December 23, 1959 - CHUCK Berry was arrested 52 years ago after taking 14yo minor Janice Norine (who unbeknown to Berry was working as a prostitute), across a state line. He was sentenced to five years in jail - but after racist comments by the judge, Berry was freed. Was it that simple, or did he get railroaded because of his colour? Jerry Lee Lewis never went to jail for doing the same thing, nor did Elvis Presley. Real or not, musically speaking, without Chuck Berry there would have been no Rolling Stones and no AC/DC. He remains in the fountainhead of the rock guitar explosion and among the first pioneers of the hallowed halls of rock and roll music; he has been hailed by many rock and roll fanatics, critics, guitarists and guitar-lovers of a few generations, now, as the 'father of rock and roll'. He comes closest to being the one individual that can rightfully be credited with inventing rock and roll as we’ve come to know it today. He is one of the greatest rhythm guitarists and song-writers rock music has ever had, and has had a seminal influence on the world of r'n'r music. The Keith Richards' rock riff and the AC/DC rock riff came straight from Chuck Berry. His masterfully crafted teen compositions were an astonishing blend of traditional black rhythm and blues with white country, jazz and western licks, the composite mix transcending race, class and age barriers to capture the imagination of an emerging new youth generation. The thumping, foot-tapping guitar licks and the magic of the witty, rapid-fire lyrics - nodding, with sly references to cars, girls and growing-up pains - became the anthems of a generation. Enjoy Chuck Berry and see him put Keef firmly in #2 place. This so rocks!
1959 - THE DRIFTERS recorded their huge hit, This Magic Moment 52 years ago today. Their lead singer was the great Ben E. King, and lacking a video of their performance that day, following is a video of Ben E. King singing the same song five decades later, at a tribute to famous Doc Pomus. Beautiful version. The 69-year-old King is introduced by Lou Reed.
1964 - THERE were some brilliant TV music shows in the sixties, with many acts making their first ever television performance on these popular music shows; a new medium for a new music. For instance, the Beach Boys made their first appearance on American Shingdig! on this very day 47 years ago with this Xmas-flavoured song, mixed in as it is, with early versions of another couple of early Beach Boys songs.
1966 - ANOTHER iconic TV rock music show was Britain's Ready Steady Go. Every major act from the Beatles' music era appeared on the programme. However, all good things must come to a close, and 45 years ago today was the final edition of the BBC show, and special guests were the Who.
1967 - JIMI Hendrix was at his prime in the 'summer of love', same year as the Monterey Pop Festival. the emergence of Hendrix brought with it the very first of a brand new sound and guitar playing technique. Hendrix was an originator of sound, an originator of guitar playing, and originator of a vocal style. The very experienced Jim Hendrix and his band Experience released Foxy Lady, 44 years ago today. If you want to see Foxy Lady and more info on Jimi go to our archive search engine. Today we have two videos from the Jimi Hendrix Experience at Monterey Pop Festival, one of the first of the festivals. This is pure rock music history, the first clip preceded by Pete Townshend introducing; second video is introduced by Brian Jones. Totally awesome with a capital A.
1972 - STARRING the man and his wife, John Lennon's film, Imagine, premiered on national TV in the USA today, the day before Xmas Eve. And here it is, dear reader, a magnificent movie clip, featuring one of rock's most significant.
1974 - GEORGE Harrison originally wrote the song released today for Ronnie Spector but then did it himself, and said it was a strain to sing because he'd written the song for a woman's vocal range! The lyrics come from phrases literally inscribed in and around George's Friar Park mansion. 'Ring out the old'... is a line of Lord Tennyson's that the original owner of Friar Park, Sir Francis Crisp, had carved on George's fireplace. This is Ding Dong, Ding Dong.
1977 - BRITISH folk singer Cat Stevens converted to Islam and changed his name to Yusef Islam today, quite an appropriate day for music, as it turns out. A year later to the day and Rod Stewart's Do Ya Think I'm Sexy was released, and, well, that's a matter of opinion, of course. Shoot forward to the same day in 2008, the day songwriter Clint Ballard Jr. died. He wrote many hit records, including the following two; Game Of Love for Wayne Fontana And The Mindbenders, and Linda Ronstadt's, You're No Good. His songs have also been recorded by The Hollies, Frankie Avalon, Ricky Nelson, The Zombies and Jan And Dean.
1959 - THE DRIFTERS recorded their huge hit, This Magic Moment 52 years ago today. Their lead singer was the great Ben E. King, and lacking a video of their performance that day, following is a video of Ben E. King singing the same song five decades later, at a tribute to famous Doc Pomus. Beautiful version. The 69-year-old King is introduced by Lou Reed.
1964 - THERE were some brilliant TV music shows in the sixties, with many acts making their first ever television performance on these popular music shows; a new medium for a new music. For instance, the Beach Boys made their first appearance on American Shingdig! on this very day 47 years ago with this Xmas-flavoured song, mixed in as it is, with early versions of another couple of early Beach Boys songs.
1966 - ANOTHER iconic TV rock music show was Britain's Ready Steady Go. Every major act from the Beatles' music era appeared on the programme. However, all good things must come to a close, and 45 years ago today was the final edition of the BBC show, and special guests were the Who.
1967 - JIMI Hendrix was at his prime in the 'summer of love', same year as the Monterey Pop Festival. the emergence of Hendrix brought with it the very first of a brand new sound and guitar playing technique. Hendrix was an originator of sound, an originator of guitar playing, and originator of a vocal style. The very experienced Jim Hendrix and his band Experience released Foxy Lady, 44 years ago today. If you want to see Foxy Lady and more info on Jimi go to our archive search engine. Today we have two videos from the Jimi Hendrix Experience at Monterey Pop Festival, one of the first of the festivals. This is pure rock music history, the first clip preceded by Pete Townshend introducing; second video is introduced by Brian Jones. Totally awesome with a capital A.
1972 - STARRING the man and his wife, John Lennon's film, Imagine, premiered on national TV in the USA today, the day before Xmas Eve. And here it is, dear reader, a magnificent movie clip, featuring one of rock's most significant.
1974 - GEORGE Harrison originally wrote the song released today for Ronnie Spector but then did it himself, and said it was a strain to sing because he'd written the song for a woman's vocal range! The lyrics come from phrases literally inscribed in and around George's Friar Park mansion. 'Ring out the old'... is a line of Lord Tennyson's that the original owner of Friar Park, Sir Francis Crisp, had carved on George's fireplace. This is Ding Dong, Ding Dong.
1977 - BRITISH folk singer Cat Stevens converted to Islam and changed his name to Yusef Islam today, quite an appropriate day for music, as it turns out. A year later to the day and Rod Stewart's Do Ya Think I'm Sexy was released, and, well, that's a matter of opinion, of course. Shoot forward to the same day in 2008, the day songwriter Clint Ballard Jr. died. He wrote many hit records, including the following two; Game Of Love for Wayne Fontana And The Mindbenders, and Linda Ronstadt's, You're No Good. His songs have also been recorded by The Hollies, Frankie Avalon, Ricky Nelson, The Zombies and Jan And Dean.
