Month: May 2022

May 22, 1955 – Police cancel a Fats Domino show at the Ritz Ballroom in Bridgeport, Connecticut, fearing his music will lead to a riot. #ROCkabillyHop #TheFatMan @RealFatsDomino #fatsdomino #RocHop
https://amzn.to/3wNoCmC

May 21, 1956 – During a show at the Municipal Auditorium in Topeka, KS, 2,500 Elvis fans storm the stage. #ROCkabillyHop @ElvisPresley #Elvis #theKing
https://amzn.to/3tIC4X8

May 21, 1955 – Chuck Berry records “Maybellene,” his version of “Ida Red.” It would become one of the first records to be successful on rhythm & blues, country & western, and pop charts at the same time. @ChuckBerry #ROCkabillyHop #Maybellene #ChuckBerry
https://amzn.to/36Aw9uf

May 20, 1954 – Bill Haley and His Comets released “Rock Around The Clock” for the first time. It stalls on the charts, but becomes a hit a year later when it is used in the movie Blackboard Jungle. #ROCkabillyHop #RocHop @billhaleymusic #BillHaley #BlackboardJungle #RockAroundTheClock
https://amzn.to/3jEnl9E

May 19, 1958 – Ritchie Valens records “Come On, Let’s Go.” It was the first of four charting singles from his self-titled debut album. Released in September, backed with a cover of The Robins “Framed” on the B-side, “Come On, Let’s Go,” peaked at #42 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in late 1958. #ROCkabillyHop #RitchieValens #ComeOnLetsGo
https://amzn.to/36bP8LJ

May 19, 1958 – “All I Have To Do Is Dream” by The Everly Brothers made #1 on Billboard’s “Most played by Jockeys” and “Top 100” charts, and remained there for five and three weeks, respectively. Written by the husband and wife songwriting team Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, the track was recorded in just two takes. #ROCkabillyHop #EverlyBrothers @EverlyBrosInt #ROCHop
https://amzn.to/3ujL2Ks

May 18, 1978 – The Buddy Holly Story, starring Gary Busey as Holly, is released in the US. Widely criticized for historical inaccuracies, the movie helped to kindle new interest in Buddy Holly and his music. #ROCHop @buddyholly @BuddyHollyCtr #ROCkabillyHop #buddyholly #TheCrickets #GaryBusey @thegarybusey
https://amzn.to/3E9sJew

May 18, 1963 – Jimmy Soul found his bliss when “If You Wanna Be Happy” hit #1 in the US for two weeks. #ROCkabillyHop #RocHop @dickclarkprod #DickClark #AmericanBandstand #JimmySoul #IfYouWannaBeHappy
https://amzn.to/3JyYJd6

May 17, 1960 – Bobby Freeman appears on “American Bandstand.” #ROCkabillyHop #RocHop @dickclarkprod #DickClark #AmericanBandstand #BobbyFreeman
https://amzn.to/38CSXu3

May 16, 1959 – Wayne Newton, 16 years old, makes his Las Vegas debut, performing with his brother, Jerry, at the Freemont Hotel downtown. A few years later, he becomes a Vegas Star and a regular on the Strip. #ROCkabillyHop #RocHop #WayneNewton
https://amzn.to/3M44TU2