This Date in Rock Music History: January 17

1963:  The Beatles played their usual lunchtime show at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, England and then performed at the Majestic Ballroom in Birkenhead.  It was time to look for bigger venues, though, as every ticket had been sold in advance at the Majestic and hundreds of fans were turned away.

This Date in Rock Music History: January 16

1956:  Tennessee Ernie Ford had the #1 song in the U.K. with "Sixteen Tons".

1957:  Little Richard recorded "Lucille".

1957:  The Cavern Club in Liverpool, England first opened its doors.  It will forever be remembered as the place where the Beatles got their start.

This Date in Rock Music History: January 15

1955:  The Penguins had the first new #1 R&B song of the Rock Era--"Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)".

This Date in Rock Music History: January 14

1955:  Alan Freed's New York Rock & Roll Ball, featuring the Drifters, Fats Domino, Big Joe Turner and the Moonglows, kicked off at Saint Nicholas Arena in Harlem.

Little Richard from the Alan Freed movie 'Don't Rock the Boat'...

1956:  Listeners became aware of a new talent who debuted on the chart on this date with his first single--"Tutti Frutti".  And Little Richard's career was born.
1960:  Elvis Presley was promoted to Sergeant in the United States Army.

This Date in Rock Music History: January 13

1962:  Bob Dylan performed at the San Remo Coffee House in Schenectady, New York.

1962:  Cliff Richard topped the U.K. Album chart with The Young Ones.
1962:  "Can't Help Falling In Love" by Elvis Presley moved to #1 on the Easy Listening chart.

This Date in Rock Music History: January 12

1957:  Elvis Presley recorded "All Shook Up" at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, California.

1959:  Here's inspiration for you aspiring business owners.  On this date, Berry Gordy borrowed $800 to begin his own record label, Tamla Records, the beginning of the empire that has become known as Motown Records.
1959:  Jackie Wilson continued to reign over the R&B chart for a fifth week with "Lonely Teardrops".

Hits List: Bruno Mars

One of the top artists of the new century, and one of the top male artists certainly to come out in years is this likable and talented artist.  Bruno Mars has accomplished all of the following in just six years:

2010:  "Nothin' On You" (with B.O.B.--#1, #1 U.K., #22 Germany, #10 Canada, #3 Australia, #5 New Zealand, #7 Ireland, #1 Netherlands, #28 Switzerland)

            "Billionaire" (with Travie McCoy--#4, #3 U.K., #16 Germany, #12 Canada, #5 Australia, #2 New Zealand, #2 Ireland, #1 Netherlands, #14 Switzerland)
             "Lighters" (with Bad Meets Evil--#4, #10 U.K., #26 Germany, #4 Canada, #17 Australia, #2 New Zealand, #11 Ireland, #13 Netherlands, #10 Switzerland)
             "Young, Wild & Free" (with Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa--#7, #44 U.K., #15 Germany, #13 Canada, #4 Australia, #2 New Zealand, #33 Ireland, #7 Netherlands, #12 Switzerland)
              "Mirror" (with Lil Wayne--#16, #17 U.K., #44 Canada, #26 Australia, #37 New Zealand, #21 Ireland, #12 Netherlands, #15 Switzerland)

           "Just The Way You Are"  (#1, #1 U.K., #2 Germany, #1 Canada, #1 Australia, #1 New Zealand, #1 Ireland, #1 Netherlands, #3 Switzerland)

           "Grenade" (#1, #1 U.K., #1 Germany, #1 Canada, #1 Australia, #1 New Zealand, #1 Ireland, #2 Netherlands, #1 Switzerland)

2011:  "The Lazy Song" (#4, #1 U.K., #9 Germany, #5 Canada, #6 Australia, #3 New Zealand, #4 Ireland, #4 Netherlands, #9 Switzerland)

           "Marry You" (#85, #11 U.K., #15 Germany, #10 Canada, #8 Australia, #5 New Zealand, #5 Ireland, #13 Netherlands, #16 Switzerland)

           "It Will Rain" (#3, #14 U.K., #14 Germany, #5 Canada, #14 Australia, #2 New Zealand, #11 Ireland, #35 Netherlands, #22 Switzerland)

           "Count On Me" #78 U.K., #19 Australia, #13 New Zealand, #55 Switzerland)

2012:  "Locked Out Of Heaven" (#1, #2 U.K., #7 Germany, #1 Canada, #4 Australia, #4 New Zealand, #4 Ireland, #5 Netherlands, #8 Switzerland)

2013:  "When I Was Your Man" (#1, #2 U.K., #23 Germany, #3 Canada, #6 Australia, #4 New Zealand, #6 Ireland, #7 Netherlands, #12 Switzerland)
           "Treasure" (#5, #12 U.K., #17 Germany, #4 Canada, #10 Australia, #7 New Zealand, #9 Ireland, #11 Netherlands, #13 Switzerland)
           "Gorilla" (#22, #62 U.K., #23 Canada, #41 Australia, #53 Ireland, #31 Netherlands)
           "Young Girls" (#32, #83 U.K., #19 Canada, #62 Australia, #23 New Zealand, #78 Ireland)
           "Bubble Butt" (with Major Lazier, Tyga and Mystic--#56, #151 U.K., #39 Australia)
2014:  "Uptown Funk!" (with Mark Ronson--#1, #1 U.K., #3 Germany, #1 Canada, #1 Australia, #1 New Zealand, #1 Ireland, #4 Netherlands, #2 Switzerland)

Mars is off to a great start in his career, with 18 hits, with an amazing 11 of those reaching the Top 10 and six #1's.  

Sam Smith Wins Best Original Song at Golden Globe Awards

BEVERLY HILLS, California--Sam Smith, who sang "Writing's On The Wall" for the movie Spectre, was honored last night at the Golden Globe Awards for Best Original Song.

David Bowie Has Died

David Bowie died yesterday of liver cancer in New York City, two days after releasing the album Blackstar on his 69th birthday.  Bowie battled the disease for 18 months before succumbing to it.

Bowie scored 26 Hot 100 hits in his career, with six of those making the Top 10.  His biggest hit was "Fame" in 1975, co-written by John Lennon, who also sang backup on the song.

Bowie also hit #1 with "Let's Dance" in 1983, which featured elite guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan.

This song, which included Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman on piano, never caught on despite two releases (#66 in 1972 and #41 in 1975), but is one of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*.  

Another favorite of Bowie fans is this 1973 release.

This song, from the movie The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars , was released as a single in the U.K. but not in the U.S.  It remains a fan favorite.

This Date in Rock Music History: January 11

1960:  Bill Black's Combo took over at #1 on the R&B chart with "Smokie - Part 2".
1961:  Connie Francis released the single "Where the Boys Are".