Category: On This Day…

December 23, 1957 – Simon & Garfunkel (then known as Tom & Jerry) released their first single, “Hey Schoolgirl,” with the B-side “Dancin’ Wild” on the B Side. #ROCkabillyHop #SimonAndGarfunkel @PaulSimonMusic #ArtGarfunkel #PaulSimon
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December 23, 1935 – Johnny Kidd (of Johnny Kidd & the Pirates) is born Frederick Albert Heath in Willesden, North London, England. Johnny Kidd & the Pirates were 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
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December 22, 1962 – The Tornadoes started a three-week run at No.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
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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 #theKing #FlamingStar
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December 22, 1958 – The Chipmunks’ “The Chipmunk Song” hits #1 on the Hot 100, the last Christmas song to ever top the chart. #ROCkabillyHop #thechipmonks #Hot100
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December 20, 1966 – Elvis buys Priscilla a horse for Christmas. He also formally proposes marriage just before Christmas, presenting her with a ring. #ROCkabillyHop @ElvisPresley #Elvis #theKing
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December 20, 1952 – Jimmy Boyd’s “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” hits #1 in America. #ROCkabillyHop #mistletoe #JimmyBoyd #ISawMommy #KissingSantaClaus
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December 19, 1955 – Carl Perkins records “Blue Suede Shoes” two days after writing the song. Johnny Cash told Perkins of an airman he knew in the Air Force who referred to his dress shoes in that way and suggested it to Perkins as a song title. #ROCkabillyHop #BlueSuedeShoes #CarlPerkins
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December 18, 1961 – Sam Cooke records “Twistin’ The Night Away.” The album by the same name was one of Cooke’s biggest selling albums. #ROCkabillyHop #SamCooke #TwistinTheNightAway
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December 17, 1957 – Buddy Holly records “Little Baby,” “Look At Me,” and (You’re So Square) “Baby I Don’t Care” in Clovis. Source: The Buddy Holly Center, 1801 Crickets Ave., Lubbock. @buddyholly @BuddyHollyCtr #ROCkabillyHop #buddyholly #TheCrickets #LittleBaby #LookAtMe #YoureSoSquare #BabyIDontCare
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