TODAY IN HISTORY – MAY 2ND
1904 - Born this day, [Harry Lillis] Bing Crosby, singer. Died in 1977. He recorded an estimated 2,600 songs in his life time including the biggest selling single ever, White Christmas written by Irving Berlin plus he had 317 other hits in the USA. (Apparently he claimed this to be his birthdate: real date 3 May 1903)
1936 - Born this day, Engelbert Humperdinck [Arnold George Dorsey], singer, 1967 UK No.1 and US No.4 single Release Me.
1945 - Born this day, Bianca Jagger, actress, model, activist, Mick Jagger's ex.
1950 - Born on this day, Lou Gramm, vocals, Foreigner, (1985 UK & US No.1 single 'I Want To Know What Love Is').
1954 - Born this day, Prescott Niles, The Knack, 1979 US No.1 and UK No.6 single My Sharona.
1955 - Born this day, Jo Callis, Human League, 1981 UK No.1 and 1982 US No.1 single Don't You Want Me, plus over 15 other UK top 40 singles
1964 - The Rolling Stones self titled debut album started a 12 week run at No.1 on the UK charts.
1969 - The Who gave a press preview of their new rock opera 'Tommy' at Ronnie Scott's in London, England. The double album about a "deaf, dumb and blind boy" who becomes the leader of a messianic movement, was the first musical work to be billed overtly as a rock opera. In 1998 it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for "historical, artistic and significant value" and has now sold over 20 million copies worldwide.
1969 - The Beatles recorded a re-make of the new George Harrison song 'Something' at Abbey Road Studios in London. They recorded 36 takes of the song, which included Billy Preston on piano.
1970 - One hit wonder Norman Greenbaum was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Spirit In The Sky.' Also a No.1 hit for Doctor and the Medics in 1986 and Gareth Gates in 2003.
1972 - Bruce Springsteen auditioned for CBS Records A&R man John Hammond in New York. Springsteen played a short set for him in his office; Hammond was so impressed that he arranged a real audition that night at the Gaslight Club in New York for other Columbia executives. Bruce passed the audition.
1978 - Kate Bush was on the UK charts with her debut album 'The Kick Inside'. The album which featured the singers No.1 hit 'Wuthering Heights' peaked at No.3 spent a total of 70 weeks on the UK chart.
1980 - Joy Division played what would be their last gig with singer Ian Curtis when they appeared at Birmingham University, England. Curtis committed suicide two weeks later.
1981 - Scottish singer Sheena Easton started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Morning Train (9 to 5)'. The title of the song was changed to avoid any confusion with the Dolly Parton hit '9 to 5', in the same year.
1983 - Spandau Ballet were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with True, the group's only No.1.
1985 - Born on this day, Lily Allen, UK singer, (2006 UK No.1 single ‘Smile’, 2006 UK No.2 album ‘Alright, Still’).
1987 - Cutting Crew started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with (I Just), Died In Your Arms, it was a No.4 hit in the UK.
1989 - A security guard alerted the police after a man wearing a wig, fake moustache and false teeth walked into Zales Jewellers, California. Three squad cars arrived and police detained the man, who turned out to be Michael Jackson in disguise.
1991 - The video for the R.E.M. song 'Losing My Religion', was banned in Ireland because its religious imagery was seen as unfit for broadcast.
1991 - Nirvana booked into Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, California for 16 days. On a budget of $65,000 and with Butch Vig producing the band started recording what would become the 'Nevermind' album.
1992 - The Cure scored their first UK No.1 album with Wish, their 15th album release, featuring the top 10 single Friday I'm In Love.
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 third, followed by Deep Purple's ‘Smoke On The Water’. Total Guitar editor Scott Rowley said: "To a new generation of guitarist's, Guns N' Roses are more thrilling than the Sex Pistols."
2006 - Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards was released from hospital in New Zealand after the 62 year-old suffered "mild concussion" when he fell out of a coconut tree while on holiday in Fiji. He was airlifted to Auckland's Ascot Hospital for observation, where he underwent a brain scan.
2008 - Chad Kroeger was banned from driving for a year after being convicted of drink-driving in the Canadian city of Vancouver. The 33-year-old Nickelback singer had almost twice the legal limit of alcohol in his system when he was stopped by police speeding in his Lamborghini.
2009 - Bob Dylan mingled unnoticed with other Beatles tourists during a minibus tour to John Lennon's childhood home. He was one of 14 tourists to examine photos and documents in the National Trust-owned home, where Lennon grew up with his aunt Mimi and uncle George. Dylan who was on a day off on a European tour paid £16 for the public trip to the 1940s house in Woolton, Liverpool.
2013 - It was announced that the Spice Girls musical Viva Forever! was to close at the end of June 2013. The production, which was written by Jennifer Saunders, suffered poor ticket sales after damning reviews.
2013 – The most played song on NZ radio the past week has been “When I Was Your Man” – Bruno Mars
1904 - Born this day, [Harry Lillis] Bing Crosby, singer. Died in 1977. He recorded an estimated 2,600 songs in his life time including the biggest selling single ever, White Christmas written by Irving Berlin plus he had 317 other hits in the USA. (Apparently he claimed this to be his birthdate: real date 3 May 1903)
1936 - Born this day, Engelbert Humperdinck [Arnold George Dorsey], singer, 1967 UK No.1 and US No.4 single Release Me.
1945 - Born this day, Bianca Jagger, actress, model, activist, Mick Jagger's ex.
1950 - Born on this day, Lou Gramm, vocals, Foreigner, (1985 UK & US No.1 single 'I Want To Know What Love Is').
1954 - Born this day, Prescott Niles, The Knack, 1979 US No.1 and UK No.6 single My Sharona.
1955 - Born this day, Jo Callis, Human League, 1981 UK No.1 and 1982 US No.1 single Don't You Want Me, plus over 15 other UK top 40 singles
1964 - The Rolling Stones self titled debut album started a 12 week run at No.1 on the UK charts.
1969 - The Who gave a press preview of their new rock opera 'Tommy' at Ronnie Scott's in London, England. The double album about a "deaf, dumb and blind boy" who becomes the leader of a messianic movement, was the first musical work to be billed overtly as a rock opera. In 1998 it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for "historical, artistic and significant value" and has now sold over 20 million copies worldwide.
1969 - The Beatles recorded a re-make of the new George Harrison song 'Something' at Abbey Road Studios in London. They recorded 36 takes of the song, which included Billy Preston on piano.
1970 - One hit wonder Norman Greenbaum was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Spirit In The Sky.' Also a No.1 hit for Doctor and the Medics in 1986 and Gareth Gates in 2003.
1972 - Bruce Springsteen auditioned for CBS Records A&R man John Hammond in New York. Springsteen played a short set for him in his office; Hammond was so impressed that he arranged a real audition that night at the Gaslight Club in New York for other Columbia executives. Bruce passed the audition.
1978 - Kate Bush was on the UK charts with her debut album 'The Kick Inside'. The album which featured the singers No.1 hit 'Wuthering Heights' peaked at No.3 spent a total of 70 weeks on the UK chart.
1980 - Joy Division played what would be their last gig with singer Ian Curtis when they appeared at Birmingham University, England. Curtis committed suicide two weeks later.
1981 - Scottish singer Sheena Easton started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Morning Train (9 to 5)'. The title of the song was changed to avoid any confusion with the Dolly Parton hit '9 to 5', in the same year.
1983 - Spandau Ballet were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with True, the group's only No.1.
1985 - Born on this day, Lily Allen, UK singer, (2006 UK No.1 single ‘Smile’, 2006 UK No.2 album ‘Alright, Still’).
1987 - Cutting Crew started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with (I Just), Died In Your Arms, it was a No.4 hit in the UK.
1989 - A security guard alerted the police after a man wearing a wig, fake moustache and false teeth walked into Zales Jewellers, California. Three squad cars arrived and police detained the man, who turned out to be Michael Jackson in disguise.
1991 - The video for the R.E.M. song 'Losing My Religion', was banned in Ireland because its religious imagery was seen as unfit for broadcast.
1991 - Nirvana booked into Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, California for 16 days. On a budget of $65,000 and with Butch Vig producing the band started recording what would become the 'Nevermind' album.
1992 - The Cure scored their first UK No.1 album with Wish, their 15th album release, featuring the top 10 single Friday I'm In Love.
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 third, followed by Deep Purple's ‘Smoke On The Water’. Total Guitar editor Scott Rowley said: "To a new generation of guitarist's, Guns N' Roses are more thrilling than the Sex Pistols."
2006 - Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards was released from hospital in New Zealand after the 62 year-old suffered "mild concussion" when he fell out of a coconut tree while on holiday in Fiji. He was airlifted to Auckland's Ascot Hospital for observation, where he underwent a brain scan.
2008 - Chad Kroeger was banned from driving for a year after being convicted of drink-driving in the Canadian city of Vancouver. The 33-year-old Nickelback singer had almost twice the legal limit of alcohol in his system when he was stopped by police speeding in his Lamborghini.
2009 - Bob Dylan mingled unnoticed with other Beatles tourists during a minibus tour to John Lennon's childhood home. He was one of 14 tourists to examine photos and documents in the National Trust-owned home, where Lennon grew up with his aunt Mimi and uncle George. Dylan who was on a day off on a European tour paid £16 for the public trip to the 1940s house in Woolton, Liverpool.
2013 - It was announced that the Spice Girls musical Viva Forever! was to close at the end of June 2013. The production, which was written by Jennifer Saunders, suffered poor ticket sales after damning reviews.
2013 – The most played song on NZ radio the past week has been “When I Was Your Man” – Bruno Mars