Music History ~ May 2nd:

On May 2, 1929, the legendary Link Wray was born (died November 5, 2005).   Wray was noted for pioneering a new sound for electric guitars, as exemplified in his 1958 instrumental hit "Rumble", by Link Wray and his Ray Men, which pioneered an overdriven, distorted electric guitar sound. He also "invented the power chord, the major modus operandi of modern rock guitarist,""and in doing so fathering," or making possible, "punk and heavy rock".  Rolling Stone placed Wray at number 67 of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time.

In 1938, Ella Fitzgerald recorded "A-Tisket, A-Tasket" with Chick Webb’s band. The recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1986.

In 1956, 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).

In 1958, at Chess Studios in Chicago, Chuck Berry recorded "Carol."

In 1960, 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", "Save the Last Dance For Me" and "This Magic Moment."

Also in 1960, 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.

In 1960, at RCA Victor Studio A in New York City, Ray Peterson recorded "Tell Laura I Love Her."

On May 2, 1964, '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.

Also in 1964, for the first time in 51 weeks, the Beatles were not at the top of the UK album chart as they were finally unseated by The Rolling Stones debut LP.

In 1965, the Rolling Stones made their second appearance on CBS-TV's "The Ed Sullivan Show" performing four songs: "The Last Time," "Little Red Rooster," "Everybody Needs Somebody To Love," and the instrumental "2120 South Michigan Avenue." On the same show, Dusty Springfield sang "All Cried Out," Tom Jones performed "It's Not Unusual," and Roy Orbison was introduced and took a bow from the audience.

In 1967, the Beach Boys announced they were scrapping the album "Smile," their highly anticipated followup to their "Pet Sounds" album. Brian Wilson took more than a year to compose and produce the material, but after hearing the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper" album, he became convinced that "Smile" would be seen as second best. After decades of imagined "Smile" albums assembled from bootlegs and released recordings, Wilson finally released a finished version of the project in 2005.

In 1968, at the Record Plant Studios in New York City, the Jimi Hendrix Experience recorded "Voodoo Chile."

In 1969, at EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London, the Beatles laid down 36 takes of the main parts of their recording of the song "Something," George Harrison's composition about Patti Boyd. Work had begun on the track February 25, it continued on April 16 and, after several more days of overdubs, was finished on August 15.

In 1970, 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."

In 1972, in New York, Bruce Springsteen auditioned for Columbia Records A&R honcho John Hammond, who was so impressed he immediately arranged a Springsteen performance at the Gaslight Club that evening to share his discovery with fellow label executives.

In 1975, Apple Records ceased operations.

In 1977, Eric Clapton recorded "Wonderful Tonight." He had written the song the previous September for Patti Boyd while waiting for her to get ready to attend Paul and Linda McCartney's annual Buddy Holly party.

In 1978, the Bee Gees were 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."

In 1979, 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.

In 1986, Dolly Parton opened her theme park, Dollywood, in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

In 1991, 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.

In 1991, R.E.M.'s video for Losing My Religion was banned in Ireland for its religious imagery.

On this day in 2003, "In Da Club" by 50 Cent was the #1 song.

In 2004, Total Guitar magazine's readers voted Guns N' Roses' anthem "Sweet Child O' Mine" as the greatest guitar riff ever, ahead of Nirvana's grunge anthem "Smells Like Teen Spirit." Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" came in third, followed by Deep Purple's "Smoke On The Water."

In 2005, 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, 36 years after the band split up. Tickets sold for more than £500 each ($825 US) on eBay and some fans flew all the way from North America to witness the reunion, which Clapton was said to have agreed to because of the failing health of his former bandmates.

In 2007, in Wroclaw, Poland, 1,876 guitarists gathered to set a new Guinness World Record by simultaneously performing the Jimi Hendrix song "Hey Joe."

In 2009, Motown's rarest 45, Frank Wilson's "Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)," set a world record by selling for nearly $40,000 at a London auction. The unreleased single is one of only two known copies. Motown boss Berry Gordy had all other copies destroyed after Wilson moved into songwriting and producing. Wilson went on to write "All I Need" for the Temptations and the Supremes hits "Love Child" and "Stoned Love" before becoming a Christian minister.

Also in 2009, Bob Dylan took a day off from his European tour and paid £16 to join 13 other tourists on a bus trip to Liverpool to visit the newly opened, National Trust-owned childhood home of John Lennon. Dylan went unrecognized.

In 2010, 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.

birthdays today include (among others): Engelbert Humperdinck (77), Lou Gramm (63) and  Lesley Gore (67)