May 18

Births

1911: Big Joe Turner (Blues Singer & Pianist)

1912: Perry Como (Pop Singer)

1946: Bruce Gilbert (Guitar for Wire)

1948: Joe Bonsall (The Oak Ridge Boys)

1949: Bill Wallace (Bass for The Guess Who)

1949: Rick Wakeman (Keyboards for Yes)

1952: George Strait (Country Singer)

1957: Michael Cretu (Enigma)

1961: Russell Senior (Guitar for Pulp)

1967: Rob Base (Robert Ginyard) (Rapper)

1975: Jack Johnson (Singer & Guitarist)

Events

1963: At the first annual Monterey Folk Festival, Bob Dylan joins Joan Baez onstage to duet on his antiwar song "With God On Our Side."

1964: Yet another riot erupts at a Rolling Stones show, this time at the Chantinghall Hotel in Hamilton, Scotland, where 4,000 fake tickets create pandemonium.

1964: The Animals recorded "House Of The Rising Sun".

1966: Bruce Springsteen steps into a recording studio for the first time, recording with his garage band The Castiles in Brick Town, NJ.

1967: John Lennon and Paul McCartney sang backing vocals on The Rolling Stones track 'We Love You' during a session at Olympic Studios, London.

1967: The Beatles, it is announced, have been selected to represent the UK in the first global satellite broadcast, which will be called One World and broadcast on June 25. The band is commissioned to write a song for the event; Paul comes up with "Your Mother Should Know," but John comes up with the winning global anthem in "All You Need Is Love."

1968: Tiny Tim released the single "Tiptoe Through The Tulips".

1968: Archie Bell and The Drells started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Tighten Up', a huge beach music song.

1970: The Beatles release the Album Let It Be.

1971: The Band start their first-ever tour outside of North America, playing De Doelen in Rotterdam, Holland.

1974: Ray Stevens started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with the novelty song 'The Streak' which capitalized on the then popular craze of streaking.

1975: Chaos ensues when the BBC stages a "Fun Day" concert in London featuring teen heartthrobs The Bay City Rollers; the crowd is so manic that 44 are injured, four of them seriously.

1978: The controversial but highly-regarded biopic The Buddy Holly Story, starring Gary Busey performing Buddy's songs himself, premiere in Dallas, TX. Busey's performance is so natural he is nominated for Best Actor at the Oscars the next year (losing out to Jon Voight in Coming Home.)

1980: Joy Division singer and guitarist Ian Curtis hanged himself in the kitchen of his house in Macclesfield, England at the age of 23. Curtis had the Iggy Pop album 'The Idiot', playing on his stereo and left a note that said, 'At this very moment, I wish I were dead. I Just can't cope anymore.' Joy Division released the critically acclaimed debut album Unknown Pleasures in 1979, and recorded their follow-up Closer in 1980. Suffering from epilepsy, a failing marriage, and bouts of depression, Curtis committed suicide on the eve of Joy Division's debut North American tour.

1981: Diana Ross shocks the music industry by leaving Motown Records after 20 years for a new home on RCA. The $20 million contract sets a new record.

1988: In a Tampa courtroom, original drummer for the Byrds, Michael Clarke, is given permission to use the band name for his own touring group.

1994: Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley are married in the Dominican Republic in a private ceremony, one so private that the press doesn't find out about the wedding for two months.

1996: Bone Thugs-N-Harmony started an 8 week run at No.1 on the singles chart with 'Tha Crossroads”.

2000: Madonna's boyfriend Guy Ritchie was arrested after attacking a fan outside the superstar's London home. Ritchie was said to have kicked and punched a male fan after the couple returned home from a night out.

2002: Barry Manilow's TV special Ultimate Manilow, a concert filmed at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, airs on CBS.

2003: The Isley Brothers set a record for the longest period between #1 albums when Body Kiss reaches the top of the Billboard charts.  Their first #1 in over 30 years.

2004: Clint Warwick (Bass for The Moody Blues) died of Liver Cancer at age 63.

2004: It was announced that the Country Cow Creamery would be producing the ice cream flavors Ozzy's Carnivorous Carrot Cake and Death by Sharon in honor of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne.

2005: Two years after the abdominal aneurysm which nearly killed him, Gordon Lightfoot returns to performing with a triumphant concert in Toronto's Massey Hall.

May 17

Births

1942: Taj Mahal (Blues Guitarist)

1949: Bill Bruford (Drummer for Yes & King Crimson)

1958: Paul Dianno (Vocals for Iron Maiden)

1961: Enya Ni Bhraonain (Singer for Clannad and Solo)

1963: Page Samuel McConnell (Pianist, Organist, Keyboardist for Phish)

1965: Trent Reznor (Singer & Songwriter for Nine Inch Nails)

1966: Jan Kincaid (Drums & Keyboards for The Brand New Heavies)

1968: Dave Abbruzzese (Drummer with Pearl Jam from 1991 to 1994)

1970: Jordan Knight (New Kids On The Block)

1974: Andrea Corr (Vocals for The Corrs)

1976: Kandi Burruss (Xscape)

1980: Dallas Taylor (Singer for Underoath)

Events

1933: Jimmie Rodgers, already terminally ill with tuberculosis, begins recording his last two dozen songs for RCA Victor in Nashville.  He died nine days later at the age of 35.

1958: The Killer's hometown of Ferriday, LA, holds its first annual "Jerry Lee Lewis Day."

1963: The first annual Monterey Folk Festival opens with musical performances by, among others, Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, Peter Paul and Mary, and Joan Baez.

1966: Bob Dylan, who had recently "gone electric" and added rock and roll instruments to his folk music, appears at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester, England; just before he begins a version of his latest hit, "Like A Rolling Stone," a member of the audience, a folk purist angry at the move to rock, shouts out, "Judas!" Dylan responds with "I don't believe you," adding, "You're a liar!" Then proceeds to tell the band to play the song "f****** loud."

1969: Chicago released their debut Album Chicago Transit Authority.

1970: On the same afternoon, with the same band, and at the same session, Jean Knight records "Mr. Big Stuff" and King Floyd records "Groove Me" at the Malaco Studios in Jackson, MS.

1974: The Elton John TV special Say Goodbye To Norma Jean And Other Things airs on ABC.

1975: An angry Mick Jagger thrusts his hand through the plate-glass window of a restaurant in Montauk, NY, requiring 20 stitches.

1975: Elton John was awarded a Platinum Record for sales of a million copies of the LP 'Captain Fantastic and The Brown Dirt Cowboy', the first album ever to be certified Platinum (1 Million Copies) on the day of its release.

1978: The disco film Thank God It's Friday, starring Donna Summer, premieres in Los Angeles.

1980: After Gene Simmons' girlfriend, Diana Ross, tells KISS drummer Peter Criss he's too talented for the band, the drummer quits, to be replaced by Eric Carr.

1980: Just weeks after his harrowing incarceration in Tokyo, Paul McCartney appears (with wife Linda) as the musical guests on NBC-TV's Saturday Night Live.

1987: Tom Petty's home in Encino, CA, is ravaged by fire, causing over a million dollars' worth of damage.

1989: Rolling Stone ex-bassist Bill Wyman opens the first of his Stones-themed restaurants, Sticky Fingers, in London.

1990: Nirvana played the last date of a North American tour at the Zoo in Boise, Idaho. This was Chad Channing’s final gig with the band, drummer Dave Grohl replaced him in Sept of this year after his band Scream had split-up.

1992: Lawrence Welk died from pneumonia in Santa Monica, California.

1993: Barry Manilow is the guest star (playing himself) on the "One" episode of CBS-TV's Murphy Brown.

1993: Johnny Cash begins four days of recording in producer Rick Rubin's living room in Los Angeles, backed only by his own guitar. It marks the start of work on his "American Recordings" album.

1995: Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, and Little Richard share the stage for the first time ever at a concert in Sheffield, England.

1996: Johnny "Guitar" Watson died on stage while on tour in Yokohama, Japan. According to eyewitness reports, he collapsed mid guitar solo. His last words were "ain't that a bitch", probably in reference to the song "Ain't that a Bitch".

2000: The Eagles filed suit against the "Hotel California" restaurant in Dallas, TX, alleging trademark violations.

2001: A new $37-million Country Music Hall of Fame opens in downtown Nashville.

2002: Lance Bass of boy-band *NSYNC underwent hospital treatment to correct an irregular heartbeat. Bass was hoping to qualify for a seat onboard a Russian rocket flight to the International Space Station.

2003: June Carter Cash's funeral is held in her hometown of Henderson, TN, with two thousand mourners attending, including her husband Johnny Cash as well as Kris Kristofferson and Hank Willams, Jr. Emmylou Harris, the Oak Ridge Boys, and Sheryl Crow all perform tributes.

2003: Singer with Stone Temple Pilots Scott Weiland, was arrested on suspicion of drug possession after being stopped during a routine traffic search in Los Angeles, He was released on $10,000 bail.

2006: Paul McCartney and his wife Heather Mills admitted that they had given up the fight to save their marriage, saying that after fours years together, they were going their separate ways.

May 16

Births

1913: Woody Herman (jazz clarinetist)

1919: Liberace (Wladziu Valentinon Liberace) (Piano Player)

1929: Betty Carter (Jazz Singer)

1946: Robert Fripp (Guitarist for King Crimson)

1946: Billy Cobham (Jazz Drummer)

1946: Roger Earl (Drummer for Foghat)

1947: Darrel Sweet (Drummer for Nazareth)

1947: Barbara Lee (The Chiffons)

1951: Jonathan Richman (Guitar & Vocals for The Modern Lovers & Solo)

1953: Richard Page (Lead Singer & Bass for Mr. Mister)

1958: Glenn Gregory (Singer for Heaven 17)

1964: Boyd Tinsley (Violinist for Dave Matthews Band)

1965: Chris Novoselic (Bass for Nirvana)

1966: Janet Jackson (Singer)

1968: Ralph Tresvant (Vocals for New Edition and Solo)

Events

1953: While walking from the Avon railway station after playing in a Paris club, guitar legend Django Reinhardt collapsed outside his house from a brain haemorrhage and died.

1960: Billboard magazine reports that Detroit music mogul Berry Gordy is thinking of starting three new record labels, including one called Motown.

1963: At this year's Grammy Awards ceremonies in Los Angeles, Tony Bennett's "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" wins Record Of The Year and Best Male Vocal, while Ray Charles' "I Can't Stop Loving You" is awarded Best R&B Recording. For some reason, Best Rock and Roll Record goes to the Bent Fabric instrumental "Alley Cat."

1965: The Rolling Stones' limo is attacked by female fans on the way back to their hotel after a show in Long Beach, CA, standing on the roof in such numbers that it caves in. While the band holds the roof up with their hands, the chauffeur speeds away, leaving fans to fall on the road.

1965: The Beach Boys appeared on the "The Ed Sullivan Show" and performed "Help Me Rhonda."

1966: The Beach Boys released the album 'Pet Sounds' in the US. The album is now regarded as the masterpiece of composer-producer Brian Wilson, and is often hailed as one of the best and most influential albums in popular music.

1966: Frank Sinatra recorded the single "Summer Wind".

1966: Dylan’s iconic Blonde On Blonde album was released. Rock's first double album, and Dylan's seventh studio effort, it was recorded with Al Kooper, Robbie Robertson and Nashville country music session players, and had what Dylan later called ‘that wild mercury sound’.

1969: Jack Casady, bassist for the Jefferson Airplane, is arrested in New Orleans for possession of marijuana and given a suspended sentence of two-and-a-half years.

1969: During the Who's set at the Fillmore East in New York, a plainclothes policeman rushes the stage to tell the audience that a fire has broken out, but guitarist Pete Townshend, figuring him for a rabid fan, kicks him off. Literally. The guitarist is arrested onstage, and later charged $30.

1970: Randy Bachman leaves the Guess Who to produce an album for Winnipeg band Brave Belt, which he eventually joins. At the suggestion of Neil Young, Bachman recruits fellow Winnipeg bassist and vocalist C.F. Turner, and the band Bachman-Turner Overdrive is born.

1970: Marty Balin of the Jefferson Airplane is arrested in his Bloomington, MN hotel room after police, responding to a noise complaint, find the singer smoking marijuana and having sex with teenage girls. His sentence is eventually reduced to a small fine.

1975: Tonight's episode of NBC-TV's The Midnight Special is a retro tribute hosted by Chubby Checker and featuring musical performances by Bo Diddley, The Drifters, Lesley Gore, The Angels, The Tymes, and Danny and the Juniors.

1976: Mayor James H. McGee declares today "Ohio Players Day" in the band's hometown of Dayton, OH.

1980: The Carpenters' last TV special, Music, Music, Music, airs on ABC.

1980: Brian May of Queen collapses onstage during a concert in and is rushed to the hospital, where he is diagnosed (for the second time) with hepatitis.

1980: Former Buggles members Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes joined Yes, replacing Rick Wakeman and Jon Anderson.

1980: Elvis Presley's doctor, George Nichopoulous, is brought before the Memphis medical board and officially charged with 14 counts of abusing his right to prescribe medication. Though he will be acquitted in November, his case will be reopened twelve years later, when his license will be revoked.

1983: The television special "Motown 25: Yesterday, Today and Forever" aired. It was a taping of the first time that Michael Jackson performed the moonwalk for a live audience.

1984: Ozzy Osbourne was arrested in Memphis, Tennessee for ‘staggering drunk’ down Beale Street.

1986: Johnny Paycheck is convicted of shooting a man in a misunderstanding occurring at a bar in Hillsboro, OH. The fan was only grazed by the bullet and Paycheck is pardoned after 22 months in prison.

1986: Caitlin O'Riordan (Bass for The Pogues) and Elvis Costello were married.  They divorced in 2002.

1987: David Crosby marries his longtime girlfriend Jan Dance in Los Angeles, with bandmate Stephen Stills giving away the bride and Graham Nash renewing his vows with wife Susan.

1987: U2 started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart 'With Or Without You', the group's first US No.1.

1990: Sammy Davis Jr. died of complications from throat cancer.

1998: Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones reaches for a book of artistic nudes in his library at home in Connecticut and falls from a ladder, breaking a few ribs and forcing the band to postpone its upcoming tour.

1999: Diana Ross stars in her last major TV role, portraying the estranged mother of R&B singer Brandy in the NBC movie Double Platinum.

2000: The Artist announced that he was reclaiming the name "Prince" since his contract with Warner-Chappell had expired. The contract officially ended on December 31, 1999.

2000: The "What My Heart Has Seen" exhibition opened at the Catto Gallery in London. The art is the work of Tony Bennett.

2000: The Debut Britney Spears album "Oops!..I Did It Again" was released.

2002: Cher is the guest star (for the second time) on tonight's "A.I.: Artificial Insemination" episode of NBC-TV's Will & Grace.

2003: Hoboken, NJ names its post office after its favorite son, Frank Sinatra.

2003: While undergoing dialysis, Barry White suffers a stroke, though his sister publicly claims he will soon perform again, it proves to be the end of White's public life.

2011: Ronnie James Dio, singer with Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, and his own band Dio died after a six-month battle with stomach cancer. He was 68 years old.