May 31

Events

 * 1917 - The first jazz record, "Dark Town Strutters' Ball," was released.
 * 1969 - Stevie Wonder’s "My Cherie Amour" was released.
 * 1969 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono recorded "Give Peace a Chance" during their Montreal bed-in.
 * 1969 - The Rolling Stones recorded "Honky Tonk Women."
 * 1975 - The Eagles released "One Of These Nights."
 * 1976 - The Who played at the Charlton Athletic Grounds in England and make the Guinness Book of World Records as the loudest rock band ever. Their set measured 76,000 watts and 120 decibels.

Births

 * 1656 –, French composer (d. 1728)
 * 1901 –, American conductor and composer (d. 1983)
 * 1914 –, Japanese composer (d. 2006)
 * 1931 –, American soprano
 * 1932 –, Brazilian musician, producer
 * 1938 –, American singer (d. 2003)
 * 1947 –, British musician and songwriter (The Marmalade)
 * 1948 –, British musician (Led Zeppelin) (d. 1980)
 * 1949 –, American soprano
 * 1954 –, American singer (d. 2000)
 * 1956 –, German musician and sound engineer (Kraftwerk)
 * 1963 –, American musician (d. 2003)
 * 1964 –, American rock guitarist
 * 1964 –, American musician (Run-D.M.C.)
 * 1966 –, American actor and singer
 * 1977 –, American musician (Reel Big Fish)
 * 1980 –, American musician (Fall Out Boy)
 * 1983 –, American singer
 * 1986 –, Georgian musical artist
 * 1988 –, American singer

Deaths

 * 1809 –, Austrian composer (b. 1732)
 * 1967 –, American composer, pianist and arranger (b. 1915)
 * 1994 –, Italian-born soprano (b. 1909)
 * 2000 –, American musician (b. 1923)
 * 2000 –, American singer (b. 1938)
 * 2004 –, American guitarist (b. 1941)
 * 2004 –, French songwriter and screenwriter (b. 1941)
 * 2006 –, American songwriter, mother of singer Stevie Wonder (b. 1930)
 * 2010 –, American composer (b. 1924)