May 2nd

Musical birthdays today include Engelbert Humperdinck (84), jazz pianist Connie Crothers (79), former Roulettes drummer Bob Henrit (76), original Steppenwolf Keyboardist Goldy McJohn (75), Larry Gatlin (72), ex-Foreigner lead singer Lou Gramm (70), Sol Invictus frontman Tony Wakeford (61), Blow Monkeys frontman Bruce 'Dr. Robert' Howard (59), and Lily Allen (35). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for Broadway lyricist Lorenz Hart, born on this day in 1895... for songwriter Doris Fisher [best remembered for 'You Always Hurt the One You Love'], born in 1917... for singer & sitarist Vasantrao Deshpande, born in 1920... for Theodore Bikel, born in 1924... for Link Wray, born in 1929... for classical violinist Michael Rabin, who would have been 84... for reggae singer Alexander 'Judge Dread' Hughes, who would have been 75... for Lesley Gore, who would have been 74... for Jethro Tull bassist John Glascock, who would have been 69... for composer Giacomo Meyerbeer, who died on this date in 1864... for trumpeter & bandleader Larry Clinton, who died in 1985... and for original Slayer lead guitarist Jeff Hanneman, who left us today in 2014.

Also on May 2nd: Verdi's opera Il Trovatore has its American premiere at the Academy of Music in NYC (1855)... Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf is performed for the first time at a children's concert given by the Moscow Philharmonic (1936)... The Beatles have their first № 1 single in the UK, the first of 11 in a row, with 'From Me to You' (1963)... The Who give a press preview of their new rock opera 'Tommy' at Ronnie Scott's in London. The double album about a 'deaf, dumb and blind kid' who becomes the leader of a messianic movement, is the first musical work to be billed overtly as a rock opera. In 1998 it will be inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for its 'significant historical and artistic value' and has now sold over 20 million copies worldwide... The Beatles record 'Something' at Abbey Road... Pink Floyd's show at the Manchester Chamber of Commerce is recorded for inclusion on Ummagumma (1969)...  Bruce Springsteen auditions for CBS Records A&R man John Hammond in New York. Springsteen played a short set for him in his office; Hammond is so impressed that he arranges a showcase performance that night at the Gaslight Club for other Columbia executives. The future Boss passes the second audition as well (1972)... At Birmingham University, Joy Division play what will prove to be their last gig with Ian Curtis (1980)... Spandau Ballet have their only UK № 1 single with 'True' (1983)... A security guard alerts the police after a man wearing a wig, fake moustache and false teeth walks into Zales Jewellers in Los Angeles. Three squad cars arrive and police detain the man, who turns out to be Michael Jackson in disguise... The Cure release Disintegration (1989)... The video for the R.E.M. song 'Losing My Religion' is banned in Ireland because its religious imagery is deemed unfit for broadcast...  Nirvana book into Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, California for 16 days. On a budget of $65,000 and with Butch Vig producing, the band begin recording what will become the Nevermind album (1991)... Total Guitar magazine's readers have voted Guns N' Roses' anthem ‘Sweet Child O' Mine’ as the greatest guitar riff ever, ahead of Nirvana's ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’. Led Zeppelin's ‘Whole Lotta Love’ came third, followed by Deep Purple's ‘Smoke On The Water’. Total Guitar editor Scott Rowley says: "To a new generation of guitarists, Guns N' Roses are more thrilling than the Sex Pistols" (2004)... Eric Clapton joins former Cream members Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce for the first of four nights at London's Royal Albert Hall, 36 years after they split up. Tickets were changing hands for more than £500 on eBay and fans flew over from the USA to witness the reunion, which Clapton, aged 60, is said to have agreed to because of the failing health of the other former members of the band (2005)... Bob Dylan mingles unnoticed with other Beatles fans during a minibus tour to John Lennon's childhood home. He is one of 14 tourists to examine photos and documents in the National Trust-owned home, where Lennon grew up with his aunt Mimi and uncle George. Dylan, who was on a day off on a European tour, paid £16 for the public trip to the 1940s house in Woolton, Liverpool (2009).