Historical Events
- Apr 1 Federal Bankruptcy Referee Sidney Volinn declares MLB's Seattle Pilots bankrupt; car dealer Bud Selig buys franchise for $10.8 million and moves club to Milwaukee (Brewers)
Music History
Apr 1 John Lennon and Yoko Ono release hoax they are having dual sex change operations
- Apr 1 Serious riots continue in the Ballymurphy estate in Belfast between Catholic residents and the British Army
Event of Interest
Apr 1 US President Richard Nixon signs bill limiting cigarette advertisements from 1st Jan 1971
- Apr 2 2 men begin ascent of south face of Annapurna I, highest final stage in a wall climb in world
- Apr 2 Meghalaya becomes autonomous state within India's Assam state
- Apr 3 As part of a new 'get tough' policy in Northern Ireland, Ian Freeland of the British Army, warned that those throwing petrol bombs could be shot dead
- Apr 3 Miriam Hargrave of England passes her drivers test on 40th attempt
- Apr 4 124th Grand National: 15/1 chance Gay Trip wins by 20 lengths, giving Irish jockey Pat Taaffe his second GN winner
- Apr 4 Firestone World Tournament of Champions won by Don Johnson
- Apr 5 WSNS TV channel 44 in Chicago, IL (IND) begins broadcasting
Academy Awards
Apr 7 42nd Academy Awards: "Midnight Cowboy" - Best Picture, John Wayne (True Grit), and Maggie Smith (The Prime of Miss Jane Brody) win
- Apr 7 MLB Milwaukee Brewers (former Seattle Pilots) 1st game, lose to Angels 12-0
- Apr 8 Mitch Leigh, William Alfred and Phyllis Robinson's musical melodrama "Cry for Us All" opens at Broadhurst Theater, NYC; runs for 9 performances
- Apr 8 Senate rejects Nixon's nomination of Judge G. Harrold Carswell to US Supreme Court
Music History
Apr 10 Paul McCartney officially announces the split of The Beatles
- Apr 11 Apollo 13 launched to Moon; unable to land, returns in 6 days
- Apr 11 Beatles' "Let It Be" single goes #1 & stays #1 for 2 weeks
- Apr 11 San Francisco beats Cincinnati 2-1, only day Reds aren't in 1st place in 1970
Sports History
Apr 12 Yankees dedicate plaques to Mickey Mantle & Joe DiMaggio
US Masters Golf
Apr 13 34th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Billy Casper defeats Gene Littler, 69 to 74 in a Monday 18-hole playoff to win his 3rd major title; last 18-hole playoff at the Masters
Academy of Country Music Awards
Apr 13 5th Academy of Country Music Awards: Merle Haggard and Tammy Wynette win
- Apr 13 Apollo 13 announces "Okay, Houston, we've had a problem here", as Beech-built oxygen tank explodes en route to Moon
- Apr 13 Greek composer and counter-revolutionary Mikis Theordorakis freed from Oropos concentration camp, and allowed to be exiled to France
- Apr 13 Oakland uses gold-colored bases during the club's home opener: Rules Committee subsequently bans this innovation
- Apr 14 Revival of Sandy Wilson's musical "The Boy Friend", starring Judy Carne and Sandy Duncan, opens at Ambassador Theater, NYC; runs for 111 performances
- Apr 15 Libyan leader Gadaffi launches "Green Revolution"
- Apr 15 Mitch Leigh, William Alfred and Phyllis Robinson's musical melodrama "Cry for Us All" closes at Broadhurst Theater, NYC, after 9 performances
- Apr 15 WMGZ TV channel 16 in Mayaguez, PR ([M]) begins broadcasting
- Apr 15 WPSJ TV channel 14 in Ponce, PR ([P]) begins broadcasting
- Apr 16 70 die in a snow crush (France)
Event of Interest
Apr 16 Protestant Unionist Ian Paisley wins seat formerly held by Terence O'Neill in the Stormont (North Ireland Parliament)
- Apr 17 Apollo 13 limps back safely, Beech-built oxygen tank no help
- Apr 17 Paul McCartney releases his 1st solo album "McCartney"
- Apr 18 France beats England, 35-13 at Stade Colombes, Paris to earn a share of the Five Nations Rugby Championship with Wales
- Apr 19 "Look to the Lilies" closes at Lunt-Fontanne NYC after 25 performances
- Apr 19 24th Tony Awards: "Borstal Boy" (play) & "Applause" (musical) win
- Apr 20 74th Boston Marathon: Englishman Ron Hill wins in 2:10:30 (US record): American Sara Mae Berman 1st woman for 2nd straight year in 3:05:07 (unsanctioned)
- Apr 20 Bruno Kreisky becomes 1st socialist chancellor of Austria
- Apr 21 Reds clout 7 HRs by 6 batters, Braves counter with 3 HRs, 6 for one team & 9 different batters for two teams, all tie or set records
- Apr 21 The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (APNI) is formed; it attempts to appeal to Catholics and Protestant to unite in support of moderate policies
- Apr 21 The Principality of Hutt River (previously Hutt River Province) secedes from Australia - it remains unrecognised by Australia or other nations
- Apr 22 First Earth Day celebrated, founded by Gaylord Nelson
- Apr 22 Lance Mulcahy and Paul Cherry's musical "Park" opens at John Golden Theater, NYC; runs for 5 performances
- Apr 22 NY Met Jerry Grote sets record of 20 put outs by a catcher
Baseball Record
Apr 22 NY Met Tom Seaver strikes out last 10 Padres, for a total of 19
- Apr 22 Senators beat Yankees 2-1 in 18 innings
- Apr 24 Gambia becomes a republic within the Commonwealth
- Apr 24 People's Republic of China launches its 1st satellite transmitting song "East is Red"
- Apr 25 Buddha Records releases Melanie's breakthrough single "Lay Down"
- Apr 25 Holland-Dozier-Holland's Invictus Records releases Freda Payne's signature single "Band of Gold"
- Apr 25 Lance Mulcahy and Paul Cherry's musical "Park" closes at John Golden Theater, NYC, after 5 performances
Company
Apr 26 Stephen Sondheim's musical "Company", directed by Hal Prince, opens at Alvin Theater NYC; runs for 705 performances, wins 6 Tony Awards
Famous Birthdays
- Apr 1 Sung Hi Lee, Korean-born model
- Apr 2 Deva Premal [Jolantha Fries], German singer known for setting ancient Tibetan and Sanskrit mantras into contemporary new age music, born in Nürnberg, Germany
- Apr 2 Jon Lieber, American baseball pitcher (MLB All Star 2001; Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs), born in Council Bluffs, Iowa
- Apr 2 Tammi Reiss, American actress and former WNBA guard (Utah Starzz), born in New York
- Apr 4 Barry Pepper, Canadian actor (The Kennedys), born in Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada
- Apr 4 Jason Stoltenberg, Australian tennis star, born in Narrabri, Australia
- Apr 4 Mix Master Mike [Michael Schwartz], American turntablist, born in San Francisco, California
- Apr 5 Miho Hatori, Japanese singer-songwriter (Cibo Matto), born in Tokyo, Japan
- Apr 5 Thea Gill, Canadian actress
- Apr 6 Huang Xiaomin, Chinese swimmer
- Apr 6 Olaf Kolzig, German NHL goalie and coach (Germany, Washington Capitals), born in Johannesburg, South Africa
- Apr 6 Oliver Miller, NBA forward/center (Toronto Raptors)
- Apr 7 Alexander Karpovtsev, NHL defenseman, 1993-2006 (NY Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks, and 3 other teams), born in Moscow, Russia
- Apr 7 Kevin Smith, NFL cornerback, 1992-2000 (Dallas Cowboys, 3X Super Bowl champ), born in Orange, Texas
- Apr 7 Leif Ove Andsnes, Norwegian classical pianist, born in Karmøy, Norway
MacKenzie Scott (54 years old)
Apr 7 American novelist and philanthropist, born in San Francisco, California
- Apr 8 Harold Bishop, NFL tight end (Cleveland Browns), born in Booneville, Mississippi
- Apr 9 Chuck Bradley, American NFL offensive tackle (BC Lions, Barcelona Dragons), born in Covington, Kentucky
- Apr 9 Josh Todd [Gruber], American musician, singer (Buckcherry), and actor, born in Los Angeles, California
- Apr 9 Mike Barz [Michael Barszcz], American meteorologist and TV anchor (WFOX-TV, WJAX-TV), born in Los Angeles, California
- Apr 10 Enrico Ciccone, Canadian NHL defenseman (Chicago Blackhawks), born in Montreal, Quebec
- Apr 10 J. J. McCleskey, American NFL safety (New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals), born in Knoxville, Tennessee
- Apr 10 Kenny Lattimore, American R&B singer-songwriter ("Never Too Busy"; "For You"), born in Washington, D.C.
- Apr 10 Mike Mushok, American rock guitarist (Staind; Newsted; Saint Asonia), born in Ludlow, Massachusetts
- Apr 10 Q-Tip [Kamaal Fareed, born Jonathan Davis], American rapper, actor, record producer and DJ, born in Harlem, New York
- Apr 10 Sean Gilbert, American NFL defensive tackle (Washington Redskins), born in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania
- Apr 11 Delroy Pearson, English rock vocalist (Five Star - "Between The Lines"), born in Islington, London
- Apr 11 Johnny Messner, American actor (Tears of the Sun), born in Syracuse, New York
- Apr 11 Trevor Linden, Canadian ice hockey right wing (Vancouver Canucks, NY Islanders) and executive (President NHLPA 1998-2005; president hockey operations Vancouver Canucks 2014-18), born in Medicine Hat, Alberta
- Apr 12 Nick Hexum, American singer and songwriter (311), born in Madison, Wisconsin
- Apr 13 Eddie Robinson, American NFL linebacker (Houston Oilers, Jacksonville Jaguars), born in New Orleans, Louisiana
- Apr 13 Gerry Creaney, Scottish footballer, born in Coatbridge, Scotland
- Apr 13 Monty Brown, American professional wrestler and NFL linebacker (Buffalo Bills), born in Saginaw, Michigan
- Apr 13 Rick Schroder, American actor (Ricky-Silver Spoons, Champ, Earthling), born in Staten Island, New York
- Apr 13 Szilveszter Csollány, Hungarian gymnast (Olympic gold rings 2000, silver 1996; World C'ship gold rings 2002), born in Sopron, Hungary (d. 2022)
- Apr 14 Brian Stablein, American NFL wide receiver (Indianapolis Colts), born in Erie, Pennsylvania
- Apr 14 Jan Siemerink, Dutch tennis star, born in Rijnsburg, Netherlands
- Apr 14 Shizuka Kudō, Japanese pop singer (Onyanko Club; solo - "Dōkoku"), and actress, born in Hamura, Tokyo, Japan
- Apr 14 Steve Avery, American pitcher (Atlanta Braves), born in Trenton, Michigan
- Apr 15 Darrin Smith, American football linebacker (Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl XXVIII, XXX Dallas Cowboys), born in Miami, Florida
- Apr 15 Flex Alexander, American actor
- Apr 16 Fran Robinson, American actress (Lauren-Charlie & Company), born in California
- Apr 16 Steve Emtman, American College Football HOF defensive tackle (University of Washington; 1992 NFL Draft Pick #1 Indianapolis Colts), born in Spokane, Washington
- Apr 16 Walt Williams, American NBA forward and guard (Toronto Raptors, Miami Heat), born in Washington, D.C.
- Apr 17 Redman [Reginald Noble], American rapper, born in Newark, New Jersey
- Apr 18 François Leroux, Canadian NHL defenseman (Pitts Penguins), born in Sainte-Adèle, Québec, Canada
- Apr 18 Greg Eklund, American drummer (Everclear, 1994-2003), born in Jacksonville, Florida
- Apr 18 Heike Friedrich, East German swimmer (world record 200m), born in Karl-Marx-Stadt, Sachsen
- Apr 18 Rico Brogna, American MLB baseball player (Detroit Tigers), born in Turners Falls, Massachusetts
- Apr 18 Saad Hariri, Lebanese-Saudi Prime Minister of Lebanon (2016-present), born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Apr 18 William Roaf, American NFL tackle (New Orleans Saints), born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas
- Apr 19 Kelly Holmes, British athlete (Olympics gold 800/1,500m 2004), born in Hildenborough, England
Luis Miguel (54 years old)
Apr 19 Puerto Rican-Mexican singer ("Me Gustas Tal Como Eres"), referred to as El Sol de Mexico (The Sun of Mexico), born in San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Apr 20 Adriano Moraes, Brazilian rodeo performer, born in Quintana, São Paulo, Brazil
- Apr 20 Pete Correale, American comedian, writer, and broadcaster, born in Oakdale, Long Island, New York
- Apr 20 Shemar Moore, American actor (Malcolm-Young & Restless), born in Oakland, California
- Apr 21 Glen Hansard, Irish singer-songwriter, guitarist ("Falling Slowly"), and actor (Once; The Commitments), born in Ballymum, Ireland
- Apr 21 Israel Stanley, NFL/WLAF defensive end (New Orleans Saints, Rhein Fire)
- Apr 21 Nicole Sullivan, American actress and comedienne (MADtv, The King of Queens), born in Manhattan, New York
- Apr 21 Rob Riggle, American comedian and actor (Modern Family; The Daily Show, 2006-08; SNL, 2005-05), born in Louisville, Kentucky
- Apr 22 Regine Velasquez, Filipina pop singer and actress, born in Tondo, Philippines
- Apr 22 Wang Tao, Chinese soccer striker (2 caps; Dalian Wanda FC) and executive (founder BSU FC), born in Dalian, China (d. 2022)
- Apr 23 Cristiano Caratti, Italian tennis star (1987 Orange Bowl boys doubles), born in Acqui Terme, Italy
- Apr 23 Dennis Culp, American singer and songwriter, born in Denver, Colorado
- Apr 23 Sadao Abe, Japanese actor (Team Medical Dragon), born in Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture, Japan
- Apr 23 Scott Bairstow, Canadian actor (Lonesome Series: The Dove), born in Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada
- Apr 24 Damien Fleming, Australian cricket fast bowler (20 Tests, 75 wickets, BB 5/30; hat-trick Test debut 1994; Victoria, Warwickshire CCC, South Australia) and broadcaster (Seven Network, ABC, Channel 10, Fox Sports), born in Perth, Australia
- Apr 25 Corwin Brown, American NFL safety, 1993-2000 (NY Jets, NE Patriots), and college and professional coach, born in Chicago, Illinois
- Apr 25 Jason Lee, American comic actor (My Name Is Earl; Kevin Smith films; Alvin an the Chipmunks), and skateboard maker, born in Santa Ana, California
Melania Trump (53 years old)
Apr 26 Slovenian-American model, wife of former President Donald Trump and First Lady of the United States (2017-21), born in Novo Mesto, Yugoslavia
- Apr 26 Shane Evans, American drummer (Collective Soul, 1992-2005 - "Shine"; "The World I Know"), born in Stockbridge, Georgia
- Apr 26 T-Boz [Tionne Watkins], American R&B-pop singer (TLC -"Waterfalls"; "No Scrubs"), born in Des Moines, Iowa
- Apr 27 Mikiko Hagiwara, Japanese basketball player, born in Fukushima, Japan
- Apr 27 Tim Hanshaw, NFL guard (SF 49ers), born in Spokane, Washington
- Apr 28 Diego Simeone, Argentine footballer and manager (Atlético Madrid), born in Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Apr 28 Nicklas Lidstrom, Swedish NHL defenceman who played for 20 seasons (Team Sweden, Detroit Red Wings), born in Krylbo, Sweden
- Apr 28 Richard Fromberg, Australian, tennis player, born in Ulverstone, Tasmania
Andre Agassi (53 years old)
Apr 29 American tennis player (Olympic gold 1996, 8 Grand Slam titles), born in Las Vegas, Nevada
- Apr 29 China Forbes, American singer-songwriter (Pink Martini), born in Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Apr 29 Mark McMillian, American NFL cornerback (Philadelphia Eagles, KC Chiefs), born in Los Angeles, California
Uma Thurman (53 years old)
Apr 29 American actress (Baron Munchausen, Pulp Fiction), born in Boston, Massachusetts
- Apr 29 William Martin III, American finn sailor (Olympics 23rd-1996), born in Charleston, South Carolina
- Apr 30 Debbie D, actress (Attack of Vampire Mermaid), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Apr 30 Ken Stanton, American Radio Personality
Famous Deaths
- Apr 4 Byron Foulger, American actor (Capt Nice, Petticoat Junction), dies at 70
- Apr 4 Victor Otto Stomps, German writer and publisher, dies at 72
- Apr 5 Alfred Henry Sturtevant, American geneticist, dies at 78
- Apr 5 Jacob H "Jaap" Stotijn, Dutch oboist, and conductor (Residence Orchestra), dies at 78
- Apr 6 Maurice Stokes, American Basketball HOF power forward (NBA All-Star 1956, 57, 58; NBA Rookie of the Year 1956; Rochester/Cincinnati Royals), dies from a heart attack at 36
- Apr 6 Sam Sheppard, American accused murderer (b. 1923)
- Apr 7 Josina Machel, Mozambican independence activist, and wife of Mozambique's 1st president Samora Machel, dies at 25
- Apr 8 Felix, of Bourbon-Parma and Prince consort of Luxemburg, dies at 76
- Apr 9 Gustaf Tenggren, Swedish-American artist and chief illustrator for The Walt Disney Company during the 1930s (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Fantasia, Bambi, Pinocchio), dies at 73
- Apr 10 Charles Paton, British actor (Freedom of the Seas), dies of a heart attack at 96
- Apr 11 Cathy O'Donnell [Ann Steely], American film noir actress (Miniver Story, Man from Laramie), dies of a cerebral hemorrhage at 46
- Apr 11 John O'Hara, American short story writer and novelist (Appointment at Samarra; Pal Joey; BUtterfield-8), dies of cardiovascular disease at 65
- Apr 13 William H. Johnson, African-American artist of the Harlem Renaissance (Flowers; Training for War), dies of pancreatic hemorrhage at 67
- Apr 15 Ripper Collins, American baseball first baseman (MLB All-Star 1935, 36, 37; World Series 1931, 34; NL HR leader 1934; St Louis Cardinals), dies at 66
- Apr 16 Richard Neutra, Austrian-American modernist architect (Kaufmann Desert House - Palm Springs, CA; Moore House - Ojai, CA; Hassrick House - Philadelphia, PA), dies at 78
- Apr 17 Sergei Aleksi [Alexy], patriarch of Russian-Orthodox church, dies at 92
- Apr 20 Paul Celan [Antschell], German-Romanian poet (Collected Prose), drowns himself at 49
- Apr 20 Shakeel Badayuni, Indian poet and lyricist, dies at 53
- Apr 21 Earl Hooker, American blues slide guitar player ("Blue Guitar"), dies of tuberculosis at 40
- Apr 23 Herb Shriner, American humorist & TV host (Herb Shriner Show), dies at 51
- Apr 24 Otis Spann, American blues pianist and singer (The Blues Never Die!), dies of liver cancer at 40 [or perhaps, 46; birth date disputed]
- Apr 25 Anita Louise, American actress (The Little Princess; Gorilla; My Friend Flicka), dies from a stroke at 55
- Apr 26 "Gypsy" Rose Lee [Hovick], American burlesque actress (Gypsy), dies of lung cancer at 59
- Apr 26 Erik Bergman, Swedish pastor, dies at 83
- Apr 26 John Knittel, Swiss writer, dies at 79
- Apr 26 Paul Celan, Romanian-born writer, dies at 49
- Apr 27 Arthur Shields, Irish actor ("The River"; "Enchanted Island"), dies at 74
- Apr 28 Ed Begley, American actor (12 Angry Men, The Unsinkable Molly Brown), dies at 69
- Apr 29 Forrest DeBernardi, American Basketball HOF center (5 × AAU C'ship; 5 × AAU All-American Westminster College), dies at 71
- Apr 30 Hall Johnson, American composer (Hall Johnson Choir), dies at 82
- Apr 30 Inger Stevens, actress (Katy-Farmer's Daughter), commits suicide at 35
- Apr 30 Jacob Presser, Dutch historian and writer (Ashes in the Wind), dies at 71
