This Day in Rock Music History: May 1

    1955:  Elvis Presley played three concerts at the Municipal Auditorium in New Orleans.
    1955:  Leonard Chess signed Chuck Berry to a recording contract.
    1956:  Little Willie John recorded "Fever".
    1956:  Elvis released the single "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" and the album Heartbreak Hotel.
    1957:  The Kingston Trio formed.
    1961:  Tony Orlando had his first hit with "Halfway To Paradise".
    1961:  "(Dance the) Mess Around" by Chubby Checker is on the list of biggest movers of all-time.  The song never peaked great , but on this date it was one of the hottest songs around, moving from 79-28.
    1962:  The Beatles began a month-long gig at the Star Club in Hamburg, Germany.
    1963:  Lesley Gore played "It's My Party" on American Bandstand.





    1965:  The Supremes released "Back In My Arms Again".
    1965:  One of rock's great instrumentals, "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" by Sounds Orchestral reached the summit on the Adult Contemporary chart.
    1965:  The Soundtrack to "Mary Poppins" continued to set the pace on the album chart for the third straight week.  Introducing Herman's Hermits was #2, the Soundtrack to "Goldfinger" came in third and the Beach Boys Today!  was #4.  The rest of the Top Ten Albums:  The Rolling Stones, Now!  was #5, the "Sound of Music" Soundtrack was #6, Ramblin Rose spent its 100th week on the chart for Nat "King" Cole at #7, The Return of Roger Miller fell to #8, the Soundtrack to "My Fair Lady" was #9 and Andy Williams had the #10 album with Dear Heart.





    1965:  Herman's Hermits had one of the fastest-rising songs to #1 in the rock era on this date.  "Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter" debuted at #12 in its first week on April 16, rose to #2 the next week and on this date in 1965 was the new #1 song.  Only 11 songs in history got to #1 quicker.
    1967:  The F.B.I. arrested Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys for avoiding the draft.
    1967:  Elvis Presley married Priscilla Beaulieu at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.  
    1969:  Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash taped a special for television in Nashville, Tennessee.
    1969:  Neil Young released the album Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere.
    1969:  Jimi Hendrix was arrested at Toronto International Airport for possession of narcotics.  He would die a little more than a year later, having not learned his lesson.
    1970:  Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin teamed up for the first time on the album Elton John.
    1971:  The Rolling Stones released "Brown Sugar".
    1971:  Ringo Starr released "It Don't Come Easy", his biggest hit as a solo artist.
    1971:  "If" by Bread spent a second week at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.




    1971:  "Joy to the World" by Three Dog Night remained at #1 while "Put Your Hand in the Hand" by Ocean would peak at #2.  The Jackson 5 slid up one with "Never Can Say Goodbye".  The rest of the Top Ten:  "What's Going On" by Marvin Gaye at #4, Neil Diamond's "I Am...I Said" was song #5, "If" from Bread moved up to 6, the Bells were at 7 with "Stay Awhile", Paul McCartney dropped to #8 with "Another Day", the Temptations came in next with their former #1 "Just My Imagination" and Daddy Dewdrop was a one-hit wonder with "Chick-A-Boom".
    1972:  Paul Simon released his self-titled first album as a solo performer.
    1972:  The O'Jay's were at #1 on the R&B chart with their great song "Livin' For the Weekend".
    1973:  Bachman-Turner Overdrive released their self-titled debut album.





    1973:  It was declared to be "Marvin Gaye" Day in Washington, D.C.
    1974:  The Carpenters performed at a White House dinner for West German Chancellor Willy Brandt.
    1975:  The Rolling Stones announced their North American tour by playing "Brown Sugar" on the back of a flatbed truck while driving down Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.
    1976:  Leo Sayer played at the Apollo Theatre in Glasgow, Scotland.
    1976:  The Captain & Tennille released their cover of the Miracles' hit "Shop Around".
    1976:  Barry Manilow had the #1 Adult Contemporary song with "Tryin' To Get the Feeling Again".





    1976:  The Bellamy Brothers had their first and only #1 with "Let Your Love Flow".  Maxine Nighingale had a solid #2 with "Right Back Where We Started From", the Sylvers were up to 3 with "Boogie Fever" and John Sebastian climbed up with "Welcome Back".  The rest of the Top Ten:  The Commodores maintained at 5 with their great song "Sweet Love", Johnnie Taylor fell to #6 with "Disco Lady", Peter Frampton's first hit "Show Me the Way" was at #7, Elvin Bishop had #8 with "Fooled Around and Fell In Love", Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" was #9 and Diana Ross soared from 29-10 with "Love Hangover".
    1977:  The Clash began their first tour at London's Roxy Theater.
    1980:  Fleetwood Mac performed in Seattle, Washington.
    1979:  Elton John became the first rock musician to perform in Israel.
    1982:  "Chariots of Fire" by Vangelis was on top for a fifth week in a row on the Adult Contemporary chart.
    1986:  Hugo Peretti, writer and producer of many great songs, died at age 70.  Peretti is responsible for "Can't Help Falling In Love" by Elvis Presley, "Twistin' the Night Away" by Sam Cooke, "Shout" by the Isley Brothers, "The Hustle" by Van McCoy, "You Make Me Feel Brand New" by the Stylistics and dozens of other hits.





    1993:  "I Have Nothing" by Whitney Houston from the movie The Bodyguard was #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
    1996:  Ben Folds Five made their U.K. debut at the 100 Club in London.
    1997:  Rick Parfitt, guitarist with Status Quo, underwent a quadruple heart by-pass operation.
    1999:  An exhibition of Paul McCartney's paintings opened in Siegen, Germany.
    2003:  The Dixie Chicks began their tour with opening acts Joan Osbourne and Michelle Branch.
    2003:  Soul great Barry White suffered a stroke after being hospitalized for kidney failure.
    2004:  Usher spent a fifth week at #1 (out of 9) with the album Confessions.
    2005:  Nine Inch Nails closed the show at the Coachella Festival in California.  Others who performed were New Order and Mos Def.
    2005:  Bruce Springsteen's album Devils and Dust debuted at #1 in the U.K.
    2005:  Tony Christie remained at #1 for the seventh week in a row in the U.K. with "(Is This The Way To) Amarillo."
    2005:  Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20 debuted at #1 with his debut album "Something To Be".  It was the first time a solo performer from a rock group had ever debut at #1 with his first album.


    Born This Day:
    1929:  Sonny James was born in Hackleburg, Alabama





    1939:  Judy Collins was born in Seattle, Washington




    Rita Coolidge
    1945:  Rita Coolidge was born in Nashville, Tennessee
    1949:  Jim Clench, bassist for Bachman-Turner Overdrive and April Wine; died November 3, 2010
    1953:  Glen Ballard, songwriter on numerous albums including Bad and Thriller for Michael Jackson, and producer on scores of others including Jagged Little Pill for Alanis Morissette.
    1954:  Ray Parker, Jr. of Raydio and solo performer
    1957:  Steve Farris of Mr. Mister
    1959:  Phil Smith of Haircut 100
    1968:  D'Arcy Wretzky of the Smashing PumpkinsSource URL: http://acsblogrock.blogspot.com/2011/04/this-day-in-rock-music-history-may-1.html
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