This Date in Rock Music History: February 12

1956:  Dean Martin had the #1 song in the U.K. with "Memories Are Made Of This".

This Date in Rock Music History: February 11

1956:  Elvis Presley performed "Heartbreak Hotel" and "Blue Suede Shoes" on the television program The Dorsey Brothers Stage Show.

1956:  The Platters notched a sixth week at #1 on the R&B chart with "The Great Pretender".

Featured Unknown/Underrated Song: "New York Mining Disaster 1941" by the Bee Gees

Sometimes, an artist's debut single makes it big, but far more often than not, it doesn't.  What distinguishes this song is that music directors at the time were so unable to tell that this group would go on to become one of the top acts of all-time!

In hindsight, it's difficult to fathom how this great song could stall at #14, but that it did:

"New York Mining Disaster 1941"

Bee Gees

In the event of something happening to me
there is something I would like you all to see
It's just a photograph of someone that I knew

Have you seen my wife, Mr. Jones?
Do you know what it's like on the outside?
Don't go talking too loud, you'll cause a landslide, Mr. Jones

I keep straining my ears to hear a sound
Maybe someone is digging underground
or have they given up and all gone home to bed
thinking those who once existed must be dead

Have you seen my wife, Mr. Jones?
Do you know what it's like on the outside?
Don't go talking too loud, you'll cause a landslide, Mr. Jones

In the event of something happening to me
there is something I would like you all to see
It's just a photograph of someone that I knew

Have you seen my wife, Mr. Jones?
Do you know what it's like on the outside?
Don't go talking too loud, you'll cause a landslide, Mr. Jones

This Date in Rock Music History: February 10

1958:  Frank Sinatra moved to #1 on the Album chart with Come Fly With Me.

Sonny Geraci Has Died

Sonny Geraci, lead singer of the Outsiders and later Climax, died Sunday.

Geraci led the Outsiders to four hits, including the smash "Time Won't Let Me", which reached #5 in 1966.

Later, Geraci led the group Climax when they scored the #3 smash "Precious And Few".

Geraci suffered a brain aneurysm in April of 2012 and never fully recovered.  He was 69.

This Date in Rock Music History: February 9

1957:  A new star first appeared on the radio.  On this date, Johnny Mathis had his first hit "Wonderful!  Wonderful!" debut on the chart.

1957:  "Blue Monday" by Fats Domino was the top R&B song for a third week.
1959:  Frankie Avalon had to bow out of the ill-fated Winter Dance Party (that had already claimed the lives of Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper) due to pneumonia, replaced by Paul Anka and Fabian.

1959:  "Stagger Lee" by Lloyd Price moved to #1 on the R&B chart.

This Date in Rock Music History: February 8

1956:  Buddy Holly signed a recording contract with Decca Records.

1960:  The Special House Subcommittee on Legislative Oversight opened hearings on disc jockey payola.

This Date in Rock Music History: February 7

1959:  The funeral for Buddy Holly was held at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Lubbock, Texas.  Over 1,000 mourners attended.

This Date in Rock Music History: February 6

1960:  Jesse Belvin ("Guess Who" from 1959), who also co-wrote "Earth Angel" for the Penguins, died at age 27 in a car accident in Hope, Arkansas that also claimed the life of his wife and the driver of the car.

1961:  "Shop Around" by the Miracles was #1 on the R&B chart for a fourth week.

1964:  Tickets to see the Beatles' first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show sold out.