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Hear Today In Rock and Roll History
Today In R&R History May 3rd
Daily Rock and Roll History, Birthday and short music clips.
A year long, day by day look back at this date in Rock History in 3-5 minute segments. Now airing WRGG in Greencastle, PA.
Rock and Roll Birthdays
May 3rd
- May 3rd Birthday, Folk singer, songwriter and social activist Pete Seeger, born in New York City in 1919. He passed away on January 27th, 2014 at the age of 94.
- May 3rd Birthday, Singer, songwriter James Brown, born in Barnwell, South Carolina in 1933. He died on December 25th, 2006 at the age of 73.
- May 3rd Birthday, Singer Frankie Valli, born Francesco Stephen Castelluccio in Newark, New Jersey in 1934.
- May 3rdBirthday, Folk singer Mary Hopkin, born in Pontardawe, Wales in 1950.
- May 3rd Birthday, Christopher Cross, born Christopher Geppart in San Antonio, Texas in 1951.
- May 3rd Birthday, REO Speedwagon bassist Bruce Hall, born in Champaign, Illinois in 1953.
Today In Rock and Roll History
May 3rd
- May 3rd, 1958 Alan Freed has trouble on his hands when a brawl breaks out following a Big Beat Show at the Boston Arena. Several of the estimated five thousand teens in attendance are injured and Freed will later be charged with incitement of a riot and destruction of property.
- May 3rd, 1964 Gerry And The Pacemakers make their US television debut on the Ed Sullivan Show performing “Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying,” six days before the record’s May 9th release on Laurie Records.
- May 3rd, 1965 The Beatles were busy filming scenes for their forthcoming film Help! on Salisbury Plain with the British Army’s Third Tank Division.
- May 3rd, 1965 Hi Records release “Buster Browne” by label owner, trumpeter, producer and arranger Willie Mitchell on 45. Co-written by Mitchell with Reggie Young, the record peaked at No. 96 on July 26th, No. 29 on the R&B charts.
- May 3rd, 1966 Gordy Records release “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg” by The Temptations on 45. Co-written by the tracks’ producer Norman Whitfield with lyricist Eddie Holland, David Ruffin sang the song’s lead vocal with The Funk Brothers as the backing band including Earl Van Dyke and Johnny Griffith both on keyboards. Griffith playing the electric piano part. Whitfield was relatively new at Motown and was not considered The Temptations producer when he had the vocal group record their parts over the recorded backing track. The Temptations were considered Smokey Robinson’s act and the single was issued only after intense lobbying by Whitfield to get the song out. The record peaked at No. 13 on July 16th, No. 1 R&B.
- May 3rd, 1968 An early 7:30 am session at The Record Plant in New York City with Jimi Hendrix, Mitch Mitchell, Steve Winwood and Jack Casady recording “Voodoo Chile” in three takes. Eddie Kramer supervised the studio set-up as the musicians ran through the song. “Voodoo Chile” was issued on the “Electric Ladyland” album.
- May 3rd, 1968 The Beach Boys begin a seventeen-date tour of the US with a show in New York. The second half of the concert featured the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who lectured the audience on “spiritual regeneration.” The reaction was so negative, more than half of the remaining tour dates were canceled.
- May 3rd, 1969 Deram Records release “Never Comes The Day” by The Moody Blues on 45. Written by Justin Hayward and produced by Tony Clarke, it was the only single released from The Moody Blues fourth album “On The Threshold Of A Dream.” Despite the album becoming a No. 1 hit in Britain, the single did not chart in England. “Never Comes The Day” entered the singles charts in America in June and peaked at No. 91 on July 5th.
- May 3rd, 1969 The Royal Canadian Mounted Police arrest Jimi Hendrix at Toronto’s International Airport for possession of narcotics. He was released on ten-thousand-dollar bail until his acquittal the following December.
- May 3rd, 1969 Buddah Records release “Special Delivery” by 1910 Fruitgum Co. Co-written by Bobby Bloom and Bo Gentry and produced by the pair with Ritchie Cordell, the record entered the charts a week later and peaked at No. 38 on June 21st.
- May 3rd, 1969 “Baby I Love You” by Andy Kim enters the singles charts on Steed Records. Co-written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector for The Ronettes, the Andy Kim version peaked at No. 82 on August 30th.
- May 3rd, 1969 Epic Records release “Stand!” the fourth studio album by Sly & The Family Stone. Released before the band’s appearance at The Woodstock Festival, the album featured four hit singles, “Sing a Simple Song,” “I Want to Take You Higher,” “Stand!” and “Everyday People.” The album spent a hundred and two weeks on the charts and peaked at No. 13 on June 7th.
- May 3rd, 1969 Atlantic Records release the Wilson Pickett cover version of the Mars Bonfire song “Born To Be Wild” on 45. Produced by Rick Hall, the record entered the singles charts a week later and peaked at No. 64 on May 31st.
- May 3rd, 1971 Reprise Records release “Aqualung,” the fourth studio album by Jethro Tull. Recorded at both Island and Morgan Studios in London from April 1970 and February 1971, the record was co-produced by Ian Anderson and Terry Ellis. Original group bassist Glen Cornick left the group during that period, replaced by Jeffrey Hammond. It was the first Tull LP with John Evans as a permanent member of the group, having played sessions with the band for several years. Drummer Clive Bunker retired from music after the recording sessions to start a family. The album spent seventy-one weeks on the charts and peaked at No. 7 on June 5th.
- May 3rd, 1971 Grand Funk Railroad “consent” to meet with members of the press, who have never treated the group with respect, despite their string of Gold Records. One hundred and fifty reporters were invited to New York’s Gotham Hotel. Only six showed up.
- May 3rd, 1972 Stone The Crows guitarist Les Harvey is electrocuted onstage in front of twelve thousand fans in Swansea, Wales, when a poorly grounded microphone wire shorts out. Harvey is thrown into the air by the shock as his girlfriend and vocalist Maggie Bell watched in horror. He died in a hospital three hours later.
- May 3rd, 1972 Apple Records release “We’re On Our Way” by Chris Hodge on 45. Hodge was signed to the label by Ringo Starr. Written by Chris Hodge and produced by Tony Cox, the record entered the charts in June and peaked at No. 44 on July 8th.
- May 3rd, 1973 Motown Records release “Touch Me In The Morning” by Diana Ross on 45. Co-written by Michael Massner and Ronald Miller, the record was co-produced by Massner and Tom Baird. The single entered the charts in June and on August 18th, became Ross’ second solo No. 1.
- May 3rd, 1974 Vertigo Records in Britain release “Quo,” the seventh studio album by Status Quo. Self-produced by the band, the record reached No. 2 in the English LP charts.
- May 3rd, 1975 The English Glam-Rock band Mud attain their third and final UK No. 1 with a cover of Buddy Holly’s 1957 hit, “Oh Boy.”
- May 3rd, 1975 “Why Can’t We Be Friends” by War enters the singles charts following an April release on United Artist Records. War formed in Long Beach, California in 1969, fusing elements of rock, funk, jazz, Latin, rhythm and blues and reggae. The band transcended racial and cultural barriers with a multi-ethnic line-up. The song was co-written by the seven members of the band with their producer Jerry Goldstein. Goldstein co-produced the track with the band’s Lonnie Jordan and Howard Scott. “Why Can’t We Be Friends” reached No. 6 on August 23rd.
- May 3rd, 1975 “USA,” the live album by King Crimson is released. The LP was recorded in 1974 at The Casino in Asbury Park, New Jersey on June 28th and at The Palace Theater in Providence, Rhode Island on June 30th. Eddie Jobson added violin overdubs to a few of the tracks later in the studio. The album peaked at No. 125 on June 7th.
- May 3rd, 1975 Jet Records in Britain release “Oh What A Shame” by Roy Wood on 45. Wood wrote and produced the single as well as singing and playing all the vocals and instruments. The record peaked at No. 13 in Britain.
- May 3rd, 1975 Tony Orlando And Dawn scored their third and final US No. 1 hit with “He Don’t Love You (Like I Love You).” The tune was co-written as “He Will Break Your Heart” by three R&B heavyweights, Jerry Butler, Clarence Carter and Curtis Mayfield and was a No. 7 hit for Butler in 1960.
- May 3rd, 1976 The first date of the “Wings Over America” tour begins in Fort Worth, Texas. Shows ran for seven weeks and ended with three nights in the LA Forum.
- May 3rd, 1977 Asylum Records release “Life In The Fast Lane” by The Eagles on 45, the same week the band’s “Hotel California” was the No. 1 record in the US. Co-written by Joe Walsh, Glenn Frey and Don Henley, the song sprang from the opening Joe Walsh guitar riff played during band rehearsals for the “Hotel California” recording sessions. The record entered the charts two weeks later and went to No. 11 on June 25th.
- May 3rd, 1977 Paul Simon and Phoebe Snow perform at a special concert at Madison Square Garden to benefit the debt ridden New York Public Library. Fifteen thousand fans pay up to two hundred and fifty dollars each for tickets.
- May 3rd, 1980 Warner Brothers Records release “Look Hear?” the seventh studio album by 10cc. The group reconvened after an extended period of forced inactivity following a serious automobile accident that left Eric Stewart blind in one eye and temporarily deaf in one ear. The LP was co-produced by Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman at Strawberry Studios South in Dorking, Surrey, England from August through December 1979. The LP peaked at No. 180 on May 24th.
- May 3rd, 1980 Mercury Records release “Entre Nous” by Rush on 45. The song was co-written by the three members of Rush, Alex Lifeson, Geddy Lee and Neil Peart. The band co-produced the track with Terry Brown from the album “Permanent Waves.”
- May 3rd, 1980 Bob Seger And The Silver Bullet Band’s “Against The Wind” enters the singles charts in America, the same week the LP of the same name started a six week run at No. 1 on the album charts. “Against The Wind” was written by Bob Seger and produced by Bill Szymczyk. The single reached No. 5 on June 14th.
- May 3rd, 1985 Atlantic Records release “Satisfaction Guaranteed” by The Firm on 45. Co-written by Jimmy Page and Paul Rogers, the record peaked at No. 73 on May 18th.
- May 3rd, 1986 Robert Palmer’s “Addicted To Love” hits No. 1 in the US on its way to becoming a world-wide million seller. Originally recorded as a duet with Chaka Khan, her record company wouldn’t grant her a release to work on Palmer’s label, Island Records and her voice was removed.
- May 3rd, 1988 Epic Records release “Vivid,” the first studio album by Living Colour. Recorded at three New York City Studios, Skyline, Sound On Sound and Right Track, nine songs on the LP were produced by Ed Stasium. To others, “Glamour Boys” and “Which Way To America?” were produced by Mick Jagger. Jagger plays harmonica on the song “Broken Hearts” and sings backup on “Glamour Boys.” The album reached No. 6 on May 6th and featured the hit singles “Cult Of Personality” and “Glamour Boys.”
- May 3rd, 1988 RCA Records release “Scenes From The Southside,” the second LP by Bruce Hornsby and The Range. The album was co-produced by Neil Dorfsman and Bruce Hornsby at five different studios in Los Angeles and Hollywood. Huey Lewis plays harmonica on the song “Defenders Of The Flag.” The record peaked at No. 5 on July 9th.
- May 3rd, 2012 Paul McCartney and his wife Nancy Shevell narrowly avoided a potential deadly helicopter crash when their pilot became disoriented during a flight in bad weather and missed some trees by two feet. Flying home to their estate in East Sussex, England after a day in London, the McCartney’s were not aware of how close they came to crashing at the time. The UK’s Department of Transport launched an investigation into the incident the following November.
Miscellaneous May
- May 1949 “Back Home Blues” backed with “Rock Awhile” by Goree Carter and His Hep Cats is released as a 78 rpm record on the Freedom Records label. Influenced by the guitar work of T Bone Walker, “Rock Awhile” stakes a legitimate claim as the first rock and roll record released. Eighteen years old when he recorded the song, the overdriven guitar tone and pentatonic lead predated rock and a style similar to Chuck Berry.
- May 1966 White Whale Records release “If You Gotta Go, Go Now” backed with “I’ll Go On,” the second single by Lyme & Cybelle, the folk rock duo of Warren Zevon and Violet Santangelo. Bob Dylasn wrote “If You Gottsa Go, Go Now,” and the B-side was a Zevon/Santangelo co-write. The record was produced by Bones Howe.
- May 1968 Parlophone Records in Britain release “(The Autobiography Of) Mississippi Hobo,” the second single by Hans Christian. Hans Christian was future Yes singer Jon Anderson. The single was arranged and produced by Paul Korda.
- May 1970 Viking Records press promotional copies of “From Denver To L.A.” on 45. Credited with a vocal by “Elton Johns,” it was taken from the movie soundtrack from the 20thCentury Fox film The Games. Original copies of the record are considered one of the rarest Elton John singles.
- May 1972 Bearsville Records release “Wonder Girl,” the debut single by Sparks. Written by Ron Mael, the record was produced by Todd Rundgren. Rundgren signed the band to Bearsville and produced their first album when the band was known as Halfnelson. The band changed its’ name to Sparks after the LP came out in October 1971. The name change led to a new cover and re-release of the album in February 1972.
- May 1973 Chrysalis Records release “Grand Hotel” by Procol Harum on 45. Co-written by Keith Reid and Gary Brooker, the song served as the title track of Procol Harum’s sixth studio LP, produced by Chris Thomas.
- May 1975 Harvest Record release “HQ,” the eighth studio album by Roy Harper. Recorded in March at Abbey Road Studios in London with producer Peter Jenner, when the LP came out in America, the cover art and the title changed to “When An Old Cricketer Leaves The Crease.” David Gilmour, Chris Spedding, Bill Bruford and John Paul Jones played sessions on the LP.
- May 1976 MCA Records release “Gimme Back My Bullets” by Lynyrd Skynyrd on 45. The song was co-written by Gary Rossington and Ronnie Van Zant. The studio track was produced by Tom Dowd.
- May 1977 CBS Records in Britain release “Ian Hunter’s Overnight Angels” album. Recorded at several different studios in the US, Canada and England with producer Roy Thomas Baker, Hunter’s US label, Columbia Records refused to release the LP with Hunter’s business management in disarray and no tour scheduled to support the album. Featured on the album sessions were guitarist Earl Slick.
- May 1984 Passport Records release “Russians & Americans,” the tenth studio album by Al Stewart. The LP was produced by Mike Flicker at four different studios, three in California and Abbey Road Studios in London. British and US issues on the record had different tracks. A 2007 reissue collected all the songs on one CD.
- May 1985 EMI Records in Britain release remixed versions of “Loving The Alien” backed with “Don’t Look Down” on 45, originally from from the David Bowie LP “Tonight.” Bowie wrote the AS-side. “Don’t Look Down” was a song co-written by David Bowie and The Stooges’ guitarist James Williamson.
- May 1985 Legacy Records in Britain release “Under Fire” backed with “On Top Of The World” by Roy Wood on 45. Both songs were written and produced by Roy Wood from the LP “Starting Up.”
This Week In Rock and Roll History
This Week In Rock and Roll History week of May 3rd
This Week In Rock and Roll History is a weekly one hour look back at the songs, the artists, and the stories behind the music of the rock and roll era.
The Cool Song Of The Week
Cool Song Of The Week 5/3 The Moody Blues
Cool songs from the Rock and Roll Era, Closet Classics and more.
Craig Maher / Exo-X-Xeno Wax Museum Interview
Craig Maher from Exo-X-Xeno talking about the 2025 album "Luminous Voyage"
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Nektar Wax Museum interview 4/11/25
Nektar interviewed on the second night of the 2025 "Mission To Mars" Tour
- Click image to hear the exclusive the Wax Museum interview with Nektar discussiing the current tour, future plans and group history.
The Paul Bielatowicz Band Wax Museum interview 4/11/25
The Paul Bielatowicz Band interviewed on their 2025 Spring Tour
- Click image to hear the exclusive the Wax Museum interview with The Paul Bielatowicz Band discussiing the current tour and future plans.
Music and conversation with Andy Tillison of The Tangent
Wax Museum interview May 2024
- Click image to hear The Wax Museum's Andy Tillison interview
Jonas Reingold Interview
Jonas Reingold in The Wax Museum
Click image to hear Chris Palladino's Wax Museum Interview with Jonas Reingold
Carl Giammarese / The Buckinghams Interview
The Buckinghams Radio Show
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Robert Fripp Radio Oz interview 7/25/85
King Crimson guitarist Radio Oz interview
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Annie Haslam 2019 Wax Museum interview
Annie Haslam "In Words and Music"
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Tommy James Wax Museum Interview January 2019
Tommy James
- Click picture to hear Tommy promoting all his planned 2019 activities; new album, Sirius XM radio show, touring, new movie, etc.
From the Radio Oz interview archives
Firesign Theatre interview 1980
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Woody Lissauer Wax Museum Interview 2/22/20
Baltimore based Woody Lissauer steps up to the Wax Museum microphones for this in depth interview!
- Click picture to listen to the Wax Museum interview with Woody Lissauer and his latest album "Trouble The Water" with Barbara Ireland and Steve Caplan.
