April 15, 2001 – Joey Ramone of the Ramones dies of lymphoma at age 49.

April 16, 2018 – Kendrick Lamar’s album DAMN. wins the Pulitzer Prize for music, making him the first rapper to win the award, which traditionally goes to classical composers or jazz musicians.

April 17, 2008 – With SPIRIT Leona Lewis becomes the first British woman to go straight to the top of the Billboard 200 album chart with a debut album.

April 18, 2012 – Pop music impresario and American Bandstand host Dick Clark dies of a heart attack at age 82. Many artists got a huge boost after appearing on Bandstand, which he hosted from 1956 to 1989.

April 19, 1986 – You don’t have to watch Dynasty to have an attitude: Prince hits #1 in the US with “Kiss.” The #2 song is “Manic Monday” by the Bangles, which he wrote.

April 20, 2020 – Homebound during the coronavirus pandemic, Willie Nelson stages the “Come And Toke It” live stream to support efforts to legalise marijuana and free those incarcerated for it. Guests include Ziggy Marley, who does “One Love,” and Kacey Musgraves, who performs “Slow Burn.”

April 21, 2016 – Prince dies at age 57 after overdosing on fentanyl, a highly addictive opioid.

April 22, 1978 – The Blues Brothers (John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd) make their debut on Saturday Night Live, later becoming the first characters from the show to get their own movie.