1971 - Five friends at San Rafael High School in California coined the term "4:20" as a euphemism for smoking pot. April 20 became a popular day to spark one up, as did 4:20 p.m. Note that the Boston song, "Smokin'," clocks in at 4 minutes, 20 seconds, and if you multiply the title numbers in Bob Dylan's "Rainy Day Women," No. 12 and No. 35, you get 420.
In perhaps the most fitting commemoration of the number 420, legendary stoners Snoop Dogg (whose "Up In Smoke Tour" ended on 4/20/2000) and Willie Nelson record the song "Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die" on 4/20/2009, in - where else? - Amsterdam.
1976 - George Harrison, who is good friends with Eric Idle, joins Monty Python on stage at the comedy troupe's show at New York's City Center. Dressed as a Canadian Mountie, Harrison joins the chorus for "The Lumberjack Song." No mention is made of Harrison's appearance, and few in the audience recognize him.
1974 - MFSB (Mother, Father, Sister, Brother) and the Three Degrees started a two-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "TSOP, (The Sound Of Philadelphia)", featuring a lush blend of strings and horns in the Philadelphia soul style. The song, considered the first disco song to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, was written by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff as the theme for TV's Soul Train.
1991 - Steve Marriott leader of Small Faces and Humble Pie, died in a fire at his home in Essex. His work became a major influence for many 90s bands. Small Faces had the 1967 hit, 'Itchycoo Park'. As a child actor he played parts in Dixon of Dock Green and The Artful Dodger in Oliver.
2010 - The stage adaptation of Green Day's American Idiot rock opera officially opened on Broadway, a year after its debut at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in California. Though it's fun to picture the band playing roles in the show, Green Day did not officially appear in the production, aside from Billie Joe Armstrong occasionally stepping in as the role of "St. Jimmy" throughout the run. The musical was nominated for Best Musical in the Tonys, and won two 2010 Tony Awards: Best Scenic Design of a Musical and Best Lighting Design of a Musical. In 2011, the Broadway cast recording won a Grammy for Best Musical Show Album.
2018 - Swedish DJ, remixer, and record producer, Avicii died aged 28. He was nominated for a Grammy for Best Dance Recording with 'Levels' at the 2013 Grammy Awards. His biggest single was 2013's 'Wake Me Up'. He recorded with Wyclef Jean, Robbie Williams, ABBA members Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, Rita Ora and Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day. (Photo by Jo Hale/Getty Images)
Birthdays:
Legendary American mambo master Ernesto Antonio "Tito" Puente was born on this day in 1923. He is often credited as "The Musical Pope" and "The King Of Latin Music." Santana covered Puente's Oye Como Va.
Luther Vandross was born on this day in 1951.
Weezer bassist Mikey Welsh was born today in 1971.
Stephen Marley is 49.
Carmen Electra is 49.
On This Day In Music History is sourced from This Day in Music, Paul Shaffer's Day in Rock, Song Facts and Wikipedia.