This Date in Rock Music History: August 19

1957:  Pat Boone was featured on the cover of Newsweek magazine.

 
1959:  Another of the famous days in the Rock Era, as on this date Bobby Darin released the classic single "Mack The Knife".

This Date in Rock Music History: August 18

1956:  One of the great early songs of the Rock Era, "My Prayer" from the Platters, was #1 on the R&B chart.
1958:  The Kalin Twins had the top U.K. song with "When".

This Date in Rock Music History: August 17

1959:  Elvis Presley made history when he had the #1 song for the second straight week with "A Big Hunk O' Love".  Elvis had long ago easily set the record for most weeks at #1 and no one knew it at the time, but this second week at #1 with "A Big Hunk O' Love" is that one that gave him 60 total weeks at the top in his career, one more than the Beatles would register in their amazing career.  Presley would end up with 80.
1959:  Brook Benton remained at #1 on the R&B chart with "Thank You Pretty Baby".

Buy Aretha: From These Roots

This book's price has really been jumping, so if you want it, better get it as soon as possible.  I suggest buying the Collectible since none of the sellers of the new book are credible (all under 98%).

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0375500332

Aretha Has Died at Age 76

We are extremely sorry to report that the incomparable Aretha Franklin has died in her hometown of Detroit, Michigan at the age of 76.


She not only brought joy to millions with her amazing voice; she inspired women with her anthems "Respect" and "Think", two of The Most Important Songs of the Rock Era*.

Rest in peace, Aretha.  You did so much for the world.

This Date in Rock Music History: August 16

1957:  Ricky Nelson recorded "Be-Bop Baby" at Master Recorders in Hollywood, California.
1957:  The Everly Brothers recorded "Wake Up Little Susie" in Nashville, Tennessee.
1957:  Buddy Holly & the Crickets played at none other than the Apollo Theater in the neighborhood of Harlem in Manhattan, New York for one week beginning on this date.  The tour was set up by Norman Petty, working with promoter Irving Feld.  (Note:  contrary to the movie 'The Buddy Holly Story' and numerous websites, which indicate that the Apollo didn't know the group was white, and did not discover this until they showed up, management at the Apollo did indeed know.  The Schiffman family, which owned the theatre, were aware that the Crickets were white.  Frank Schiffman's sons, Bobby and Jack, had seen the Crickets in Washington, D.C. during the first leg of the tour, according to the book 'Buddy Holly:  A Biography' by Ellis Amburn.  Unlike the other theatres which booked the Crickets only to be shocked that they were white, the Apollo booked them because black record-buyers were sending "That'll Be The Day" to the top of the R&B charts.)
1960:  Elvis Presley began filming of the movie Flaming Star.
1962:  Twelve-year-old Stevie Wonder released his first 45, "I Call It Pretty Music (But The Old People Call It The Blues)".  Marvin Gaye was the drummer.

This Date in Rock Music History: August 15

1958:  Buddy Holly and Maria Elena Santiago were married at Buddy's parents' home in Lubbock, Texas.

This Date in Rock Music History: August 14

1957:  Nat King Cole canceled his television show on NBC after a year-long search for a sponsor was fruitless.

Praying for the Queen of Soul

From Twitter reports by her friends, Aretha Franklin is gravely ill in Detroit, surrounded by friends and family.

This Date in Rock Music History: August 13

1959:  Bobby Darin signed a $1 million contract with Paramount Pictures.
1964:  The Supremes recorded "Baby Love".
1964:  Manfred Mann topped the U.K. charts with "Do Wah Diddy Diddy".
1965:  The Beatles released the album Help! in the United States.

This Date in Rock Music History: August 12

1956:  Elvis Presley received the key to the city of New Orleans, Louisiana.
1956:  The Platters performed on The Ed Sullivan Show.

This Date in Rock Music History: August 11

1957:  Jerry Lee Lewis performed on The Steve Allen Show on NBC-TV.  (Note:  some websites claim Lewis was on 'The Big Beat Show' on ABC-TV.  He performed on that show on August 2--on August 11, he was on 'The Steve Allen Show', according to 'Spin' magazine and 'TV.com'.  'The Big Beat Show" only lasted four episodes, with the last one being on August 2, the date that Lewis performed.)
1958:  "Patricia" by Perez Prado was #1 on the R&B chart.
1958:  In Billboard's second chart, Ricky Nelson remained at #1 ("Poor Little Fool") but Domenico Modugno rose from 54 to 2 with "Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare)".
1962:  Kid Galahad starring Elvis Presley premiered in theaters.  (Note:  there are websites which report the film's release as July 25 (one quotes a 'Variety' magazine article about the movie premiere from July 25, 1962 which we cannot find.  The official Graceland website reports that the film opened nationally in theaters on August 28 (some websites say August 29).  Unfortunately, there are no sources which definitively decide the correct date for the premiere, but our best research indicates that the film premiered on August 11.)

This Date in Rock Music History: August 10

1954:  Elvis Presley sang his new song "That's Alright Mama" at Overton Park in Memphis, Tennessee.