May 16 has been significant in shaping the sounds of popular music. From heavy metal to soft rock, this day has seen hit songs, important albums, and cultural moments that have influenced the industry. Here are some key facts from May 16 in rock history.
1970: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young released their second album, Déjà Vu, which topped the US Billboard 200 chart for one week. This was their first album with Neil Young.
1981: Kim Carnes scored a No. 1 hit with “Bette Davis Eyes” on the Billboard Hot 100, where it stayed for nine weeks. The song won GRAMMYs for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
1987: U2 released “With or Without You,” marking their first No. 1 hit in the U.S. It topped the Billboard chart for three weeks.
Cultural milestones also occurred on May 16. 1965 marked the birth of Krist Novoselic, co-founder of Nirvana, in Compton, California. He formed the band with Kurt Cobain in 1987 and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014. In 1987, David Crosby married Jan Dance in California, and they remained together until his passing in 2023. In 2003, the post office in Hoboken, New Jersey, was renamed in honor of Frank Sinatra, with his daughter Nancy Sinatra attending the ceremony.
Notable recordings include 1966 when The Beach Boys released Pet Sounds, a groundbreaking album. In 1975, KISS performed a sold-out show in Detroit, recording for their Alive! album. 1983 saw Michael Jackson debut the moonwalk during “Billie Jean” on Motown 25, a move that became his signature.
On May 16, rock music faced challenges too. In 1969, Jack Casady of Jefferson Airplane was arrested for marijuana possession, receiving a suspended sentence. In 2000, the industry continued to evolve, reflecting the changing landscape of music.
