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This Week In
Rock and Roll History

May 19th to May 25th

Classic Rockers In The News - Rock & Roll Birthdays - Number One Records



1920 - ClassicBands.com

May 20
The Canadian Marconi Company, station XWA (Experimental Wireless Apparatus) in Montreal, Canada, gave what it would later claim to be the first scheduled radio broadcast in North America. Its call letters were changed to CFCF on November 4, 1920, and while the meaning of that call sign has never been officially confirmed, it is generally believed to be "Canada's First, Canada's Finest".

1938 - ClassicBands.com

May 25
Vernon Presley is sentenced to a three year term at Parchman penal plantation in Mississippi for forging a check. His wife Gladys and son Elvis are forced to live on welfare.

1953 - ClassicBands.com

May 23
Bill Haley And His Comets saw their first release for Essex Records, "Crazy Man, Crazy" enter the Cashbox Best Sellers chart at #19. The success will be short lived however, as the record would fall out of the Top 50 two weeks later.

1954 - ClassicBands.com

May 20
Bill Haley And His Comets' "Rock Around the Clock" was released. The record would find only limited success until the following year when it was included on the soundtrack of the film Blackboard Jungle.

1955 - ClassicBands.com

May 21
Chuck Berry recorded "Maybellene", which would become his first hit record, reaching #5 on the US Pop chart and #1 on the R&B chart. In the heyday of Pat Boone, Frank Sinatra, Perry Como and The McGuire Sisters, it was one of the few Rock 'n' Roll songs to get any radio air play that year.

May 22
Police in Bridgeport, Connecticut cancel a dance at the Ritz ballroom featuring Fats Domino. Authorities say the cancellation is because they discovered that "Rock and Roll dances might be featured" and justify their action by citing "a recent near riot at the New Haven Arena" where Rock 'n' Roll dances were held.

1956 - ClassicBands.com

May 19
Lonnie Donegan kicks off a tour of the US by appearing on The Perry Como Show, where he performs "Rock Island Line".

1957 - ClassicBands.com

May 21
16 year old Paul Anka records "Diana" at the ABC-Paramount studios in New York. The song would reach #1 in the US the following September and became the first of his 33 US Top 40 hits. It was also a chart topper in the UK.

1958 - ClassicBands.com

May 19
Bobby Darin's "Splish Splash" was released. It was the first recording made on an eight track recorder at Atlantic Records and would eventually reach #3 in America and #18 in Great Britain.

May 19
Ritchie Valens records the self-penned "Come On, Let's Go" for Del-Fi Records in Los Angeles. The song would peak at #42 on the Billboard singles chart the following October.

May 22
Jerry Lee Lewis arrives at London's Heathrow Airport to begin his first British tour, along with his new bride, 14 year old third cousin, Myra. Although advised not to mention it, Lewis answers all questions about his private life, truthfully. The public's shock over Lewis' marriage marks the start of a controversy which eventually ruins his career. The London Morning Star runs an editorial calling Lewis "an undesirable alien" and calls for his deportation, leading to his British tour being cancelled after just 3 of the scheduled 37 performances.

1960 - ClassicBands.com

May 19
Deejay Alan Freed is indicted along with seven others for accepting $30,650 in payola from six record companies. Two years later, he was convicted and would receive a suspended sentence and a $300 fine.

May 19
The Drifters record "Save The Last Dance For Me", which will top the US chart the following October and reach #2 in the UK in November.

May 20
The Silver Beatles, with Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe and drummer Tommy Moore, kick off a seven date tour of Scotland.

May 23
The Everly Brothers' "Cathy's Clown" hit number one in the US for the first of a five week stay. The duo had also accomplished this feat 1958 when "All I Have To Do Is Dream" spent over a month at the top position.

1961 - ClassicBands.com

May 19
The Everly Brothers launch their own record label, Calliope, intended for the purpose of discovering and developing new talent. Their own recordings will continue to be issued exclusively by Warner Brothers.

May 22
Ernie K-Doe reached the top spot on the Billboard chart with "Mother-In-Law", a song that he took out of composer Allen Toussaint's discarded song pile. Ernie and his wife were having marital problems at the time, and Ernie wanted to express his frustration with his mother-in-law.

1962 - ClassicBands.com

May 19
B Bumble And The Stingers were at #1 on the UK singles chart with "Nut Rocker", an instrumental based on Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite.

May 19
Johnny Tillotson's self-penned Country ballad "It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin'" enters Billboard's Top 40, where it will climb to number 3 and be nominated for a Grammy Award. In the UK, the song reached #31.

May 24
Elvis Presley was at #1 on the UK singles chart with "Good Luck Charm", his 11th UK chart topping single.

1963 - ClassicBands.com

May 21
13 year old Little Stevie Wonder recorded a song that would be his first number 1 hit, "Fingertips Pt. 2" at a concert in Detroit. The 7 minute song was later edited into two parts for radio play.

May 23
Paul Revere And The Raiders sign with Columbia Records where they will have 14 Billboard Top 40 singles between 1965 and 1971.

1964 - ClassicBands.com

May 19
After reaching #4 on the Hot 100, Roger Miller's "King of the Road" was awarded a Gold record. The song was inspired by a sign in Chicago that read "Trailers for Sale or Rent" and a hobo he saw at an airport in Boise, Idaho.

May 20
Rudy Lewis, the lead singer of The Drifters on their hits "On Broadway" and "Up On The Roof", died under mysterious circumstances the night before the group was set to record "Under the Boardwalk". He was 28 years old. Rather than reschedule the studio session to find a new front man, former Drifters backup singer Johnny Moore was brought back to perform lead vocals for the recording. The single reached #4 in the US the following July and #45 in the UK.

May 23
The Beach Boys release "I Get Around" which will go on to become the group's first #1 hit, topping the US chart for two weeks.

May 23
Millie Small's "My Boy Lollipop", already a hit in the UK, enters the Hot 100 where it will stay for 12 weeks, climbing to #2.

1965 - ClassicBands.com

May 19
FBI agents visit Wand Records to investigate the lyrics to "Louie Louie" by The Kingsmen. They would eventually release a statement that said that it was impossible to exactly decipher the lyrics from "the unintelligible rendition as performed by The Kingsmen."

May 22
The Beatles attained their eighth Billboard number one hit with "Ticket To Ride", on which Paul McCartney, not George Harrison, played lead guitar.

May 25
Kinks guitar player Dave Davies is knocked unconscious when he falls into drummer Mick Avory's cymbal during a London concert. The group cancels the remainder of their UK tour.

1966 - ClassicBands.com

May 20
Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey of The Who grew tired of waiting for John Entwistle and Keith Moon to arrive for a concert. They take the stage at the Ricky Tick Club in Windsor, England with the bass player and drummer of the local band that opened the show. When Moon and Entwistle finally show up in the middle of the set, Townshend whacks Moon on the head with his guitar. Moon and Entwistle quit the band...for a week.

May 21
Dusty Springfield's "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" enters the Billboard Hot 100, where it will reach #4 and become her biggest US hit. In the UK, it went all the way to #1.

May 21
The Mamas And The Papas went to the top of the Billboard album chart with "If You Can Believe Your Eyes And Ears", which contained the singles "Monday Monday" and "California Dreamin'". The LP was initially credited to the grammatically incorrect The Mama's and The Papa's, which was corrected on later printings.

May 23
The Beatles "Paperback Writer" is released in the US, where it will go on to become the band's twelfth Billboard #1 hit. The song also topped the charts in the United Kingdom, West Germany, Australia, New Zealand and Norway.

1967 - ClassicBands.com

May 20
Jimi Hendrix signed with Reprise Records on the US Warner Brothers label. He would eventually give them three albums, "Are You Experienced?", "Axis: Bold as Love" and "Electric Ladyland". The live L.P. "Band of Gypsys" was released on Capitol Records a few months before his death.

May 20
The BBC announces that it will not play The Beatles' "A Day In The Life", claiming it contained explicit drug references. On the same day, John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr go to the BBC to record interviews for the show Where It's At.

May 20
The Young Rascals score the second of their three Billboard #1 records when "Groovin" reached the top. It made #8 in the UK. Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati wrote this song because their work schedule would only allow them to see their girlfriends on Sunday afternoons.

May 20
Manuel Fernandez, founding member and organist for Los Bravos on their 1966 hit "Black Is Black", committed suicide. He was just 23 years old.

1968 - ClassicBands.com

May 22
Cream earns their first Gold record with their second album, "Disraeli Gears", which includes "Sunshine of Your Love", "Strange Brew" and "Tales of Brave Ulysses".

May 25
Simon And Garfunkel's "Bookends" replaces their own "The Graduate" at the top of the US album chart.

1969 - ClassicBands.com

May 19
The Beatles' single "Get Back" is awarded a Gold record for sales of over 1 million. Paul McCartney would later say "We were sitting in the studio and we made it up out of thin air..."

May 24
"Get Back" by The Beatles shot to #1 on Billboard's Pop chart where it would remain for 5 weeks, becoming the group's 17th US #1 record. The song featured an organ solo by Billy Preston, who became the only non-group member ever credited on a Beatles single.

May 24
Still riding high on the success of "American Woman", The Guess Who make their US Television debut on American Bandstand.

May 24
Oliver entered the US charts with "Good Morning Starshine", which would reach #3 by July and go on to sell over a million copies. His real name was William Oliver Swofford.

May 24
Andy Kim entered the Billboard Pop chart for the third time with "Baby I Love You". The song will peak at #9 in June.

May 25
The Hollies recorded "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" with Elton John on piano. It will reach #3 in the UK and #7 in the US.

1970 - ClassicBands.com

May 20
The Beatles' last film, Let It Be, premiered. It was basically a documentary of the group's break-up, including footage of their last public performance on the roof of their Apple Corps headquarters in London.

May 23
The Grateful Dead played their first British concert at the Hollywood Rock Festival. The Dead's four hour set is preceded by a performance by Mungo Jerry, playing their big hit "In the Summertime".

May 23
Paul McCartney's debut solo album, "McCartney", started a three-week run at the top of the Billboard Hot 200, while The Beatles' LP "Let It Be" was #1 on the UK album chart.

1971 - ClassicBands.com

May 20
Peter Cetera of Chicago lost four teeth when a gang of thugs at a Chicago Cubs baseball game beat the daylights out of him because of the length of his hair. Cetera spent five hours in surgery as a result. He was the band's lead singer and bass player before leaving for a solo career in 1985.

May 21
Paul McCartney releases "Ram", which, unlike his first solo LP, is not a one-man show. His wife Linda is on vocals and he enlists session men David Spinozza, Hugh McCracken on guitar and bass along with drummer Denny Seiwell.

May 22
The Rolling Stones achieve the rare feat of having both the Number One LP ("Sticky Fingers") and Number One single ("Brown Sugar") in the US.

1973 - ClassicBands.com

May 19
Paul Simon releases the single "Kodachrome", which would become a hit in the US, but was banned from air play in the UK because it contains a brand name.

May 19
Less than four months after topping the Hot 100 with "Superstition", Stevie Wonder was back on top with "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life", a song on which Stevie played most of the instruments. The record reached #7 in the UK.

May 23
Clive Davis is fired as president of Columbia Records. He was allegedly using company funds for private use, including $53,700 worth of alterations to his apartment and $20,000 for his son's bar mitzvah.

May 25
Carole King gives a free concert for 100,000 fans in New York's Central Park.

1974 - ClassicBands.com

May 24
Duke Ellington, the great Jazz band leader and subject of Stevie Wonder's 1977 hit "Sir Duke", died of cancer at the age of 75.

1975 - ClassicBands.com

May 21
Officials at Gatwick Airport in London announce that they will not permit a plane carrying The Osmonds to land there because when the group last visited the UK, twenty overly enthusiastic teens were injured.

May 24
The nine piece band known as Earth, Wind And Fire saw their song "Shining Star" reach the top of both the Billboard singles chart and the Cashbox Magazine best sellers list. It was the group's seventh single and the first to crack the Top 20. Lead singer Philip Bailey would later team up with Phil Collins on the 1985 hit, "Easy Lover".

1976 - ClassicBands.com

May 19
The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards crashes his Bentley into a highway divider in Newton Pagnell, a town 50 miles north of London. Police take various substances from his vehicle and Richards will be charged with possession of cocaine and marijuana.

May 21
The Rolling Stones open a six night stand at London's Earl's Court Theatre. The indifference of the Stones' performance causes them to be targeted as "dinosaurs" by the growing British Punk movement.

May 22
Paul McCartney answered critics who said his music was 'lightweight', by taking "Silly Love Songs" to the top of the US charts. The record would go on to be the biggest selling disc of the year. It reached #2 in the UK.

1977 - ClassicBands.com

May 21
Stevie Wonder scored his sixth #1 record on the Billboard Pop chart with "Sir Duke", a song written as a tribute to Jazz legend, Duke Ellington. The song reached #2 in the UK.

May 23
Jefferson Airplane are barred from giving a free concert at Golden Gate Park when San Francisco authorities pass a resolution banning electronic instruments. The group later wrote "We Built this City" about the ban.

1978 - ClassicBands.com

May 20
Paul McCartney led his group Wings to the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for the third time with "With A Little Luck". It reached #5 in his homeland.

May 25
The Who perform a concert in London to be filmed for their documentary movie on the band's history, The Kids Are Alright. This will prove to be Keith Moon's last performance with the band before his death on September 7th.

1979 - ClassicBands.com

May 19
The closest thing to a Beatles' reunion happened when Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr played together at Eric Clapton's wedding reception. Joining them for a jam session were Clapton, Mick Jagger and Ginger Baker. The bride, Patti Boyd, was formerly married to George Harrison.

May 21
Elton John became the first solo Rock artist to tour Russia when he played the first of eight concerts. He was currently enjoying chart success back in the USA with "Mama Can't Buy You Love", his first Top 10 hit in 2½ years.

May 23
The Third Barry Manilow Special airs on ABC-TV.

May 23
Sister Sledge's "We Are Family" goes Platinum. The album's title track, a #2 hit last month, is the rallying call for baseball's Pittsburgh Pirates, who will go on to win the 1979 World Series in October.

1980 - ClassicBands.com

May 19
Ringo Starr and his future wife Barbara Bach were involved in a car crash less than half a mile from where Marc Bolan was killed. The car was a write-off but Starr and Bach were not seriously injured.

May 21
A thief breaks into Electric Lady Studios in New York City, the recording studio built by Jimi Hendrix, and steals five Hendrix Gold records. They are for the albums "Are You Experienced?", "Axis: Bold as Love", "Cry of Love", "Rainbow Bridge" and "Live at Monterey".

May 21
Singer / guitarist Joe Strummer of the British punk group the Clash is arrested in Hamburg, Germany for hitting a fan on the head with his guitar. A fight broke out between the band and the audience following a concert.

1981 - ClassicBands.com

May 22
Hall And Oates' "Kiss on My List" is awarded a Gold record. The song will make it to #1 in the US and become the first of three chart toppers the duo will amass in the next 12 months.

1982 - ClassicBands.com

May 23
The Central London chapter of the British Musicians Union puts forth a resolution to ban synthesizers and rhythm machines from all recording sessions and live engagements. The proposal was defeated.

1983 - ClassicBands.com

May 21
David Bowie topped the Billboard Hot 100 for the second time with "Let's Dance". It was also a #1 in the UK.

1985 - ClassicBands.com

May 20
Daryl Hall and John Oates headlined a concert for the grand re-opening of the legendary Apollo Theatre in Harlem. The performance was recorded and later released as a 'live' album which also featured two of the original Temptations, David Ruffin and Eddie Kendrick.

1986 - ClassicBands.com

May 24
The Count Five, whose hit "Psychotic Reaction" reached #5 in the US in 1965, reunited for the first time in 18 years to play at their high school reunion in San Jose, California.

May 24
Davy Jones, Mickey Dolenz and Peter Tork reunited as The Monkees when they kicked off their reunion tour at the Concord Hotel, in New York's Catskills Mountains.

1987 - ClassicBands.com

May 23
Twelve former members of The Doobie Brothers reunited for a charity concert at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. The show raised $350,000 for Vietnam veterans, about two-thousand of whom attended the show for free.

1988 - ClassicBands.com

May 19
The British Phonographic Industry is rebuffed by the UK's House Of Lords when it tries to prevent electronics manufacturer Amstrad from producing and marketing a dual tape deck which makes it easy for consumers to copy cassettes. Because the company includes copyright warnings with the machine, The House ruled that they were not encouraging people to break the law.

May 20
Priscilla Presley held a press conference to deny that Elvis is still alive. There are however, many who still think otherwise and the Did Elvis Fake His Death? question still remains to this day.

1989 - ClassicBands.com

May 19
Ron Wilson, The Surfaris' drummer who recorded Rock and Roll's most influential drum solo, "Wipe Out", died of a brain aneurysm at the age of 49.

May 20
Future American Idol judge Paula Abdul started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart with "Forever Your Girl", her second US chart topper. It was a #24 hit in the UK.

May 22
Independent record promoter Ralph Tashjian became the first person ever convicted under the 29-year-old US payola law. He pleaded guilty in Los Angeles to distributing cash and cocaine to a radio station in order to get airplay for records by Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello and Laura Branigan.

1990 - ClassicBands.com

May 25
Gary Usher, who led the studio group The Hondells into the US Top 10 in 1964 with "Little Honda", died of cancer. He was 51.

1991 - ClassicBands.com

May 19
Odia Coates, who sang "You're Having My Baby", "One Man Woman / One Woman Man", "I Don't Like To Sleep Alone" and "I Believe There's Nothing Stronger Than Our Love" with Paul Anka, died of breast cancer. She was 49.

May 24
49 year old Gene Clark, vocalist for The Byrds, died after suffering a heart attack.

1992 - ClassicBands.com

May 21
Bette Midler is the only guest on Johnny Carson's final Tonight Show.

May 22
Ringo Starr released "Time Takes Time", his first studio album in nine years. To promote it, Starr toured with an all-star band that included his son Zak on drums, along with Burton Cummings, Dave Edmunds and Todd Rundgren.

1994 - ClassicBands.com

May 26
Music fans around the world were stunned to learn that 37-year-old Michael Jackson married 27-year-old Lisa Marie Presley in the Dominican Republic. It was his first marriage, her second. Both the bride and groom wore black. Lisa Marie would file for divorce in January of 1996, citing irreconcilable differences.

May 27
The Eagles reunite at a Burbank, California concert, ending a fourteen year break-up. The two-and-a-half-hour show ended with two encores capped by "Desperado".

1995 - ClassicBands.com

May 20
Eagles' drummer Don Henley married model Sharon Summerall at his Malibu ranch. In attendance were Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, Timothy B. Schmit, David Crosby, Randy Newman, Jimmy Buffett, Jackson Browne, Billy Joel, Sting and Sheryl Crow.

May 20
"Unchained Melody" becomes the first song to reach #1 in the UK by three different artists when the version by Robson Green and Jerome Flynn makes it to the top. Jimmy Young did the trick in 1955 followed by The Righteous Brothers' re-charted rendition in 1990.

1997 - ClassicBands.com

May 22
A reunited Fleetwood Mac performs the first of two MTV Unplugged specials which are taped to be aired later in the Summer.

1998 - ClassicBands.com

May 19
Sonny And Cher receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, seventeen months after Sonny was killed in a skiing accident.

May 20
Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward was taken to hospital in London after suffering a heart attack during a band rehearsal.

1999 - ClassicBands.com

May 23
The UK's Royal Mail issued a 19p stamp featuring Freddie Mercury to mark his contribution to the Live Aid charity concert in 1985. The late Queen front man was an avid philatelist whose collection was bought by the Post Office in 1993.

2000 - ClassicBands.com

May 20
The Guess Who perform in their home town of Winnipeg, leading to a reunion tour. The line-up featured Randy Bachman, Burton Cummings, Jim Kale, Donnie McDougall and Garry Peterson. Kale would be replaced by another former member, Bill Wallace, before the first show.

2003 - ClassicBands.com

May 20
The South Carolina State Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services pardoned James Brown for all past crimes in the state...including drug, weapons and assault charges. Brown, who appeared before the board, sang "God Bless America" after the decision.

May 24
Paul McCartney made his first ever 'live' performance in Russia when he appeared in Red Square in front of 20,000 fans.

2005 - ClassicBands.com

May 25
Domenic Troiano, guitarist for The Guess Who and The James Gang, died of prostate cancer at the age of 59. He played lead guitar on one of The Guess Who's biggest hits, "Clap For The Wolfman".

2006 - ClassicBands.com

May 24
Elton John accepted 100,000 pounds ($188,000) in libel damages from London's Daily Mail newspaper over allegations that he asked guests not to approach him at a charity ball.

2007 - ClassicBands.com

May 24
Art Garfunkel joined Paul Simon in a rare reunion in Washington, D.C. which commemorated Simon's receipt of the Library of Congress' first Gershwin Award, recognizing contributions to the popular song as an art form. Simon introduced his former partner by saying "My dear friend and partner in arguments, Art Garfunkel," before they launched into "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and "Cecilia". Also appearing on the show were Stevie Wonder and James Taylor.

May 25
Wayne Fontana, who lead The Mindbenders to the top of the Billboard chart with "Game Of Love" in 1965, was remanded in custody by a British court under the Mental Health Act after admitting he poured gasoline over a bailiff's car and set fire to it. In November, he would be convicted and sentenced to time served.

2008 - ClassicBands.com

May 19
A poem written by 16 year old Bob Dylan, who was still using his birth name, Robert Zimmerman, was slated to be offered for sale at a Christie's auction, where it was expected to sell for $10,000 to $15,000. Written on both sides of a single page, the verses tell the poignant story of Little Buddy, who is killed at the hands of a drunkard, and the boy who mourns him.

May 21
Lou Pearlman, the music mogul who created the Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison over a decades-long scam that bilked thousands of investors out of their life savings. Many victims were Pearlman's relatives, friends and retirees in their 70s or 80s who lost everything. A view of the behind-the-scenes life of The Backstreet Boys is revealed in Gary James' interview with A.J. Mclean's mother, Denise McLean Solis

2009 - ClassicBands.com

May 20
Former Creedence Clearwater Revival front man John Fogarty announced to the press that he had finished his latest CD, "The Return of the Blue Ridge Rangers", a sequel to his 1973 solo album. Released on August 25th, it would peak at #25 on the Billboard 200.

May 24
Billy Joel was sued by his former drummer for hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid royalties. Liberty Devitto claimed that Joel hadn't paid him proper royalties for 10 years of his work. Devitto was Joel's drummer from 1975 until 2005, when he said he was abruptly kicked out of the band without so much as a phone call.

2010 - ClassicBands.com

May 24
The Bee Gees' Robin Gibb had a meltdown at London's Heathrow Airport when he allegedly hurled expletives at staff and refused to board a plane bound for Los Angeles after he was randomly selected for an extra security check. A spokesperson for British Airways said, "A passenger who was due to fly to L.A. voluntarily chose not to travel because they did not want to be subjected to additional security searches."

May 24
John Fogerty's 1985 hit "Centerfield" was selected to be honored at the National Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies. The event would mark the first time a musician or song has been honored in such a way.

2011 - ClassicBands.com

May 19
Kathy Kirby, who had five UK Top 40 hits between 1963 and 1965, including "Dance On", "Secret Love" and "Let Me Go, Lover!" died of a suspected heart attack at the age of 72.

May 19
Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler revealed he once had sex with a man during his wild youth. In his memoir, Does The Noise In My Head Bother You?, he revealed, "Gay sex just doesn't do it for me. I tried it one time when I was younger, but I just didn't dig it."

May 24
Ringo Starr apologized during a BBC interview for saying earlier that he missed nothing about his hometown of Liverpool. "I apologize to those people, as long as they live in Liverpool, not outside. No real Scouser took offence, only I believe people from the outside."

2012 - ClassicBands.com

May 20
Robin Gibb of The Bee Gees passed away at the age of 62 after battling colon and liver cancer. His vocals were featured on the hits "Massachusetts", "I Started a Joke", "I've Gotta Get a Message to You" and "Holiday".

May 21
The US Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal from a Boston University student who was successfully sued by the Recording Industry Association of America for illegally sharing music on peer-to-peer networks. In 2009, a jury ordered Tenenbaum to pay $675,000, or $22,500 for each song he illegally downloaded and shared.

May 22
64-year-old Gregg Allman told TV host Piers Morgan of his plans to marry wife number seven, a 24-year-old British lass.

May 24
Aerosmith unveiled their first new song in six years, "Legendary Child", and also performed an old favorite, "Walk This Way", on the season finale of American Idol. John Fogerty joined eventual winner Phillip Phillips to sing two Creedence Clearwater Revival songs, "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" and "Bad Moon Rising".









Our Featured Interview

As a member of Bad Company, Free and The Firm
he enjoyed eight Billboard Top 40 hits,
including "Can't Get Enought" and "All Right Now".

Be sure to read Gary James' interview with
Paul Rodgers

In The News


    Aretha Franklin cancels two shows

    Beatles Help! comes to Blu-Ray

    Boston's Tom Scholz can sue Brad Delp's widow

    Court urged to reject Michael Jackson doctor's appeal

    KISS 'Rock' into the restaurant biz

    Bad Company's Paul Rodgers preparing new albums and Summer tour

    Beatles photographer Harry Benson to hold book signing

    Rolling Stones to reissue three albums on clear vinyl

    John Fogerty announces birthday concert in Los Angeles


Rock and Roll Birthdays


May 19th - ClassicBands.com

1945 - Pete Townshend - guitarist for The Who ("Can't Explain")
1947 - Jerry Hyman - trombone player for Blood, Sweat and Tears ("Spinning Wheel")
1949 - Dusty Hill - guitarist and vocalist for ZZ Top
1951 - Joey Ramone of The Ramones ("I Wanna Be Sedated")

May 20th - ClassicBands.com

1939 - Sal Mineo ("Start Movin' In My Direction")
1940 - Shorty Long ("Here Comes The Judge")
1942 - Jill Jackson of Paul & Paula ("Hey Paula")
1944 - Joe Cocker ("The Letter")
1946 - Cher ("Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves")
1959 - Susan Cowsill - vocalist for the Cowsills ("The Rain, The Park and Other Things")

May 21st - ClassicBands.com

1941 - Ronald Isley of The Isley Brothers ("Shout")
1943 - Hilton Valentine - guitarist for The Animals ("House Of The Rising Sun")
1943 - Vincent Crane - keyboardist for The Crazy World of Arthur Brown ("Fire")
1944 - Marcie Blane ("Bobby's Girl")
1948 - Leo Sayer ("When I Need You")

May 22nd - ClassicBands.com

1930 - Kenny Ball - trumpet player for Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen ("Midnight In Moscow")
1939 - Ian Robertson Underwood - keyboardist for the Mothers of Invention
1948 - Des Dyer - lead vocalist for Jigsaw ("Sky High")
1950 - Bernie Taupin (Elton John’s songwriting partner)

May 23rd - ClassicBands.com

1928 - Rosemary Clooney ("Sentimental Journey")
1934 - Dr. Robert Moog (inventor of the Moog synthesizer)
1944 - Raymond Fulwood - drummer for The Parliaments ("I Wanna Testify")
1944 - Norman Johnson - lead singer for The Chairmen Of The Board ("Give Me Just A Little More Time")
1946 - Daniel Klein - bassist for The J. Geils Band ("Centerfold")
1947 - Bill Hunt - keyboardist for Electric Light Orchestra ("Don't Bring Me Down")
1955 - Dean Friedman ("Ariel")

May 24th - ClassicBands.com

1938 - Tommy Chong of Cheech and Chong ("Earache My Eye")
1941 - Bob Dylan ("Lay Lady Lay")
1942 - Derek Quinn - lead guitarist for Freddie & the Dreamers ("I'm Telling You Now")
1944 - Patti LaBelle ("Lady Marmalade")
1947 - Albert Bouchard - drummer for Blue Oyster Cult ("Don't Fear The Reaper")
1955 - Roseanne Cash ("Seven Year Ache")

May 25th - ClassicBands.com

1936 - Tom T Hall ("I Love")
1947 - Jessi Colter ("I'm Not Lisa")
1947 - Mitch Margo - vocalist for The Tokens ("The Lion Sleeps Tonight")
1950 - Robby Steinhardt - strings for Kansas ("Dust In The Wind")






Who sang that song that you have stuck in your head?
How high did it climb on the charts and in what year?
You can find out in our Who Sang That Hit? Section 		Explore the facts behind the deaths
of some of the music world's biggest stars
Read all about Rock and Roll's Unsolved Mysteries

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This Week's Best Selling Singles

  In The USA  
May 19th to May 25th

YearSongArtist
1956 Heartbreak Hotel Elvis Presley
1957 All Shook Up Elvis Presley
1958 All I Have To Do Is Dream The Everly Brothers
1959 Kansas City Wilbert Harrison
1960 Cathy's Clown The Everly Brothers
1961 Runaway Del Shannon
1962 Stranger On The Shore Mr. Acker Bilk
1963 If You Wanna Be Happy Jimmy Soul
1964 Love Me Do The Beatles
1965 Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter Herman's Hermits
1966 Monday, Monday The Mamas and Papas
1967 Groovin' The Young Rascals
1968 Mrs. Robinson Simon And Garfunkel
1969 Get Back The Beatles
1970 American Woman The Guess Who
1971 Joy To The World Three Dog Night
1972 I'll Take You There The Staple Singers
1973 You Are The Sunshine Of My Life Stevie Wonder
1974 The Streak Ray Stevens
1975 Shining Star Earth, Wind And Fire
1976 Welcome Back John Sebastian
1977 When I Need You Leo Sayer
1978 With A Little Luck Wings
1979 Reunited Peaches and Herb
1980 Call Me Blondie
1981 Being With You Smokey Robinson
1982 Ebony And Ivory Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder
1983 Let's Dance Davie Bowie
1984 Hello Lionel Richie
1985 Don't You (Forget About Me) Simple Minds


  In The United Kingdom  

May 19th to May 25th

1956 No Other Love Ronnie Hilton
1957 Butterfly Andy Williams
1958 Who's Sorry Now Connie Francis
1959 A Fool Such As I Elvis Presley
1960 Cathy's Clown The Everly Brothers
1961 On The Rebound Floyd Cramer
1962 Nut Cracker B. Bumble And The Stingers
1963 From Me To You The Beatles
1964 Juliet The Four Pennies
1965 Where Are You Now (My Love) Jackie Trent
1966 Pretty Flamingo Manfred Mann
1967 Silence Is Golden The Tremeloes
1968 Young Girl Gary Puckett And The Union Gap
1969 Get Back The Beatles With Billy Preston
1970 Back Home England World Cup Squad
1971 Knock Three Times Dawn
1972 Metal Guru T. Rex
1973 Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'Round The Ole Oak Tree Tony Orlando And Dawn
1974 Sugar Baby Love The Rubettes
1975 Stand By Your Man Tammy Wynette
1976 Fernando ABBA
1977 I Don't Want To Talk About It Rod Stewart
1978 Rivers Of Babylon Boney M
1979 Bright Eyes Art Garfunkel
1980 What's Another Year Johnny Logan
1981 Stand And Deliver Adam And The Ants
1982 A Little Peace Nicole
1983 True Spandau Ballet
1984 The Reflex Duran Duran
1985 19 Paul Hardcastle




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