Month: February 2023

February 10, 1956 – Little Richard

February 10, 1956 – Little Richard records “Long Tall Sally,” a rock and roll 12-bar blues song written by Robert “Bumps” Blackwell, Enotris Johnson, and Richard Penniman (known as “Little Richard.”) The record was released in March 1956 on the Specialty Records label. #ROCkabillyHop @littlerichard_ #LittleRichard #LongTallSally #RocHop #OTD #RockNRoll
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February 9, 1981 – American singer and musician Bill Haley

February 9, 1981 – American singer and musician Bill Haley who became known as the first Rock and Roll star, was found dead, fully clothed on his bed at his home in Harlingen, Texas from a heart attack, aged 55. He scored the 1955 UK & US #1 single “Rock Around the Clock” as well as “See You Later, Alligator,” “Shake, Rattle and Roll,” “Rocket 88,” “Skinny Minnie,” and “Razzle Dazzle.” Haley was blinded in his left eye as a child due to a botched operation and later adopted his distinctive spit-curl hairstyle to distract attention from his blind eye. #ROCkabillyHop @billhaleymusic #BillHaley #RockAroundTheClock #SeeYouLaterAlligator #ShakeRattleAndRoll #Rocket88 #SkinnyMinnie #RazzleDazzle #RocHop #OTD #RockNRoll
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February 8, 1956 – Buddy Holley

February 8, 1956 – Buddy Holley receives Decca’s contract from Jim Denny of Cedarwood Publishing. Holley’s name has been misspelled, inadvertently dropping the ‘e’ in Holley. As a result, Holley adopts the Holly spelling for his last name. Source: The Buddy Holly Center, 1801 Crickets Ave., Lubbock. @buddyholly @BuddyHollyCtr #ROCkabillyHop #buddyholly #TheCrickets #Decca #RocHop #OTD #RockNRoll
https://amzn.to/3VnmdJc

February 7, 1959 – Buddy Holly

February 7, 1959 – Buddy Holly’s funeral was held at the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Lubbock. The service was officiated by Ben D. Johnson, who had presided at the Hollys’ wedding just months earlier. The pallbearers were Jerry Allison, Joe B. Mauldin, Niki Sullivan, Bob Montgomery, Sonny Curtis, and Phil Everly. Waylon Jennings was unable to attend due to his commitment to the still-touring Winter Dance Party. The body was interred in the City of Lubbock Cemetery in the eastern part of the city. Holly’s headstone carries the correct spelling of his surname (Holley) and a carving of his Fender Stratocaster guitar. @buddyholly @BuddyHollyCtr #ROCkabillyHop #buddyholly #TheCrickets #RocHop #OTD #RockNRoll
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February 7, 1932 – Warren Smith

February 7, 1932 – Warren Smith was born in Humphreys County, Mississippi. Smith was an American rockabilly and country singer and guitarist. He is best known for the rockabilly songs he recorded in the 1950s for the Sun Record Company, such as “Ubangi Stomp.” “Rock ‘n’ Roll Ruby,” and “Uranium Rock.” #ROCkabillyHop #WarrenSmith #UbangiStomp #RockNRollRuby #UraniumRock #HappyBirthday #RocHop #OTD #RockNRoll
https://amzn.to/3VrOyOC

February 6, 1961 – Dion

February 6, 1961 – Dion was a guest on “American Bandstand” and sang “Havin’ Fun.” Missing the success of “Lonely Teenager” released the previous year, the song peaked at #47. It wouldn’t be until later in 61 that Dion would have the fun of #1 and #2 hits “Runaround Sue” and “The Wanderer.” #OTD #RockNRoll #ROCkabillyHop #RocHop @DickClarkProd #DickClark #AmericanBandstand
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