Wax Museum Radio
Next broadcast May 23rd Friday Night at midnight and Saturday night at 10pm on WRGG.
Hear Today In Rock and Roll History
Today In R&R History May 21st
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 21st
- May 21st Birthday, Jazz pianist, organist, composer, violinist, singer and comedic entertainer Fats Waller, born Thomas Wright Waller in 1904 in New York City. Waller copyrighted over four hundred songs, many of them co-written with his closest collaborator Andy Razaf.
- May 21st Birthday, Tony Sheridan, born Anthony Esmond Sheridan McGinnity in 1940 in Norwich, Norfolk, England. Sheridan used The Beatles as his backing band on their first studio recordings in Hamburg, Germany.
- May 21st Birthday, The Isley Brothers singer Ronnie Isley, born in 1941 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
- May 21st Birthday, British folk singer, songwriter, guitarist Martin Carthy, born in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England in 1941.
- May 21st Birthday, The Animals guitarist Hilton Valentine, born in North Shields, Northumberland, England in 1943. He died on January 29th, 2021, aged 77.
- May 21st Birthday, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown and Atomic Rooster keyboardist Vincent Crane, born Vincent Rodney Cheesman in 1943 in Reading, Berkshire, England. He died on February 14th, 1989, aged 45.
- May 21st Birthday, Longtime member of Chicago, singer, songwriter and keyboard player, guitarist Bill Champlin, who started out with veteran San Francisco funk band the Sons of Champlin in the late ‘60s, born in 1947 in Oakland, California.
- May 21st Birthday, Singer, songwriter Leo Sayer, born Gerard Sayer in Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex, England, in 1948.
- May 21st Birthday, Longtime drummer for Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Stan Lynch, born in 1955 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Today In Rock and Roll History
May 21st
- May 21st, 1955 Chuck Berry And His Combo record their first single “Maybellene” and “Wee Wee Hours” at Universal Recording Studios, Chicago, Illinois, with producers Leonard and Phil Chess. When writing “Maybellene,” Berry adapted parts of the Western Swing song “Ida Red,” recorded by Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys in 1938. According to Berry, Wills’ version, an up-tempo dance number, was his favorite song to sing at racially integrated clubs. Released on July 23rd, the single entered the Pop charts in August and went to No. 1 on the R&B chart. “Maybellene” was one of the first records to be a hit on the rhythm and blues, country and western and pop charts.
- May 21st, 1963 Thirteen-year-old Little Stevie Wonder releases the single that would be his first No. 1 hit. “Fingertips” was recorded at a concert in the Regal Theater, Chicago in June 1962. The seven-minute song was later edited into two parts for release on 45. Co-written by Clarence Paul and Henry Cosby, “Fingertips” was originally a jazz instrumental recorded for Wonder’s first studio album. Both the studio and live versions of the song featured the drumming of Marvin Gaye.
- May 21st, 1963 The Beatles record two BBC Radio sessions at The Playhouse Theatre, London, England for The Light Programme‘s Saturday Club, their first on this show as the top of the bill act and for a new Light Programme show, Steppin’ Out, before a live studio audience. The Saturday Club session was broadcast May 25th. The “Steppin’ Out” session was broadcast on June 3rd. Songs recorded for the “Saturday Club” session from 5:30–6:30pm. “I Saw Her Standing There” co-written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. “Do You Want To Know A Secret” co-written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. “Boys” co-written by Luther Dixon and Wes Farrell. “Long Tall Sally” co-written by Robert Blackwell, Enotris Johnson and Richard Penniman. “From Me To You” co-written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. “Money (That’s What I Want)” co-written by Janie Bradford and Berry Gordy Jr. Songs recorded for the “Steppin’ Out” session from 10–11:15pm.
- “Please Please Me” co-written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. “I Saw Her Standing There” co-written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. “Roll Over Beethoven” written by Chuck Berry. “Twist And Shout” co-written by Phil Medley and Bert Berns. “Thank You Girl” co-written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. “From Me To You” co-written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. “Twist And Shout” was edited out of the live broadcast.
- May 21st, 1964 Tamla Records release “Try It Baby” by Marvin Gaye on 45, written and produced by Barry Gordy Jr. The Temptations sing backing vocals on the track, recorded over two sessions on January 28th and 29th. With instrumental backing by The Funk Brothers and a trumpet solo by Maurice Davis, the record entered the singles charts in June and peaked at No. 15 on July 25th.
- May 21st, 1964 Tamla Records release “Hey Harmonica Man” by Stevie Wonder on 45. The song was co-written by Marty Cooper and Lou Josie and the track was co-produced by Hal Davis and Marc Gordon. The record entered the singles charts in June and peaked at No. 29 on July 25th.
- May 21st, 1964 Swan Records in America release the German language version of The Beatles “She Loves You” on 45. The Beatles’ German record distributor, Odeon Records, requested The Beatles cut German language versions of “She Loves You” and “I Want To Hold Your Hand.” Recording sessions for both began in Paris on October 17th with producer George Martin while the band were touring there. While the band recorded new vocals over top of the existing backing track for “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” the original master take of “She Loves You” had been erased after the master mix was completed, forcing The Beatles to completely re-record the song from scratch. The record peaked at No. 97 on June 27th.
- May 21st, 1965 The Who release “Anyway Anyhow Anywhere” as their latest single in Britain, two weeks later in the states. The release coincided with an appearance on BBC television’s Ready Steady Go! by the group. The song was composed by lead singer Roger Daltrey and guitarist Pete Townshend, the only time they wrote together. Recorded over two days, April 13th and 14that IBC Studios in London with producer Shel Talmy, this was the first Who release with Nicky Hopkins playing piano.
- May 21st, 1966 Philles Records release “River Deep Mountain High,” credited to Ike and Tina Turner. In reality, it was Tina’s first solo record, the first session she did with producer Phil Spector, who wrote the song with Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich. Spector adamantly stated he did not want Ike Turner there in the studio. Among those playing on the session were Glen Campbell on guitar, bassist Carol Kaye and Leon Russell on keys and was arranged by Jack Nitzsche. The record entered the singles charts in September and peaked at No. 102 on October 25th.
- May 21st, 1966 “Monday Monday” by The Mamas & The Papas is the No. 1 record in the US.
- May 21st, 1966 “Cloudy Summer Afternoon (Raindrops)” by Barry McGuire enters the singles charts following a release on Dunhill Records earlier in May. The record peaked at No. 62 on June 25th.
- May 21st, 1966 Dunhill Records release The Grass Roots’ debut single “Where Were You When I Needed You.” Songwriters P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri had written the song for the Herman’s Hermits movie Hold On! “The Hermits didn’t release it, so Sloan and Barri recorded the song themselves. When the record became a hit, they assembled musicians to form a live Grass Roots touring act. Most of the instruments and voices on the first Grass Roots album that followed were performed by Sloan and Barri. Larry Knechtel plays keyboards on “Where Were You When I Needed You.” The record entered the charts in June and peaked at No. 28 on July 30th.
- May 21st, 1966 “Hey Joe” by The Leaves enters the singles charts following an April release on Mira Records. It was the first known commercially released version of a song first published in 1963. Who wrote the song is disputed. While many claim it was derived from a traditional song, its authorship is also claimed by Billy Roberts and Dino Valenti. Charting for nine weeks, “Hey Joe” peaked at No. 31 on July 9th.
- May 21st, 1966 The American release date by Jamie Records of “The Pied Piper” by Crispian St. Peter on 45. The song was written and first recorded by American group The Changing Times, the duo of songwriters Steve Duboff and Artie Kornfeld. Their version went to No. 87 in 1965. The Crispian St. Peter version was one of the many studio sessions guitarist Jimmy Page played on, produced by Dave Nicolson. “The Pied Piper” entered the singles charts on June 11th peaked at No. 4 on July 23rd.
- May 21st, 1966 Hickory Records re-released “Billy and Sue” by B.J. Thomas and The Triumphs on 45. The record had first been the B-side of “Never Tell” in October 1964, then picked up Warner Brothers Records a month later and issued as an A-side. It was the chart success of Thomas’ “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” in January 1966 that sparked renewed label interest in his earlier recordings.
- May 21st, 1967 Pink Floyd record “See Emily Play” at Sound Technics Studio in London with producer Norman Smith. The song was written by Floyd guitarist and singer Syd Barrett. The studio track was much longer than the released version and was heavily edited with many studio effects. Columbia Records in Britain released the single on June 16th. The single was issued by Tower Records three times in the US in 1967 and 1968, but failed to repeat the success it had in Britain.
- May 21st, 1968 Columbia Records release “Lady Willpower” by Gary Puckett and The Union Gap on 45. Written and produced by Jerry Fuller with Al Capps arranging, the record entered the charts on June 8th and peaked at No. 2 on July 20th.
- May 21st, 1968 Motown Records release “Some Things You Never Get Used To” by Diana Ross and The Supremes. After the loss of Motown’s Holland-Dozier-Holland songwriting and production team to their own Invictus Record Label, Motown assigned Nicholas Ashford and Valerie Simpson to write and produce the group. Ashford and Simpson sang the backing vocals on “Some Things You Never Get Used To” to Diana Ross’ lead while The Funk Brothers and The Detroit Symphony Orchestra laid down the backing tracks. The Supremes members Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong do not perform on the record. The record entered the charts in June and peaked at No. 30 in America on July 6th.
- May 21st, 1970 Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young record the socially charged “Ohio” following the shootings of thirteen unarmed Kent State University students in Kent, Ohio, by the Ohio National Guard on May 4th, 1970. Released on 45 by Atlantic Records, “Ohio” entered the charts a month later and peaked at No. 14 on August 8th.
- May 21st, 1970 Columbia Records release former Paul Revere and The Raiders singer Mark Lindsay’s single “Silver Bird” on 45. Co-written by Artie Butler and Kenny Young, Lindsay was backed by the team of LA session musicians known as The Wrecking Crew with producer Jerry Fuller. Silver Bird” entered the singles charts in June and peaked at No. 25 on August 1st.
- May 21st, 1971 Charisma records in Britain release “The Knife” (parts 1&2) by Genesis on 45, issued from the band’s second album “Trespass.” The song was written collectively by Genesis and produced by John Anthony.
- May 21st, 1971 Polydor Records in Britain release the self-titled first LP by Irish guitarist Rory Gallagher. Gallagher had recorded two albums as a member of Taste. The solo record was self-produced by Gallagher at Advision Studios in London, England and peaked at No. 32 in England. Atomic Rooster keyboard player Vincent Crane plays on two songs. Atco Records issued the record in America in October but it didn’t chart in the US.
- May 21st, 1971 Harvest Records in Britain release “Tonight” backed with “Don’t Mess Me Up” by The Move on 45. The A-side was written by Roy Wood. The B-side was written by drummer Bev Bevan. Both sides were co-produced by Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne. In the US, “Tonight” was issued by Capitol Records on July 5th.
- May 21st, 1971 Tamla/Motown Records release “What’s Going On” the eleventh studio album by Marvin Gaye. The album is lauded for expanding the scope of R&B music, with lyrics confronting racism and innovative studio techniques. Recorded between 1970 and 1971 in sessions at Hitsville USA, Golden World and United Sound Studios in Detroit and at The Sound Factory in West Hollywood, California, it was Gaye’s first album to credit him as a producer and to credit Motown’s in-house studio band, the session musicians known as the Funk Brothers. The album featured three hit singles, “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology),” “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)” and the albums’ title track. The record peaked at No. 6 on July 31st.
- May 21st, 1974 Columbia Records release “Worse Comes To Worse” by Billy Joel on 45. Written by Joel, the single was the second released from Joel’s “Piano Man” album, produced by Michael Stewart. The 45 version was edited forty-five seconds shorter than the LP version. The record entered the singles charts on June 29thand peaked at No. 80 on July 13th.
- May 21st, 1976 RCA Records in Britain release “Changesonebowie,” a greatest hits collection by David Bowie. Out the same month in the US, the album reached No. 10 in America on July 17th.
- May 21st, 1976 CBS Records in Britain release “All American Alien Boy,” the second solo album by Ian Hunter. The LP was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York City with Hunter producing. Bassist Jaco Pasorius, keyboardist Chris Stainton and drummer Aynsley Dunbar played on the sessions. Queen members Freddie Mercury, Brian May and Roger Taylor sing on the song “You Nearly Did Me In.” Out in America in April, the album peaked at No. 177 on July 3rd.
- May 21st, 1976 Columbia Records release “Agents Of Fortune” by Blue Oyster Cult. The record was co-produced at The Record Plant in New York City by Murray Krugman, Sandy Pearlman and David Lucas. The Brecker Brothers, Randy and Michael recorded horn charts on the record and Patti Smith sang on the song “The Revenge Of Vera Gemini.” Peaking at No. 29 on November 20th, the LP included the band’s biggest hit single “Don’t Fear The Reaper.”
- May 21st, 1977 “Sir Duke” by Stevie Wonder is the No. 1 record in the US, his sixth No. 1 record in America.
- May 21st, 1977 “People In Love” by 10cc enters the singles charts on Mercury Records. The track, co-written by the band’s Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman, was one of three Top Forty hits for 10cc from their fifth album “Deceptive Bends. “People In Love” peaked at No. 40 on June 25th.
- May 21st, 1977 Jackson Browne’s “The Pretender” enters the singles charts in America. Written by Jackson Browne and produced by Jon Landau, the record peaked at No. 58 on June 11th.
- May 21st, 1977 Bonnie Raitt’s cover version of the Del Shannon song “Runaway” enters the singles charts on Warner Brothers Records. The track was issued as the second single from Raitt’s “Sweet Forgiveness” LP, produced by Paul A. Rothchild during 1976 through 1977 sessions at Sunset Sound Studios in Los Angeles. “Runaway” peaked at No. 57 on July 16th.
- May 21st, 1979 Elton John became the first solo rock and roll artist to tour Russia when he played the first of eight concerts. He was currently enjoying chart success in the US with “Mama Can’t Buy You Love,” his first Top Ten hit in two and a half years.
- May 21st, 1979 Epic Records release “The Devil Went Down To Georgia” by The Charlie Daniels Band on 45. Vassar Clements wrote the basic melody for the song an octave lower, in a tune called “Lonesome Fiddle Blues,” released on Clements’ self-titled 1975 album, on which Charlie Daniels played guitar. The Charlie Daniels Band moved it up an octave and put words to it. Their version was the biggest hit single of the band’s career, entering the charts in June. “The Devil Went Down To Georgia” peaked at No. 3 on September 15th.
- May 21st, 1982 EMI Records in Britain release the ninth studio LP by Queen “Hot Space.” Produced by Queen and Reinhold Mack, the album was influenced by R&B and dance music and represented a stylistic change in the group’s sound. The LP included “Under Pressure,” the band’s collaboration with David Bowie, recorded in July 1981 and first released as a single that October. In America, “Hot Space” entered the charts a week later and peaked at No. 22 on June 19th.
- May 21st, 1983 “Let’s Dance” by David Bowie is the No. 1 record in the US.
- May 21st, 1994 “Meet The Flintstones” by The B.C. 52’s enters the singles charts on MCA Records. The track came from the movie soundtrack “The Flintstones: Music From Bedrock.” The song was co-written by William Hanna, Joseph Barbera and Hoyt Curtin for The Flintstones cartoon series in 1960. “Meet The Flintstones” peaked at No. 33 on June 11th.
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 17th
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 5/17 The Beatles
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"
- Click picture to listen to the interview with Craig talking about the Exo-X-Xeno project with Yes members Billy Sherwood, Jay Shellen and Patrick Moraz.
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
Click image to hear Chris Palladino's interviews on WRGG with Carl Giammarese from The Buckinghams in 2022 and 2024
Robert Fripp Radio Oz interview 7/25/85
King Crimson guitarist Radio Oz interview
- Click Fripp's image to hear the King Crimson guitarist, record producer, solo artist in this 1985 interview for the WARX Sunday night Radio Oz program. Fripp discusses his then current Guitar Craft courses, King Crimson stories, his start in the music business, and more.
Annie Haslam 2019 Wax Museum interview
Annie Haslam "In Words and Music"
- Click picture to hear Annie Haslam "In Words and Music". The iconic Renaissance singer talks at length about music, her life, and artwork for an exclusive interview in The Wax Museum.
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
- Click picture to listen to this archival interview with The Firesign Theatre recorded during their 1980 Fighting Clowns tour of the US for Radio Oz now available for purchase in the Firesign Theatre's "Fighting Clowns" of Hollywood" collection! Also check out this Tiny Ossman interview from 1995 -
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.
