From Ron Smith’s excellent Rock And Roll Calendar Book “Eight Days A Week: Births, Deaths And Events Each Day In Oldies History,” here are some highlights for May 1st through the years …
1868: The REAL Tom Dooley (actually, Tom Dula) is hanged for the murder of his lover, Laura Foster
1929: "Country Gentleman" Sonny James is born
1939: Judy Collins is born
1944: Rita Coolidge is born
1954: Ray Parker, Jr. is born
1956: Little Willie John records “Fever”
1957: The Kingston Trio form (They will record … and have a #1 Hit with “Tom Dooley” a year later!)
DON'TCHA JUST LOVE IT WHEN ALL THIS STUFF TIES IN TOGETHER?!?!?
DON'TCHA JUST LOVE IT WHEN ALL THIS STUFF TIES IN TOGETHER?!?!?
Also on this date, Elvis Presley appears on the cover of the very first issue of “16 Magazine”
1966: The Beatles perform their last scheduled British concert at Empire Pool in Wembley (They would take to the Apple Records rooftop in 1969 to film a segment for their film "Let It Be" ... but this NME Winners Poll Concert was their last scheduled performance in Great Britain. They would quit touring all together after their appearance at Candlestick Park in San Francisco on August 29th later this year)
1967: Elvis Presley marries Priscilla Beaulieu in Las Vegas ... they would divorce five years later. Their daughter Lisa Marie would be born nine months to the day later on February 1st, 1968.
1968: John Lennon and Paul McCartney attend a Billy Haley concert at Royal Albert Hall in London
1969: Bob Dylan guests on Johnny Cash’s TV show on ABC
1973: The Carpenters perform for United States President Richard Nixon and German Chancellor Willy Brandt at The White House
Also on this date, “Marvin Gaye Day” is declared in his home town of Washington, D.C.
1979: Elton John becomes the first rock star to perform in Israel
2006: Johnny Paris of Johnny and the Hurricanes dies of sepsis and pneumonia
May 1st #1 Records:
1955 - Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White - Perez Prado
1956 - Heartbreak Hotel - Elvis Presley
1957 - All Shook Up - Elvis Presley
1958 - Witch Doctor - David Seville
1959 - Come Softly To Me - The Fleetwoods
1960 - Stuck On You - Elvis Presley (that's Elvis' THIRD #1 Record on this date!)
1961 - Runaway - Del Shannon
1962 - Good Luck Charm - Elvis Presley (make that FOUR!)
1963 - I Will Follow Him - Little Peggy March
1964 - Can't Buy Me Love - The Beatles
1965 - Mrs. Brown, You've Got A Lovely Daughter - Herman's Hermits
1966 - Good Lovin' - Young Rascals
1967 - Somethin' Stupid - Nancy and Frank Sinatra
1968 - Honey - Bobby Goldsboro
1969 - Aquarius / Let The Sunshine In - The Fifth Dimension
1970 - ABC - The Jackson Five
1971 - Joy To The World - Three Dog Night
1972 - The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Roberta Flack
1973 - Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'Round The Ole Oak Tree - Tony Orlando and Dawn
1974 - TSOP - MFSB
1975 - Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song - B.J. Thomas
1976 - Let Your Love Flow - The Bellamy Brothers
1977 - Southern Nights - Glen Campbell
1978 - Night Fever - The Bee Gees
1979 - Heart Of Glass - Blondie
1980 - Call Me - Blondie
1981 - Kiss On My List - Daryl Hall and John Oates
1982 - I Love Rock And Roll - Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
1983 - Beat It - Michael Jackson
1984 - Against All Odds - Phil Collins
1985 - We Are The World - USA For Africa
1986 - Kiss - Prince
1987 - I Knew You Were Waiting For Me - Aretha Franklin and George Michael
1988 - Where Do Broken Hearts Go - Whitney Houston
1989 - Like A Prayer - Madonna
1990 - Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinead O'Connor
