5 April 2026

► EVENTS ON 5 APRIL;

On this day in 1958, near Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada,  Ripple Rock, an underwater threat to navigation which had caused 119 shipwrecks and scores of deaths, was destroyed in one of the largest non-nuclear, controlled explosions of the time.
The explosion displaced 635,000 tonnes of rock and eliminated the two peaks which rose to within a few metres of the surface.

1968, and in Memphis, Tennessee, civil rights leader Dr Martin Luther King was assassinated as he stood on a balcony outside his second-storey motel room.

1971, in Sicily, an eruption of Mt Etna took place.  This was one of the longest recorded eruptions of the volcano, lasting two months.  The molten lava it released narrowly missed two towns.

1998,  Kobe, Japan – The Akashi-Kaikyo bridge which spans the Akashi Strait opened to traffic.  With an overall length of 3,911 metres, and a deck height of 65 metres, it is the largest suspension bridge in the world.  It took 10 years to build.

  ► ARRIVALS ON THIS DATE

1900, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.A.:  Spencer Tracy, actor, who appeared in 74 films from 1930 to 1967.  In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked Tracy ninth among the Greatest Male Stars of All Time.  He died in 1967.

1908, Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S.A. : Ruth Elizabeth Davis alias Bette Davis, actress of film, television and theatre noted for her willingness to play unsympathetic characters .   She died in 1989.

1912, Bedfordshire, England:  John Elton Le Mesurier Halliley alias John Le Mesurier, award-winning actor famous for his role as Sergeant Arthur Wilson on the popular 70s BBC comedy Dad’s Army He died in 1983.

1922, Bloomington, Texas, U.S.A. :  Josephine Owaissa Cottle alias Gale Storm, actress and singer, whose career started with a movie role in 1940 and continued till 1989.   She died in 2009.

1929, Coventry, Warwickshire, England: Nigel Hawthorne, actor, best remembered for his role as Sir Humphrey Appleby, the Permanent Secretary in the 1980s sitcom Yes Minister and the Cabinet Secretary in its sequel, Yes, Prime Minister  He died in 2001

1929, Newent, Gloucestershire, England:  Robert George Meek alias Joe Meek,  record producer and songwriter whose work and success in music is remarkable, as he was tone deaf .  He died in 1967.

1939, Swanley, Kent, England:  Robin Peter Smith alias Crispian St Peters,  pop singer and songwriter best known for his hits, The Pied Piper and You Were On My Mind  He died in 2010.

1950, Jonkoping, Sweden:  Agnetha Fältskog,  recording artist who achieved success in Sweden after the release of her debut album Agnetha Fältskog in 1968.  she reached international stardom as a member of the pop ABBA.

► DEPARTURES ON THIS DATE

1983, Quartzsite, Arizona, U.S.A:  Danny Rapp, aged 74.  He was a pop musician with the group Danny & The Juniors, best known for their 1957 hit At The Hop

2006, Cardiff, Wales, Gene Pitney, aged 66.  American pop music singer-songwriter, musician and sound engineer, highly successful during the 1960s with numerous hit singles and albums.  One of his biggest hits was The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.

Today’s photo: The completed mural on the Tasmanian Transport Museum Society’s shed at Glenorchy. This was pre-viewed here, when incomplete, a few weeks ago.

Artist: Joel Gajda

Yours Truly

Today’s Playlist :

TRACK	RELEASE YEAR	PLAY TIME	LAST PLAYED
Joy Adams – Teach Your Children	2023	06:06	17/8/2025
Lance Friend – My Home Australia	2023	06:11	22/3/2026
Lindsay Waddington – Kakadu	2022	06:14	5/9/2025
Crispian St Peters – Free Spirit  Robin Peter Smith alias Crispian St Peters, BORN THIS DAY in 1939, Swanley, Kent, England.  Died 2010	1967	06:20	4/2/2022
ABBA – Hasta Manana  Agnetha Fältskog, BORN THIS DAY in 1950, Jonkoping, Sweden	1976	06:23	15/11/2024
For A Listener: Elvis Presley – How Great Thou Art		06:26	27/7/2014
Alan Tew Orchestra – Don’t Cry For Me Argentina		06:33	25/3/2022
Gordon Lightfoot – For Lovin’ Me		06:37	–
Vintage Vinyl    Patti Page – Tennessee Waltz	1950	06:40	7/8/2022
The Charlesys – Live Together	2026	06:43	22/2/2026
Ray Malcolm – Together Again	2026	06:48	22/3/2026
Diamond Album – From the L P “JOHNNY’S GREATEST HITS” Charting on this day 1966 Johnny Mathis – The Twelfth Of Never	1966	06:52	17/12/2023
Boney M – Hooray Hooray It’s A Holi Holiday		06:55	18/4/2025
Adam Faith – Green Finger		06:57	–
Jason McCahill – It’s Good To See You	2026	07:05	15/3/2026
COUNTRY ROAD + Slim Dusty – I’ll Take Mine Country Style		07:10	3/5/2019
+ Porter Wagoner – The Green Green Grass of Home		07:12	15/7/2016
For A Listener: Col Elliott – Proud To Be An Aussie		07:17	3/11/2023
Eric Devries – Shadow Of A Man	2024	07:21	1/11/2024
Vintage Vinyl   Danny & Juniors – At The Hop  Danny Rapp, DIED THIS DAY 1983, Quartzsite, Arizona, U.S.A. aged 74.	1958	07:26	27/2/2026
Gene Pitney – It Hurts To Be In Love  Gene Pitney, DIED THIS DAY 2006, Cardiff, Wales, aged 66.	1964	07:28	6/9/2024
Living Strings – Airport Love Theme		07:34	5/1/2024
For A Listener: Gene Watson – This Song Is Just For You		07:40	22/3/2026
Jade Hurley – My Country	2026	07:43	27/2/2026
Chillin – Let It In	2026	07:49	3/4/2026
Diamond Classic – From the L P “RUBBER SOUL” Charting on this day 1966 Beatles – I’m Looking Through You	1966	07:54	–
Cookies – Chains	1962	07:57	13/7/2018
Graeme Clarke – Ramblin’ Fever	2017	08:05	22/3/2026
COMFORT ZONE + Jack Jones – Strangers In The Night		08:10	12/5/2023
+ Sandy Scott & Tommy Tycho Orchestra – And I Love You So		08:16	14/7/2019
Wendy Maree – Apricot Sky	2026	08:23	22/3/2026
Vintage Vinyl    Buddy Holly – Think It Over	1958	08:26	27/6/2025
RnR Ranch Girls – On The Road Again	2022	08:28	21/1/2024
Billy Vaughn & His Orchestra – Alabama Jubilee		08:33	6/3/2020
Diamond Classic – From the L P “WHIPPED CREAM” Charting on this day 1966 Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass – Tangerine	1965	08:35	–
Diamond Classic – From the L P “I HEAR A SYMPHONY” Charting on this day 1966 Diana Ross & Supremes – Unchained Melody	1966	08:39	5/5/2023
Rene Hage – We Welcome You	2026	08:44	–
Foster & Allen – Have You Ever Been Lonely		08:47	–
Hein Simons – Viel Zu Nah		08:50
Fishermens Friends – Strike The Bell		08:53	31/5/2024