canadian-American guitarist, singer and songwriter (Jefferson Airplane), dies of lung cancer at 52
- Apr 21 Charles "Buddy" Rogers, American film actor (Wings), singer, and dance bandleader, dies at 94
- Apr 22 Apostolos Nikolaidis, Greek singer (first Greek artist to record or re-record the authentic, "prohibited" rebetika songs in the early 1970s with their original lyrics), dies at 60
- Apr 23 Melba Liston, American jazz trombonist, arranger, and composer, dies at 73
- Apr 25 Roger Troutman, American funk musician (Zapp), dies during his brother's apparent murder-suicide at 47
- Apr 26 Adrian Borland, English musician (The Sound), dies at 41
- Apr 27 Al Hirt, American jazz trumpeter (Greatest Horn in the World), dies of liver failure at 76
- Apr 28 Walter Gieseler, German composer, dies at 79
- Apr 29 Léon Barzin, Belgian-American conductor (NY City Ballet, 1948-58), dies at 98
- Apr 29 Perry Ford [Brian Pugh], British pop singer, session musician and songwriter (The Ivy League - "Tossing And Turning"), dies at 65
- Apr 30 Darrell Sweet, British hard rock drummer (Nazareth - "Love Hurts"), dies of a heart attack at a concert soundcheck at 51
