May 1

Events
 * 1849 - Telegraph register was patented by Samuel F. B.Morse
 * 1921 - First successful marine radio navigation beacons in the U.S. begin regular operation.
 * 1983 – Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis is awarded the Lenin Peace Prize.

Births


 * 1582 – Marco da Gagliano, Italian composer (d. 1643)
 * 1901 – Heinz Eric Roemheld, American film composer (d. 1985)
 * 1907 – Kate Smith, American singer (d. 1986)
 * 1913 – Walter Susskind, Czech conductor (d. 1980)
 * 1929 – Sonny James, American country music singer and songwriter
 * 1930 – Little Walter, American blues singer (d. 1995)
 * 1934 – Shirley Horn, American jazz singer and pianist (d. 2005)
 * 1939 – Judy Collins, American folk singer
 * 1945 – Rita Coolidge, American singer
 * 1949 – Tim Hodgkinson, English composer and musician (Henry Cow)
 * 1953 – Glen Ballard, American songwriter and record producer
 * 1954 – Ray Parker Jr., American singer and songwriter
 * 1955 – Nick Feldman, English musician
 * 1957 – Ko Otani, Japanese composer
 * 1967 – Tim McGraw, American musician
 * 1968 – D'arcy Wretzky, American musician (The Smashing Pumpkins)
 * 1978 – Nick Traina, American singer, Link 80 (d. 1997)
 * 1979 – MC Harvey (Michael Harvey), British musical artist
 * 1980 – Jay Reatard, American musician
 * 1984 – Keiichiro Koyama, Japanese musician (NEWS)