THIS DAY IN ROCK AND ROLL.........APRIL 29

Today is April 29, 2003

56 years ago Tommy James of Tommy James and the Shondells is born. (1947) 41 years ago Just five days after his son Steve Allen drowns in his home swimming pool, Jerry Lee Lewis returns to England nearly four years after he'd left the country in disgrace following the publicity about his marriage to Myra. His first performance, at Newcastle, is greeted with enthusiasm by the fans. (1962)

38 years ago Gerry and the Pacemakers perform at the Brooklyn Fox theater in New York, kicking off a month-long tour of the U.S. (1965)

36 years ago The New York Times reports a Munich court has ruled that "beat band music" is subject to taxation as entertainment and it's not comparable to convert music presented to "passive listeners." Tax authorites submitted test results from a recent "pop beat show" registering the band's sound level at 117 decibels and the audience's sound level at 105 decibels. (1967)

36 years ago Aretha Franklin's "Respect" is released. (1967) 33 years ago George Harrison says the Beatles will reunite eventually and announces plans for his first post-Beatles solo LP. (1970)

31 years ago John and Yoko receive support from New York City mayor John Lindsay in their fight to remain in the United States. (1972) 30 years ago More than 15,000 persons attending a rock concert by Elvin Bishop, Canned Heat, Buddy Miles and Fleetwood Mac are routed from a baseball stadium in Stockton, California, by police firing tear-gas canisters. More than 80 people, including 28 police officers are hurt and fifty arrests are made. (1973) 29 years ago Carole King and husband Charles Larkey have their first son and fourth child, Levi. King had just completed recording her new LP just five days earlier. (1974)

28 years ago RSO Records releases the Bee Gees' "Main Course," the album will change the Gibb brothers' course. The record contains to Top Ten hits, "Jive Talkin'" and "Nights on Broadway." (1975) 27 years ago After playing in Memphis during a southern tour, Bruce Springsteen jumps the fence at Graceland in an attempt to see his idol Elvis Presley. Security stops and Springsteen vainly tries to gain entrance by mentioning his simultaneous appearances on the covers of Time and Newsweek. They aren't impressed and he is escorted off the grounds. (1976)

24 years ago Van Halen's "Dance The Night Away" single is released. (1979) 23 years ago Bob Seger's "Against the Wind" turns gold. The albums spawns four Top Forty singles. (1980)

10 years ago An animated Barry White appears on "The Simpsons." (1993)

8 years ago Rapper Tupac Shakur marries Keisha Morris inside the Clinton Correctional Facility, where he's serving a 4 1/2 year jail term for sex abuse. (1995)

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