This Date in Rock Music History: January 22

1959:  Buddy Holly left for Milwaukee to begin the Winter Dance Party tour.  (Note:  numerous websites say that Holly made 14 final recordings today, which cannot be true since he left early for Milwaukee, as noted above.  Holly made his last recordings ( "That's What They Say", "What To Do", "Peggy Sue Got Married," "That Makes It Tough", "Crying, Waiting Hoping" (often shown incorrectly as just "Crying"), "Learning The Game", "Wait 'Til The Sun Shines Nellie", "Drown In My Own Tears", "Maria Elena" (which is mostly Buddy's wife Maria talking and the noise of the apartment), "Dearest", "Love Is Strange", "Smoky Joe's Café"  "Buddy's Guitar", and "Slippin' And Slidin'") from December to early January alone with an acoustic guitar and an Ampex reel to reel tape recorder in his apartment in New York City.  The first two were recorded December 3, "Peggy Sue Got Married" was recorded December 5, "That Makes It Tough" was recorded December 8, "Crying, Waiting, Hoping" was recorded December 14, and "Learning The Game" was recorded on December 17.  The last eight songs were recorded sometime between January  1 and January 19, but there is no exact record, and they definitely were not recorded on December 22.  The songs were later released posthumously with dubs added and are referred to as "The Apartment Tapes".)
1960:  Sam Cooke signed with RCA Records.  (Note:  there is no definitive source that indicates the exact date Cooke signed the contract.  Although some websites say it occurred on January 21, most center on January 22, which was Cooke's 29th birthday.)

This Date in Rock Music History: January 21

1956:  It was week number three at #1 on the R&B chart for "The Great Pretender" from the Platters.  And it wasn't even close to done.

Featured Unknown/Underrated Song: "Insensitive" by Jann Arden

This 1996 song from Jann Arden was included in the movie Bed Of Roses.  It peaked at #12, but has the quality of a Top 10 song:

"Insensitive"

Jann Arden

How do you cool your lips, after a summer's kiss?
How do you rid the sweat, after the body bliss?
How do you turn your eyes, from the romantic glare?
How do you block the sound of a voice
You'd know anywhere?

Oh, I really should've known
By the time you drove me home
By the vagueness in your eyes, your casual goodbyes
By the chill in your embrace
The expression on your face that told me
Maybe you might have some advice to give
On how to be insensitive
Insensitive
Insensitive

How do you numb your skin, after the warmest touch?
How do you slow your blood, after the body rush?
How do you free your soul, after you've found a friend?
How do you teach your heart it's a crime to fall in love again?

Oh, you probably won't remember me
It's probably ancient history
I'm one of the chosen few
Who went ahead and fell for you
I'm out of vogue, I'm out of touch
I fell too fast, I feel too much
I thought that you might have some advice to give
On how to be insensitive

Oh, I really should've known
By the time you drove me home
By the vagueness in your eyes, your casual goodbyes
By the chill in your embrace
The expression on your face that told me
Maybe you might have some advice to give
On how to be insensitive

This Date in Rock Music History: January 20

1953:  Elvis Presley registered for the Selective Service System in the United States.  (Note:  numerous websites incorrectly report that Elvis received orders to report to military duty on January 20, 1958.  The only event that the date of January 20 refers to is the date Elvis registered for the draft, shortly after his 18th birthday.  On December 20, 1957, Elvis received his official draft notice.  He was able to get a deferment, then officially was inducted on March 24, 1958.  Some websites claim he received his draft notice on December 8, but it was the 20th, according to 'History.com' and the books 'Icons of Rock:  An Encyclopedia of the Legends Who Changed Music Forever' by  Scott Schinder and Andy Schwartz and Elvis for Kids:  A Biography of Elvis Presley Just for Kids!' by Sam Rogers.

Howard Kaufman Has Died

Howard Kaufman, business partner of Irving Azoff in Front Line Management and leader of H.K. Management who guided the careers of the Eagles, Chicago Aerosmith, Def Leppard, Steely Dan, Stevie Nicks, Lenny Kravitz and Warren Buffet, among others, died today at the age of 79.

Kenny Loggins, the Dave Matthews Band and Tracy Chapman

Three amazing artists just outside of The Top 100 Artists of the Rock Era*.

Kenny Loggins (above) has been ranked in the elite group since the 1980's but has just recently fallen out.  Tracy Chapman made her strong run in the '80s while the Dave Matthews Band began in the '90s.

The tremendous talent evidenced by those three artists tells us that making it into The Top 100 Artists of the Rock Era* is extremely tough.  The musical spectacular begins Monday, February 6, the day after the Super Bowl, on Inside The Rock Era!

This Date in Rock Music History: January 19

1957:  Democratic U.S. presidents all have their own superstars to invite to play at their inaugurations.  Pat Boone was the big star to sing at the presidential inauguration of Republican U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

1957:  "Since I Met You Baby" by Ivory Joe Hunter remained #1 for a third week on the R&B chart.

Mike Kellie Has Passed Away

Mike Kellie, member of Spooky Tooth who did session work for the Who in the movie Tommy, George Harrison, Joe Cocker, Peter Frampton, Gary Wright, Traffic and Jerry Lee Lewis, died today at the age of 69.

This Date in Rock Music History: January 18

1956:  Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley & the Comets became the first rock and roll album to enter the chart.  Nowadays some people think that rock and roll is something different than it really is.

Amy Grant, Gladys Knight & the Pips and the Association

The Association (pictured above) has been in The Top 100 Artists of the Rock Era* for most of the years since the 1960's, but they, Gladys Knight & the Pips and Amy Grant find themselves on the outside looking in in 2017.

With those three out, you know the bar is set pretty high.  The Top 100 Artists of the Rock Era* begins Monday, February 6, the day after the Super Bowl, on Inside The Rock Era!

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".