1954Rock history records that Bill Haley 's rendition of "Shake, Rattle and Roll" peaks at #7 during its US chart run of twenty-seven weeks. Rock history records that Producer Milt Gabler would later say that he "cleaned up" the lyrics from Joe Turner's original 1954 version in order to insure radio air-play. In the UK, it climbed to #4.
1955Rock history records that Billboard magazine publishes the results of its annual disc jockey poll. The most played R&B single is Johnny Ace's "Pledging My Love" the most promising artist is Chuck Berry, the favorite R& B artist is Fats Domino and Elvis Presley is voted the most beautiful Country And Western artist.
1957Rock history records that Dance Teacher magazine denounces England's Princess Margaret for endorsing Rock 'n' Roll, and in doing so, hastening the demise of Ballroom dancing. Rock history records that The article went on to say that "Rock 'n' Roll should be discouraged."
1957Rock history records that Singer Shirley Bassey was held captive by an angry, 19-year-old, ex-boyfriend in a barricaded bedroom on the fifth floor of the Cumberland Hotel in London, England. Rock history records that After a couple of hours he suddenly pushed her out of the room before slipping back behind the bolted doors. Rock history records that Sixty minutes later, police smashed their way…
1958Rock history records that Hank Ballard And The Midnighters record the original version of "The Twist". It was issued as the B-side of the Gospel style ballad "Teardrops On Your Letter", and although it climbed to #16 on the R&B chart, Ballard's version of "The Twist" wouldn't appear on the Billboard Pop chart until just after Chubby Checker's version took off two years later.
1964Rock history records that 24-year-old Tom Jones records "It's Not Unusual" for Britain's Decca Records. Rock history records that The track was originally intended for Pop star Sandie Shaw, but after she heard Jones' demo, she turned it down and insisted he release it. The song will go on to become his breakthrough hit, reaching #1 in the UK and #10 in the US.
1965In an all-night session at EMI Studios that started at 6 pm, The Beatles record "You Captured't See Me", "Girl", "Wait", and "I'm Looking Through You" for their upcoming album, "Rubber Soul".
1967Rock history records that Van Morrison lip-synchs to his current US #10 hit, "Brown Eyed Girl" on Dick Clark's American Bandstand . Rock history records that Although the song has become a staple on US Oldies radio, it was not a hit in the UK.
1968Rock history records that John Lennon and Yoko Ono release the LP "Unfinished Music No. 1: Two Virgins". Because the front cover of the album showed the pair completely naked, EMI declined to distribute it. Rock history records that It was later dispersed by Track Records in the United Kingdom and Tetragrammaton Records in the United States, in brown paper wrapping. The effort was poorly was…
1969Rock history records that The FBI in Phoenix, Arizona arrested The Doors' Jim Morrison for drunk and disorderly conduct aboard a plane. Rock history records that The singer was on his way to a Rolling Stones concert with actor Tom Baker and had been drinking heavily and was rude and disrespectful to the stewardesses. The two spent the night in jail and were later issued on $2,500 bail. Rock…
1970Rock history records that Ringo Starr and his wife Maureen become the proud parents of a daughter that they name Lee Parkin Starkey. Rock history records that Delivered at London's Queen Charlotte's Hospital, she was given a distinct first name intended to resist abbreviations or nicknames. Rock history records that Her middle name, Parkin, was selected by her parents to honor the family surname…
1970Rock history records that The film Elvis: That's the Way It Is opens in theatres across America. Rock history records that The documentary features Presley's shows during his Summer Festival in Las Vegas in August, 1970 and candid July rehearsal sessions.
1955Rock history records that Billboard launched "The Top 100" singles chart, revolutionizing industry tracking by combining retail sales, radio airplay, and jukebox plays into one unified formula. Rock history records that Marking the debut of this comprehensive system, The Four Aces' romantic ballad "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" earned the distinction of becoming the chart's very first number…
1957Jamboree, another film trying to capitalize on the popularity of Rock 'n' Roll among teens, previews in Hollywood. Rock history records that The story is about a boy and girl who become overnight sensations as a romantic singing duo who run into trouble when their squabbling managers try to turn them into solo acts. Rock history records that Among those featured are Jerry Lee Lewis , Fats Domino…
1957Rock history records that Johnny Cash enters Sun Studios in Memphis to record "Ballad Of A Teenage Queen". Rock history records that The song will peak at #1 on the Billboard Country chart in February, 1958 and #16 on the Billboard Top 100 chart in March.
1964Shirley Ellis records a song that she co-penned with her manager, Lincoln Chase, "The Name Game", as a follow-up to her #8 hit, "The Nitty Gritty". Rock history records that Her latest effort would reach #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #4 on the R&B chart. As most of us figured out as kids, playing the game with names such as Alice, Dallas, Tucker, Chuck, Bart, Art, Marty, Mitch, Rich…
1966Rock history records that Johnny Rivers went to #1 on the Billboard singles chart with "Poor Side Of Town". Rock history records that In the UK however, the record failed to become a hit. Rock history records that In later years Johnny would recall: "I don't know what inspired it. It was not from any personal experience, because I was living in Beverly Hills."
1966Rock history records that As many as 1,000 teenagers who are protesting a recent 10 PM curfew, clash with police on Los Angeles' Sunset Strip. Rock history records that The scene inspires Stephen Stills to write, "For What It's Worth", which will peak at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the spring of 1967 for Buffalo Springfield .
1966Rock history records that The Monkees ' self-titled, debut album started a thirteen week run at the top of the Billboard chart, selling over three million copies in three months. With the songs "Last Train To Clarksville" and "(Theme From) The Monkees", the LP would go on to be certified 5X Platinum by the RIAA.
1968Jerry Lee Lewis recorded "To Make Love Sweeter For You", a song which would rose to #1 on the Billboard Country chart in early 1969. Rock history records that The track marked his first career Country chart-topper and provided his successful transition into the genre. Rock history records that It also gave Lewis his first overall number-one hit on any Billboard chart since "Great Balls of Fire" a…
1983Rock history records that Lionel Richie's "All Night Long (All Night)" dethroned Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton's "Islands in the Stream" to claim the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Serving as the lead single from his Diamond-certified album "Can't Slow Down", the track went on to become Motown Records' biggest-selling single up to that point in history.
1984Madonna issued her second studio album, "Like a Virgin". It would go on to become her first number-one on the Billboard chart, as well as the first LP by a female artist to sell over five million copies in the United States. Rock history records that The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) later certified it Diamond for shipments of ten million units. Rock history records that The…
1987Funk legend Sly Stone was taken into custody in Los Angeles right before taking the stage for a heavily promoted "comeback" concert. Rock history records that The singer was taken into custody for failing to pay $2,856 in child support, and spent the rest of his scheduled two-night engagement in a county jail cell.
1990Rock history records that Rolling Stones guitarist Ron Wood was involved in a minor car accident fifty miles outside of London. Rock history records that His wife, Jo, was driving the couple's BMW at the time. Rock history records that Ron was unharmed and got out to direct traffic around the scene, but was struck by another vehicle. Rock history records that The impact broke both his legs.
1954Rock history records that The November issue of Billboard magazine lists Elvis Presley at number eight of the Most Promising New Hillbilly or Country Singers, based on a national poll of disk jockeys. Rock history records that At the time, Elvis was still a regional act with Sun Records.
1961Future Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Solomon Burke cracks the Billboard Top 40 for the first occasion with "Just Out of Reach (Of My Two Open Arms)", which will make it to #24. Rock history records that The record would go on to sell over a million copies and spend nineteen weeks on the R&B chart, climbing to #7.
1965Rock history records that James Brown 's "I Got You" enters both the Billboard Pop and R&B charts, where it will reach #3 and #1 respectively. The record will go on to become one of the Godfather of Soul's most enduring and readily identifiable songs. It climbed to #29 in the UK.
1965As a follow-up to their number one hit, "Hang On Sloopy", The McCoys ' release "Fever" will climb to number 7 on the US charts as a result.
1965Kama Sutra Records issues The Lovin' Spoonful 's "You Didn't Have To Be So Nice". Rock history records that The song would reach #10 on the Billboard Hot 100, but did not chart in the UK.
1965Rock history records that "The Soundtrack To The Sound Of Music" pushes The Beatles' "Help!" out of the number one position on the Billboard Top LPs chart, where it will stay for two weeks. Rock history records that The album would sell over twenty million copies worldwide, becoming one of the most successful soundtrack albums in music history.
1968Rolling Stones ' guitarist Brian Jones purchases Cotchford Farms in Sussex, England, a 16th-century country estate where A.A. Milne penned the legendary Winnie-the-Pooh stories. Rock history records that There were still statues of Pooh characters on the grounds.
1971Three Dog Night 's "Old Fashioned Love Song" is issued in the US, where it will climb to #4 on the Billboard Pop chart and #1 on the Easy Listening chart. It was a tune that songwriter Paul Williams would later say that he penned in twenty minutes. Rock history records that It was originally intended for The Carpenters, but Richard Carpenter turned it down. Rock history records that The duo never…
1971Rock history records that Slade , one of the most successful British bands of the 1970s, score the first of their six UK number one records with "Coz I Luv You". The mis-spelt title went on to become a trademark for the band, which caused a great deal of concern by school teachers in Great Britain.
1971Rock history records that Santana 's third studio album and second self-titled effort, tops the Billboard Top LPs chart for the first of five consecutive weeks. Rock history records that Often called "Santana III" by fans, the LP featured two charting singles, "Everybody's Everything" (US #12) and "No One to Depend On" (US #36). It was the last Santana album to rose to #1 on the charts until…
1973Rock history records that Nineteen-year-old Jerry Lee Lewis Jr. is killed after flipping his Jeep on a foggy road near Hernando, Mississippi, just days after he had made an appearance on TV's Midnight Special as a drummer in his father's band. Rock history records that This heartbreak marked the second time the iconic musician had to endure the death of a young child, as Steve Allen Lewis had…
1973An imposter posing as Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore exploited several local fans for free meals and lodging before convincing someone to let him drive their Porsche he promptly totaled in Iowa City. Rock history records that He was later arrested and charged with the felony of misrepresentation. Rock history records that The real Ritchie Blackmore was playing a concert in San Francisco.