Month: January 2023

January 28, 1959 – The Winter Dance Party

January 28, 1959 – The Winter Dance Party tour plays the Prom Ballroom in St. Paul, Minnesota. The show was emceed by WDGY DJ Bill Diehl. At the Prom was a crowd of 2,000 people, including a lot of screaming girls. @BuddyHolly @BuddyHollyCtr #ROCkabillyHop #BuddyHolly #TheCrickets #WinterDanceParty #OTD #RockNRoll #RocHop

January 28, 1958 – Buddy Holly & The Crickets

January 28, 1958 – Buddy Holly & The Crickets travel from Hawaii to Sydney, Australia, for a six-day tour. Others on the tour include Jerry Lee Lewis, Paul Anka, and Jodie Sands. Variety runs an article about the Honolulu show under the headline: “Rock ‘n’ Roll Reaches Hawaii & Makes Good,” and describes “turn-away crowds.” @BuddyHolly @BuddyHollyCtr #ROCkabillyHop #BuddyHolly #TheCrickets #OTD #RockNRoll #RocHop
https://amzn.to/3RQs9bJ

January 28, 1956 – Elvis Presley

January 28, 1956 – Elvis Presley (with Scotty Moore and Bill Black), made his first National Television appearance on the Dorsey brother’s “Stage Show.” It was the first of six appearances on the show and the first of eight performances recorded and broadcast from CBS TV in New York City. After the success of their first appearance, they were signed to five more in early 1956. Elvis earns $1250 per appearance. He performs “Shake Rattle and Roll,” “Flip, Flop and Fly” and “I Got a Woman,” leaving comedian and Stage Show producer Jackie Gleason to remark, “He can’t last. I tell you flatly, he can’t last.” #ROCkabillyHop @ElvisPresley #Elvis #theKing #TCB #OTD #RockNRoll #RocHop
https://amzn.to/3QWMieB

January 27, 1997 – Pat Boone

January 27, 1997 – At the American Music Awards, starchy crooner Pat Boone reveals his new “metal” direction, wearing leathers and a studded collar. His weekly Gospel America TV show is canceled. Says Boone, “I’m not going to apologize; I’ve been one of the biggest squares of all time. Now I’m being judged like I used to judge these rockers, but God loves rockers too! #ROCkabillyHop #OTD #PatBoone #RockNRoll #RocHop
https://amzn.to/3RgmpXE

January 27, 1962 – Joey Dee and the Starliters

January 27, 1962 – Joey Dee and the Starliters’ “Peppermint Twist – Part 1” knocked Chubby Checkers’ “The Twist” out of the #1 spot in the Billboard charts and twisted there for 3 weeks before being deposed by Gene Chandler’s “Duke of Earl.” The original recording of the Peppermint Twist was too long to fit on a 45, so it was split into Part 1 for the A-side and Part 2 for the B-side. Peppermint Twist – Part 2 is mostly instrumental and is rarely heard today. @chubby_checker #ROCkabillyHop @GeneCornish #JoeyDee #OTD #RockNRoll #RocHop
https://amzn.to/3S7687W

January 27, 1958 – Buddy Holly & The Crickets

January 27, 1958 – Buddy Holly & The Crickets fly from New York to Honolulu. The same evening, they perform two shows with Jerry Lee Lewis, Paul Anka, and Jodie Sands. Source: The Buddy Holly Center, 1801 Crickets Ave., Lubbock. @BuddyHolly @BuddyHollyCtr #ROCkabillyHop #BuddyHolly #TheCrickets #OTD #RockNRoll #RocHop
https://amzn.to/3LkuvwY

January 27, 1956 – Elvis Presley

January 27, 1956 – Elvis Presley’s single, “Heartbreak Hotel” backed with “I Was the One” was released by RCA Records, who had just purchased Presley’s contract from Sun Records for $35,000. The song sold 300,000 copies in its first week and would eventually sell over a million, becoming Elvis’ first Gold record. The release is timed to coincide with his first appearance on national TV, on “Stage Show” hosted by Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey the following day. #ROCkabillyHop @ElvisPresley #Elvis #theKing #TCB #OTD #RockNRoll #HeartbreakHotel #IWasTheOne #RocHop
https://amzn.to/3RcV5cx

January 26, 1961 – Frankie Lymon

January 26, 1961 – Frankie Lymon sings “Silhouettes” on “American Bandstand.” Lymon’s cover of this 1957 song by The Rays appeared on his “Frankie Lymon Rock’N Roll” album and as the B side of his single cover of “Jailhouse Rock.” #OTD #RockNRoll #ROCkabillyHop #RocHop @DickClarkProd #DickClark #AmericanBandstand #FrankieLymon #Silhouettes
https://amzn.to/3UIkDRX