1954 - Elvis Presley signed his first recording contract today, and subsequently quit his job as a truck driver. The contract was with Sun Records, and the following is a video of one side of that record, That's Alright Mama. Sun Records' original owner, legendary Sam Phillips, wanted to use the 19-year-old Presley to make demos of songs meant for other artists, but soon realised that here was the man who could bridge the gap between white and black audiences. Thanks to youtuber bs012c1317, who is responsible for this Presley video, here is a compilation of early Prez vids, with the rock'n'roller using his guitar as a prop, dancing like a mother, and using that pelvis like nobody can.
1959 - Alan Freed was the DJ who coined the term rock'n'roll, taking it from the African-Americans, who used the term for fucking, and on this day began a 13-week Rock & Roll show on ABC-TV in the USA. Freed was pro-active in mainstreaming rock'n'roll music, and featured in a few of the very first rock'n'roll movies. Here is Alan Freed introducing a few acts in these short black and white movie trailers, starring acts such as Jackie Wilson, Chuck Berry, The Cadillacs, Eddie Cochran, Jimmy Clanton, and a brilliant jive sequence.
1962 - This is the day that Ray Charles was at # 1 on the UK singles chart with the Don Gibson-penned country ballad. I Can't Stop Loving You. The popular song was written and composed by country singer, songwriter and musician Don Gibson, who first recorded it on December 30, 1957, for RCA Victor Records. It was released in 1958 as the B-side of his classic standard, Oh, Lonesome Me, and became a double-sided country hit single. The song was next recorded by Ray Charles in 1962 and taken from Charles' groundbreaking Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music album. The Ray Charles cover version also reached # 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962, as well as the U.S. R&B and Adult Contemporary charts and is now ranked #161 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and #49 on CMT's 100 Greatest Songs in Country Music. The song also hit top of the charts in Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Scotland and across other European countries.
1962 - The Rolling Stones made their performance debut at the Marquee Club in London 49 years ago today. Here's a short three-minute mini-doco trailer on the impact of the Stones in their early years. Worth a look.
1969 - Blind Faith began their one and only tour 42 years ago today, with a sold-out show at New York's Madison Square Garden. For more information on Blind Faith go to our archive search engine. Exactly a decade later to the day, the American singer songwriter, sensational Minnie Riperton, sadly died of cancer aged 31. The Stevie Wonder produced song, Loving You gave Minnie a worldwide hit single in 1975. She originally worked at Chess records singing backup for various artists such as Etta James, Fontella Bass, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, and Muddy Waters, and also sang lead for the experimental rock/soul group Rotary Connection, from 1967 to 1971. Ms Riperton famously had a vocal range of five-and-a-half octaves. She was married to songwriter and music producer Richard Rudolph from 1972 until her death in the summer of 1979. They had two children - music engineer Marc Rudolph and actress/comedienne Maya Rudolph. And this, dear reader, is one of the finest vocal performances of all time.
1980 - Olivia Newton-John and the Electric Light Orchestra hit #1 on the charts 31 years ago today, with Xanadu, taken from the film of the same name. It gave Olivia Newton-John her third worldwide hit. This video of the song is a ripper; uplifting, sexy, cute, and camp, and for a brief moment she dances with Andy Gibb. Australian Ms. Newton-John is a four-time Grammy award winner who has amassed five #1 and ten other Top Ten Billboard Hot 100 singles, and two #1 Billboard solo albums. Eleven of her singles (including two platinum) and 14 of her albums (including two platinum and four double platinum) have been certified gold by the Record Industry Association of America. Her music has been successful in multiple formats including pop, country and adult contemporary and has sold an estimated 100 million albums worldwide. She co-starred with John Travolta in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical, Grease, which became one of the most successful films and movie soundtracks in Hollywood history. Her roots lay in Australia where she once sang with her mate, Pat Carrol, who later married another Australian musician John Farrar, once a member of the Australian group, The Strangers. Farrar himself has been extremely successful as a producer, song writer, & musician in British group, The Shadows. He produced many of Ms. Newton-John's songs, including the songs he wrote for his wife's old mate, viz. Hopelessly Devoted To You, and You're The One That I Want. Ms. Newton-John has been a long-time activist for environmental and animal rights issues. Since surviving breast cancer in 1992,[3] she has been an advocate for health awareness becoming involved with various charities, health products and fundraising efforts. Following Xanadu, we have her very first international hit, if Not For You, written by Bob Dylan, and also recorded by George Harrison on his album, All Things Must Pass. Ms. Newton-John remains one of the most successful pop artists of all time.
1986 - This was the day gender bender Boy George and singer wannabe Marilyn were arrested in London, England, for possession of drugs, and on the same day, Simply Red scored their first international hit single, Holding Back The Years. Just a couple of years later, on the same day, Michael Jackson arrived in the UK for his first ever-solo appearances, breaking away from his bro-band, The Jacksons. He performed a total of eight nights to 794,000 people. It's hard to believe I know, but on the same day five years later - almost 20 years ago - Radiohead began their debut American tour, appearing at The Whiskey in Hollywood. On the same tour, a few nights later they gave this performance of The Bends at Chicago's club, Metro.
1992 - This is the day a memorial to Buddy Holly was unveiled in Dallas, Texas, and this footage shows the statue, and a mini-vid-doco on Buddy Holly.
1996 - Jonathan Melvoin from the Smashing Pumpkins was found dead in a New York City hotel of a heroin overdose, today, and a year later to the very day, Anthony Keidis from Red Hot Chili Peppers suffered a broken wrist in a motorcycle accident in Los Angeles, California. Three years later on July 12, Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst was arrested in St. Paul, Minnesota, for allegedly kicking a local security guard in the head during the band's performance, and finally, on the same day in 2003, REM, The White Stripes, Idlewind, The Cardigans, The Proclaimers, The Music, The Charlatans, Coldplay, Supergrass, The Darkness, Turin Brakes, The Coral and Feeder all appeared at that year's two day T-In-The-Park festival in Scotland. Here is The Darkness appearing live on that show, and then The White Stripes with a promotional video of their song of that time, Seven Nation Army.
