Anyone curious about what happened on this day in music history should stick around to discover all the details on hit songs, cultural events, performances, recordings, and changes in the rock industry from May 4. Fans can use this trivia to impress their rock-music-loving friends and relatives and expand their appreciation of all things rock ‘n’ roll.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
The well-known rock musicians with breakthrough hits and milestones that occurred on May 4 include:
- 1971: As a solo artist, Cher scored her first No. 1 hit song on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves.” The song was on top of the Canadian singles chart simultaneously, which is a rare accomplishment.
- 1974: Grand Funk Railroad’s “The Loco-Motion,” a cover of Little Eva’s 1962 hit song, topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This was only one of two songs in which the original and cover versions made it to No. 1.
- 1996: Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette, which would become the best-selling album of 1996, went to No. 1 on the U.K. album chart. The album spent six weeks at the top of the chart in the U.K. and 12 weeks at No. 1 in the U.S.
Cultural Milestones
With these major cultural events of May 4, the rock industry would emerge better than ever:
- 1957: On ABC-TV, a rock music and dance show called The Big Beat aired for the first time. The show’s host was Alan Freed, a popular radio DJ known for introducing rock ‘n’ roll to a wide audience.
- 1959: The first-ever Grammy Awards ceremony was held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, to recognize the musical accomplishments of 1958. An event was held simultaneously in New York City at the Park Sheraton Hotel.
- 1991: Texas Governor Ann Richards recognized ZZ Top’s contributions to the music industry and showed her appreciation for their “Texas boogie” style by declaring it “ZZ Top Day” in the state. This came after the Texas House of Representatives named the band “Official Texas Heroes” in 1986.
Notable Recordings and Performances
These influential rock recordings and performances left their mark on May 4:
- 1956: Rockabilly icon and early rock ‘n’ roll artist Gene Vincent recorded his influential song “Be-Bop-a-Lula” at Capitol Records’ Bradley Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. This song made the 103rd spot on Rolling Stone’s list of 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
- 1973: Members of KISS finally made it back to their hometown to play their first show in New York City at the Bleeker Street Loft. The group had played their very first show in Queens at the Popcorn Club back in January.
No matter the type of rock music fans love, these facts from May 4 have probably influenced the songs on their playlist. From major milestones sending ripples through the rock industry to memorable concerts living on as legends, May 4 has impacted rock ‘n’ roll.
