Rock 'n' Roll History for
May 2


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1956 - ClassicBands.com

May 2
For the first time in the history of Billboard's record charts, the same five songs appear in both the Pop and R&B Top Ten. They are: Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel" (#1 Pop, #6 R&B), Carl Perkins' "Blue Suede Shoes" (#4 Pop, #3 R&B), Little Richard's "Long Tall Sally" (#9 Pop, #1 R&B), The Platters' "Magic Touch" (#10 Pop, #7 R&B) and Frankie Lymon And The Teenagers' "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" (#7 Pop, #4 R&B).

1960 - ClassicBands.com

May 2
Ben E. King leaves The Drifters and signs a solo contract with Atco Records. King was the lead singer on such Drifters' hits as "There Goes My Baby" (#2 in 1959), "This Magic Moment" (#16 in 1960) and "Save The Last Dance For Me" (#1 in 1960).

May 2
In the aftermath of the payola scandal, Billboard magazine reports that many radio stations are adopting what they called a "better music" format and banning Rock and Roll.

May 2
Ray Peterson records "Tell Laura I Love Her", which will rise to #7 in the US the following Summer. Decca Records in England decided not to release his rendition of the song because they considered it "tasteless and vulgar", and destroyed about twenty-five thousand copies that had already been pressed. EMI Records felt differently, and issued a version by Welsh singer Ricky Valance which would top the UK Official Chart for three weeks.

1964 - ClassicBands.com

May 2
"The Beatles' Second Album" reaches #1 on the Billboard LP chart in just its second week of release. It was the first album ever to make it to the top that quickly. The LP replaced "Meet the Beatles!", which had held the top spot for eleven weeks.

May 2
For the first time in fifty-one weeks, The Beatles were not at the top of the UK album chart as they were finally unseated by The Rolling Stones debut LP.

1965 - ClassicBands.com

May 2
Despite his vow that they would never be invited back, Ed Sullivan includes The Rolling Stones on his Sunday night variety show, along with Tom Jones and Dusty Springfield. Sullivan would later say that he received "thousands of calls complaining" about The Stones.

1967 - ClassicBands.com

May 2
Capitol Records announce the abandonment of Brian Wilson's "Smile" album. Wilson took over a year to compose and produce the LP, but after hearing The Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper" album, he became convinced that "Smile" would be seen as second best.

1968 - ClassicBands.com

May 2
After their success with "The Letter", The Box Tops are awarded their second Gold record for "Cry Like a Baby", which had made it to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Although it was kept out of the top spot by Bobby Goldsboro's "Honey", the song stayed on the chart for fifteen weeks.

1970 - ClassicBands.com

May 2
Norman Greenbaum's Gospel / Rock hit "Spirit In The Sky" topped both the UK record chart and the Cash Box Best Sellers list. Greenbaum would later tell Rolling Stone magazine, "I'm just some Jewish musician who really dug Gospel music. I decided there was a larger Jesus Gospel market out there than a Jehovah one."

1978 - ClassicBands.com

May 2
The Bee Gees are awarded their second Platinum single in less than two months for "Night Fever". It was preceded by "Stayin' Alive", both from the soundtrack of Saturday Night Fever.

1979 - ClassicBands.com

May 2
The Who introduced their movie, Quadrophenia, as well as their new drummer, Kenny Jones. Jones had been a member of The Small Faces with Steve Marriott and enjoyed the hit, "Itchycoo Park" in 1967.

1980 - ClassicBands.com

May 2
Pink Floyd's hit single "Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)", with its chorus of kids chanting "We Don't Need No Education", is banned by the South African government. Black children, upset about inferior education, adopt the song as their anthem. The government says the song is "prejudicial to the safety of the state."

1991 - ClassicBands.com

May 2
The Rolling Stones are cited for Outstanding Contribution to British Music at the 36th Ivor Novello Awards in London. The honor is named after the Cardiff, Wales born entertainer Ivor Novello and has been presented annually by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors since 1955.

2005 - ClassicBands.com

May 2
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, thirty-six years after the band had split up.

2010 - ClassicBands.com

May 2
Michael Jackson's father, Joe Jackson, lashed out at the Pop star's former dermatologist Dr. Arnold Klein for alleging that his son was gay. "Michael was not gay," said Joe. "He (Klein) has no respect for Michael... to say things about him when he's gone is shameful."

May 2
Aretha Franklin agreed to settle a debt with Michigan tax officials after they filed a lien against her home last March. Authorities demanded $11,076 in income taxes and a further $33,729 in property taxes on her $1.8 million estate. In a statement to the press, Aretha said it "becomes a little difficult" to keep up with her finances while she's touring.

2012 - ClassicBands.com

May 2
A man who falsely claimed to be Stevie Wonder's nephew was arrested and charged with extortion. 38-year-old Alpha Lorenzo Walker and his girlfriend, Tamara Eileen Diaz, were arrested after the pair had allegedly threatened to sell erroneous information they claimed would be embarrassing to the singer unless he met their demands. The two pleaded not guilty, but were convicted in September the same year, with Walker being sentenced to 292 days in jail while Diaz was set free after time served.

2014 - ClassicBands.com

May 2
Former Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant revealed that he had signed a new deal with Nonesuch Records in preparation for his tenth solo album. An LP titled "Raise the Roof" with Alison Krauss appeared in 2021 and rose to #5 in the UK and #7 in the US.

2017 - ClassicBands.com

May 2
Lawyers for The Eagles sought an injunction against a Todos Santos hotel using the name Hotel California. The complaint alleged that the hotel also plays Eagles' music and sells T-shirts that refer to the hotel as "legendary," which leave consumers with the impression that "they have visited the Hotel California made famous by the Eagles." The establishment originally opened under that name in 1950, but went through subsequent ownership and name changes. The suit would be dismissed by mutual agreement in January, 2018, with the hotel retaining its name, although their website included a disclaimer that said they are not associated in any way with the band or the song.

2024 - ClassicBands.com

May 2
The UK's Official Charts Company announced that Fleetwood Mac's album, "Rumours" was the best selling vinyl LP of the 1970s, '80s and '90s. It was followed by Pink Floyd's "Dark Side Of The Moon", "Nevermind" by Nirvana, Oasis' "What's The Story Morning Glory" and "Queen's Greatest Hits".



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