Month: October 2022

October 19, 1937 – Country/rockabilly singer Jerry Jaye was born in Manila, Arkansas. Known for a hit ’60s cover of Fats Domino’s “My Girl Josephine” which was a hit single in the US, peaking at #29 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart. #ROCkabillyHop #TheFatMan @RealFatsDomino #fatsdomino #HappyBirthday #JerryJaye #RocHop #Billboard #OTD
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October 18, 2016 – Chuck Berry announces on his 90th birthday that he plans to release his first album since 1979, called “Chuck,” sometime in 2017. A specific release date isn’t set. @ChuckBerry #ROCkabillyHop #ChuckBerry #RocHop #OTD
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October 18, 1926 – Chuck Berry was born “Charles Edward Anderson Berry” in St. Louis, Missouri. Nicknamed the “Father of Rock and Roll”, he refined and developed rhythm and blues into the major elements that made rock and roll distinctive. Writing lyrics that focused on teen life and consumerism, and developing a music style that included guitar solos and showmanship, Berry was a major influence on rock and roll music. @ChuckBerry #ROCkabillyHop #HappyBirthday #ChuckBerry #RocHop #OTD
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October 17, 1966 – Elvis Presley’s 22nd movie, “Spinout,” premieres in Memphis, Tennessee. The musical comedy stars Elvis Presley as the lead singer of a band and part-time race car driver. The film ranked #57 on the year-end list of the top-grossing films of 1966. #ROCkabillyHop @ElvisPresley #Elvis #theKing #Spinout #TCB #RocHop #OTD
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October 17, 1957 – Elvis Presley’s third motion picture, “Jailhouse Rock,” premieres in Memphis. “Jailhouse Rock” opens nationally on November 8 and peaks at #3. It ends up being #14 for the year. By 1969, its earnings in the U.S. and Canada were roughly comparable with those of “The Wizard of Oz.” The title song is a smash hit. Years later, this film will be considered one of Elvis’ best acting performances, surpassed only by “King Creole,” which is to follow in 1958. “Jailhouse Rock” will come to be considered the ultimate classic of all “rock opera” movies. The “Jailhouse Rock” production number in the film is to be recognized as the grandfather of pop/rock music videos, a music format to become widely popular by the 1980s. #ROCkabillyHop @ElvisPresley #Elvis #theKing #JailhouseRock #TCB #RocHop #OTD
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October 17, 1956 – Mickey & Sylvia recorded “Love Is Strange,” a song written and originally recorded by Bo Diddley. It made a comeback in 1987 when it was used in the movie “Dirty Dancing.” #ROCkabillyHop #MickeyAndSylvia #LoveIsStrange #RocHop #OTD
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October 16, 1986 – Chuck Berry’s 60th birthday bash (held three days before his actual birthday) takes place in St. Louis with a tribute concert featuring Keith Richards, Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton, Etta James, Robert Cray, and Linda Ronstadt. Footage is shot for the 1987 documentary Hail! Hail! Rock ‘N’ Roll. #ROCkabillyHop @ChuckBerry #ChuckBerry #HailHailRockNRoll #HappyBirthday #RocHop #OTD
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October 16, 1954 – Elvis, Scotty, and Bill appear for the first time on the “Louisiana Hayride,” a live, Saturday night, country music radio show originating in Shreveport, Louisiana, broadcast over KWKH Radio. The show is the “Grand Ole Opry’s” chief competitor, carried by 190 stations in thirteen states. This leads to regular appearances on the Hayride. In November, Elvis signed a one-year contract for 52 Saturday night appearances. This is a great break, but as Elvis’ popularity grows, his commitment to the Hayride prevents him from traveling much outside the South to further his career on a larger scale. #ROCkabillyHop @ElvisPresley #Elvis #TCB #theKing #LouisianaHayride #RocHop #OTD
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October 16, 1951 – Little Richard records for the first time, laying down tracks at the Atlanta radio station WGST. Four singles from the session were released the next year. #ROCkabillyHop @littlerichard_ #OTD #LittleRichard #RocHop
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October 16, 1951 – Johnnie Ray records “Cry.” It would hit #1 in December, and wailed there for 11 tearful weeks. #ROCkabillyHop #JohnnieRay #RocHop #OTD
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