What Happened Today In Music

May 28th

1964 - The Rolling Stones

The BBC received over 8,000 postal applications for tickets for The Rolling Stones forthcoming appearance on the British TV show, Juke Box Jury. 

1966 - Herb Alpert

Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'What Now My Love', setting a new American record with four albums in the US Top Ten. The other three were; 'South of the Border', 'Going Places' and 'Whipped Cream and Other Delights'.

1966 - Percy Sledge

Percy Sledge started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'When A Man Loves A Woman'. A No.4 hit on the UK chart and No.2 when re-issued in 1987. Before the recording session, the song had no title or lyrics. The session proceeded with the expectation that Sledge would produce them for the vocal takes. When it came time to record the vocals, Sledge improvised the lyrics with minimal pre-planning, using the melody as a guide for rhythm and phrasing. The performance was so convincing that others working on the session assumed Sledge had the lyrics written down.

1966 - The Beatles

All four Beatles spent the day with Bob Dylan in his room at the Mayfair hotel in London, England, watching rushes of D.A. Pennebakers's forthcoming documentary film, Dont Look Back, which covered Dylan's 1965 concert tour of the United Kingdom.

1968 - Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater Revival released their debut album. The band had played for years as the Golliwogs, Saul Zaentz who had bought Fantasy Records offered the band a chance to record an album on the condition that they change their name. The album features an 8 minute version of the Dale Hawkins song 'Suzie Q' which became the band's only Top 40 hit not written by John Fogerty. 

1969 - Marianne Faithfull

Rolling Stone Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithfull were arrested at their London home and charged with possession of cannabis, they were both later released on £50 ($85) bail.

1973 - Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side Of The Moon was on both the UK and US album charts. It remained in the US charts for 741 discontinuous weeks from 1973 to 1988, longer than any other album in history. (After moving to the Billboard Top Pop Catalog Chart, the album notched up a further 759 weeks, and had reached a total of over 1,500 weeks on the combined charts by May 2006).

1976 - The Allman Brothers Band

The Allman Brothers Band temporarily disbanded after Greg Allman testified against Scooter Herring, his personal road manager, who was charged with drug trafficking. Herring was subsequently sentenced to 75 years in prison. An album of previously unreleased live material was issued later in the year under the title 'Wipe the Windows, Check the Oil, Dollar Gas'.

1977 - Sting

Sting, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers played together for the first time when they performed as part of Mike Howlett's band, Strontium 90 in Paris France.

1983 - Guns N' Roses

Rapidfire appeared at Gazzarri’s On The Sunset Strip, in Los Angles. Rapidfire featured singer Axl Rose, who was seen for the first time by guitarist Slash, who was in the audience.

1983 - Irene Cara

Actress and singer Irene Cara started a six week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Flashdance...What A Feeling'. Taken from the film 'Flashdance', a No.2 hit in the UK. Cara had also appeared in TV's 'Roots' and 'The Next Generation'.

1983 - Ozzy Osbourne

The four day US Festival '83' took place in California, featuring The Clash, U2, David Bowie, The Pretenders, Van Halen, Stray Cats, Men At Work, Judas Priest, Stevie Nicks, Willie Nelson. INXS, Joe Walsh, Motley Crue and Ozzy Osbourne. Over 750,000 fans attended the festival.

1990 - Mitch Mitchell

Mitch Mitchell former drummer with The Jimi Hendrix Experience took out a High Court action against Private Eye magazine over an allegedly defamatory item. 

1996 - Dave Gahan

Depeche Mode singer Dave Gahan was rushed to Cedars Sinai Hospital, Los Angeles after an apparent drug overdose. The singer was later arrested for possession of cocaine and heroin.

2000 - Britney Spears

Britney Spears was at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Oops!... I Did It Again'. The singer's second album also reached No.1 in thirteen other countries and has now sold over 20m copies.

2007 - Right Said Fred

Right Said Fred singer Richard Fairbrass and gay rights activist Peter Tatchell, were both attacked during a march in Moscow. Trouble broke out when demonstrators tried to appeal against a ban on a gay rights march through the Russian capital. The banned march was aimed at marking the 14th anniversary of Russia decriminalising homosexuality.

2008 - Jerry Cole

American guitarist Jerry Cole died aged 68. He first entered the pop music scene as one of The Champs along with Glen Campbell. Cole and Campbell later formed the Gee Cee's and released one single called 'Buzzsaw Twist'. He backed up Elvis Presley in 1974 and also worked with Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Aretha Franklin, The Righteous Brothers, Little Richard, Ray Charles, Tony Orlando & Dawn, Lou Rawls, Gregg Allman, Lee Hazlewood, Blood Sweat & Tears, Kenny Rogers, Neil Diamond, Steely Dan, The Beach Boys and Isaac Hayes.

2015 - Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson's former home, Neverland Ranch, was listed for sale for one hundred million dollars. The 2,700-acre ranch in Santa Ynez Valley, California included a train station, a six-bedroom house, a 50-seat movie theater and two lakes.

2019 - Motorhead

Motorhead’s 'Ace of Spades' was named Greatest Gambling Song of All Time with Lady Gaga’s 'Poker Face' voted into second place. Online poker giant PokerStars asked 1,000 of its European customers to select their favorite poker-themed song from a list of choices.

2021 - Olivia Rodrigo 

American singer Olivia Rodrigo became the youngest solo artist to achieve the coveted UK chart double at 18 years and 3 months old. Her single 'Good 4 U' climbed to No.1 in the UK Singles Chart after debuting at No.2 the previous week, while her debut album Sour entered the UK Albums Chart at No.1. 

Born Today In Music

May 28th

1910 - T-Bone Walker

American blues guitarist, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, T-Bone Walker who was a pioneer and innovator of the jump blues and electric blues sound. His most famous song, 'Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just as Bad)' was released in 1947. He died of bronchial pneumonia on 16 March 1975 at the age of 64.

1917 - Papa John Creech

American blues violinist Papa John Creech, with Jefferson Airplane Jefferson Starship and Hot Tuna. He had also worked with Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller, Big Joe Turner, T-Bone Walker, Nat King Cole. He died in 1994 aged 76.

1943 - Tony Mansfield

Tony Mansfield, from Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas who had the 1964 UK No.1 & US N0.7 single 'Little Children'.

1944 - Billy Vera

American singer, songwriter Billy Vera, who had the 1987 US No.1 single with The Beaters, 'At This Moment' featured in the US TV show, 'Family Ties'.

1944 - Gladys Knight

American singer, songwriter Gladys Knight, who had the 1973 US No.1 single 'Midnight Train To Georgia', and the 1975 UK No.4 single 'The Way We Were' plus 20 other UK Top 40 singles. Best known for her work with her group Gladys Knight & the Pips.

1945 - John Fogerty

American musician, singer, and songwriter John Fogerty from Creedence Clearwater Revival who had the 1969 UK No.1 and US No.2 single 'Bad Moon Rising', plus ten other US Top 30 hits and the 1970 US & UK No.1 album Cosmo's Factory. After CCR parted ways in 1972 Fogerty had a successful solo career.

1948 - Ray Laidlaw

Ray Laidlaw, from English group Lindisfarne who had the 1970s hit singles 'Meet Me on the Corner', 'Lady Eleanor and 'Run For Home'. Their album Fog on the Tyne became the biggest selling UK album in 1972.

1949 - Wendy O Williams

Wendy O. Williams singer with The Plasmatics, a New York punk band who had the 1980 UK No. 55 single ‘Butcher Baby’. She died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds on April 6th 1998.

1955 - John McGeoch

John McGeoch, Scottish guitarist, who was a member of Magazine, who had the 1978 UK hit single 'Shot By Both Sides'. Also worked with Siouxsie And The Banshees, Armoury Show, Public Image Ltd. McGeoch died in his sleep 5th March 2004 aged 49.

1959 - Steve Strange

Welsh singer Steve Strange from Visage who had the 1980 UK No.8 single, 'Fade To Grey'. Strange appeared in the video for David Bowie's No.1 hit ‘Ashes to Ashes’. He died on 12th Feb 2015 after suffering a heart attack in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

1962 - Roland Gift

British singer Roland Gift, who with the Fine Young Cannibals, had the 1989 US No.1 & UK No.5 single 'She Drives Me Crazy'.

1963 - Gavin Harrison

Gavin Harrison, English drummer and percussionist best known for playing with the British progressive rock bands Porcupine Tree and King Crimson.

1968 - Kylie Minogue

Australian-born singer, songwriter, and actress Kylie Minoguewho scored the 1988 UK No.1 single 'I Should Be So Lucky' plus over 40 other UK Top 40 hit singles). She achieved recognition by starring in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, where she played tomboy mechanic Charlene Robinson and as of 2013, Minogue had worldwide record sales of more than 70 million.

1970 - Mark Richardson

Mark Richardson, drummer with British rock band Skunk Anansie who had the 1996 UK No.20 single 'Weak'. The band have spent a total of 141 weeks on both the singles and album charts.

1970 - Jimi Goodwin

Jimi Goodwin, vocals, bass, guitar with Sub Sub who had the 1993 UK No.3 single ‘Ain’t No Love, (Ain’t No Use'. And with Doves, the 2002 UK No.3 single ‘There Goes The Fear’ and 2002 UK No.1 album The Last Broadcast.

1981 - Mark Feehily

Mark Feehily, from Irish pop vocal group Westlife who scored 14 UK No.1 singles, and have sold over 50 million records worldwide. Despite their success worldwide, Westlife never managed to break into the US market, achieving only one hit single in 2000, 'Swear It Again'.

1985 - Colbie Caillat

Colbie Caillat, American singer-songwriter. 2008 Australian No.1 single ‘Bubbly’. 2009 US No.1 album 'Breakthrough'. (Her father, Ken Caillat, co-produced the Fleetwood Mac albums Rumours and Tusk).