1955: The Famous Flames, led by lead singer James Brown, recorded their first demo, singing "Please, Please, Please" at a radio station in Macon, Georgia.
1960: Elvis Presley released the single "Are You Lonesome Tonight".
1952: 26 year-old Chuck Berry was hired as a guitarist in Johnnie Johnson's band playing evening gigs in St. Louis, Missouri. Berry kept his job as a hairdresser for the next three years.
1959: The Quarrymen changed their name to Johnny and the Moondogs.
Bobby Darin was one of the many stars of the Rock Era to die well before their time. Darin, who had several health issues, died of heart failure on December 20, 1973 at the age of 37. But Bobby gave us one of the all-time classics, The #28 Song of the Rock Era* in "Mack The Knife", as well as the Top 10's "Dream Lover", "Splish Splash", "If I Were A Carpenter", "Beyond The Sea" and many others. Here is the complete Hits List* for Darin:
1958: "Splish Splash" (#3)
"Early In The Morning" (#24)
"Queen Of The Hop" (#9)
1959: "Plain Jane" (#38)
"Dream Lover" (#2)
"Mack The Knife" (#1 for 9 weeks)
1960: "Beyond The Sea" (#6)
"Clementine" (#21)
"Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey (#19)
"I'll Be There" (#79)
"Beachcomber" (#100)
"Artificial Flowers" (#20)
"Somebody To Love" (#45)
"Christmas Auld Lang Syne" (#51)
"Child Of God" (#95)
1961: "Lazy River" (#14)
"Nature Boy" (#40)
"You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby" (#5)
1962: "Irresistible You" (#15)
"Multiplication" (#30)
"What'd I Say (Part 1)"--#24
"Things" (#3)
"If A Man Answers" (#32)
"Baby Face" (#42)
"I Found A New Baby (#90)
1963: "You're The Reason I'm Living" (#3)
"18 Yellow Roses" (#10)
"Treat My Baby Good" (#43)
"Be Mad Little Girl" (#64)
1964: "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now" (#93)
"Milord" (#45)
"The Things In This House" (#86)
1965: "Hello, Dolly!" (#79)
1966: "Mame" (#53)
"If I Were A Carpenter" (#8)
1967: "The Girl That Stood Beside Me" (#66)
"Lovin' You" (#32)
"The Lady Came From Baltimore" (#62)
"Darling Be Home Soon" (#93)
1969: "Long Line Rider" (#79)
1973: "Happy" (#67) That is a total of 41 hits for Darin, with 9 Top 10 songs and the #1 smash "Mack The Knife".
Like any musical genius, it is probably tough to announce a retirement and stick with it. As leader of Genesis and a solo superstar, Phil Collins was one of the most successful individuals of the 1980s. Collins, who announced his retirement from the music business 10 years ago, is recovering in Miami, Florida from major back surgery. But now, Collins says he wants to record and tour again. Collins' last studio album of new material was Testify in 2002, which he supported with a tour. Since then, however, Collins has only appeared on a brief Genesis reunion tour in 2007 and the 2010 Motown covers album Going Back in 2010. Collins, who is moving a studio into his home in Miami, said he plans to begin recording new material in about a month.
Here's a great song never released as a single from the Eagles' comeback album Hell Freezes Over:
"Learn To Be Still"
Eagles
Written by Don Henley and Stan Lynch
It's just another day in paradise As you stumble to your bed You'd give anything to silence Those voices ringing in your head You thought you could find happiness Just over that green hill You thought you would be satisfied But you never will- Learn to be still
We are like sheep without a shepherd We don't know how to be alone So we wander 'round this desert And wind up following the wrong gods home But the flock cries out for another And they keep answering that bell And one more starry-eyed messiah Meets a violent farewell- Learn to be still Learn to be still
Now the flowers in your garden They don't smell so sweet Maybe you've forgotten The heaven lying at your feet
[Solo]
There are so many contridictions In all these messages we send (We keep asking) How do I get out of here Where do I fit in? Though the world is torn and shaken Even if your heart is breakin' It's waiting for you to awaken And someday you will- Learn to be still Learn to be still
1955: Buddy Holly opened for Marty Robbins in Lubbock, Texas.
1956: Elvis Presley returned to The Ed Sullivan Show for a second time and was presented with a Gold record for "Love Me Tender" by Sullivan.
1956: "Love Me Tender" by Elvis Presley was the new #1 song, enabling Elvis to become the first artist of the Rock Era to replace himself at #1. The all-time double-sided smash "Don't Be Cruel"/"Hound Dog" had been #1 for 11 weeks.
1957: The Crickets had the #1 song in the U.K. with "That'll Be The Day".
One of the brightest stars of the time. Or any time...
1957 - "Oh Boy!" by Buddy Holly & the Crickets was released with another killer song--"Not Fade Away" on the flip. (Note: numerous websites show the release as October 29, but according to the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, the correct date of release was October 27.)
