May 5 Music et al
Cultural Milestone
Carnegie Hall
May 5, 1891: Carnegie Hall (then named Music Hall) opened in New York City. (see June 9, 1902)
Roots of Rock
May 5, 1956: Elvis Presley’s album “Elvis” went to #1 on the Billboard chart. It was the first Rock and Roll album to ever reach #1. It stayed there for 10 weeks and it was also the first Rock and Roll LP to sell one million copies. (see June 2)
May 5 Music et al
The Beatles
May 5, 1960: The Quarry Men became The Silver Beetles. (next Beatles, see May 10)
The Shirelles
May 5 – 25, 1962: “Soldier Boy” by The Shirelles #1 Billboard Hot 100. Luther Dixon and Florence Greenberg wrote the song.
West Side Story
May 5 – June 22, 1962: soundtrack to West Side Story was the Billboard #1 album.
May 5 Music et al
Dick Rowe
May 5, 1963: on a recommendation by George Harrison, Dick Rowe Head of A&R at Decca records (and the man who had turned down The Beatles–“Guitar groups are on their way out, Mr Epstein.” ) went to see The Rolling Stones play at Crawdaddy Club, London. The band were signed to the label within a week. (2012 Independent article) (see May 7)
Grateful Dead
May 5, 1965: the Warlocks played their first show at Magoo’s Pizza Parlor in Menlo Park, California. (Poster Trip article) (see Nov 27)
Roots of Rock
May 5, 1986: thanks to a groundswell of public support and a $65 million commitment from city officials, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation chose Cleveland as the winning site, over locales such as New York, San Francisco, Memphis and Chicago where the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame would be built. (R & R Hall of Fame article) (next Roots, see May 7, 1991)