This Date In Music History-May 2

Birthdays:

Engelbert Humperdinck (1936)

Leon Russel (1942)

Glen Dale - Fortunes (1943)

Goldy McJohn - Steppenwolf (1945)

Bob Henrit - Argent (1946)

Emmylou Harris (1947)

Lesley Gore (1946)

Lou Gramm - Foreigner (1950)



Leon Wilkerson - Lynyrd Skynyrd (1952)

Prescott Niles - Knack (1954)

Jo Callis - Human League (1955)

Dr Robert - Blow Monkeys (1961)

Keren Woodward - Bananarama (1961)


They Are Missed:

Session drummer Benny Benjamin died in 1969. One of 'The Funk Brothers' played on many Tamla Motown hits including, The Four Tops, Temptations, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes and Stevie Wonder. The film 'Standing In The Shadows Of Motown' released in 2003 features his work.

Born on this day in 1904, Bing Crosby, US singer who recorded an estimated 2,600 songs in his lifetime including "White Christmas," which was written by Irving Berlin. Crosby had 317 other hits in the US. He died of a heart attack on a golf course in Madrid, Spain, on October 14, 1977.

Marvin Gaye, Jr. was born today in 1939. On April 1, 1984 - one day before his 45th birthday - Gaye was shot and killed by the Reverend Marvin Gay, Sr. in the aftermath of a heated argument.

In 1998, Japanese rock star Hideto Matsumoto was found hanged in the bathroom at his Tokyo apartment and died in hospital a short time later at the age of 33. His funeral, held on May 7th, was attended by over 70,000 people and required 100 police officers, 170 security guards, police boats and helicopters. 21 people were hospitalised for injuries caused by the massive crowd at his funeral.

Rob Pilatus (Milli Vanilli) died in a hotel room in Frankfurt, Germany in 1998.

Born today in 1935, Link Wray, surf guitarist. Wray was credited with inventing 'fuzz' guitar after punching a hole in a speaker giving him a distorted sound. Wray died on Nov 5, 2005 (age 76).



Born on this day in 1945, Randy Cain, The Delfonics. Died on April 9, 2009 at the age of 63


History:

In 1956, Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel,” Carl Perkins’ “Blue Suede Shoes” and Little Richard’s “Long Tall Sally” appear simultaneously on the pop and R&B charts. Presley and Perkins also occupy the #1 and #2 positions, respectively on the Country & Western charts.

Also in 1956 - The Biggest Rock and Roll Show of ’56 packs ‘em in with Bill Haley & His Comets and Bo Diddley, among other acts. The caravan tour starts in Hershey, PA.

In 1957, Elvis Presley recorded the Leiber and Stoller song "Jailhouse Rock" as featured in his third motion picture of the same name.

Ben E. King leaves the Drifters and signed a solo contract with Atco Records in 1960.

Ray Peterson records "Tell Laura I Love Her" in 1960.



Dick Clark testified before a Congressional committee investigating payola (and was cleared) in 1960.

In 1963, the Beatles were at #1 on the UK singles chart with "From Me To You," the group's first #1 and the first of eleven consecutive #1's. The title of the song was inspired from a letters column called From You To Us that ran in the British music newspaper, The New Musical Express.

“The Beatles Second Album,” with “She Loves You” tops the US album chart in 1964 just two weeks after its release. It makes it to #1 faster than any other album to date. Meanwhile, the Rolling Stones self-titled debut rules the U.K. album chart displacing “With The Beatles.”

The Beach Boys recorded "I Get Around" in 1964.

Freddie & the Dreamers recorded "Do The Freddie" in 1965.

Steve Winwood left the Spencer Davis Group to form Traffic in 1967.

The Beatles finished recording the album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" in 1967.

The Beach Boys abandon their “Smile” project in 1967. Numerous bootlegs circulate before songs created for the album get an official release.

Elvis Presley's film career ends along with the filming on his last theatrical movie, "Change Of Habit" in 1969.

The Beatles recorded a re-make of the new George Harrison song "Something" at Abbey Road Studios in London in 1969. They recoded 36 takes of the song, which included Billy Preston on piano.

Pink Floyd appeared at Manchester Chamber Of Commerce, England in 1969. The show was recorded for the forthcoming album ‘Ummagumma.

In 1972, Bruce Springsteen auditioned for CBS Records A&R man John Hammond in New York. Springsteen played a short set for him in his office; Hammond was so impressed that he arranged a real audition that night at the Gaslight Club in New York for other Columbia executives. Bruce passed the audition.

Eric Clapton recorded "Wonderful Tonight" (written by Eric about Pattie Boyd) in 1977.

Stevie Wonder’s tribute to Duke Ellington, "Sir Duke," was released in 1977.

The Who’s film “Quadrophenia” premiered in London in 1979. Also that same year, the Who perform for the first time with new drummer Kenney Jones. The ex-Faces drummer replaces Keith Moon who died the previous year.

In 1980, Joy Division played what would be their last gig with singer Ian Curtis when they appeared at Birmingham University, England. Curtis committed suicide two weeks later.

Scottish singer Sheena Easton started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1981 with "Morning Train (9 to 5)." The title of the song was changed to avoid any confusion with the Dolly Parton hit "9 to 5," in the same year.

The Prince album "Sign O' The Times" was released worldwide in 1987.

In 1989, a security guard alerted the police after a man wearing a wig, fake moustache and false teeth walked into Zales Jewellers, California. Three squad cars arrived and police detained the man, who turned out to be Michael Jackson in disguise.

In 1991, the video for the R.E.M. song "Losing My Religion," was banned in Ireland because its religious imagery was seen as unfit for broadcast.



Also in 1991, Nirvana booked into Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, California for 16 days. On a budget of $65,000 and with Butch Vig producing the band started recording what would become the ‘Nevermind’ album.

In 1992, little known UK duo Nirvana filed a suit against the American band of the same name claiming that they had been using the name since 1968. The dispute was settled out of court in the British bands favor.

In 1998, a new wing opened at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum opened in Cleveland, OH.

In 2004, Total Guitar magazine's readers voted Guns N' Roses' anthem "Sweet Child O' Mine" as the greatest guitar riff ever ahead of Nirvana's grunge anthem "Smells Like Teen Spirit." Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" came third, followed by Deep Purple's "Smoke On The Water."

In 2005, Eric Clapton joined former Cream members drummer Ginger Baker and bass player Jack Bruce for the first of four nights at London's Royal Albert Hall 36 years after they had split up. Tickets were changing hands for more than £500 on eBay and fans had flown over from the USA to witness the reunion, which Clapton aged 60, is said to have agreed to because of the failing health of the other former members of the band.

In 2006, Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards was released from hospital in New Zealand after the 62 year-old suffered "mild concussion" when he fell out of a coconut tree while on holiday in Fiji. He was airlifted to Auckland's Ascot Hospital for observation, where he underwent a brain scan. No brain was found.....

In 2007, almost 2,000 musicians gathered in the Polish city of Wroclaw to play a rock anthem by Jimi Hendrix. The guitarist's were aiming to set a new Guinness World Record by gathering 1,876 guitarist's in the city's market square to play "Hey Joe." Organizers say it was the biggest guitar ensemble in recorded history.

Bon Jovi make their first-ever appearance at the annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 2009. It’s the Jazz Fest’s 40th anniversary.

In 2009, a rare Motown seven-inch single sold for $38,378, setting a new world record. Kenny Burrell, from Fife in Scotland, put the unreleased 1965 single "Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)" by Frank Wilson up for auction; the single was one of only two in the world. Motown boss Berry Gordy had all other copies destroyed after Wilson moved into songwriting and producing. British Record dealer John Manship, who organized the sale, said the buyer wished to remain anonymous. Wilson went on to write hits for The Supremes and The Four Tops.

Also in 2009, Bob Dylan mingled unnoticed with other Beatles tourists during a minibus tour to John Lennon's childhood home. He was one of 14 tourists to examine photos and documents in the National Trust-owned home, where Lennon grew up with his aunt Mimi and uncle George. Dylan who was on a day off on a European tour paid £16 for the public trip to the 1940s house in Woolton, Liverpool.

Hannah Montana: The Movie Soundtrack went to #1 on the US album chart in 2009. The album featured songs by Miley Cyrus (as both Hannah Montana and herself), Billy Ray Cyrus, Taylor Swift, and Rascal Flatts.