Author: Keith Saturn

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
https://amzn.to/3qmAWX9

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
https://amzn.to/3HM0ItN

April 16, 1924 – Rudy Pompilli, the saxophonist with Bill Haley and his Comets, was born in Chester, Pennsylvania. Pompilli played with the Comets from 1955 through 1975 including on the US and UK #1 single “Rock Around the Clock.” 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 https://amzn.to/36ChpLi

Apr 15, 1937 – Bob Luman was born “Robert Glynn Luman” in Blackjack, Texas, but raised in Nacogdoches, Texas. He was an American country and rockabilly singer-songwriter. His early interest in music was influenced by his father, an amateur fiddle, guitar, and harmonica player. Bob Luman received his first guitar when he was thirteen years old. #HappyBirthday #ROCkabillyHop #RocHop #BobLuman
https://amzn.to/3u82znC

April 14, 1963 – Cliff Richard and the Shadows make an appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” that had previously been taped in London. They perform “Bachelor Boy” and “Do You Wanna Dance?” #ROCkabillyHop #RocHop #EdSullivan @EdSullivanShow #BachelorBoy #DoYouWannaDance #CliffRichard @richard_cliffofficial
https://amzn.to/3tg92xy

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 #AllShookUp #RocHop
https://amzn.to/3q75bRu

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
https://amzn.to/3I9o38F

April 12, 1961 – James Darren appears on Bob Hope’s NBC-TV special. Darren sings “Gidget Goes Hawaiian” and “Wild About That Girl.” #ROCkabillyHop #RocHop #JamesDarren #BobHope #GidgetGoesHawaiian #WildAboutThatGirl
https://amzn.to/3CKqoWu

April 12, 1961 – Freddy Cannon performs “Opportunity” and “Buzz Buzz A-Diddle-It” on “American Bandstand.” #ROCkabillyHop #RocHop @dickclarkprod #DickClark #AmericanBandstand #FreddyCannon #Opportunity #BuzzBuzzADiddleIt
https://amzn.to/3KDQ4qK

April 12, 1954 – Bill Haley recorded “Rock Around the Clock” at Pythian Temple studios in New York City. Considered by many to be the song that put rock and roll on the map around the world. The song was used over the opening titles for the film “Blackboard Jungle,” and went on to be a world-wide #1 and the biggest selling pop single with sales over 25 million. Written by Max C. Freedman and James E. Myers, “Rock Around The Clock” was first recorded by Italian-American band Sonny Dae and His Knights. #ROCkabillyHop @billhaleymusic #BillHaley #RockAroundTheClock #RocHop
https://amzn.to/3CIWguS