This Date in Rock Music History: September 9

1954, Elvis Presley played at the opening of the Lamar-Airways Shopping Center in Memphis, Tennessee.

This Date in Rock Music History: September 8

1956:  Eddie Cochran signed a one-year deal with Liberty Records.

1956:  Elvis Presley was on the cover of TV Guide.
1957:  Paul Anka and Jimmy Rodgers appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show.
1958:  Paul Anka started a tour of Southeast Asia in Tokyo, Japan.
1962:  "The Loco-Motion" by Little Eva remained #1 on the R&B chart for a third week.

This Date in Rock Music History: September 7

1957:  Sam Cooke released the single "You Send Me" on Keen Records.
1958:  Georgia Gibbs and Johnnie Ray appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show.  (Note:  some websites claim the performances were on September 6.  The show aired Sundays on CBS.  In 1958, Sunday fell on September 7.)

1959:  Frankie Avalon, the Coasters, Lou Rawls, Bobby Rydell and Annette Funicello performed on closing night of their four-day appearance at the Michigan State Fair as part a tour organized by Dick Clark.

1959:  Lloyd Price moved back up to #1 on the R&B chart with "I'm Gonna' Get Married".

This Date in Rock Music History: September 6

1959:  "Bad Boys" by the Miracles was the first single on Barry Gordy's newly-formed Motown Records.
1960:  Sam Cooke's daughter, Tracy, was born.

1961:  Bob Dylan performed at the Gaslight Cafe in New York City.

This Date in Rock Music History: September 5

1964:  A new British group first appeared on the charts on this date.  Manfred Mann, which had released the single "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" on August 31, first appeared on the chart with that release.

This Date in Rock Music History: September 4

1952:  Gladys Knight & the Pips formed following a birthday party for Bubba Knight in Atlanta, Georgia.

1959:  "Mack The Knife" by Bobby Darin was banned by a radio station in New York City.

This Date in Rock Music History: September 3

1955:  Bill Haley & the Comets refused an offer to tour Australia because of a fear of flying.

1955:  Chuck Berry logged a third week at #1 on the R& B chart with "Maybellene".
1962:  The Beatles, Billy J. Kramer, the Coasters, and Rory Storm and the Hurricanes played the first of three Monday night gigs at the Queen's Hall in Widnes, Cheshire, England.  The Hurricanes by this time had gotten over the defection of drummer Ringo Starr to the Beatles.
1963:  Frank Sinatra's Reprise Records was absorbed by Warner Brothers Records.
1966:  The Supremes stood on top of the R&B chart with "You Can't Hurry Love".
1966:  What Now My Love gave Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass their third #1 album out of six released.  
1966:  The great song "Born Free" was #1 on the Easy Listening chart for Roger Williams.
1966:  The Association were making their move as "Cherish" jumped from #66 to #27.