November 22, 1961 – Elvis Presley

November 22, 1961 – Elvis Presley’s film “Blue Hawaii” opens nationally to warm reviews. The film hits #18 on the box office charts for 1961 and #14 for 1962. It earns recognition as one of the Best Elvis movies, and is top-grossing film of his career thus far. Its characteristics of a non-cerebral plot, lavish scenery, lots of songs by Elvis, and lots of pretty girls, become the basis for the “Presley formula” movies of the sixties. #ROCkabillyHop @ElvisPresley #Elvis #theKing #BlueHawaii
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November 21, 1960 – Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs

November 21, 1960 – Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs’ “Stay” hits #1 in America. One of the most famous falsetto songs ever recorded, it is later covered by The Four Seasons and Jackson Browne. Running just 1:38, it’s the shortest song ever to top the Hot 100. #ROCkabillyHop #MauriceWilliams #Zodiacs #Stay
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November 20, 1961 – Chubby Checker, Joey Dee and the Starlighters, and Dion

November 20, 1961 – Billboard reports on the stunning popularity of the “Twist” craze: Three separate films, starring Chubby Checker, Joey Dee and the Starlighters, and Dion, are scheduled for production, and New York television station WOR is airing hourly twist lessons of between one and five minutes, also featuring Checker. #ROCkabillyHop @chubby_checker @billboard #twist #ChubbyChecker #JoeyDee #Starlighters
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November 20, 1955 – Bill Haley and His Comets

November 20, 1955 – The song that changed popular music history ‘Rock Around the Clock’ by Bill Haley & His Comets went to No.1 on the UK singles chart. It had already hit number one in the US on July 9th that year. The song was used under the opening credits of the film Blackboard Jungle. The song entered the charts a further six times until 1974. #ROCkabillyHop @billhaleymusic #BillHaley #BlackboardJungle
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November 20, 1955 – Bo Diddley

November 20, 1955 – After agreeing to perform Tennessee Ernie Ford’s hit “Sixteen Tons” on CBS-TV’s Ed Sullivan Show, Bo Diddley instead plays the song he was actually there to promote, his own hit “Bo Diddley.” A furious Sullivan blackballs Bo from ever appearing on the show again. The singer has claimed he was never paid for the performance. #ROCkabillyHop @bodiddley #BoDiddley #SixteenTons #EdSullivan
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