Louis Andrew Grammatico was born on this day in 1950 in Rochester, New York. The son of a band leading trumpet player, the future front man for Foreigner was in a few regional groups before becoming the drummer and lead vocalist of a group named Black Sheep that released albums in 1974 & '75.
Gramm met Mick Jones and gave him a copy of Black Sheep's first album when Jones played Rochester with his group Spooky Tooth. That earned him an opportunity to audition for a new group Jones was putting together a couple of years later. His strong audition landed Lou a place in the band what was briefly known as Trigger before switching its name to Foreigner, a good fit for an outfit comprised of both UK and US members.
Gramm released his first solo album in 1987 and his role in Foreigner entered an on-off phase that lasted several years until the group elected to seek a permanent replacement.
At the end of 2018, Lou announced at the end of a solo concert in Schenectady, New York that his audience that night had heard what would be his last concert as a touring musician.
Other Noteworthy Classic Rock events on May 2 include...
1946 Kinks and Argent drummer Bob Henrit born.
1965 Appearance number two for the Rolling Stones on the Ed Sullivan Show.
1969 The Beatles record Something.
1969 Who perform Tommy live at London club during press party.
1972 Bruce Springsteen auditions for John Hammond at Columbia Records offices in New York City.
1972 Stone The Crows guitarist Les Harvey was electrocuted on stage and dies when he grabbed an ungrounded microphone with wet hands.
1977 Eric Clapton records Wonderful Tonight.
1979 Who do first concert with Kenny Jones on the drums in place of the late Keith Moon.
1980 The South African government bans Another Brick in The Wall by Pink Floyd.
1989 The Allman Brothers Band releases Dreams.
1991 The government of Ireland bans R.E.M. video for Losing My Religion due to religious images it contained.
1992 Berklee College of Music in Boston awards Bonnie Raitt an honorary doctorate of music degree.
2005 Bruce Springsteen releases Devils & Dust.
2011 Stevie Nicks releases In Your Dreams.
