1955 - Leonard Chess signs Chuck Berry to a recording contract after he came highly recommended by Muddy Waters.
1955 - Ray Charles reaches the top of the US R&B chart for the first time with "I Got A Woman".
1956 - For the first time in the history of Billboard's record charts, the same five songs appear in both the Pop and R&B Top Ten. They are: Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel" (#1 Pop, #6 R&B), Carl Perkins' "Blue Suede Shoes" (#4 Pop, #3 R&B), Little Richard's "Long Tall Sally" (#9 Pop, #1 R&B), The Platters' "Magic Touch" (#10 Pop, #7 R&B) and Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers' "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" (#7 Pop, #4 R&B).
1956 - Gene Vincent records "Be Bop A Lula" It sold 2 million copies.
1958-59 - The Alan Freed Show premiers on TV with Guy Mitchell, The Del-Vikings, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, The Clovers, June Valli, Martha Carson and the Alan Freed Rock and Roll Orchestra. One year later Alan Freed is in trouble when a brawl breaks out following his show and some of the estimated 5,000 teens in attendance are injured. Freed is charged with incitement of a riot and destruction of property.
1959 - The first Grammy Awards are given out and “Volare” is Record of the Year - It beat out Peggy Lee's "Fever", "Catch a Falling Star" by Perry Como, "Witchcraft" from Frank Sinatra and "The Chipmunk Song" by David Seville.
1960 - “G.I.Blues” Elvis’ first post-Army movie is released. He ends his film career with “Change of Habit” in 1969.
1960 - Dick Clark testifies before a Congressional Committee investigating "payola", and eventually was cleared. Alan Freed and eight other DJ are accused of taking radio payola.
In the aftermath of the payola scandal, Billboard magazine reports that many radio stations are adopting what they called a "better music" format and banning Rock and Roll.
1961 - After topping the Billboard chart a month earlier, The Marcels version of "Blue Moon" hits #1 in the UK. Since 1934, the song was recorded by over 50 major artists and featured in at least 8 motion pictures.
1962 - The Shirelles get a Gold record for "Soldier Boy", originally recorded in one take and intended as an album filler.
1964 - Moody Blues group forms.
1964-65 Gerry and the Pacemakers debut on US television, the Ed Sullivan Show, with "Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying" 1964.
Ed Sullivan (1965) vows The Rolling Stones would never be invited back never again appear on his Sunday night variety show. He received "thousands of calls complaining" about The Stones. 1967 - Elvis Presley marries Priscella Beaulieu in Las Vegas (it lasts 5 years)
1969 - The Who released the double album rock opera "Tommy".
1971 - Ike and Tina Turner receive their only Gold record for their version of "Proud Mary", which climbed to #4 in the US. 1973 - Led Zeppelin opened their US tour. It is billed as the 'biggest and most profitable Rock and Roll tour in the history of the United States.' The group grossed over $3 million.
1976 - Soviet youths defy police and dance The Twist in Moscow's Red Square during May Day celebrations.
1978 - FM, a film about the struggles of a radio station, debuts in Los Angeles. The soundtrack features Steely Dan, Steve Miller, The Eagles, Neil Young, Billy Joel and Warren Zevon. More people bought the soundtrack than saw the film.
1980 - Pink Floyd's hit single "Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)", with its chorus of kids chanting "We Don't Need No Education", is banned by the South African government. Black children, upset about inferior education, adopt the song as their anthem. The government says the song is "prejudicial to the safety of the state." 1984 - Tina Turner's "What's Love Got to Do With It" is released and climbs to #1 and wins Grammys for record and song of the year. Tina becomes a solo star leaving her husband and former band mate, Ike Turner, with nothing more than 36 cents and a gas station credit card.
1993 - IRS seize Jerry Lee Lewis’ home for 1.6 million in unpaid taxes.
1994 - Randy Bachman led 1,322 guitarists who had gathered in Vancouver to play Bachman-Turner Overdrive's "Takin' Care of Business", for 68 minutes and 40 seconds.2003 - Barry White suffers a stroke and died two months later.
2004 - Rudy Maugeri, the baritone voice of the 1950s doo-wop group, The Crew Cuts, died. He was 73. Taking their name from a popular hair style of the day, the quartet formed in Toronto and went on to have several hits in the US, including the number one "Sh-Boom" in 1954 and the number three "Earth Angel" in 1955.
2009 - A anonymous fan won a two hour, one on one guitar lesson with Queen's Brian May after bidding more than £7,500 at a charity auction in London. The auction was held in support of the Action for Brazil's Children Trust, of which May is a patron.
This Month I Rock-n-Roll History
1955 - Leonard Chess signs Chuck Berry to a recording contract after he came highly recommended by Muddy Waters.
1955 - Ray Charles reaches the top of the US R&B chart for the first time with "I Got A Woman".
1956 - For the first time in the history of Billboard's record charts, the same five songs appear in both the Pop and R&B Top Ten. They are: Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel" (#1 Pop, #6 R&B), Carl Perkins' "Blue Suede Shoes" (#4 Pop, #3 R&B), Little Richard's "Long Tall Sally" (#9 Pop, #1 R&B), The Platters' "Magic Touch" (#10 Pop, #7 R&B) and Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers' "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" (#7 Pop, #4 R&B).
1956 - Gene Vincent records "Be Bop A Lula" It sold 2 million copies.
1958-59 - The Alan Freed Show premiers on TV withGuy Mitchell, The Del-Vikings, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, The Clovers, June Valli, Martha Carson and the Alan Freed Rock and Roll Orchestra.
One year later Alan Freed is in trouble when a brawl breaks out following his and some of the estimated 5,000 teens in attendance are injured. Freed is charged with incitement of a riot and destruction of property.
1959 - The first Grammy Awards are giving out and “Volare” is Record of the Year - It beat out Peggy Lee's "Fever", "Catch a Falling Star" by Perry Como, "Witchcraft" from Frank Sinatra and "The Chipmunk Song" by David Seville.
1960 - “G.I.Blues” Elvis’ first post-Army movie is released. He ends his film career with “Change of Habit” in 1969.
1960 - Dick Clark testifies before a Congressional Committee investigating payola. And eventually was cleared. Alan Freed & eight other DJ accused of taking radio payola.
In the aftermath of the payola scandal, Billboard magazine reports that many radio stations are adopting what they called a "better music" format and banning Rock and Roll.
1961 - After topping the Billboard chart a month earlier, The Marcels version of "Blue Moon" hits #1 in the UK. Since 1934, the song has been recorded by over 50 major artists and has been featured in at least 8 motion pictures.
1962 - The Shirelles get a Gold record for "Soldier Boy", originally recorded in one take and intended as an album filler.
1964 - Moody Blues group forms.
1964-65 Gerry and the Pacemakers debut on US television, the Ed Sullivan Show with "Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying" 1964
Ed Sullivan vows The Rolling Stones would never be invited back never again appear on his Sunday night variety show. He received "thousands of calls complaining" about The Stones. 1965
1967 - Elivs Presley marries Priscella Beaulieu in Las Vegas (it lasts 5 years)
1969 - The Who released the double album rock opera Tommy.
1971 - Ike and Tina Turner receive their only Gold record for their version of "Proud Mary", which climbed to #4 in the US.
1973 - Led Zeppelin opened their US tour, which is billed as the 'biggest and most profitable Rock and Roll tour in the history of the United States.' The group grossed over $3 million.
1976 - Soviet youths defy police and dance The Twist in Moscow's Red Square during May Day celebrations.
1978 - FM, a film about the struggles of a radio station, debuts in Los Angeles. The soundtrack features Steely Dan, Steve Miller, The Eagles, Neil Young, Billy Joel and Warren Zevon. More people bought the soundtrack than saw the film.
1980 - Pink Floyd's hit single "Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)", with its chorus of kids chanting "We Don't Need No Education", is banned by the South African government. Black children, upset about inferior education, adopt the song as their anthem. The government says the song is "prejudicial to the safety of the state."
1984 - Tina Turner's "What's Love Got to Do With It" is released and climbs to #1 and wins Grammys for record and song of the year. Tina becomes a solo star leaving her husband and former band mate Ike Turner, with nothing more than 36 cents and a gas station credit card.
1993 - IRS seize Jerry Lee Lewis’ home for 1.6 million in unpaid taxes.
1994 - Randy Bachman led 1,322 guitarists who had gathered in Vancouver to play Bachman-Turner Overdrive's "Takin' Care of Business", for 68 minutes and 40 seconds.
2003 - Barry White suffers a stroke and died two months later.
2004 - Rudy Maugeri, the baritone voice of the 1950s doo-wop group, The Crew Cuts, died. He was 73. Taking their name from a popular hair style of the day, the quartet formed in Toronto and went on to have several hits in the US, including the number one "Sh-Boom" in 1954 and the number three "Earth Angel" in 1955.
2009 - A anonymous fan won a two hour, one on one guitar lesson with Queen's Brian May after bidding more than £7,500 at a charity auction in London. The auction was held in support of the Action for Brazil's Children Trust, of which May is a patron.
1955 - Leonard Chess signs Chuck Berry to a recording contract after he came highly recommended by Muddy Waters.
1955 - Ray Charles reaches the top of the US R&B chart for the first time with "I Got A Woman".
1956 - For the first time in the history of Billboard's record charts, the same five songs appear in both the Pop and R&B Top Ten. They are: Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel" (#1 Pop, #6 R&B), Carl Perkins' "Blue Suede Shoes" (#4 Pop, #3 R&B), Little Richard's "Long Tall Sally" (#9 Pop, #1 R&B), The Platters' "Magic Touch" (#10 Pop, #7 R&B) and Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers' "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" (#7 Pop, #4 R&B).
1956 - Gene Vincent records "Be Bop A Lula" It sold 2 million copies.
1958-59 - The Alan Freed Show premiers on TV withGuy Mitchell, The Del-Vikings, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, The Clovers, June Valli, Martha Carson and the Alan Freed Rock and Roll Orchestra.
One year later Alan Freed is in trouble when a brawl breaks out following his and some of the estimated 5,000 teens in attendance are injured. Freed is charged with incitement of a riot and destruction of property.
1959 - The first Grammy Awards are giving out and “Volare” is Record of the Year - It beat out Peggy Lee's "Fever", "Catch a Falling Star" by Perry Como, "Witchcraft" from Frank Sinatra and "The Chipmunk Song" by David Seville.
1960 - “G.I.Blues” Elvis’ first post-Army movie is released. He ends his film career with “Change of Habit” in 1969.
1960 - Dick Clark testifies before a Congressional Committee investigating payola. And eventually was cleared. Alan Freed & eight other DJ accused of taking radio payola.
In the aftermath of the payola scandal, Billboard magazine reports that many radio stations are adopting what they called a "better music" format and banning Rock and Roll.
1961 - After topping the Billboard chart a month earlier, The Marcels version of "Blue Moon" hits #1 in the UK. Since 1934, the song has been recorded by over 50 major artists and has been featured in at least 8 motion pictures.
1962 - The Shirelles get a Gold record for "Soldier Boy", originally recorded in one take and intended as an album filler.
1964 - Moody Blues group forms.
1964-65 Gerry and the Pacemakers debut on US television, the Ed Sullivan Show with "Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying" 1964
Ed Sullivan vows The Rolling Stones would never be invited back never again appear on his Sunday night variety show. He received "thousands of calls complaining" about The Stones. 1965
1967 - Elivs Presley marries Priscella Beaulieu in Las Vegas (it lasts 5 years)
1969 - The Who released the double album rock opera Tommy.
1971 - Ike and Tina Turner receive their only Gold record for their version of "Proud Mary", which climbed to #4 in the US.
1973 - Led Zeppelin opened their US tour, which is billed as the 'biggest and most profitable Rock and Roll tour in the history of the United States.' The group grossed over $3 million.
1976 - Soviet youths defy police and dance The Twist in Moscow's Red Square during May Day celebrations.
1978 - FM, a film about the struggles of a radio station, debuts in Los Angeles. The soundtrack features Steely Dan, Steve Miller, The Eagles, Neil Young, Billy Joel and Warren Zevon. More people bought the soundtrack than saw the film.
1980 - Pink Floyd's hit single "Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)", with its chorus of kids chanting "We Don't Need No Education", is banned by the South African government. Black children, upset about inferior education, adopt the song as their anthem. The government says the song is "prejudicial to the safety of the state."
1984 - Tina Turner's "What's Love Got to Do With It" is released and climbs to #1 and wins Grammys for record and song of the year. Tina becomes a solo star leaving her husband and former band mate Ike Turner, with nothing more than 36 cents and a gas station credit card.
1993 - IRS seize Jerry Lee Lewis’ home for 1.6 million in unpaid taxes.
1994 - Randy Bachman led 1,322 guitarists who had gathered in Vancouver to play Bachman-Turner Overdrive's "Takin' Care of Business", for 68 minutes and 40 seconds.
2003 - Barry White suffers a stroke and died two months later.
2004 - Rudy Maugeri, the baritone voice of the 1950s doo-wop group, The Crew Cuts, died. He was 73. Taking their name from a popular hair style of the day, the quartet formed in Toronto and went on to have several hits in the US, including the number one "Sh-Boom" in 1954 and the number three "Earth Angel" in 1955.
2009 - A anonymous fan won a two hour, one on one guitar lesson with Queen's Brian May after bidding more than £7,500 at a charity auction in London. The auction was held in support of the Action for Brazil's Children Trust, of which May is a patron.
