May 22, 1958 – Jerry Lee Lewis arrives in London for a tour. When a reporter for the Daily Mail notices a young girl in the entourage, he asks her who she is. “I’m Jerry Lee’s wife,” she replies. Word spreads that Lewis has married his 13-year-old second cousin, Myra Gale Brown. A scandal erupts over his marriage, as well as his two prior divorces. Lewis is booed offstage, the tour is canceled after three shows, and he returns to the U.S. to find himself mired in controversy. #ROCkabillyHop @jerryleelewis #ROCkabillyHop #TheKiller #RocHop #OTD #RockNRoll
https://amzn.to/36PQwU7
Blog
May 22, 1955 – Fats Domino
May 22, 1955 – Police cancel a Fats Domino show at the Ritz Ballroom in Bridgeport, Connecticut, fearing his music will lead to a riot. #ROCkabillyHop #TheFatMan @RealFatsDomino #fatsdomino #RocHop #OTD #RockNRoll
https://amzn.to/3wNoCmC
May 21, 1956 – Elvis Presley
May 21, 1956 – During a show at the Municipal Auditorium in Topeka, KS, 2,500 Elvis fans storm the stage. #ROCkabillyHop @ElvisPresley #Elvis #theKing #RocHop #OTD #RockNRoll
https://amzn.to/3tIC4X8
May 21, 1955 – Chuck Berry
May 21, 1955 – Chuck Berry records “Maybellene,” his version of “Ida Red.” It would become one of the first records to be successful on rhythm & blues, country & western, and pop charts at the same time. @ChuckBerry #ROCkabillyHop #Maybellene #ChuckBerry #RocHop #OTD #RockNRoll
https://amzn.to/36Aw9uf
May 19, 1958 – Ritchie Valens
May 19, 1958 – Ritchie Valens records “Come On, Let’s Go.” It was the first of four charting singles from his self-titled debut album. Released in September, backed with a cover of The Robins’ “Framed” on the B-side, “Come On, Let’s Go,” peaked at #42 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in late 1958. #ROCkabillyHop #RitchieValens #ComeOnLetsGo #RocHop #OTD #RockNRoll
https://amzn.to/36bP8LJ
May 19, 1958 – The Everly Brothers
May 19, 1958 – “All I Have To Do Is Dream” by The Everly Brothers made #1 on Billboard’s “Most Played by Jockeys” and “Top 100” charts, and remained there for five and three weeks, respectively. Written by the husband and wife songwriting team Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, the track was recorded in just two takes. #ROCkabillyHop #EverlyBrothers @EverlyBrosInt #RocHop #OTD #RockNRoll
https://amzn.to/3ujL2Ks
May 20, 1954 – Bill Haley and His Comets
May 20, 1954 – Bill Haley and His Comets released “Rock Around The Clock” for the first time. It stalls on the charts but becomes a hit a year later when it is used in the movie Blackboard Jungle. #ROCkabillyHop #RocHop #OTD #RockNRoll @billhaleymusic #BillHaley #BlackboardJungle #RockAroundTheClock
https://amzn.to/3jEnl9E
May 18, 1978 – The Buddy Holly Story
May 18, 1978 – The Buddy Holly Story, starring Gary Busey as Holly, is released in the US. Widely criticized for historical inaccuracies, the movie helped to kindle new interest in Buddy Holly and his music. #ROCHop @buddyholly @BuddyHollyCtr #ROCkabillyHop #buddyholly #TheCrickets #GaryBusey @thegarybusey #RocHop #OTD #RockNRoll
https://amzn.to/3E9sJew
May 18, 1963 – Jimmy Soul
May 18, 1963 – Jimmy Soul found his bliss when “If You Wanna Be Happy” hit #1 in the US for two weeks. #ROCkabillyHop #RocHop #OTD #RockNRoll @dickclarkprod #DickClark #AmericanBandstand #JimmySoul #IfYouWannaBeHappy
https://amzn.to/3JyYJd6
May 17, 1960 – Bobby Freeman
May 17, 1960 – Bobby Freeman appeared on “American Bandstand.” #ROCkabillyHop #RocHop #OTD #RockNRoll @dickclarkprod #DickClark #AmericanBandstand #BobbyFreeman
https://amzn.to/38CSXu3