Today in Oldies Music History: May 2

Today In Oldies Music History: May 2

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Births

1895: Lorenz Hart
1904: Bing Crosby
1929: Link Wray
1936: Engelbert Humperdinck
1945: Goldy McJohn (Steppenwolf)
1945: Randy Cain (The Delfonics)
1946: Lesley Gore
1946: Bob Henrit (Argent)
1948: Larry Gatlin (The Gatlin Brothers)
1950: Lou Gramm (Foreigner)

Deaths

1969: Benny Benjamin
1972: Les Harvey (Stone The Crows)

Events

1956: In a definite sign of the times, five records -- Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel," Little Richard's "Long Tall Sally," Carl Perkins' "Blue Suede Shoes," The Platters' "(You've Got The) Magic Touch," and Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers' "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" -- occupy the Billboard R&B and Pop Top 10, the first time so many records had "crossed over" at the same time.
1960: Elvis Presley begins filming on his fifth movie, G.I. Blues.
1960: Ben E. King, the Drifters' second lead singer, also leaves the group to start a solo career with Atco.
1964: After 51 weeks at the top, the Beatles finally relinquish the #1 album position in the UK -- to the Rolling Stones' self-titled debut.
1965: Ed Sullivan breaks a vow he made the year before and books The Rolling Stones back on his long-running CBS variety show -- but not before keeping the band in the studio all day, in order to keep from inciting the fans. The bands performs four songs: "The Last Time," "Little Red Rooster," "Everybody Needs Somebody To Love," and the instrumental "2120 South Michigan Avenue."
1967: The Beach Boys announce their intention to scrap their highly anticipated Pet Sounds followup, the album Smile. After decades of imagined Smile albums, assembled from bootlegs and released recordings, founder and resident genius Brian Wilson finally releases a finished version of the project in 2005.
1969: The Who debut their much-discussed rock opera Tommy by playing the finished album for the press in London at Ronnie's Jazz Club. Ten years later to the day, they would premiere their new movie, Quadrophenia, in New York.
1969: Elvis Presley finishes filming on his 31st and final film, Change Of Habit.
1972: In New York City, Bruce Springsteen auditions for Columbia Records A&R head John Hammond, who is so impressed he immediately arranges a set that night at the Gaslight Club for his fellow execs.
1975: Apple Records officially ends its life as a record label, though it will be revived as a Beatles-only label in 2004.
2005: After 36 years, Cream reunites at London's Royal Albert Hall for a four-night stint.
2007: 1,876 guitarists gather in Wroclaw, Poland, to set a new Guinness World Record by simultaneously performing "Hey Joe" by Jimi Hendrix.
2009: Motown's rarest 45, Frank Wilson's "Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)," sets a world record by selling for nearly $40,000 at a London auction. The unreleased single is one of only two known copies.
2009: Bob Dylan takes the day off from his European tour and, along with 13 other tourists, takes a bus trip to visit John Lennon's childhood home in Liverpool, newly opened to the public. He is not recognized.

Releases

none

Recording

1938: Ella Fitzgerald, "A-Tisket, A-Tasket"
1958: Chuck Berry, "Carol"
1960: Ray Peterson, "Tell Laura I Love Her"
1969: The Beatles, "Something"
1977: Eric Clapton, "Wonderful Tonight"
1979: Bob Dylan: "When You Gonna Wake Up," "Gonna Change My Way Of Thinking"

Charts

1964: The Rolling Stones' "Not Fade Away" enters the charts
1964: The Beatles' Second Album hits #1

Certifications

1968: The Box Tops' "Cry Like A Baby" is certified gold
1978: The Bee Gees' "Night Fever" is certified platinum