Here we are again, bringing you the iconic moments in music that happened this week in history. From Billy Joel’s banner at Madison Square Garden to RuPaul’s performance of “Supermodel (You Better Work),” here’s what happened in the last week of April in years past.
April 24: Billy Joel Gets Bannered
On this day in 2006, Billy Joel becomes the first non-athlete to earn a banner at Madison Square Garden when he sells out the venue for the 12th time on his tour. His #12 hangs alongside retired greats who played in the Garden like Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, and Mark Messier.
April 25: RuPaul Performs “Supermodel (You Better Work)”
In 1993, RuPaul performed “Supermodel (You Better Work)” at the LGBT March on Washington.
April 26: Jeff Buckley Honors His Father
In 1991, a tribute concert for Tim Buckley, who died in 1975 at 28, was held at St. Ann’s Church in Brooklyn. It was the first time his son, Jeff Buckley, performed his father’s music.
April 27: The “Incredibly Racist” Snub
In 2004, Elton John publicly responded to American Idol‘s snub of Jennifer Hudson by declaring the call-in voters “incredibly racist.”
April 28: Eminem’s Power Leads Dido to #3
In 2001, Dido‘s song “Thank You” climbs to #3 in America after Eminem samples it for the hook of his song “Stan.” The song first appeared on Dido’s 1999 debut album, No Angel, which goes on to sell over 10 million copies worldwide.
April 29: Hair
On April 29th, 1968, the late 60s-set musical Hair opens on Broadway at the Biltmore Theatre.
The show was later made into a movie. Hair the movie came out in 1979 and starred, among others, Treat Williams and John Savage respectively in the protagonist roles of George Berger and Claude Hooper Bukowski.
Featuring the hippie anthem “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In,” the musical Hair opens on Broadway at the Biltmore Theatre.
April 30: Who’s Celine Dion?
On this day in 1988, an unknown Canadian singer named Céline Dion won the Eurovision Song Contest for Switzerland.
Her song “Ne partez pas sans moi” beat the United Kingdom’s entry by a single point. The success encouraged her to learn English, and two years later, her 15th studio album, Unison (1990), reached #4 in the US chart. She went on to become one of the most successful singers in the world – her biggest hit, 1997’s “My Heart Will Go On,” sold over 15 million copies.
