- 1643 Christoph Demantius, German composer, dies at 75
- 1695 Georg Caspar Weckler, composer, dies at 63
- 1707 Johann Christoph Denner, German musician and inventor (clarinet), dies at 51
- 1839 Giuseppe Rossini, father of Italian composer Gioacchino Rossini, dies
- 1869 Johann Carl Gottfried Loewe, composer, dies at 72
- 1869 Piotr Studzinski, composer, dies at 42
- 1900 Mebel Mercer, popular British singer, dies
- 1956 Jaap Vranken, Dutch organist and composer (Stabat mater), dies at 59
- 1956 Lieven Duvosel, Flemish music composer (Levensschets), dies at 78
- 1962 Artúr Harmat, Hungarian composer, dies at 76
- 1968 Marion Weeks, singer/actress, dies of stroke at 81
- 1970 Shakeel Badayuni, Indian poet and lyricist, dies at 53
- 1973 Elisabeth Hauptmann, German writer (co-author of The Threepenny Opera), dies at 75
- 1984 Mabel Mercer, English/American singer (Fly me to the moon), dies at 84
- 1987 Antony Tudor, English dancer and choreographer (Amer Ballet Theater) dies at 78
- 1991 Steve Marriott, English guitarist (Small Faces), dies in a fire at 44
- 1992 Johnny Shines, American delta blues singer and guitarist, dies at 76
- 2001 Maria Karnilova, American dancer and actress (Fiddler on the Roof, Ivan the Terrible), dies at 80
- 2001 Giuseppe Sinopoli, Italian conductor and composer (Sunnyata), dies at 54
- 2002 Alan Dale, American singer (Alan Dale Show), dies at 76
- 2007 Andrew Hill, American jazz composer and pianist (b. 1931)
- 2008 VL Mike, American Rapper (b. 1976)
- 2012 Bert Weedon, English guitar player, dies at 91
- 2017 Cuba Gooding Sr., American singer (Everybody Plays the Fool), dies at 72
- 2018 Avicii [Tim Bergling], Swedish musician, DJ, remixer and record producer (Levels, Wake Me Up, Sunshine), commits suicide at 28
April in History
Wicked or Sinless? The Life of Lucrezia Borgia
Hardly a week went by when Lucrezia Borgia, born on this day, was not accused of some foul deed. But was she just a pawn in the hands of her evil family?
April 18, 1480Millions Come Up to See Mae West
Mae West, jailed on this day for obscenity, became one of the most successful sex symbols. Fans could not resist the offer: ‘Come up and see me some time.’
April 19, 1927World's First Motor Race
It was hardly the stuff of today's adrenalin-pumping Formula 1 match ups, but on this day two men climbed aboard their machine for "the world’s first motor race”.
April 20, 1887A Son, A Son – My Wife For A Son!
Henry VIII, who became King of England on this day in history, disposed of two wives in his quest for a son and heir – and was to marry four others.
April 21, 1509
