This Day In Music - May 26

This Day In Music - May 26

1886 - Al Jolson is born Asa Yoelson in Seredžius, Lithuania (then part of the Russian Empire).

1920 - Peggy Lee is born Norma Deloris Egstrom in Jamestown, North Dakota.

1926 - Miles Davis is born in Alton, Illinois.

1933 - Jimmie Rodgers dies at age 35 after a long battle with tuberculosis.

1940 - Ray Ennis (vocalist, lead guitarist for Swinging Blue Jeans) is born in Huyton, Liverpool, England - https://youtu.be/04Loo99IUUA .

1940 - Levi Helm (The Band) born Mark Lavon Helm in Elaine, Arkansas.

1941 - Art Sharp (former lead vocalist, guitarist for Nashville Teens) is born in Woking, Surrey, England - https://youtu.be/eGuZY6NVXqU .

1944 - Verden Allen (organist for Mott The Hoople) is born Terence Allen in Crynant, Neath, Wales.

1945 - Garry Peterson (drummer for The Guess Who) is born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

1948 - Stevie Nicks is born Stephanie Lynn Nicks in Phoenix, Arizona, but is raised in California - https://youtu.be/lMrYIRNXxS4 .

1949 - Hank Williams Jr. born is born Randall Hank Williams in Shreveport, Louisiana.

1950 - Jules Carr (Pulse / Syd Harbour & The Ferries)was born in Sydney.

1953 - Elvis Presley placed 2nd in a talent contest held at a Jimmie Rodgers Memorial Show.

1958 - Wayne Hussey (Sisters of Mercy / Mission) born in Bristol, England.

1964 - Marianne Faithful recorded the Mick Jagger and Keith Richards song 'As Tears Go By', accompanied by future Led Zeppelin members Jimmy Page on guitar and John Paul Jones on bass - https://youtu.be/_phZZgkT1Jk .

1964 - Lenny Kravitz born in Manhattan, New York, to The Jeffersons actress Roxie Roker and TV executive Sy Kravitz - https://youtu.be/8LhCd1W2V0Q .

1966 - The Rolling Stones were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Paint It, Black', their sixth UK No.1 single. It was originally titled 'Paint It Black' without a comma. Keith Richards has stated that the comma was added by the record label, Decca. It was the first No.1 single to feature a sitar on the recording - https://youtu.be/Y17LH5qGrEQ .

1968 - US blues artist Little Willie John died in prison after being convicted of manslaughter. Co-wrote and was the first to record a 'Fever' (covered by Peggy Lee in 1958), and 'Need Your Love So Bad' covered by Fleetwood Mac.

1969 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono began their 2nd "Bed-In For Peace" in Montreal. They recorded 'Give Peace a Chance' in the hotel room (Petula Clark can be heard on the chorus) - https://youtu.be/ftE8vr0WNus .

1972 - Mott The Hoople, on the verge of breaking up, are offered help from David Bowie, who allows them to record two songs he wrote. They decline "Suffragette City" but cut "All The Young Dudes," which becomes their biggest hit and revives their career.

1973 - Deep Purple's single "Smoke On The Water" was released - https://youtu.be/zUwEIt9ez7M .

1974 - In London, 1,000 people needed medical treatment and a 14 year old girl died when a crowd lost control at a David Cassidy concert. A distraught Cassidy refuses to tour for the next 11 years.

1977 - Billy Powell, singer with The O'Jays died of cancer. (1972, hit 'Back Stabbers', 1973 US No.1 & UK No.9 single 'Love Train') - https://youtu.be/2vTKmVvyNRc .

1989 - The estate of Roy Orbison (died Dec. 1988) was sued by the music publishing company to which he had been signed for failing to complete his commitments under a contract signed in 1985.

1990 - For the first time, the top 5 positions in the US singles chart were held by female artists. Madonna was at #1 with "Vogue", followed by Heart with "All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You", Sinead O'Connor (Nothing Compares 2 U), Wilson Phillips (Hold On) and Janet Jackson (Alright) - https://youtu.be/ydFYm-oomec .

1994 - Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley were married in the Dominican Republic. They had first met when the seven-year-old Presley attended several of Jackson's concerts in Las Vegas.

1996 - Firemen arrive at the burning home of Eric Clapton to find the guitarist running in and out of the home to save his guitar collection. The house is gutted, with about three million dollars in damage.

2006 - The National Review reveals their list of the 50 greatest conservative rock songs. At the top is "Won't Get Fooled Again" by The Who, which is praised for its revolutionary spirit. Next on the list is "Taxman" by The Beatles and "Sympathy For The Devil" by The Rolling Stones.