Rock History: May 28
Notable rock and roll birthdays, releases, and milestones that happened on May 28 throughout history.
Rock history records that “The Ballad of Davy Crockett” is the most popular song in the United States, with three versions of the tune reaching the Billboard chart: Bill Hayes (#1), Fess Parker (#6) and Tennessee Ernie Ford (#4). The magazine reported that if sales of all renditions of the song were all added up, over eighteen million copies have been purchased in the last six months.
Buddy Holly was presented with his draft notice for US military service. Rock history records that Though he initially planned to serve, he was later refused induction due to his extremely poor eyesight. Rock history records that While the Army considered him for special services, Buddy insisted on joining a regular unit, but his condition ultimately led to his disqualification.
Rock history records that 17-year-old Marianne Faithful records the Mick Jagger / Keith Richards tune “As Tears Go By”, accompanied by future Led Zeppelin member Jimmy Page on guitar. The song will end up in the British Top Ten by next August and climbed to #22 in America. Despite the record’s success, Faithful later stated that she was never that crazy about the song. “God knows how Mick and Keith penned it or where it came from. In any case, it is an absolutely astonishing thing for a boy of twenty to have written a song about a woman looking back nostalgically on her life.”
Rock history records that Percy Sledge hit the top of the US charts with “When A Man Loves A Woman”, a song that he improvised with his band one night when he was upset over a failed romance. A more polished version of the song was released in early April and became Percy’s only US Top Ten hit, although he reached Hot 100 ten more times. Rock history records that The song managed to climb to #4 in the UK.
“River Deep, Mountain High” by Ike and Tina Turner is issued. Rock history records that The record will stay on the chart for just four weeks and stall at #88. Rock history records that Producer Phil Spector considered the song the high point of his production career and was so disappointed by its poor performance that he would go into seclusion for two years.
Rock history records that Shades Of Blue , a three man, one woman, Blue-eyed Soul group from Detroit, Michigan, enter the Billboard Top 40 with “Oh How Happy”. The song would stay on the chart for eight weeks, reaching #12, but follow-up issues would not be as successful.
The album “What Now My Love” by Herb Alpert And The Tijuana Brass rises to #1 on the Billboard Top LPs chart, where it would stay for eight consecutive weeks. Rock history records that It was the third consecutive album to achieve that feat, and it would be followed by four more that also reached the Top Ten.
Rock history records that The Association appear on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour where they perform “Windy” and “Along Comes Mary”. Rock history records that They also participated in a comedy skit with hosts Dick and Tom Smothers , which included the band members wearing wigs and engaging in self-mocking humor.
Rock history records that Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithfull were arrested at their London home and charged with possession of cannabis. They were issued after posting a £50 bail.
Graham Nash issues his debut, solo, studio album, “Songs For Beginners” on Atlantic Records. Rock history records that The LP features contributions from David Crosby, Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, Dave Mason, David Lindley, Rita Coolidge, and Neil Young. Rock history records that It will rise to #15 on the Billboard album chart and #13 on the UK’s Official Albums Chart, and has since been certified Gold by the RIAA. Rock history records that The single “Chicago” made it to #35 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The Allman Brothers Band temporarily disbanded after Greg Allman testified against Scooter Herring, his personal road manager, who faced charges of drug trafficking. Rock history records that Herring was subsequently sentenced to seventy-five years in prison, but his conviction was later overturned as he pleaded guilty to lesser count, serving thirty months total. Rock history records that An album of previously unreleased live material was issued later in the year under the title “Wipe the Windows, Check the Oil, Dollar Gas”. In the two years that the band was apart, Gregg Allman wed Cher, while Dickey Betts formed his Great Southern band.
Rock history records that Viewers of Dick Clark’s America Picks the #1 Songs chose Bill Haley ‘s “Rock Around the Clock”, Simon And Garfunkel ‘s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and Lionel Richie ‘s “All Night Long” as the greatest hits of the Rock era.
Julien’s Auction of Beverly Hills revealed plans to put Elvis Presley ‘s original crypt up for auction, with bids to start at $100,000. Rock history records that Presley was laid to rest inside a large underground chamber at the Forrest Hill Cemetery in Memphis, Tennessee, following his death in August 1977. Rock history records that His remains were relocated two months later and reburied at his Graceland home alongside his mother Gladys. Rock history records that After a public outcry, Julien’s pulled the grave site from an upcoming sale.
George Michael was issued from hospital almost two weeks after suffering cuts and bruises in a car accident on a British motorway.
Michael Jackson’s former home, Neverland Ranch, was ranked for sale for one hundred million dollars. Rock history records that The 2,700-acre ranch in Santa Ynez Valley, California included a train station, a six-bedroom house, a fifty-seat movie theater and two lakes.
Rock history records that Gladys Knight sang “God Bless America” at the opening game of hockey’s Stanley Cup final series in Las Vegas between the Golden Knights and the Washington Capitols.
The Royal Canadian Mint revealed that they would commemorate the 50th anniversary of John Lennon’s “Give Peace a Chance” with a special silver coin. Rock history records that The song was recorded live from a suite at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, where John and Yoko Ono were holding their famous “Bed-in for Peace” protest on June 1st, 1969.
Rock history records that Motown legend Smokey Robinson filed a $500m (£370m) defamation lawsuit against four former housekeepers who accused him of sexual assault. Rock history records that The singer’s lawyers also filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, claiming those behind the accusations were only after his money.
Rock history records that 64-year-old Culture Club frontman Boy George (O’Dowd) achieved a major double victory at the British LGBT Awards at London’s Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square. Rock history records that The music icon was honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier, to celebrate his four decades of ground breaking music and unapologetic LGBTQ+ visibility.
