This Date in Rock Music History: June 19

1960:  The Kingston Trio debuted their radio show on CBS Radio.
1961:  Producer Bert Kaempfert signed a contract with the Beatles.  (Note:  several websites claim that Kaempfert signed a contract with the Beat Boys, who they later said became the Beatles, on July 20, 1961.  The Beatles were never known as the Beat Boys; in fact, by July of 1960, the group changed their name permanently to the Beatles.  John Lennon first formed a group called the Black Jacks, which became the Quarrymen, Johnny and the Moondogs, the Beatals, the Silver Beetles, the Silver Beats, and the Silver Beatles, before the group settled on the name the Beatles.

The contract was not signed on July 20.  As you can see from the above document, which became the first Beatles contract to be auctioned in 2011, the contract was signed June 19.)

Attrell Cordes of P.M. Dawn Has Died

Singer Attrell Cordes, who went by the stage name of Prince Be in the group P.M. Dawn died yesterday in New Jersey after suffering from diabetes and renal kidney disease.  

Attrell and Jarrett Cordes formed the group in the late 1980's and enjoyed the big hits "Set Adrift On memory Bliss" and "I'd Die Without You". 

Attrell was 46.

This Date in Rock Music History: June 18

1948:  Columbia Records displayed its new 33 1/3 long-playing record in New York City.  The new format allowed 23 minutes per side as opposed to 3 minutes for a 78 RPM record.