Month: April 2023

April 17, 1970 – Johnny Cash

April 17, 1970 – While performing at the White House at the invitation of President Richard Nixon, Johnny Cash was asked to perform “Okie From Muskogee”. Cash declined because it was not his song, but had been a hit for Merle Haggard. Instead, Cash sang his #1 hit, “A Boy Named Sue.” #ROCkabillyHop @JohnnyCash #ManInBlack #ABoyNamedSue #RocHop #JohnnyCash #OTD #RockNRoll
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April 16, 1958 – Dion and the Belmonts

April 16, 1958 – Dion and the Belmonts perform “I Wonder Why” on “American Bandstand.” “I Wonder Why” was released as Laurie Records’ first single, and was the group’s first national pop chart hit, in 1958. The song topped out at #22 on the Hot 100. #ROCkabillyHop #RocHop @dickclarkprod #DickClark #AmericanBandstand #DionAndTheBelmonts #IWonderWhy @OfficialDion #OTD #RockNRoll
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April 16, 1956 – Buddy Holly

April 16, 1956 – Buddy Holly’s first single “Blue Days, Black Nights,” was released. The track was later featured on “That’ll Be The Day” the third album from Buddy Holly. Decca, Holly’s first major record label, after failing to produce a hit single from Holly’s early recordings, packaged these 1956 tunes after he had some success with recordings from the Brunswick and Coral labels. @buddyholly @BuddyHollyCtr #ROCkabillyHop #buddyholly #TheCrickets #BlueDaysBlackNights #ThatllBeTheDay #OTD #RockNRoll
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April 16, 1924 – Rudy Pompilli

April 16, 1924 – Rudy Pompilli was born “Rudolph Clement Pompilii” in Chester, Pennsylvania. Pompilli played saxophone with Bill Haley and his Comets from 1955 through 1975. He would become the band’s road manager, taking care of paying the bills and arranging for the hiring of new musicians when required. A non-smoker, Pompilli died on February 5th, 1976, from lung cancer due to secondhand smoke. #ROCkabillyHop @billhaleymusic #BillHaley #HappyBirthday #RudyPompilli #RocHop #OTD #RockNRoll
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April 13, 1957 – Elvis Presley

April 13, 1957 – “All Shook Up” by Elvis Presley hit #1 and stayed there for eight weeks. It also topped the Billboard R&B chart for four weeks, becoming Presley’s second single to do so, and peaked at #1 on the country chart as well. #ROCkabillyHop @ElvisPresley #Elvis #theKing #TCB #AllShookUp #RocHop #OTD #RockNRoll
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April 14, 1963 – Cliff Richard and the Shadows

April 14, 1963 – Cliff Richard and the Shadows made an appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” which had previously been taped in London. They perform “Bachelor Boy” and “Do You Wanna Dance?” #ROCkabillyHop #RocHop #EdSullivan @EdSullivanShow #BachelorBoy #DoYouWannaDance #CliffRichard @richard_cliffofficial #OTD #RockNRoll
https://amzn.to/40RFpki

April 12, 1963 – Jimmy Soul

April 12, 1963 – Jimmy Soul sings “If You Wanna Be Happy” on “American Bandstand.” Based on the 1934 song “Ugly Woman” by Roaring Lion, it hit #1 on the Hot 100 on May 18, 1963, and nailed the #1 spot on the R&B singles chart as well. #ROCkabillyHop #RocHop @dickclarkprod #DickClark #AmericanBandstand #JimmySoul #IfYouWannaBeHappy #OTD #RockNRoll
https://amzn.to/3ZAwjHy