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December 25, 1961 – The Lettermen performed “When I Fall in Love” on “American Bandstand.” Released as a single, it spent 14 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching #7, and it made it to #1 on the Billboard’s Easy Listening chart. #OTD #ROCkabillyHop #RocHop @DickClarkProd #DickClark #AmericanBandstand #Lettermen #WhenIFallInLove #RockNRoll
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December 24, 1960 – The Philadelphia Orphan’s Court tells hit-maker Chubby Checker that his allowance will be raised from $150 to $200. Checker, only 19, is still a ward of the court, despite having a huge hit with “The Twist.” #ROCkabillyHop @chubby_checker #twist #ChubbyChecker #RocHop #OTD #RockNRoll
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December 23, 1960 – Elvis finished filming “Wild In The Country” where he played a troubled young man who overcomes his adversities to go to college to become a writer. This was Elvis’ last dramatic lead role until “Charro!,” and featured ONLY three songs by Elvis. #ROCkabillyHop @ElvisPresley #Elvis #TCB #theKing #WildInTheCountry #RocHop #OTD #RockNRoll
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December 23, 1955 – Fats Domino records “My Blue Heaven” at J&M Studios in New Orleans. Domino’s cover of the 1927 sentimental ballad, combined with the flipside “I’m In Love Again” sold over a million copies. #ROCkabillyHop @RealFatsDomino #FatsDomino #MyBlueHeaven #RocHop #OTD #RockNRoll
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December 23, 1935 – Johnny Kidd (of Johnny Kidd & the Pirates) was born “Frederick Albert Heath” in Willesden, North London, England. Johnny Kidd & the Pirates was an English rock and roll group led by singer/songwriter Johnny Kidd. They scored numerous hit songs from the late 1950s to the early 1960s, including “Shakin’ All Over” and “Please Don’t Touch.” #ROCkabillyHop #HappyBirthday #JohnnyKidd #Pirates #ShakinAllOver #PleaseDontTouch #RocHop #OTD #RockNRoll #RocHop
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December 22, 1962 – The Tornadoes started a three-week run at #1 on the US singles chart with “Telstar.” Produced and written by Joe Meek it was the first major hit from a UK act on the American chart. The record was named after the AT&T communications satellite Telstar, which went into orbit in July 1962. #ROCkabillyHop #telstar #RocHop #OTD #RockNRoll
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December 22, 1960 – The Elvis movie “Flaming Star” opens nationally to warm reviews, but unlike “GI Blues,” this dramatic film with little singing, does not set the box office on fire. It was #12 for the week. Elvis does however earn recognition from a tribal council for his positive portrayal of a Native American in this racially charged drama. The film is banned in South Africa due to its interracial theme. #ROCkabillyHop @ElvisPresley #Elvis #TCB #theKing #FlamingStar #RocHop #OTD #RockNRoll
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December 22, 1958 – “The Chipmunk Song” by The Chipmunks hits #1 on the Hot 100, the last Christmas song to ever top the chart. #ROCkabillyHop #TheChipmonks #Billboard #Hot100 #RocHop #OTD #RockNRoll
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December 22, 1957 – Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers perform “Goody Goody” and “It’s Christmas Once Again” on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” #ROCkabillyHop #RocHop #EdSullivan @EdSullivanShow #OTD #RockNRoll #FrankieLymon #Teenagers #GoodyGoody #ItsChristmasOnceAgain
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December 21, 1963 – Vito and the Salutations visit “American Bandstand” and perform “Unchained Melody.” #OTD #ROCkabillyHop #RocHop @DickClarkProd #DickClark #AmericanBandstand #VitoAndTheSalutations #Salutations #UnchainedMelody #RockNRoll
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