Month: August 2022

August 8, 1963 – The Kingsmen release “Louie, Louie.” Written by Richard Berry in 1955, it has become a standard in pop and rock, with hundreds of versions recorded by different artists. The song is based on the tune “El Loco Cha Cha” popularized by bandleader René Touzet and is an example of Latin influence on American popular music. “Louie Louie” tells, in simple verse-chorus form, the first-person story of a Jamaican sailor returning to the island to see his lady love. The Kingsmen’s recording was the subject of an FBI investigation about the supposed but nonexistent obscenity of the lyrics, an investigation that ended without prosecution. Ironically, the recording notably includes the drummer yelling “F*ck!” after dropping his drumstick at the 0:54 mark. #ROCkabillyHop #RocHop #Kingsmen #LouieLouie
https://amzn.to/3auqDei

August 8, 1960 – 16-year-old Brian Hyland went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with “Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” which also made it to #8 in the UK. #ROCkabillyHop #RocHop #Billboard #Hot100 #BrianHyland #ItsyBitsy #TeenyWeeny #YellowPolkaDotBikini
https://amzn.to/3Mkq1W1

August 7, 1963 – JoAnn Campbell drops by to guest host on “American Bandstand.” #ROCkabillyHop #RocHop @DickClarkProd #DickClark #AmericanBandstand #JoAnnCampbell
https://amzn.to/3mz8wqF

August 7, 1954 – A Canadian group, the Crew Cuts (with the David Carroll Orchestra) hit #1 on the Billboard’s Best Sellers in Stores chart for seven weeks and the Most Played by Jockeys chart for nine weeks with “Sh-Boom.” #ROCkabillyHop #RocHop #CrewCuts #Sh-Boom
https://amzn.to/3QcYadA

August 6, 1963 – Dee Dee Sharp is the guest host on “American Bandstand” and performs “Rock Me in the Cradle of Love” #ROCkabillyHop #RocHop @DickClarkProd #DickClark #AmericanBandstand #DeeDeeSharp #RockMeInTheCradleOfLove
https://amzn.to/3zqbx3Q

August 6, 1960 – Conway Twitty headlines “The Dick Clark Show” performing “Is a Bluebird Blue?” & “She’s Mine.” Others appearing include Ray Peterson, Billy Bland, the Ivy Three, and Chubby Checker. #ROCkabillyHop #RocHop @DickClarkProd #DickClark #IsABluebirdBlue #ShesMine #ConwayTwitty
https://amzn.to/3ze1Vcr

August 6, 1960 – Chubby Checker appeared on “The Dick Clark Show” and performed ‘The Twist.’ The song went to #1 on the US chart and again 18 months later in 1962. It is the only song to go to the top of the charts on two separate occasions. #ROCkabillyHop #RocHop @chubby_checker #Twist @DickClarkProd #DickClark #AmericanBandstand
https://amzn.to/3tfiv8h

August 6, 1956 – Production begins on “Rock Rock Rock!” a rock and roll movie starring Alan Freed, and Bill Haley and His Comets.  Also appearing are Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, Chuck Berry, the Flamingos, and LaVern Baker. #ROCkabillyHop #RocHop #RockRockRock #AlanFreed #BillHaley @BillHaleyMusic #FrankieLymon #ChuckBerry #Flamingos #LaVernBaker
https://amzn.to/3mz3pqt

August 5, 1972 – ’50s nostalgia picks up steam at the London Rock & Roll Show. Held at Wembley Stadium, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bill Haley, Bo Diddley, and Jerry Lee Lewis all perform. #ROCkabillyHop #RocHop  #ChuckBerry #LittleRichard #BillHaley #BoDiddley #JerryLeeLewis
https://amzn.to/3x6cjAy

August 5, 1963 – Eddie Hodges is the guest host on “American Bandstand” and performs his song “Halfway.” #ROCkabillyHop #RocHop @DickClarkProd #DickClark #AmericanBandstand #EddieHodges #Halfway
https://amzn.to/3as32Lx