Month: December 2022

January 6, 1955 – Buddy Holly saw Elvis Presley sing in Lubbock inspiring him to incorporate a rockabilly style into his music, which gradually evolved into rock and roll. Waylon Jennings, future Buddy Holly bassist, and “outlaw” Country star meets Elvis for the first time at this show in Lubbock, TX. @BuddyHolly @BuddyHollyCtr #ROCkabillyHop #BuddyHolly #TheCrickets #OTD #RockNRoll #RocHop
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December 26, 1959 – Freddy Cannon performed “Way Down Yonder in New Orleans” on “The Dick Clark Saturday Night Beechnut Show.” Reaching #3 on the Billboard pop chart, it was the first record in the rock era to have a full brass section. Also appearing are Brook Benton and Jimmy Clanton. #OTD #ROCkabillyHop #RocHop @DickClarkProd #DickClark #AmericanBandstand #RockNRoll #FreddyCannon #WayDownYonderInNewOrleans
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December 25, 1961 – The Lettermen performed “When I Fall in Love” on “American Bandstand.” Released as a single, it spent 14 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching #7, and it made it to #1 on the Billboard’s Easy Listening chart. #OTD #ROCkabillyHop #RocHop @DickClarkProd #DickClark #AmericanBandstand #Lettermen #WhenIFallInLove #RockNRoll
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December 24, 1960 – The Philadelphia Orphan’s Court tells hit-maker Chubby Checker that his allowance will be raised from $150 to $200. Checker, only 19, is still a ward of the court, despite having a huge hit with “The Twist.” #ROCkabillyHop @chubby_checker #twist #ChubbyChecker #RocHop #OTD #RockNRoll
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December 23, 1960 – Elvis finished filming “Wild In The Country” where he played a troubled young man who overcomes his adversities to go to college to become a writer. This was Elvis’ last dramatic lead role until “Charro!,” and featured ONLY three songs by Elvis. #ROCkabillyHop @ElvisPresley #Elvis #TCB #theKing #WildInTheCountry #RocHop #OTD #RockNRoll
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December 23, 1955 – Fats Domino records “My Blue Heaven” at J&M Studios in New Orleans. Domino’s cover of the 1927 sentimental ballad, combined with the flipside “I’m In Love Again” sold over a million copies. #ROCkabillyHop @RealFatsDomino #FatsDomino #MyBlueHeaven #RocHop #OTD #RockNRoll
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December 23, 1935 – Johnny Kidd (of Johnny Kidd & the Pirates) was born “Frederick Albert Heath” in Willesden, North London, England. Johnny Kidd & the Pirates was an English rock and roll group led by singer/songwriter Johnny Kidd. They scored numerous hit songs from the late 1950s to the early 1960s, including “Shakin’ All Over” and “Please Don’t Touch.” #ROCkabillyHop #HappyBirthday #JohnnyKidd #Pirates #ShakinAllOver #PleaseDontTouch #RocHop #OTD #RockNRoll #RocHop
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December 22, 1962 – The Tornadoes started a three-week run at #1 on the US singles chart with “Telstar.” Produced and written by Joe Meek it was the first major hit from a UK act on the American chart. The record was named after the AT&T communications satellite Telstar, which went into orbit in July 1962. #ROCkabillyHop #telstar #RocHop #OTD #RockNRoll
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December 22, 1960 – The Elvis movie “Flaming Star” opens nationally to warm reviews, but unlike “GI Blues,” this dramatic film with little singing, does not set the box office on fire. It was #12 for the week. Elvis does however earn recognition from a tribal council for his positive portrayal of a Native American in this racially charged drama. The film is banned in South Africa due to its interracial theme. #ROCkabillyHop @ElvisPresley #Elvis #TCB #theKing #FlamingStar #RocHop #OTD #RockNRoll
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December 22, 1958 – “The Chipmunk Song” by The Chipmunks hits #1 on the Hot 100, the last Christmas song to ever top the chart. #ROCkabillyHop #TheChipmonks #Billboard #Hot100 #RocHop #OTD #RockNRoll
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