On May 4, 1956, rockabilly legend Gene Vincent recorded
the smoldering early-rock classic “Be-Bop-A-Lula,” in
Nashville, Tennessee.
“Be-Bop-A-Lula” became a smash, rising to #7 on the
pop charts and selling more than 2 million copies in
its first year of release.
Vincent Eugene Craddock (Gene Vincent) (1935 – 1971)
On May 4, 1970, in Kent, Ohio, 28 National Guardsmen fire their
weapons at a group of anti-war demonstrators on the Kent State University campus, killing four students and wounding nine.
The tragedy was a watershed moment for a nation divided by the
conflict in Vietnam, and further galvanized the anti-war movement.
Two days earlier, on May 2, National Guard troops were called to
Kent to suppress students rioting in protest of the Vietnam War
and the U.S. invasion of Cambodia.
The next day, scattered protests were dispersed by tear gas,
and on May 4 class resumed at Kent State University.
By noon that day, despite a ban on rallies, some 2,000 people
had assembled on the campus. National Guard troops arrived
and ordered the crowd to disperse, fired tear gas, and advanced
against the students with bayonets fixed on their rifles.
Some of the protesters, refusing to yield, responded by throwing
rocks and verbally taunting the troops (below).
"May the 4th" is a day for all lovers of Jedi, the Resistance,
the Skywalkers, the Hutts, Boba Fett, Baby Yoda, Gamorrean
guards, Maz Kanata, General Grievous, Rancor Keeper and
Jek Porkins (RIP) to unite and celebrate all there is in the
galaxy far, far away. (Why May 4, you ask? Why, it’s right
there in the date, a play on "May the Force be with you.")
(USA TODAY)
In 2011, the first organized celebration of Star Wars Day took
place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada at the Toronto Underground
Cinema.
Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996)
"First Lady of Song" Ella Fitzgerald becomes the first Black
woman to win a Grammy at the Recording Academy’s inaugural
awards show on May 4, 1959.
During the event at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, Fitzgerald
took home two of 28 awards for best jazz and female vocal
performances. “Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Song
Book” bested performances by Doris Day, Eydie Gorme, Peggy
Lee and Keely Smith for best female vocal performance.
In contrast “Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book”
won for jazz performance.
That year, Count Basie became the first Black man to win a
Grammy, also taking home two awards, for best jazz group
performance and best performance by a dance band.
This photo provided by Guinness World Records shows
Pearl, the world’s shortest living dog, with Reginald, the
world’s tallest living dog, both certified by Guinness World Records, during a playdate in Idaho Falls, Idaho, April 5,
2025. (Natalie Behring/Guinness World Records via AP)
The pair, while an unlikely duo, got along surprisingly
well during their two-day visit, according to Pearl’s
owner, Vanesa Semler.
"For me, [it] was a huge, pleasant surprise from day
one because Reggie is like Pearl in [a] bigger size,"
Semler said. "He is so gentle, so friendly."
Reggie’s owner, Sam Johnson Reiss, said the Great
Dane is more of a people person but enjoyed the
playdate.
(FOX NEWS)
