This Date in Rock Music History: October 8

1955:  Chuck Berry continued to own the top R&B song with "Maybellene", now in its 10th week at #1.

This Date in Rock Music History: October 7

1957:  RCA Victor Records announced that 500,000 advance orders for Elvis' Christmas album had been received.

1957:  "Honeycomb" by Jimmie Rodgers was the #1 R&B song.
1959:  Connie Stevens starred in Hawai'i'an Eye on ABC TV.  The series would last four years.
1961:  The Biggest Show of Stars tour, featuring the Platters, the Drifters, Del Shannon, Dee Clark, Gary U.S. Bonds, the Clefftones and Curtis Lee, performed at the Wichita Forum in Wichita, Kansas.
1963:  The Rolling Stones recorded the song "I Wanna' Be Your Man" that their friends John Lennon and Paul McCartney had written for them at DeLane Lea Studios in London.
1964:  The Beatles appeared on the television show Shindig!, performing "I'm A Loser", "Kansas City" and "Boys".

This Date in Rock Music History: October 6

1958:  "Rockin' Robin" by Bobby Day ("Rock-In Robin" on some 45's) was #1 on the R&B chart.

1958:  "Tom Dooley" by the Kingston Trio raced up from #83 to #37 on this date.
1962:  After their first single "Love Me Do" had been released the day before, the Beatles signed records at Dawson's Music Shop on Church Street in Widnes, Cheshire, England.  It was one of only three official autograph sessions the Beatles did in their career.  The four Beatles signed their names on the single's red and silver label.  Copies today are rare today and extremely valuable due to the limited duration of the signing.

This Date in Rock Music History: October 5

1958:  Cliff Richard and the Shadows played their first show together at Victoria Hall in Hanley, England.

1959:  A new Motown group was first introduced to us as the Miracles as their first single--"Bad Girl" debuted on this date.
1959:  "Poison Ivy" was the top R&B Song for the Coasters.
1959:  Ernie Field's Combo were racing up the charts (95 to 46) with "In The Mood".

This Date in Rock Music History: October 4

1956:  The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show began on NBC-TV.

1961:  Bob Dylan performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City before an audience of 50 people.
1962:  The Tornadoes blew into the #1 spot in the U.K. with "Telstar".
1963:  Eric Clapton replaced Anthony Topham in the Yardirds at the Crawdaddy Club in Richmond, England.  1963:  The Beatles appeared on the British television show Ready!  Steady!  Go!

Tom Petty Has Died

Tom Petty, who emerged from the Los Angeles rock scene to become one of the top stars of the '80s and '90s, died yesterday morning in Santa Monica, California, from cardiac arrest at the age of 66.

We are deeply saddened at this news and offer condolences to Tom's family.

This Date in Rock Music History: October 3

1945:  Elvis Presley gave his first performance, singing "Old Shep" at the age of 10 at a Mississippi-Alabama Dairy Show talent contest.

1957:  The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom premiered on ABC-TV.
1960:  Ike and Tina Turner made their U.S. television debut and performed "A Fool In Love" on American Bandstand on ABC-TV.
1964:  The Beatles taped a performance for broadcast on Shindig! at Granville Theatre in London.

This Date in Rock Music History: October 2

1954:  Elvis Presley made his first and only appearance on the "Grand Ole Opry" in Nashville, Tennessee.  Jim Denny, the Opry manager, infamously told Elvis to stick to his truck driving.  (Note:  Numerous sources report the date of Elvis' Opry performance as September 2.  This is incorrect, according to the book 'Elvis Presley, Reluctant Rebel:  His Life and Our Times', by Glen Jeansonne, David Luhrssen, and Dan Sokolovic and Elvis Presley fan sites.)
1957:  Connie Francis recorded "Who's Sorry Now".

1959:  Fifteen Elvis Presley fans were arrested in East Germany after they marched through the streets of Leipzig chanting "Long live Elvis Presley", who was stationed in the U.S. military at the time.  The fans were given prison sentences of six months to four-and-a-half years. 
1961:  "Michael" by the Highwaymen logged a fifth straight week at #1 on the Easy Listening chart.
1961:  Joan Baez released her album Volume Two.
1961:  Ray Charles took over at #1 on the R&B chart with "Hit The Road, Jack".