This Date In Music History- May 3

Alan Freed had trouble on his hands when a brawl breaks out following a Big Beat Show at the Boston Arena in 1958. Several of the estimated 5,000 teens in attendance are injured and Freed will later be charged with incitement of a riot and destruction of property.

In 1964, Gerry & the Pacemakers made their US television debut on the Ed Sullivan Show.

1965- The Beatles were kept busy filming scenes for their forthcoming film Help! on Salisbury Plain with the British Army's Third Tank Division.

The Beach Boys began a 17 date tour of the US with a show in New York in 1968. The second half of the concert featured the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who lectured the audience on "spiritual regeneration." The reaction was so negative, more than half of the remaining tour dates were cancelled.

In 1972, guitarist Les Harvey of the Scottish / English soul band Stone the Crows, was electrocuted by a shorted microphone wire during a concert attended by 12-thousand people in Swansea, Wales. He died in a local hospital three hours later.

Paul McCartney made his first concert appearance in America in almost ten years in 1976, as Wings commence their Wings over America tour in Fort Worth, Texas.

FM, a film about the struggles of a radio station, debuted in Los Angeles in 1978. The soundtrack features Steely Dan, Steve Miller, the Eagles, Neil Young, Billy Joel and Warren Zevon. More people would buy the soundtrack than bothered to see the film.

The Godfather of Soul, James Brown, was born in a one-room shack near Barnwell, South Carolina in 1933. The Soul legend's style, sound and stage presentation had a major impact on Rock. He was also influential in the development of Funk, Hip-Hop and Rap.

In 1971 Grand Funk Railroad, having been dismissed by the press as untalented riff mongers, held a New York press conference. They invite 150 journalists. Six show up. It’s the first press conference in history that doesn’t run out of booze.

In 1980, Bob Seger’s album, "Against The Wind," began a six week run at the top of the U.S. album chart. The record stays on the chart for 110 weeks.

Bing Crosby was born in Tacoma, Washington in 1903

We cannot explain him, only celebrate him. Engelbert Humperdinck was born Arnold George Dorsey in Madras, India in 1936.

Frankie Valli, who scored a bundle of hits with the Four Seasons, was born Francis Castelluccio in Newark, N.J. in 1937

In 1969, Canadian police busted Jimi Hendrix for narcotics possession at Toronto International Airport. He was later released after posting $10,000 bail.

One Hit Wonder Mary Hopkin had a memorable smash with "Those Were the Days," then found herself singing backup vocalist on David Bowie's Low! She was born today in Pontardawe, Wales in 1950.

Pete Seeger ("Little Boxes" and member of the Weavers) turns 89.

In 1972, Bruce Springsteen auditioned for Columbia Records A&R man John Hammond at his office in New York. He signed with the label a month later.