May 15

• 1945: The first U.S. album chart is introduced

May 16

• 1966: The Beach Boys release Pet Sounds

May 19

• 1945: Pete Townshend of The Who is born

May 20

• 1967: Jimi Hendrix signs his first American record contract with Reprise Records

May 21

• 1975: Elton John becomes the first Western pop star to play in the U.S.S.R.

May 23

• 1970: The Grateful Dead play their first British concert at the Hollywood Rock Festival — the band’s first show outside of the U.S.coming up