This Date in Rock Music History: July 12

1954:  Here's a case where someone did indeed "quit their day job" and it worked out fine.  Elvis Presley quit his job as a truck driver and signed a recording contract with Sun Records.
1957:  DJ Alan Freed began a 13-week Big Beat show on ABC television with the Everly Brothers, Connie Francis & Frankie Lymon.
1960:  Floyd Cramer recorded "Last Date".
1961:  Pat Boone began a 10-day tour of South Africa at the Ice Dome in Durban.
1962:  The Rolling Stones made their live debut at the Marquee Club in London.

This Date in Rock Music History: July 11

1960:  The Hollywood Argyles found themselves on top of the chart with "Alley-Oop".  15-year-old wonder Brenda Lee edged up with "I'm Sorry while Connie Francis tumbled from #1 with "Everybody's Somebody's Fool".
1962: Joe Meek wrote the instrumental "Telstar".
1964:  The Beatles performed live on the ABC television show Lucky Stars performing "A Hard Day's Night", "Long Tall Sally", "Things We Said Today" and "You Can't Do That".

This Date in Rock Music History: July 10

1958:  The Everly Brothers recorded "Devoted To You".