In 1954, at CBS 30th Street Studio in New York City, Tony Bennett recorded "Cinnamon Sinner."
In 1955, Elvis Presley's performance in Jacksonville, Florida is the first Presley show at which a riot ensues. After Elvis tells the audience, "Girls, I'll see you backstage," he has some of his clothes ripped off, but escapes unharmed.
In 1956, the musical variety show, "Gene Autry's Melody Ranch," aired its final broadcast after 16 years on CBS Radio. The program featured 10 to 15 minute skits about cowboys and rustlers, along with musical numbers by Autry.
In 1958, Jerry Lee Lewis was granted a divorce from wife number two, Jane Mitcham, six months after marrying his second-cousin, Myra Gail Brown.
In 1959, at Owen Bradley's Quonset Hut studio in Nashville, Johnny Horton recorded a British version of "The Battle Of New Orleans."
In 1965, "Mrs. Brown You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter" by Herman's Hermits was the #1 song.
In 1967, the Monkees second album 'More Of The Monkees,' went to #1 on the UK charts. In 1967 only four albums reached #1; 'The Sound Of Music' which spent 17 weeks at #1, the Beatles 'Sgt Pepper's,' 25 weeks at #1 and the Monkees first and second albums spent 9 weeks at #1.
In 1968, John Lennon and Paul McCartney gave a series of interviews to help launch Apple Corps in the US.
In 1969, Led Zeppelin became the first major British rock group to appear in Hawaii, when they appeared at The Civic Auditorium, Honolulu. A review in the Honolulu Advertiser stated: "The showmanship exceeded any rock performance here to date. I wondered before the concert if Led Zeppelin could sound as good as their Atlantic album – they sounded better."
In 1970, the world premiere of the Beatles film 'Let It Be' took place in New York City. The film which was originally planned as a television documentary features an unannounced rooftop concert by the group, their last performance in public. Released just after the album, it was the final original Beatles release.
In 1971, James Brown recorded "Hot Pants."
In 1971, on his twenty-first birthday Stevie Wonder received his childhood earnings. Despite having made $30 million so far, he was given only $1 million.
In 1971, Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane crashed her Mercedes into a wall near the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and was hospitalized.
In 1971, the Undisputed Truth released the single "Smiling Faces Sometimes." The song was written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for the Motown label. The song was originally recorded by the Temptations in 1971. "Smiling Faces" was the only Top 40 single released by the Undisputed Truth, and was included on their debut album 'The Undisputed Truth.'
In 1974, more than fifty people are hurt when trouble makers start throwing bottles outside a Jackson 5 concert at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C. 43 are arrested.
In 1974, Cher released the single "Dark Lady."
In 1975, western swing musician/songwriter/bandleader Bob Wills died of pneumonia at age 70.
In 1977, Linda Ronstadt denied reports that she'd been offered $1 million to be photographed nude for a Hustler Magazine centerfold. Publisher Larry Flynt offered the amount to ten famous women, none of whom accepted.
In 1978, in Las Vegas, singer Paul Anka opened a $3 million, 1,000-square-foot restaurant and disco called Jubilation. In 1987, it was renamed the Shark Club, and remained a rock club until it closed a decade later.
In 1981, Joan Webber, who topped the Billboard chart in early 1955 with "Let Me Go, Lover," died of heart failure in a mental institution in Ancora, New Jersey at the age of 45.
In 1983, Def Leppard performed at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi.
In 1985, Stevie Wonder was cited by the United Nations for his efforts against apartheid.
In 1987, in East Rutherford, New Jersey, U2 played the third night of a five-night stand at Brenden Byrne Arena.
In 1988, jazz trumpeter/flugelhorn player/singer Chet Baker, whose first success came as a member of the Gerry Mulligan Quartet, died after falling from a second-story window of a hotel in Amsterdam at the age of 58. Heroin and cocaine were found in his hotel room, and an autopsy also found these drugs in his body. There was no evidence of a struggle, and the death was ruled an accident.
In 1986, Ted Nugent appears on Dr. Ruth Westheimer's TV show and tells the audience "Life is one big female safari and Dr. Ruth is my guide."
In 1991, jazz cornetist/Big Band and Jazz Hall of Famer Jimmy McPartland died of lung cancer at 83.
In 1993, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bette Midler and Barry White were guest voices on the season finale of the "The Simpsons." The episode was entitled "Krusty Gets Kancelled."
In 2002, Dionne Warwick was arrested at Miami International Airport for possession of marijuana after authorities found 11 joints in a lipstick case in the singer's hand luggage. The charges were dropped after she completed a drug program and made a contribution to charity.
In 2003, Michael Jackson launched a court case suing Motown Records. Jacko filed the lawsuit in LA, saying he hadn't been paid royalties due for the music he did with the Jackson Five in the 60s and 70s. The singer also claimed his music has been used in TV ads without his permission.
In 2003, comic actor (Cheech & Chong) Tommy Chong pled guilty to selling drug paraphernalia over the Internet in return for non-prosecution of his wife and son. He was sentenced to nine months in federal prison, a fine of $20,000, forfeiture of $103,514, and the loss of all merchandise seized during the raid of his business.
In 2006, R&B singer Johnnie Wilder Jr., co-founder and lead vocalist of Heatwave, died at age 56. He had been paralyzed from the neck down since a 1979 car accident.
In 2007, Ne-Yo was at #1 on the US album chart with 'Because of You,' the singers second #1. The album featured the title track, a US #2 and UK #4 hit single.
In 2008, the US Postal Service issued a 42-cent postage stamp in honour of Frank Sinatra. The design showed a 1950s-vintage image of Sinatra, wearing a hat.
In 2011, "Like A Rolling Stone" was voted as Bob Dylan’s best-ever song by Rolling Stone Magazine, who had asked the opinions of a panel of writers, academics and musicians to compile a poll to mark Dylan's 70th birthday on 24th May. "Like A Rolling Stone," was described by U2's Bono as 'a black eye of a pop song,' while Mick Jagger praised the simplicity of Desolation Row. Keith Richards argued that the original 1963 solo version of Girl From The North Country, ranked 30th, was superior to Dylan's 1969 duet of the same song with Johnny Cash.
In 2012, Donald "Duck" Dunn, bass guitarist for Booker T and the MGs, passed away while touring in Japan at the age of 70. He also played on Otis Redding's "Respect" and Sam And Dave's "Hold On, I'm Comin'".
