Category: On This Day…

January 30, 1959 – Ritchie Valens

January 30, 1959 – Ritchie Valens called home to talk to his Mom. She wasn’t there, so he talked to Bob about wanting Mom to join him. “You’re gonna have a helluva time trying to get Mom on a plane!” Bob replied. “What about you…we’re still brothers, right?” Ritchie asked. After a brief silence, Bob told him “I’m there, Brother.” #ROCkabillyHop #RitchieValens #WinterDanceParty #RocHop
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January 29, 1958 – Sam Cooke

January 29, 1958 – Sam Cooke appears on CBS-TV’s “The Big Record” to perform “You Send Me” and “I’ll Come Running Back to You.” Cooke gave the writing credit for “You Send Me” to his younger brother, L.C. Cook to keep his publisher from profiting from the song which hit #1 on Billboard’s Best Sellers in Stores, Most Played by Jockeys, and R&B charts. #OTD #RockNRoll #ROCkabillyHop #RocHop #SamCooke #TheBigRecord #YouSendMe #IllComeRunningBackToYou
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January 29, 1948 – Bill Kirchen

January 29, 1948 – Guitarist Bill Kirchen, who with George Frayne founded Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen, was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Kirchen played the iconic lead guitar on Commander Cody’s cover of Charlie Ryan’s 1955 song “Hot Rod Lincoln.” #HappyBirthday #ROCkabillyHop #BillKirchen #OTD #RockNRoll #RocHop
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January 28, 1959 – The Winter Dance Party

January 28, 1959 – The Winter Dance Party tour plays the Prom Ballroom in St. Paul, Minnesota. The show was emceed by WDGY DJ Bill Diehl. At the Prom was a crowd of 2,000 people, including a lot of screaming girls. @BuddyHolly @BuddyHollyCtr #ROCkabillyHop #BuddyHolly #TheCrickets #WinterDanceParty #OTD #RockNRoll #RocHop

January 28, 1958 – Buddy Holly & The Crickets

January 28, 1958 – Buddy Holly & The Crickets travel from Hawaii to Sydney, Australia, for a six-day tour. Others on the tour include Jerry Lee Lewis, Paul Anka, and Jodie Sands. Variety runs an article about the Honolulu show under the headline: “Rock ‘n’ Roll Reaches Hawaii & Makes Good,” and describes “turn-away crowds.” @BuddyHolly @BuddyHollyCtr #ROCkabillyHop #BuddyHolly #TheCrickets #OTD #RockNRoll #RocHop
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January 28, 1956 – Elvis Presley

January 28, 1956 – Elvis Presley (with Scotty Moore and Bill Black), made his first National Television appearance on the Dorsey brother’s “Stage Show.” It was the first of six appearances on the show and the first of eight performances recorded and broadcast from CBS TV in New York City. After the success of their first appearance, they were signed to five more in early 1956. Elvis earns $1250 per appearance. He performs “Shake Rattle and Roll,” “Flip, Flop and Fly” and “I Got a Woman,” leaving comedian and Stage Show producer Jackie Gleason to remark, “He can’t last. I tell you flatly, he can’t last.” #ROCkabillyHop @ElvisPresley #Elvis #theKing #TCB #OTD #RockNRoll #RocHop
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January 27, 1997 – Pat Boone

January 27, 1997 – At the American Music Awards, starchy crooner Pat Boone reveals his new “metal” direction, wearing leathers and a studded collar. His weekly Gospel America TV show is canceled. Says Boone, “I’m not going to apologize; I’ve been one of the biggest squares of all time. Now I’m being judged like I used to judge these rockers, but God loves rockers too! #ROCkabillyHop #OTD #PatBoone #RockNRoll #RocHop
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