This Day in Music
On this day in music, May 1, 1956, Johnny Cash released “I Walk the Line.” His first No.1 on the Billboard country charts, the now-iconic single remained on the charts for over 43 weeks and peaked at No.17 on the US pop charts. Inspired by the backward playback of guitar runs on his tape recorder, the legendary artist used the technique to produce the unique chord progression of the hit song. It also includes Cash’s distinctive “boom-chicka-boom” sound, created by putting a dollar bill in the neck of his guitar.
In 1966, The Beatles performed in the UK for the final time, appearing at the NME Poll Winners concert at Wembley Empire Pool. The British rock group performed five songs to 10,000 attendees, including “I Feel Fine,” “If I Needed Someone,” and “Nowhere Man.” Also featured on the bill were the Rolling Stones, The Who, The Yardbirds, and Dusty Springfield. Both The Rolling Stones and Beatles opted not to have their sets filmed.
In 2005, Matchbox Twenty frontman Rob Thomas topped the Billboard 200 with his solo debut, …Something To Be. The feat made Thomas the first male artist from a rock group to debut at No.1 with a solo LP. Released in April 2005, …Something To Be featured Thomas’ debut single “Lonely No More,” which peaked at No.6 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was also the first major album to be released in the DualDisc format and was later certified 2x Platinum by the RIAA.
In 1986, American songwriter and producer Hugo Peretti died in New Jersey at age 69. Peretti began working with his cousin, Luigi Creatore, as the Hugo & Luigi songwriting team in the 1950s before the duo was brought into Roulette Records in 1957. They later signed a contract with RCA Records in 1959, where they co-wrote Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” with George David Weiss.
BORN ON MAY 1:
1930: Little Walter
1939: Judy Collins
1945: Rita Coolidge
1953: Glen Ballard (Producer)
1954: Ray Parker Jr.
1966: Johnny Colt (The Black Crowes, Lynyrd Skynyrd)
1967: Tim McGraw
1968: D’arcy Wretsky (Smashing Pumpkins)
