1940 - What did people used to hear before Rock n Roll?

1940 - Youtube Vids

Glenn Miller - In the mood vid
Artie Shaw - Everything is Jumpin' vid
Artie Shaw - Frenesi vid
Tommy Dorsey - I'll never smile again - vid anybody?
Cliff Edwards (Ukelele Ike) - When you Wish upon a Star vid wiki



1940 - Rock Facts

-July 20 - Billboard publishes its 1st singles record chart (#1 is "I'll Never Smile Again" by Tommy Dorsey) wiki
-October 9 - John Lennon is born wiki

1941 - "Roll on Columbia", from Woody Guthrie to Pearl Jam

1941 - Youtube vids

Billie Holiday (with Count Basie Orchestra) - god bless the child, now baby vid
Josh White - Legendary American Folk-Blues man vid
Glenn Miller Orchestra - chattanooga choo choo vid
Glenn Miller Orchestra - String of Pearls vid
Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra - Green Eyes vid




1941 - Rock Facts

-In 1941, Woody Guthrie writes and records "Roll on Columbia" in Portland wiki
...and Stone Gossard from Pearl Jam covers it in 2007 vid
-Les Paul designs and builds the first solid-body electric guitar wiki

1942

1942 - Music Hits

Bing Crosby - White Christmas vid
Glenn Miller - Kalamazoo vid






1942 - Rock facts

Births: Paul McCartney, Lou Reed, Brian Wilson, Frank Zappa, Jimi Hendrix, Jerry García

1943 - Sinatramania

1943 Music Hits

Frank Sinatra - Night and Day vid
The Mills Brothers ("Paper Doll") vid
That Old Black Magic - Glenn Miller & Skip Nelson vid
Harry James - I've Heard That Song Before vid
Tommy Dorsey & his Orchestra - Woogie Boogie vid



1943 Music Facts

January 1 - Sinatramania. Frank Sinatra appears at The Paramount causing a mob scene of hysterical bobby-soxers to flood Times Square and blocking midtown New York City traffic for hours

1944

1944 Music Hits

Judy Garland - The Trolley Song vid
Frank Sinatra - Saturday Night is the Loneliest Night vid
Nat King Cole - Straighten up and fly right vid
Bing Crosby - Swinging on a Star vid
Bing Crosby - Don't fence me in vid



1944 Music Facts

December 15 - Glenn Miller is reported missing. The official explanation is that his plane went down somewhere over the English Channel, although many alternate theories have been suggested

Rock Births: Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), Roger Daltrey (The Who)

1945 - From Leadbelly to Nirvana

1945 - Youtube Vids

Movies - "Yolanda and the Thief" - stars Fred Astaire and Lucille Bremer trailer
Music - Joshua White "One meat ball" vid
Music - Perry Como sings "Dig You Later (Hubba, Hubba, Hubba) vid




1945 Music Facts

-The only film ever made of the legendary Leadbelly was recorded vid
...It begins with Leadbelly singing the tune of "Where did you sleep last night?" wiki vid
...a folk song which was covered by Nirvana in 1993 vid
-Charlie Parker makes his first recordings as a leader, which also feature Miles Davis
-The Motion Picture Daily Fame Poll designates Bing Crosby "Top Male Vocalist" for the ninth straight year

1946 - Bill Haley career begins

1946 - Youtube vids

(Music) Frank Sinatra - day by day vid
(Music) Edith Piah - la vie en rose vid
(Movies) Gilda - with Rita Hayworth vid





1946 - Rock Facts

-Bill Haley's professional musical career begins as a member of The Down Homers. His earliest known recordings are made during a Down Homers radio performance; these recordings would not be released until 2006.

1947

1947 - Music Hits

movies - Lady in the Lake, a movie entirely in 1st person vid
music - Frank Sinatra - Always vid
music - Dizzy Gillespie Big Band 1947 groovy man vid





1947 - Music Facts

Frankie Laine earns his first, of 21, gold records vids

1948 - Columbia Records introduces the 33⅓ rpm LP

1948 Youtube vids

TV - Superman serial trailer vid
Perry Como - With A Song In My Heart vid
Nat king cole - Nature Boy vid
The King Cole Trio - "Killer Diller" excerpt vid
Marlene Dietrich sings Black Market ("A Foreign Affair") vid



1948 Music Events

-Columbia Records introduces the 33⅓ rpm LP (“long playing”) record at New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, featuring 25 minutes of music per side, compared to the four minutes per side of the 78 rpm record, the previous standard for gramophone records wiki: LP
-Al Jolson is voted the "Most Popular Male Vocalist" in 1948 by a Variety poll vids
-Patti Page becomes the first artist to use the technique of multi-track overdubbing (later popularized by Les Paul & Mary Ford) wiki: overdub

1949 - Bill Haley forms a band

1949 - Youtube Vids

Josh White in a movie vid
Fats Domino plays 1949 hit "Fat Man" vid
The Ames Brothers score their first hit with "You, You, You Are The One" vid
Frankie Lane - Mule Train vid
Vaughn Monroe - Ghost Riders In The Sky - vid



1949 - Music Events

-Jimmy Preston records the original version of "Rock the Joint" (Bill Haley's hit in 1952)
-45 rpm discs are introduced
-Country singer Bill Haley enters into a partnership with musicians Johnny Grande and Billy Williamson to form Bill Haley and His Saddlemen

1950 - Coming Soon....Rock n Roll!!

1950 Music Facts

-TV - Bettie Page vid
-Les Paul and Mary Ford wed
-Legendary singer Al Jolson dies on the 23rd of October





1950 - Music Hits

The Ink Spots - You are breaking my heart vid
Nat King Cole - Mona Lisa wiki
The Andrew Sisters - I Can Dream, Can't I? - vid
Anton Karas - The Third Man Theme vid
Gordon Jenkins & The Weavers - Goodnight, Irene vid
Phil Harris "The Thing" vid
Count Basie One o'clock Jump vid

1951 - Rock n Roll begins!

1951 - Rock History

-Ike Turner's Rocket 88 is released vid

"Rocket 88" is a rhythm and blues song that was first recorded at Sam Phillips' recording studio in Memphis, Tennessee (...) It is claimed by some to be the "first rock and roll song" (wikipedia source)





-Bill Halley releases his "Rocket 88" version vid
-Johnnie Ray has his first hit record with "Cry." Some music historians consider this to be the first rock and roll record vid
>"Rocket 88" song in wikipedia
>Ike Turner in wikipedia
>Johnnie Ray in wikipedia

1951 - Music Hits

John Lee Hooker - 1951 hit "I'm in the mood" vid
Mario Lanza - Be my love vid
Nat King Cole - Unforgettable vid
Patti Page - Detour vid
Charles Brown - 1951 hit "Black Night" vid

1952

1952 - Rock History

- Bill Haley with the Saddlemen - Rock the Joint vid

Haley's 1952 version of "Rock The Joint" - three years before "Rock Around The Clock" - was an important milestone in the development of rockabilly through the coming together of R&B and country styles.

In 1952, The Saddlemen were renamed Bill Haley with Haley's Comets (inspired by a popular mispronunciation of Haley's Comet)


-First reported Rock and roll riot breaks out at Alan Freed's Moondog Coronation Ball in Cleveland, Ohio. Teenage excitement is blamed for the frenzy (March 21) wiki:Alan Freed
-First UK singles chart published by NME (November 14) wiki:NME
>Bill Haley and the Comets in wikipedia

1953

1953 - Rock History

-Bill Haley and his comets record "Crazy Man Crazy" vid

"Crazy Man, Crazy" was the title of an early rock and roll song first recorded by Bill Halley & His Comets, in April 1953. It is notable as the first recognized rock and roll recording to appear on the American musical charts, where it peaked at #12. It is believed to be the first rock and roll recording to be played on national television in the US. (wikipedia source)




-Big Mama Thornton - Hound Dog original/ muddy/ buddy/ 1971

This 1953 recording of Hound Dog is a classic. Big Mama was paid $500.00 for the rights to this song which Elvis Presley later recorded and made millions.

-Elvis recorded "My Happiness" in 1953 (*) vid movie
-Elvis recorded "That's When Your Heartaches Begin" in 1953 (*) vid

(*) On July 18, 1953, Presley went to Sun Records' Memphis Recording Service to record "My Happiness" with "That's When Your Heartaches Begin". Elvis wants to see what his voice sounds like on a record and he has aspirations to become a professional singer. He takes the acetate home, and reportedly gives it to his mother as a much-belated extra birthday present (source)

-Ray Charles hit "Mess Around" from the movie "Ray" vid
-Johnny Guitar Watson SPACE GUITAR (Recorded over 13 years before Jimi Hendrix s 1967 debut album) vid

1953 - Music Vids

Dean Martin - That's amore vid
Eddie Fisher - I'm Walking Behind You vid
Tony Bennet - Rags to riches vid

1954

1954 - Rock History

-Sonny Dae & The Knights recorded "Rock Around the Clock" on March 20, 1954 vid

* The more famous version by Bill Haley & His Comets is not, strictly speaking, a cover version. Myers claimed the song had been written specifically for Haley, but for various reasons Haley was unable to record it himself at first (wikipedia)
* see also: rockabillyhall.com





- Bill Haley & His Comets recorded "Rock Around the Clock" in New York City, April 12, 1954 vid

It is the first recording to be universally acknowledged as a rock and roll record. It is considered by many to be the song that put rock and roll on the map in America and around the world wiki

-Elvis Presley records "That's All Right (Mama) vid

It was the first Elvis record played on the radio. Dewey Phillips played it 14 times on his Red, Hot and Blue show and he received 47 telephone calls from listeners when it was played.

-Elvis Presley records "I´m left, you´re right, she´s gone" vid




-Ray Charles hit "I got a woman" ("Ray" movie) vid

1955

1955 - Rock History

-Elvis + Buddy Holly + Johnny Cash + Carl Perkins vid
Elvis in backstage with some future rock legends . This should be the first Elvis video ever, I guess...
Date: February 13, 1955 - Location: Cotton Club, Lubbock, TX (source)




-Elvis first video? vid
Elvis is so new, he doesn´t know how to move around yet (Jerry Schilling)
This was over half a year before Elvis was managed by Colonel Parker or recording by RCA Records"
Date: April 24, 1955 - Location: Magnolia Gardens, Houston, TX (Source)



-The Platters 1955 Hit "Only you" vid

The song scored a major hit when it was released on July 3, 1955. The song held strong in the #1 position on the U.S. R & B charts for seven weeks. It remained there for 30 weeks. (wiki source)



-Little Richard - Tutti Frutti 1955 vid

"Tutti Frutti" was Little Richard's first hit record, released in September 1955. With its opening cry of "Womp-bomp-a-loom-op-a-womp-bam-boom!" (supposedly intended to be a verbal parody of a drum intro) and its hard-driving sound and wild lyrics, it became not only a model for many future Little Richard songs, but also one of the models for rock and roll. (wiki source)


-"Blackboard Jungle" movie sparks the Rock n Roll revolution vid
-People dancing Rock n Roll in 1955 vid
-Chuck Berry plays his 1955 hit "Maybellene" in a 1965 French tv show vid
-Fat's Domino 1955 Hits "Ain't that a shame" vid and "All by myself" vid
-Bo Diddley - 1955 Hit "Bo Diddley" vid
-Ray Charles "Hallelujah I love her So" vid
-Elvis Interviewed by Mae Axton, 1955 vid
-The penguins - Earth angel vid

1956

1956 - Rock History

-Carl Perkins 1956 Hit "Blue Suede Shoes", released January 1 vid







-Elvis Presley - First TV Performance vid
Shake, Rattle and Roll / Date: January 28, 1956

-Elvis in 1956, narrated by Bono vid




-Little Richard 1956 Hit "Long Tall Sally", released on March vid







-Elvis comeback to home- Tupelo concert

I was the one / Don't be cruel / Long Tall Sally / Hound Dog

Date: September 26, 1956 - Location: Mississippi-Alabama Fair And Dairy Show, Tupelo, MS (Source)



1956 - Music Hits

Eddie Cochran - Twenty Flight Rock vid
Fats Domino - Blueberry Hill vid
Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers - Why Do Fools Fall In Love vid
Guy Mitchell - Singing the Blues vid
The Platters - My Prayer vid
The Platters - The Magic Touch vid
Five Satins - In the Still of the Night vid

1957

-Buddy Holly - That ll Be the Day vid







-Jerry Lee Lewis - Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On vid
...and 2004 version with Keith Richards, Willie Nelson and Kid Rock vid






-Elvis "Jailhouse Rock" vid






-Eddie Cochran "Cotton Picker" vid






1957 - Music Hits

Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers - Goody Goody vid
Chuck Berry plays his 1957 hit "School Days" vid
Johnny Mathis - Chances Are vid
Sam Cooke-You Send Me vid
Patsy Cline - Walkin' After Midnight vid
Harry Belafante (singing his 1957 hit, "Banana Boat Song" on muppet show) vid

1958

-Chuck Berry 1958 Hit "Jhonny Be Good" vid
-Chuck Berry 1958 Hit "Sweet Little Sixteen" vid





-Danny & The Juniors - At The Hop vid






Ritchie Valens - Ooh, My Head vid






1958 - Hits

Ritchie Valens - Oh Donna vid
Tequila - The Champs vid
The Silhouettes - Get A Job vid
The Platters - Twilight Time vid
Do You Want to Dance - Bobby Freedman vid
Bobby Day - Rockin' robin vid
Little Anthony and the Imperials - Tears on my pillow vid
About Chuck Berry vid

1959

1959 - Rock History

-Ritchie Valens - Come On, Let's Go vid
-"La Bamba" movie - Ritchie Valens recording "Come On, Let's Go" vid
-"La Bamba" movie - "La Bamba" vid




-Eddie Cochran THP 1959

C'mon Evrybody vid / Summertime Blues vid / Be honest with me vid / Have I told you lately... vid / Don't Blame it on me vid / Interview vid/ School Days vid /



1959 - Hits

The Isley Brothers - Shout! vid
Eddie Cochran "Teenage Heaven" vid
Elvis Presley-A Big Hunk O' Love vid
Mack The Knife - Bobby Darin vid
Ray Charles - What I'd say vid
Dion & The Belmonts - A teenager in love vid
Brook Benton classic - its just a matter of time vid
I Only Have Eyes For You - The Flamingos vid
Santo & Johnny - Sleep Walk 1959 vid
The drifters - There goes my baby vid
The Fleetwoods - Come Softly to Me vid

1960

1960 - Rock History

Roy Orbison - Only the lonely vid







The Ventures - Walk Don't Run vid







Chubby Checker - Let's Twist Again vid






Barrett Strong - Money (That's What I Want) vid
Sam Cooke - Wonderful World vid
Elvis Presley - Fame and Fortune (with Frank Sinatra) vid
Elvis Presley - Love me tender (with Frank Sinatra) vid


1960 - Hits

"This Magic Moment" by Ben E. King & the Drifters vid
Elvis Presley - It's now or never - vid
Johnny Tillotson - Poetry in Motion vid
Bobby Rydell-Wild one vid
Bobby Darin - Beyond the Sea vid
Benda Lee - I´m sorry vid

1961

1961 - Rock History

Del Shannon - Runaway vid






Dion - Runaround Sue vid






The Marvelettes - Please Mr. Postman vid






The Top Notes - Twist and Shout vid
The Regents - Barbara Ann vid
Sandy Nelson - Let there be drums vid / Queen version vid
Roy Orbison - Crying vid / Running Scared vid
Ben E King - Stand By Me vid
Ray Charles and the Raelettes - Hit the road Jack vid
The Dovells - Bristol Stomp vid
Bobby Lewis - Tossin' and Turnin' vid
Ramrods - Ghost Riders in the Sky vid
Rick Nelson - Travelin' Man vid
Chubby Checker playing his 1961 hit "Pony Time" vid

1961 - Rock Facts

-> The Regents 1961 Hit "Barbara Ann" reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #2 when later covered by the Beach Boys in 1965 on their album, Beach Boys' Party! They also had a second charting hit with "Runaround", which hit #28 later in 1961.
->"Twist and Shout" is a song written by Phil Medley and Bert Russell. It was originally recorded by the Topnotes in 1961 and then covered by The Isley Brothers and was later covered by The Beatles, with John Lennon on the lead vocals, and originally released on their first album Please Please Me. See: "Twist and Shout" in wikipedia

1962

1962 - Rock History

The Beatles in the Cavern (August 22) vid






The Beach Boys - Surfin' Safari vid






Dick Dale & the Deltones- Miserlou vid






The Isley Brothers - Twist And Shout vid / interview







1962 Hits

Bob Dylan - A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall vid
Chris Montez sings 1962 hit "Let's dance" vid
The Contours-Do You Love Me vid
Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons - Big Girls Don't Cry vid
Elvis Presley - I can't help falling in love with you vid
Elvis Presley - Return To Sender vid
the duprees - you belong to me vid
Little Eva - The Locomotion vid
Chubby Checker - Limbo Rock vid
Dion & The Del Satins-The Wanderer vid

1963

Rock History - 1963

The Beatles - November 1963 vid






The Rolling Stones - 1963 vid






The Beach Boys - Surfin' USA vid






The Kingsmen - Louie Louie vid






Bob Dylan - Blowin' In the Wind vid






1963 - Music Hits

Jan & Dean - Surf City vid
The Beach Boys - Surfer Girl vid
Johnny Cash-Ring of Fire vid
Dovells - You Can't Sit Down - vid
Joan Baez sings 1963 song "We shall overcome" in Woodstock vid
The Four Seasons-Walk Like a Man vid
The Drifters - Up on The Roof vid
Miracles - Mickey's Monkey vid
The Chiffons - He's So Fine vid
Little Peggy March - I Will Follow Him vid
Martha Reeves and the Vandellas "Heatwave" vid
Marvin Gaye - Pride And Joy vid
Lesley Gore - It's My Party vid