This Date in Rock Music History: March 18

1955:  For the seventh week, "Pledging My Love" by Johnny Ace set the pace on the R&B chart.  
1958:  Jerry Lee Lewis performed on American Bandstand on ABC-TV.
1959:  EMI Records announced that it had halted all production of 78 rpm records.
1960:  The Everly Brothers recorded "Cathy's Clown" at RCA Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. 
1960:  Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson joined John Wayne and Walter Brennan in the movie Rio Bravo, which opened in theaters. 

1962: Gary U.S. Bonds performed on The Ed Sullivan Show.
1965:  The Standells ("Dirty Water") were guests on an episode of The Munsters on NBC-TV.  (Note:  some websites claim the show aired on March 17.  According to the book 'Big Bang, Baby:  Rock Trivia' by Richard Crouse, the episode which starred the Standells aired March 18, 1965.)

This Date in Rock Music History: March 17

1956:  Carl Perkins made his television debut on Ozark Jamboree.

1956:  Elvis Presley appeared on Tommy & Jimmy Dorsey's Stage Show on CBS-TV.

1956:  Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers moved to #1 on the R&B chart with "Why Do Fools Fall In Love".

This Date in Rock Music History: March 16

1957:  Mickey and Sylvia moved to #1 on the R&B chart with "Love Is Strange".
1959:  The Platters moved to #1 in the U.K. with "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes".

This Date in Rock Music History: March 15

1956:  Elvis Presley hired Colonel Tom Parker as his manager.

1964:  Berry Gordy, Jr., the founder of Motown Records, and his wife celebrated the birth of son Kennedy William Gordy, who would later be known as Rockwell ("Somebody's Watching Me"), in Detroit, Michigan.
1964:  The Rolling Stones began a tour of the U.K. at the Invicta Ballroom in Chatham, Kent, England.

This Date in Rock Music History: March 14

1955: CBS talent scout Arthur Godfrey turned down Elvis Presley for a recording contract, opting to sign Pat Boone instead.  Big mistake, Arthur. 
1955: Elvis Presley was interviewed on The Jimmy Dean television show.

This Date in Rock Music History: March 13

1956:  Elvis Presley released his self-titled debut album on RCA Records, believed to be the first album to sell one million copies.
1961:  Rick Nelson recorded "Travelin' Man".
1961:  Chubby Checker took over at #1 on the R&B chart with "Pony Time".

This Date in Rock Music History: March 12

1957:  Buddy Holly & the Crickets recorded "Maybe Baby". at Norman Petty's studio in Clovis, New Mexico.

1965:  The Beatles finished the filming of the movie Help!  in the Bahamas.
1965:  James Darren was a guest voice (as "Jimmy Darrock") on the season finale of The Flintstones on ABC-TV.
1966:  Wilson Pickett latched onto #1 on the R&B chart with "634-5789 (Soulsville, U.S.A.)".