Music History on May 31

The City Wears a Slouch Hat

1942 Avant-garde radio play "The City Wears A Slouch Hat" with music by John Cage and script by Kenneth Patchen broadcast in Chicago

  • 1958 Dick Dale invents "surf music" with "Let's Go Trippin"

Berryland Opens

1961 Chuck Berry's amusement park, Berryland in St Louis, Missouri opens

  • 1969 "Dear World" closes at Mark Hellinger Theater NYC after 132 performances

Music History

1969 "Gitarzan" by Ray Stevens peaks at #8

Give Peace a Chance

1969 John Lennon and Yoko Ono record "Give Peace a Chance" in a Montreal hotel, during their second 'bed-in' for peace; other performers include Tommy Smothers, Petula Clark, Timothy Leary, and Dick Gregory

My Cherie Amour

1969 Stevie Wonder releases the single "My Cherie Amour" which goes on to become a soul classic

  • 1975 "Fight the Power" single released by The Isley Brothers (Billboard Song of the Year, 1975)

Goodtime Charley

1975 Larry Grossman and Hal Hackady's historical musical comedy "Goodtime Charley", based on King Charles VII of France, and starring Joel Grey, closes at Palace Theater, NYC, after 104 performances

  • 1976 The Who set the record for the loudest concert of all time, 120 decibels at 50 meters, at The Valley in Charlton, London
  • 1977 "Beatlemania" opens at Winter Garden Theater NYC for 920 performances
  • 1979 Radio City Music Hall (NYC) reopens

I Remember Mama

1979 Richard Rodgers, Martin Charnin and Raymond Jessel's musical "I Remember Mama" opens at Majestic Theater, NYC; runs for 108 performances

  • 1980 "Love Stinks" by J. Geils Band peaks at #38
  • 1982 "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" opens at Eugene O'Neill Theater NYC for 63 performances
  • 1992 46th Tony Awards: "Dancing at Lughnasa" (play) & "Crazy For You" (musical) win

Good Girl Gone Bad

2007 Rihanna releases her breakthrough album "Good Girl Gone Bad"

Gangnam Style Hits 2B Views

2014 Psy's "Gangnam Style" becomes the first video to reach 2 billion views on YouTube