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'Shivers down the backbone....'
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Rockin' Rollin' Diaries March '55 - '62 The charts in UK and USA, the releases and other important events Birthdays this month:Cliffie Stone - 1 March, 1917 (Stockton, CA)
Died 17 January, 1998, Santa Clarita, CA
Harry Belafonte - 1 March, 1927 (Harlem, NYC)
Willie Mitchell - 1 March, 1928 (Ashland, MS)
Leroy Washington - 1 March, 1932 (Palmetto, LA)
Died 29 June, 1966, Oakdale, LA
Joyce Green - 2 March, 1940 (Bradford, AK)
Tony Meehan - 2 March, 1942 (London, England)
Jimmy Heap - 3 March, 1922 (Taylor, TX)
Died 4 December, 1977, Texas
Little Junior Parker - 3 March, 1927 (West Memphis, AK)
Died 18 November, 1971, Blue Island, IL
Shakin' Stevens - 4 March, 1948 (Ely, South Glamorgan, Wales)
Jimmy Bryant - 5 March, 1925 (Pavo, GA)
Died 22 September, 1980, Moultrie, GA
J.B. Lenoir - 5 March, 1929 (Monticello, MS)
Died 29 April, 1967, Urbana, IL
Dwight (Whitey) Pullen - 5 March, 1935 (Blountsville, AL)
Died 24 November, 1961, California
Tommy Tucker - 5 March, 1933 (Springfield, OH)
Died 22 January, 1982, Newark, NJ
Paul Evans - 5 March, 1938 (Queens, NYC)
Hayden Thompson - 5 March, 1938 (Booneville, MS)
Bob Wills - 6 March, 1905 (near Kosse, TX)
Died 13 May, 1975, Fort Worth, TX
Jean Chapel - 6 March, 1925 (Neon, KY)
Died 12 August, 1995, Florida
Eddie Fontaine - 6 March, 1927 (New York City, NY)
Died 14 April, 1992, Los Angeles, CA
Sylvia Vanderpool - 6 March, 1936 (New York City, NY)
Red Callender - 8 March, 1916 (Haynesville, VA)
Died 8 March, 1992, Saugus, CA
Johnny Dollar - 8 March, 1933 (Kilgore, TX)
Died 13 April, 1986, Nashville, TN (?)
Billy Ford (Billy and Lillie) - 9 March, 1925 (Bloomfield, NJ)
Deceased, date unknown
Keely Smith - 9 March, 1932 (Norfolk, VA)
Lloyd Price - 9 March, 1933 (Kenner, LA)
Mickey Gilley - 9 March, 1937 (Natchez, LA)
Huey P. Meaux - 10 March, 1929 (Kaplan, LA)
Johnnie Allan - 10 March, 1938 (Rayne, LA)
Dean Torrence (Jan and Dean) - 10 March, 1940 (Los Angeles, CA)
Leonard Chess - 12 March, 1917, Motol, Poland
Died 16 October, 1969, Chicago, IL
Bill Nettles - 13 March, 1907 (Natchitoches, LA)
Died 5 April, 1967, Tyler, TX (?)
Lightnin' Slim (Otis Hicks) - 13 March, 1913 (St. Louis, MO)
Died 27 July, 1974, Detroit, MI
Mike Stoller - 13 March, 1933 (Long Island, NY)
Neil Sedaka - 13 March, 1939 (Brooklyn, NYC)
Phil Phillips - 14 March, 1931 (Lake Charles, LA)
Lightnin' Hopkins - 15 March, 1912 (Centerville, TX)
Died 30 January, 1982, Houston, TX
Carl Smith - 15 March, 1927 (Maynardsville, TN)
Les Cooper - 15 March, 1931 (Norfolk, VA)
Tommy McLain - 15 March, 1940 (Jonesville, LA)
Don Raye - 16 March, 1909 (Washington, D.C.)
Died 29 January, 1985, Encino, CA
Nat "King" Cole - 17 March, 1917 (Montgomery, AL)
Died 15 February, 1965, Santa Monica, CA
Vito Picone (Elegants) - 17 March, 1940 (Staten Island, NYC)
Maylon Humphries - 18 March, 1935 (Kelly, LA)
Charley Pride - 18 March, 1938 (Sledge, MS)
Wilson Pickett - 18 March, 1941 (Prattville, AL)
Louis Brooks - 19 March, 1911 (Nashville, TN)
Clarence "Frogman" Henry - 19 March, 1937 (Algiers, LA)
Robin Luke - 19 March, 1942 (Los Angeles, CA)
Rosetta Tharpe - 20 March, 1921, Cotton Plant, AK
Died 9 October, 1973, Philadelphia, PA
Jerry Reed - 20 March, 1937 (Atlanta, GA)
Slim Jim Phantom (Stray Cats) - 20 March, 1961 (Brooklyn, NYC)
Otis Spann - 21 March, 1930 (Jackson, MS)
Died 24 April, 1970, Chicago, IL
Cecil Campbell - 22 March, 1911 (Danbury, NC)
Died 18 June, 1989, Charlotte, NC
Sticks McGhee - 23 March, 1917 (Kingsport, TN)
Died 15 August, 1961, New York City, NY
Nervous Norvus (Jimmy Drake) - 24 March, 1912 (Memphis, TN)
Died 24 July, 1968, Alameda County, CA
Johnny Meeks - 24 March, 1937 (Lauren, SC)
Don Covay - 24 March, 1938 (Orangeburg, SC)
Pete Johnson - 25 March, 1904 (Kansas City, KS)
Died 23 March, 1967, Buffalo, NY
Bonnie Guitar - 25 March, 1923 (Seattle, WA)
Aretha Franklin - 25 March, 1942 (Memphis, TN)
Rufus Thomas - 26 March, 1917 (Cayce, MS)
Fred Parris (Five Satins) - 26 March, 1936 (New Haven, CT)
Leroy Carr - 27 March, 1905 (Nashville, TN)
Died 29 April, 1935, Indianapolis, IN
John Marascalco - 27 March, 1931 (Grenada, MS)
Janis Martin - 27 March, 1940 (Southerlin, VA)
Jess Willard - 28 March, 1916 (Washburn, TX)
Died 26 May, 1959, Auburn, CA
Arlie Duff - 28 March, 1924 (Warren, TX)
Johnny Burnette - 28 March, 1934 (Memphis, TN)
Died 14 August, 1964, Clear Lake, CA
Charlie McCoy - 28 March, 1941, Oak Hill, WV
Moon Mullican - 29 March, 1909 (near Corrigan, TX)
Died 1 January, 1967, Beaumont, TX
Camille Howard - 29 March, 1914 (Galveston, TX)
Eden Kane - 29 March, 1942 (Delhi, India)
Frankie Laine - 30 March, 1913 (Chicago, IL)
Sonny Boy Williamson # 1 - 30 March, 1914 (Jackson, TN)
Died 1 June, 1948, Chicago, IL
Big Maceo (Merriweather) - 31 March, 1905 (Atlanta, GA)
Died 26 February, 1953, Chicago, IL
Lowell Fulson - 31 March, 1921 (Tulsa, OK)
Died 7 March, 1999, Long Beach, CA
Lefty Frizzell - 31 March, 1928 (Corsicana, TX)
Died 19 July, 1975, Nashville, TN
John D. Loudermilk - 31 March, 1934 (Durham, NC)
Herb Alpert - 31 March, 1937 (Los Angeles CA.)
March 1955 UK Top Ten (first week of the month): 1. Give Me Your Word - Tennessee Ernie Ford 2. Softly Softly - Ruby Murray 3. Let Me Go Lover - Teresa Brewer 4. Naughty Lady Of Shady Lane - Dean Martin 5. Shake Rattle And Roll - Bill Haley 6. Mambo Italiano - Rosemary Clooney 7. Mobile - Ray Burns 8. Heartbeat - Ruby Muray 9. Finger Of Suspicion - Dickie Valentine 10. A Blossom Fell - Nat King Cole US Top Ten (first week of the month): 1. Sincerely - McGuire Sisters 2. Hearts Of Stone - Fontane Sisters 3. Melody Of Love - Billy Vaughn 4. Ko Ko Mo - Perry Como 5. Tweedle Dee - Georgia Gibbs 6. Crazy Otto Medley - Johnny Maddox 7. That’s All I Want From You - Jaye P. Morgan 8. Earth Angel - Crew Cuts 9. Earth Angel - Penguins 10. Ko Ko Mo - Crew Cuts US R&B chart toppers this month: Pledging My Love - Johnny Ace US Country chart toppers this month: In The Jailhouse Now - Webb Pierce Some UK single releases: Love Me Tonight - Oscar McLollie Tweedlee Dee/Tomorrow Night - LaVern Baker & The Gliders Tweedlee Dee -Suzi Miller Tweedle Dee - Bonnie Lou & Her Gang Tweedle Dee- Frankie Vaughan Hearts Of Stone/Ko Ko Mo - Charms Ko Ko Mo - Dooley Sisters Ko Ko Mo - Hutton Sisters Truck Stop Grill - Arthur (Guitar Boogie) Smith & His Crackerjacks Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White - Eddie Calvert Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White - Xavier Cugat Orchestra Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White - Edmundo Ros Orchestra Rock Love - Bill Farrell Rock Love - Fontane Sisters Rock Love - Elaine Gay Secret Love - Spike Jones & His City Slickers Earth Angel/Ko Ko Mo - Crew Cuts Earth Angel - Les Baxter & The Bombers A King Or A Slave - Bobby Milano Rock And Roll Party - Big Dave & His Orchestra Hearts Of Stone - Tony Brent & The Coronets Shake, Rattle & Roll - Jack Parnell Orchestra Ready, Willing And Able - Eve Boswell Liebestraum No 3 (Liszt) - Earl Bostic Orchestra When I Grow Too Old To Dream - Slim Whitman Honey Bunch - Four Knights Mother Of Pearl - The Hal Hoppers That’s All I Want From You - Dinah Washington Ding Dong - Fay Brown The Sand And The Sea - Nat King Cole You My Love - Frank Sinatra Melody Of Love - Frank Sinatra Under The Bridges Of Paris - Dean Martin Money - Tex Williams Unchained Melody - Les Baxter Orchestra Lily Of Laguna - Errol Flynn Important events: In the USA, the record industry announce that for the first time since its 1949 inception, the 45rpm record has surpassed the 78rpm record in gross sales. Latin American rhythms continue to influence the pop music mainstream. In the wake of Rosemary Clooney's chart topping 'Mambo ltaliano' have come 'Papa Loves Mambo', 'I Can't Tell A Waltz From A Tango', 'Who Stole The Beans From His Maraccas?', 'Elephant Tango' and a host of others. Even Bill Haley is joining the bandwagon with his new release, 'Mambo Rock'. It is therefore gratifying to welcome to the best sellers the man who started it all, band-leader Perez Prado. A Cuban who has been living in Mexico for the last seven years, Prado began experimenting with the mambo as long ago as 1942 yet he remained largely undiscovered until Hollywood stepped in. Boosted by its use as the theme music of the Jane Russell romp Underwater, his recording of 'Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White' seems set to propel him to international prominence. British orchestra leader Johnny Dankworth has turned down an offer of £10,000 to tour South Africa because of the colour-bar policy operated there. 'I don't want to appear as a hero in any respect, but I feel it is time to make a stand on this colour prejudice,' said Dankworth, who also backed a plea by Father Trevor Huddleston for a cultural boycott of South Africa by entertainers who believe racialism is wrong. Marlon Brando is taking singing lessons for his forthcoming role in "Guys And Dolls". Says his coach: 'With more tuition he could sing at the Metropolitan Opera House!' Bill Haley & His Comets are soon off to Hollywood to begin work on a feature film. Singer Dick James is starting his own music publishing firm. His friends say that Tennessee Ernie Ford just can't stop chuckling! Originally recorded as the throwaway B-side of 'River Of No Return', 'Give Me Your Word' lay dormant for months until an AFN disc-jockey programmed the side as a novelty. English language station Radio Luxembourg got in on the act and a bemused Ford watched his record climb to the top of the British best sellers. A former radio announcer and air force navigator, Ford found fame as a country and western singer after the war - and starred at the London Palladium in April 1953. He now plans to return to Britain to reap the rewards of his unexpected hit! The jazz world has been stunned by the sudden death of alto saxophonist Charlie Parker - the greatest solo genius in American jazz, according to his fellow musicians. He passed away in the New York apartment of his friend the Baroness Nica Rothschild de Koenigswarter on March 12, stricken with what seemed to be a heart attack, although the cause of death has since been diagnosed as pneumonia. "New Musical Express" headlines this month: Winifred Atwell. Australian Adventures. Pianist and TV star tells about her Australian tour. U.S. Star Invasion: More Big Names. Phil Harris, Mario Lanza, Gordon McRae, Martin & Lewis, Doris Day, & Judy Garland also to play the Palladium. Bill Cotton Jr. Leads Band as Father has Further Breakdown. Cotton Jr. is not giving up publishing, Cotton Sr. is on holiday in south of France. 'Meet Mr. Ray' is an Invitation Well Worth Accepting!. Reviews Ray Ellington's performance at Hackney Empire. Don Cornell. Hello, Britain! American singer Cornell talks about trip to Britain, hits, includes biography. Arriving: Eddie Fisher has a Hit Record to Welcome Him Here. "Wedding Bells" places on best-selling records chart in NME. Due: The Four Aces Will Fly Direct to Glasgow. Biography of American band, trip to Britain. Sensational Music Projects for Commercial TV. Eve Boswell, Geraldo, Lou Preager, and Sidney Torch rumoured in connection with music programmes on TV. Frankie Laine British Tour Bombshell: Film Contracts Prevent Him Coming This Year BBC Launching Big TV Record Programme. Series of 8 programmes to be aired about popular music industry, called "Off the Record". Ronnie Hilton Faces His First Variety Audience. Reviews show at Dudley Hippodrome. Other events: March 21: Sir Winston Churchill has decided to resign from the Premiership in the near future. An announcement is likely before parliament adjourns on April 7 and Sir Winston leaves for his holiday in Sicily. Sir Anthony eden will take over and will decide whether to hold a General Election as soon as possible, or to wait until the autumn. March 4: the City of London is to be a smokeless zone from October 2. The Court of Common Council decided this at Guildhall yesterday. March 22: A national road safety campaign starts today with the issue of two million copies of a 32-page booklet entitled "The Highway Code", on sale at bookshops and bookstalls at 1d March 11: Storms and tornadoes swept eastwards across Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania today. At least four people are missing, believed killed, as winds of up to 98 mph were recorded. Though meteorologists insist that there is no connection with the atomic explosions in Nevada, it is noted that the dust-storms, gales and tornadoes occurred soon after Monday’s big explosion. Sir Alexander Fleming, discoverer of penicillin, has died at the age of 73. Maurice Utrillo, the French painter, has died at the age of 71.
March 1956 UK Top Ten (first week of the month): 1. Memories Are Made Of This - Dean Martin 2. Zambesi - Lou Busch 3. It’s Almost Tomorrow - Dream Weavers 4. Only You - Hilltoppers 5. Rock And Roll Waltz - Kay Starr 6. Band Of Gold - Don Cherry 7. Love Is A Tender Trap - Frank Sinatra 8. Memories Are Made Of This - Dave King 9. Sixteen Tons - Tennessee Ernie Ford 10. Rock Island Line - Lonnie Donegan US Top Ten (first week of the month): 1. Lisbon Antigua - Nelson Riddle 2. Rock And Roll Waltz - Kay Starr 3. The Great Pretender - Platters 4. Memories Are Made Of This - Dean Martin 5. No, Not Much - Four Lads 6. See You Later, Alligator - Bill Haley 7. Poor People Of Paris - Les Baxter 8. Band Of Gold - Don Cherry 9. I’ll Be Home/Tutti Frutti - Pat Boone 10. Sixteen Tons - Tennessee Ernie Ford US R&B chart toppers this month: At My Front Door - El Dorados Why Do Fools Fall In Love - Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers Drown In My Own Tears - Ray Charles US Country chart toppers this month: I Forgot To Remember To Forget - Elvis Presley Heartbreak Hotel - Elvis Presley I Don’t Believe You’ve Met My Baby - Louvin Brothers Some UK single 45 releases: Heartbreak Hotel/I Was The One - Elvis Presley See You Later, Alligator - Bill Haley See You Later, Alligator - Bobby Charles See You Later, Alligator - Roy Hall Bo Weevil/Don’t Blame It On Me - Fats Domino Fire Ball Mail - Mac Wiseman Get Up! Get Up! (You Sleepy Head)/My Happiness Forever - LaVern Baker & The Gliders Seven Days - Clyde McPhatter Seven Days - Snooky Lanson Seven Days/The Great Pretender - Anne Shelton Gee Whittakers - Five Keys Teenage Meeting (Gonna Rock It Right) - Don Cornell Rock Island Line - Don Cornell Nashville - Grady Martin & The Slew Foot Five Speedo - Commodores Speedo - Steve Lawrence Rogue River Valley - Chuck Miller Loose Talk - Carl Smith The Great Pretender - Jackie Riggs Doesn’t He Love Me - Sunnysiders Rock Around The Island - Don Lang Dungaree Doll - Eddie Fisher I’m A Fool - Slim Whitman Miss The Love - Bonnie Lou Chain Gang - Bobby Scott Chain Gang - Johnny Oliver Mississippi Dreamboat - Jimmy Wakely Willie Can - Alma Cogan Pinch Me - Somethin’ Smith & The Redheads A Tear Fell - Teresa Brewer Goodbye - Billy Eckstine Theme From "The Threepenny Opera" - Les Paul Theme From "The Threepenny Opera" - Louis Armstrong Theme From "The Threepenny Opera" - Dick Hyman Trio Mountain Greenery - Mel Torme Baby Let Me Take You Dreaming - Tommy Edwards Cha Cha Joe - Barry Sisters The Last Frontier - Tex Ritter My Treasure - Hilltoppers I’ll Be Home - Pat Boone Who Are We - Gogi Grant Those Bad Kids - Cowboy Church Sunday School Important events: Almost fixtures in the US Top 20, Pat Boone (who is currently hot with 'Tutti Frutti') and Bill Haley (ditto with 'See You Later Alligator') have been joined by two new names. The first is Elvis Presley, in whom RCA have invested heavily. Described as 'a wild and turbulent rock'n'roller', Presley has crashed the charts with his very first single for the label, 'Heartbreak Hotel'. Reactions to his brash new style have been mixed, but one thing's for sure: he's a solid hit with the American teenagers, especially those of the female persuasion. He hails from Memphis, Tennessee and has been described as slinky and dark, rather like a junior Rock Hudson. He shakes, rattles and rolls a lot in his act, like a dry-eyed Johnnie Ray, but with twice the locomotion! Before signing with RCA, Presley released five discs on Sun the label which presents the second chart entrant, Carl Perkins. In the same mould as his former stablemate, 23 year-old Perkins is also from Tennessee. His hit is 'Blue Suede Shoes' - a number he wrote himself. Whether they can repeat their success in Britain remains to be seen, but if the NME singles reviewer has any say in the matter, they won't! 'If this is singing, then I give up', he wrote when the Presley disc was released here last month. 'If this is the stuff American fans are demanding, I'm glad I'm on this side of the Atlantic!' Overnight success stories are rare in the music business, but if you want to hear about a fairy tale rise to fame, take the case of The Dream Weavers and their million selling debut, 'It's Almost Tomorrow'. Two talented young Florida University students get together and write a couple of songs. They team up with five others and make a private recording in Jacksonville. A local disc jockey plays it for a record company pal, who arranges for it to be released, and. . .snap! The record takes off and becomes a hit - not only in the States, but in Britain too, where it has now climbed all the way to the top of the charts! The Crew Cuts have been signed by American brewers Annhauser Busch, to appear in TV commercials for their products. Stan Kenton and his Orchestra have arrived in England for a full tour - the first US band to do so since the thirties. The "Rock Around The Clock" movie had its world premiere in Washington, DC on March 17. After twelve weeks, the "Oklahoma" movie soundtrack album has finally been ousted from the top spot on the US best sellers list. That position is now occupied by 'Belafonte', the long-player by Harlem-born folk balladeer, Harry Belafonte. March 22: en route to New York for a prestigious appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show", Carl Perkins is badly injured, and his brother Jay and his manager killed, in a Delaware car smash. Three months in hospital will follow, and the momentum "Blue Suede Shoes" has given his career is lost. In Memphis, Sam Philips has listened to the Jerry Lee Lewis demo, liked it, and invited him back to record. "Crazy Arms" is released as the first single. 11-year-old Brenda Lee makes her TV debut on Red Foley’s "Ozark Jubilee". Bobby Darin has made his first record - a cover of Lonnie Donegan’s UK hit "Rock Island Line". "New Musical Express" headlines this month: Slim Whitman Lacks Showmanship [Whitman's Glasgow debut] No 'Pretender' to Fame is Jimmy Parkinson Winifred Atwell Writes [Winifred Atwell world tour] Welcome Back Don Cornell! Don and Donegan are Fighting a Record Battle Over 'Rock Island Line' [Don Cornell and Lonnie Donegan fight over 'Rock Island Line' ] Dennis Lotus Scores in New Film [Dennis Lotus in "The Extra Day"] British Disc-Stars Triumph at Palladium [Winifred Atwell, Alma Cogan, David Whitfield] The Starr Shines Again [Success story of Kay Starr] The 'Three Penny Opera' Theme is Coining a Fortune [Story of the composition with 3 titles: "Moritat", "Ballad of Mack the Knife", or "Theme from 'The Three Penny Opera'"] Other events: March 17: According to reports from Bonn and Washington, Mr Kruschev, Russian Communist party secretary, in a speech to a secret session of the party congress, accused Stalin of massacres and a reign of terror. The sole purpose of the speech was to destroy the "Stalin myth". March 3: Lt-Gen J.B. Glubb, commander of Jordan’s Arab Legion, was dismissed from his post under a decree published yesterday by King Hussein and told to leave the country at once. The General, better known as Glubb Pasha, is due to arrive at London Airport today. March 10, Nicosia, Cyprus: Archbishop Makarios, leader of the Union-with-Greece campaign, the Bishop of Kyrenia, second leading campaigner, and two other Greek Church priests were today deported by order of the Governor, Field Marshal Sir John Harding. March 5: There was rejoicing all over Morocco this weekend at the declaration in Paris recognising the country as a sovereign power. March 23: The Reverend Martin Luther King, 27, Baptist Minister, first of 90 Negroes in Montgomery, Alabama called for trial on charges of engaging in an illegal boycott of the local buses, was today found guilty and fined £178. March 26: With 55 yards to go, and The Grand National at his mercy, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother’s Devon Loch, clear of all opponents, stumbled, skidded, tried to keep his legs and stopped at Aintree. E.S.B., ridden by D.V. Dick, strode on past him to win by 10 lengths from the mare Gentle Moya with the 1954 national winner, Royal Tan, a further 10 lengths away third. Cambridge have won the 102nd Boat Race in 18min 36 secs, the fourth fastest time on record. Cambridge has now won 56 races and Oxford 45. The Player’s Union, which represents professional footballers, has decided to place a ban on its members playing in matches which are televised unless they are paid fees, and from taking part in floodlit games.
March 1957 UK Top Ten (first week of the month): 1. Young Love - Tab Hunter 2. Don’t Forbid Me - Pat Boone 3. Knee Deep In The Blues - Guy Mitchell 4. Garden Of Eden - Frankie Vaughan 5. Singing The Blues - Guy Mitchell 6. Don’t You Rock Me Daddy-O - Lonnie Donegan 7. True Love - Bing Crosby & Grace Kelly 8. Long Tall Sally - Little Richard 9. Friendly Persuasion - Pat Boone 10. Young Love - Sonny James US Top Ten (first week of the month): 1. Too Much - Elvis Presley 2. Young Love - Tab Hunter 3. Don’t Forbid Me/Anastasia - Pat Boone 4. Young Love - Sonny James 5. Banana Boat Song - Harry Belafonte 6. Singing The Blues- Guy Mitchell 7. Banana Boat Song - Tarriers 8. Moonlight Gambler - Frankie Laine 9. Blue Monday - Fats Domino 10. Marianne - Terry Gilkyson US R&B chart toppers this month: Blue Monday - Fats Domino Jim Dandy - LaVerne Baker & The Gliders Love Is Strange - Mickey & Sylvia I’m Walkin’ - Fats Domino US Country chart toppers this month: There You Go - Johnny Cash Some UK single 45 releases: Rip It Up/Baby Let’s Play House - Elvis Presley The Girl Can’t Help It/She’s got It - Little Richard Crazy Legs/Important Words - Gene Vincent Twenty Flight Rock - Eddie Cochran Little By Little - Nappy Brown I Can’t Love You Enough - LaVern Baker Cloud 99 - Jodimars Ooh-Wee/Foot Stompin’ - Jimmy Cavello & His House Rockers Bubbins Rock/Indiana - Earl Bostic& Bill Doggett Ain’t Got No Home - Clarence "Frogman" Henry Dig - Nervous Norvous Don’t Walk Out - Barons Teenage Crush - Tommy Sands So Rare - Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra Cumberland Gap - Lonnie Donegan Cumberland Gap/Maggie May - Vipers Skiffle Group Rock And Roll Tumbleweed - Art Mooney Orchestra (vocal Ocie Smith & The Cloverleafs) Butterfly - Charlie Gracie Butterfly - Billy Williams The Low Road - Mac Curtis Ernie - Merle Kilgour Gone - Ferlin Husky & His Hush Puppies The Meaning Of The Blues/Now! Baby, Now! - Julie London From The First Hello To The Last Goodbye - Jane Morgan The Watermelon Song - Tennessee Ernie Ford Hey Liley, Liley Lo/Jim Dandy - Vipers Skiffle Group California Zephyr - Jimmy Jackson’s Rock’n’Skiffle Whispering Heart - Chuck Reed Marianne - Hilltoppers Marianne - Ray Ellington Quartet Marianne - Terry Gilkyson & The Easy Riders A Man Doesn’t Know - Billy Eckstine Love Is A Golden Ring - Frankie Laine Knee Deep In The Blues - Ricky James Knee Deep In The Blues - Joe Loss Orchestra Tempo’s Tempo - Nino Tempo Nothing Is Too Good For You - Harvey Boys The Wisdom Of A Fool - Norman Wisdom Shake Shake Senora - Lord Flea Rock Man Rock - Ken Mackintosh Orchestra Happy Is A Boy Named Me - Rod McKuen Lucky Lips - Gale Storm What Is A Teenage Girl? - Tom Edwards What Is This Generation Coming To? - Robert Mitchum Rum And Coca Cola - Andrews Sisters Just An Old Fashioned Girl - Eartha Kitt What Ever Lola Wants - Alma Cogan Off Beat Rock/Alligator Roll - Victor Silvester Rock’n’Roll Rhythm Important events: Anxious to attend the opening of Alan Freed’s "Rock’n’Roll Show" at New York’s Paramount Theatre, teenage fans stormed into the Times Square area before dawn and thronged throughout the day, holding up traffic and requiring the attention of 175 policemen. The stage show, which is running for a week, lasts one hour 20 minutes and is presented five times a day. On the first day, 15,200 patrons crammed the theatre from floor to ceiling, creating an all-time record for the 31-year-old venue, but causing great alarm to building inspectors, who feared the balcony might collapse as a result of over-enthusiastic foot stamping. In addition to being treated to such performers as The Teenagers, The Platters, Ruth Brown, Buddy Knox and The Rhythm Orchids, fans watched Freed’s latest movie, "Don’t Knock The Rock". The only parts of the show that were not rock’n’roll were the newsreel and the advertisements - and these were heartily booed. Elvis Presley has signed a contract to make a third film with a working title of "Jailhouse Rock" For his film, "The Tommy Steele Story", Steele and his collaborators - Lionel Bart and Mike Pratt - wrote 12 songs in only seven days. Robert Mitchum has cut his first disc for Capitol: "What Is This Generation Coming To?" In the U.S., where long-playing records have a separate best-sellers list, Harry Belafonte’s "Calypso" has been at number one since early last October - except for five weeks when Elvis Presley temporarily deposed him. Now Belafonte is making his presence felt in the singles charts, with "Jamaica Farewell" and "Banana Boat Song" - the latter a hit in Britain too - for not only himself, but also for The Tarriers and Shirley Bassey. Also in the U.S. Top 20 are two versions of another calypso, "Marianne". "New Musical Express" headlines this month: Frankie Vaughan, "They've Given Me a 7-Year Movie Contract, But I Shan't Give Up Singing!" "It's Welcome to the Platters - and They're More Than Welcome!" "Cheers, too, for the Teenagers' Atom Bomb Opening." [Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers] "Top of the Bill Jimmy Young is Proud to Play Second Fiddle to the Great Sophie." [Sophie Tucker, Jimmy Young] "Satch to Wax with the Pelvis." "Manchester United Calypso." "Johnnie Ray has Tea with His Fans." Other events: March 29: A babel of bells and motor horns, crowds thronging the streets, and cheers for patrols of troops left little doubt about the way the ordinary people of Cyprus received the news of the release of Archbishop Makarios tonight. March 6: The lowering of the Union Jack at midnight above the floodlit Parliament buildings in Accra, and its replacement by the flag of Ghana signified to jubilant crowds that a new, independent African nation had been born. This came as the climax to yesterday’s anticipatory celebrations in which the participation of the Duchess of Kent, representing the Queen, symbolised Ghana’s free entry into the Commonwealth. March 23: San Francisco had five earthquake shocks today. One, at 11.45 am (7.45pm GMT) was the most violent the city has felt for 30 years. No casualties have been reported in today’s quake, but more than fifty small fires were started. March 21: Mme. Maria Callas, the operatic soprano, has won her libel action in Milan against Prince Marcantonio Pacelli, a nephew of the Pope. Prince Pacelli’s spaghetti company published a series of large Italian magazine advertisements last year stating that that the singer had slimmed by eating the company’s special spaghetti. Damages and costs were awarded to Mme Callas. She said she had not eaten the spaghetti, although several cases of it were sent to her. March 8: Mr de Valera’s Fianna Fail party, in opposition since 1954, has won, with 78 seats out of 147, a majority over all other parties in the Eire General Election. The previous government was a coalition led by Mr Costello, Fine Gail party. March 12: Rear-Admiral Richard E. Byrd, the first man to fly over both the North and South poles, died today. He was 68. March 22: John Braine’s new book, "Room At The Top" is reviewed March 30: Sundew, a 20-1 chance ridden by champion jockey Fred Winter, romped home an eight-length winner of the Grand National.
March 1958 UK Top Ten (first week of the month): 1. Magic Moments/Catch A Falling Star - Perry Como 2. The Story Of My Life - Michael Holliday 3. Jailhouse Rock - Elvis Presley 4. At The Hop - Danny & The Juniors 5. Oh Boy - Crickets 6. You Are My Destiny - Paul Anka 7. Love Me Forever - Marion Ryan 8. All The Way/Chicago - Frank Sinatra 9. April Love - Pat Boone 10. Peggy Sue - Buddy Holly US Top Ten (first week of the month): 1. Don’t/ I Beg Of You - Elvis Presley 2. Get A Job - Silhouettes 3. Catch A Falling Star/Magic Moments - Perry Como 4. Short Shorts - Royal Teens 5. Twenty-Six Miles - Four Preps 6. Oh, Julie - Crescendos 7. Sweet Little Sixteen - Chuck Berry 8. Sail Along Silvery Moon/Raunchy - Billy Vaughn 9. At The Hop - Danny & The Juniors 10. It’s Too Soon To Know - Pat Boone US R&B chart toppers this month: Get A Job - Silhouettes Sweet Little Sixteen - Chuck Berry Tequila - Champs US Country chart toppers this month: Ballad Of A Teenage Queen - Johnny Cash Some UK single 45 releases: Sweet Little Sixteen/Reelin’ And Rockin’ - Chuck Berry Ballad Of A Teenage Queen - Johnny Cash The Big Beat - Fats Domino Tequila - Champs So Tough - Kuf-Linx Helpless/Indiff’rent - Platters Click Clack - Dicky Doo & The Don’ts Leaps And Bounds - Bill Doggett Grand Coolie Dam - Lonnie Donegan Bad Motorcycle - Storey Sisters Lollipop - Chordettes Bertha Lou - Johnny Faire Flip, Flop And Bop - Floyd Cramer Little Pigeon - Chuck Sims Can’t Wait (from the film "The Big Beat") - Del Vikings Twitchy - Rene Hall’s Orchestra Come To Me - Johnny Mathis Wonderin’ And Worryin’ - Guy Mitchell Love-A, Love-A, Love-A - Jimmy Jackson Down Deep - Tennessee Ernie Ford She’s Neat - Dale Wright Plant A Little Seed - Johnnie Ray I Had A Dream/Little One - Russ Hamilton Lend Me Your Comb - Bernie Nee Gettin’ Ready For Freddie - Sheppard Sisters Talking Atomic Blues - Guy Carawan Big Guitar - John Barry Seven Big Guitar - Owen Bradley Quintet My Darling, My Darling - Sarah Vaughan Teacher’s Pet - Doris Day Annabel Lee/Shine - Frankie Laine Smoke Gets In Your Eyes - Dickie Barrett Mailman Bring Me No More Blues - Don Cornell Whoop-A-Lala - The Four Dolls Wrong - Crescents Whole Lotta Woman - Most Brothers Oh-Oh, I’m Falling In Love Again - Jimmie Rodgers Oh-Oh, I’m Falling In Love Again/Sing, Boy, Sing - Marty Wilde Swingin’ Shepherd Blues - Ted Heath Music Return To Me - Dean Martin A Wonderful Time Up There - Pat Boone La Dee Dah - Jackie Dennis Big Guitar - Irving Ashby Combo Big Guitar - Frank DeRosa Orchestra Some L.P. releases: The Johnny Otis Show Sing, Boy, Sing - Tommy Sands Sal - Sal Mineo Important events: On March 24th, Elvis reports for military service. He is given the number 53310761. Never have British rock’n’roll audiences been as thrilled as they were with The Crickets, who managed to squeeze 25 concerts into as many days, with a couple of TV spots thrown in for good measure. With four hits in the UK Top 309 - two by the group ("Oh Boy" and "Maybe Baby") and two by leader Buddy Holly ("Peggy Sue" and "Listen To Me") - the trio have won the hearts of rock’n’roll fans throughout the land….and the feeling is mutual. "We had a real ball, it was just great," said Buddy, as the group prepared to return to New York, where they will join Alan Freed’s latest tour. "We’ve hardly had a day off since we started," he joked. Holly and his companions - drummer Jerry Allison and bassist Joe Mauldin - have all become obsessed with British sports cars and motorcycles. Their fans, meanwhile, have become hooked on Buddy’s guitar - a Fender Stratocastor model which is unavailable in the UK. His horn-rimmed glasses caused a stir too…..expect a spate of guitarists with specs. Little Richard may be immersed in religious studies, but after searching the vaults, his Hollywood record label, Specialty, have come up with another rip-roaring hit, "Good Golly Miss Molly". It couldn’t be more contemporary; the latest fashion seems to require a girl’s name in the title. Also in the US charts are "Dede Dinah" by Frankie Avalon, "Jo Ann" by The Playmates, and "Oh Julie" by The Crescendos. These follow hot on the heels of Little Richard’s previous girl-friends - "Long Tall Sally", "Lucille", "Jenny Jenny" and "Miss Ann" - and "Peggy Sue" (Buddy Holly), "Wake Up Little Susie" (The Everly Brothers), "Diana" (Paul Anka), "Yes, Tonight Josephine" ((Johnnie Ray), "Betty And Dupree" (Chuck Willis), "Cindy Oh Cindy" (Eddie Fisher), "Marianne" (The Hilltoppers), "Bernadine" (Pat Boone) and "Short Fat Fannie" (Larry Williams) - and Larry’s latest release is called "Dizzy Miss Lizzie". "Terry Dene is seeing a psychiatrist this week" reports his manager, Paul Lincoln. "He will then receive treatment and will not resume work until both he and the doctors are satisfied he is better." This follows an incident in Gloucester, where Dene was charged with being drunk and disorderly and causing wilful damage. Local magistrates fined him £155. Marty Wilde and Colin Hicks have been fulfilling his contracted dates. Jerry Lee Lewis is currently filming "High School Confidential" at MGM’s Hollywood studios. The Coasters are in a New York studio on March 17th, cutting "Three Cool Cats" and "Yakety Yak". King Curtis is on sax for the first time. "Magic Moments" is the second UK hit written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, who also penned "The Story Of My Life" for Marty Robbins. 14-year-old Laurie London has become the latest Brit to storm the US charts - with "He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands" "New Musical Express" headlines this month: Tommy Sands was really an overnight star; Elvis helps him break through, now considered the biggest threat to Elvis’ rock dominance. Johnnie Ray says …ear operation has changed my voice; had been partially deaf, but now recovering. Who is to be loved more…?; Malcolm Vaughan, Jackie Wilson, Mike Holliday, Donald Peers, Mario Lanza, Everly Brothers. ‘Golden Album’ to mark Presley’s Enlistment; Elvis gold album, 14 song titles, release dates coincide with Presley’s enlistment. Frankie Vaughan names own date for U.S. TV return; "The Big Record," Holly-Crickets give us loudest rock show ever; 25 minutes without stopping, enthusiasm and abandon, audience loves it. Paul Anka Thaws out Aberdeen; Anka plays the Music Hall. Pet Clark has three hits in a row; ‘With all my Heart,’ ‘Alone,’ ‘Baby Lover,’ Pat Boone here for Easter; voted world’s most outstanding popular singer. Song awards for Steele, Hamilton; Russ Hamilton for "We will make love", Steele for "Handful of Songs," and "Water, Water." Frankie enjoys being unknown until…; Frankie accosted in New York by autograph seekers. Starvin’ Marvin is now well fed; Marvin Rainwater debut’s on the best seller list. Lonnie Donegan Starts something new; Donegan encourages skiffle clubs to maintain existence, and books local shows, invites fans to meeting to encourage new clubs. Teen stars spin on discs today; Sal Mineo, Terry Dene, Pauline Sheperd, Paul Anka, Frankie Lymon, Laurie London, Danny and the Juniors, artists getting younger and younger. Tommy Steele appears as Duke of Joy; Single "Nairobi" and film "The Duke wore Jeans" Laurie London plans U.S. visit in Easter; Offered a date on Sullivan show, will be touring with parents. Frankie Vaughan TV offer cannot be accepted; Vaughan turns down the offer, due to be working on a film. Johnnie Ray: spring tour, to film with Max; Ray to return to studio after European concert, to costar with Max Bygraves. South African teenagers tried to keep Tommy in; Mobbed by 300 fans, by 400 the next day. Why aren’t they disc hits here? Tommy Sands, Gordon Macrae, Gogi Grant, Rusty Draper, Patti Page, all popular in US not England. More Music less talk is ‘6.5’ future policy; BBC’s TV show "6.5 Special" to have more music and new bands. Tommy Steele’s exciting May ‘Double’; introduces "A Handful of Discs" collection and plays at Lewisham Gaumont in May of 58. Million dollars offered to keep Pat Boone off TV (9); 20th century Fox thinks Boone’s TV appearances hurts his film box office offered ABC $1 million to cancel the show. They refused. Paul Anka writes ‘Boy, am I tired? But happy!" Anka goes back to the states. Other events: March 3: Dr Fuchs and 10 members of the Commonwealth Transantarctic expedition reached Scott Base today, completing the first overland crossing of Antarctica. Their 2,150-mile trek began 99 days ago at Shackleton Base on the Weddell Sea coast. March 28: Three of the Hollywood Academy’s chief awards have been won by the British film "The Bridge On The River Kwai". It was voted the best picture of the year. Alec Guinnness receives the award for best performance by a male star and David Lean for the best direction. March 29: The Torrington by-election was won by the Liberal candidate, Mr Mark Bonham-Carter, by a majority of 219, after a recount. March 17: Whole-time employment for mothers was described yesterday by the Bishop of Woolwich, the Rt. Rev. R.W. Stannard, as an "enemy" of Christian family life. March 3: 21-year-old Garfield Sobers’ 365 not out for the West Indies against Pakistan at Kingston, Jamaica is a new test record score, surpassing Len Hutton’s 364. The crowd of 20,000 swarmed onto the field and the West Indies, having declared on 790-3, carried their hero to the pavilion.
March 1959 UK Top Ten (first week of the month): 1. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes - Platters 2. As I Love You - Shirley Bassey 3. Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavour - Lonnie Donegan 4. I Got Stung/One Night - Elvis Presley 5. Pub With No Beer - Slim Dusty 6. Side Saddle - Russ Conway 7. My Happiness - Connie Francis 8. Petite Fleur - Chris Barber 9. Little Drummer Boy - Beverly Sisters 10. To Know Him Is To Love Him - Teddy Bears US Top Ten (first week of the month): 1. Stagger Lee - Lloyd Price 2. Donna - Ritchie Valens 3. Charlie Brown - Coasters 4. Sixteen Candles - Crests 5. Petite Fleur - Chris Barber 6. I Cried A Tear - LaVern Baker 7. Venus - Frankie Avalon 8. Peter Gunn Theme - Ray Anthony 9. All American Boy - Bill Parsons 10. Alvin’s Harmonica - Chipmunks US R&B chart toppers this month: Stagger Lee - Lloyd Price It’s Just A Matter Of Time - Brook Benton US Country chart toppers this month: Don’t Take Your Guns To Town - Johnny Cash Some UK single 45 releases: Who’s Pushin’ Your Swing?/Over The Rainbow - Gene Vincent Brand New Cadillac - Vince Taylor & His Playboys Tear It Up - Boyd Bennett Love’s Made A Fool Of You - Crickets Charlie Brown - Coasters Charlie Brown - Bernard Bresslaw The Lonely One/Detour - Duane Eddy Where Were You On Our Wedding Day? - Lloyd Price Since I Don’t Have You - Skyliners By The Light Of The Silvery Moon - Little Richard When The Saints Go Marching In/Telling Lies - Fats Domino I Got A Woman/Charmaine - Bill Haley & His Comets That’s Why - Jackie Wilson Doodlebug/Hurry Up Buttercup - Charlie Gracie Hanging Tree - Marty Robbins I Go Ape - Neil Sedaka Choo Choo Cha Cha - Rinky Dinks Pink Shoelaces - Dodie Stevens Pink Shoelaces - Alma Cogan Diamond Ring - Jimmy Isle New River Train - Bobby Helms What’Cha Gonna Do - Jimmy Newman Cruising - Jimmy & the Night Hoppers I Don’t Need You Any More - Teddy Bears Ricky - Dotty Frederick Wimoweh - Bill Hayes & The Buckle Busters Just About That Time - Roy Drusky Ciao Ciao Bambina - Marino Marini Quartet Petite Fleur - Scamps Petite Fleur - Bob Crosby & The Bobcats Hey Li Lee Li Lee Li - Rusty Draper I’m In Love - Arlene Fontana This Train - Johnny Duncan & The Blue Grass Boys Slippin’ And Slidin’ - Dickie Pride The Hurdy Gurdy Song - Johnny Maddox Venus - Frankie Avalon Hiawatha - Tommy Steele Because You’re Young - Jimmie Rodgers Cool Ghoul - Sharkey Todd & The Monsters Tall Paul - Three Barry Sisters With The Wind And Rain In Your Hair - Pat Boone Come Softly To Me - Frankie Vaughan French Foreign Legion - Frank Sinatra Play For Keeps - Carmen McRae The Universe - Arlyne Tye Rocking Away The Blues - Joy & David Alvin’s Harmonica - Chipmunks Sing Little Birdie - Pearl Carr & Teddy Johnson Some E.P. releases: Big Bopper Sarah & Billy - Sarah Vaughan & Billy Eckstine The Beat Of Mr B - Billy Eckstine Dig The Diamonds Important events: Terry Dene’s UK army career is over. Only weeks after reporting to Winchester Barracks for his National Service, he has suffered a nervous breakdown and been declared "unfit for further duties". He is now convalescing at a civilian hospital in Surrey. Decca have renewed Dene’s contract for another year and his agent, Hyman Zahl, will continue to book him when he returns to the stage. "I’m sure the public still wants him," Zahl maintains. He hasn’t made much impact on British record buyers, but in the States, Frankie Avalon is the latest teenage rage. Having already reached the top 10 with "De-De-Dinah" and "Gingerbread", he is now perched near the top with his impassioned plea to "Venus". Avalon is from the same South Philadelphia district as Mario Lanza and Eddie Fisher. "When I was 10, my dad bought me a trumpet," he explains. "I’d been running around with a wild crowd, cutting school and getting into all kinds of fights. Dad bought me the trumpet to give me a new interest and stop me from developing into a hardened delinquent." The ploy worked. Soon a proficient trumpeter, Frankie appeared on various TV shows, but it was his singing that attracted the attention of song-writers Bob Marucci and Peter de Angelis, who signed him to become the first star of their newly launched Chancellor label…..and an appearance in the film "Disc Jockey Jamboree" was his springboard to national fame. Perry Como announces a contract with a cheese firm under which he will receive £8,928,000 for television programmes over the next two years. It is claimed to be the largest individual fee ever paid to any performer in television, on the stage or in films. Como’s personal company, Roncom Incorporated, will produce 104 weekly shows, and he will be given complete autonomy in deciding what form the shows will take. The contract specifies that Como must star in 66 colour TV programmes The policy of reviving oldies has paid huge dividends for top vocal group The Platters. Though they started their chart career with million-selling originals like "Only You" and "The Great Pretender" - both written by their manager, Buck Ram - they have enjoyed far greater success in Britain with "My Prayer", written in 1939, and "Twilight Time", written in 1944. Their current hit, and first UK chart topper, is "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" - written by Jerome Kern for the 1933 stage musical "Roberta". Lonnie Donegan says "I found my "Chewing Gum" hit buried within the yellowed pages of a boy scout songbook". A chart absentee for 18 months, Russ Hamilton is hoping for a comeback with "The Reprieve Of Tom Dooley". Trad-jazz bandleader Chris Barber has won a gold disc for his US chartbuster "Petite Fleur" Frantic rocker Larry Williams was formerly the piano player in Lloyd Price’s touring band. EMI announces it is discontinuing the sale of 78’s in the UK. Quote: "I’m mighty homesick at times. I wonder if the folks back home have forgotten me….it’s hard to tell from over here" Elvis Presley. "New Musical Express" headlines this month: Chris Barber’s US TV honour- before thirty million viewers; Ed Sullivan presents first British band on American TV Billy Fury scores a double success. Hit parade no longer dominated by US. Winifred get another "other" piano. Winifred Atwell goes to Australia. Johnnie Ray is the ever-welcome visitor - one of the most frequent American visitors in Britain. Harry Simeone’s "different" sound promotes new label to major force. Top Rank label out for world domination. Elvis is lonely even with all those screaming women and endless money. Pat Boone disappoints, but three British girls have a red hot rock disc. Boone sucks for now, The Three Barry Sisters kick butt. Colossal Five-star US package for Britain; Conway Twitty, Poni-Tails, Bobby Darin, Duane Eddy, Diamonds. All going to Britain. America will see our "Oh Boy!" shows. Steele and Donegan are rebooked for BBC’s "Oh Boy!" Maureen Donegan. "My Lonnie"- by his wife; she talks about his music and their life. I don’t always agree with the quality of the hit parade- says Johnnie Ray. Johnnie Ray’s greatest sorrow; even after surgery, Ray still wears hearing aids. Tommy Steele hasn’t changed a bit! Starring in a West End musical hasn’t changed him. Slim Dusty hitched his future to a guitar; native Australian is a "square". Dave King to star in US TV series. Signs with Perry Como’s firm. Cliff Richard film "Expresso Bongo" New disc pianist waxes his rivals’ compositions; Tony Hatch Eddie Cochran rocks into top 20! "C’mon Everybody" succeeds on both side of the Atlantic. Teddy and Pearl did us proud at Cannes; came in second in Eurovision Song Contest. Frankie Vaughan tells you about Palladium Magic; what it’s like to play there. Frankie Vaughan’s Palladium act to be new LP; records LP of stage act. Billy Eckstine Agrees to tour here next month; "Gigi" disc sends him to Britain. Bill Haley still rocks on and on; been missing for 2 years but he’s back. Will it be Joe Henderson or Russ Conway?; who will be the piano man? Connie Francis writes, "I’m sorry now to be leaving Britain"; after tour, she goes home but had a good time. Billy Eckstine can’t wait to come "home"; itching for Britain. Other events: March 16: The launch is announced of British Motor Corporation’s "people’s car" - the Morris Mini-Car - for which tens of thousands of economy-minded motorists have been waiting. An Austin Mini-Car of similar specifications, but with slightly different front treatment will also be launched. The Mini-Car’s 8hp engine will be sit diagonally in the chassis to keep the floor low, and will give a maximum speed of more than 70 mph but because of the low overall weight of the car, petrol consumption will be as low as 55 mpg. The price of the car is expected to be just over £500, including purchase tax. March 6: The British Medical Association last night stopped the issue of its booklet "Getting Married". Dr Winifred de Kok, who edited the booklet, has resigned from the BMA in protest against its action. So has the author of one of its frankest contributions, Dr Eustace Chesser. In the booklet, Dr Chesser, Harley Street psychologist, discussed whether chastity was outmoded. The BMA action followed condemnation of the publication by doctors and the resignation of several from the association in protest at its contents. "All we did," said Dr de Kok, "was to state the facts given in the statistics. We wanted to help all young people, instead of only the good ones." March 27: Raymond Chandler, once a Bloomsbury poet and essayist, has died aged 70. Late in life he achieved fame as the creator of tough private detectives. Born in Chicago, Raymond Thornton Chandler was educated at private schools in France and Germany, and at Dulwich College. March 4: Lou Costello, the clown of the Abbott and Costello comedy team, died in Hollywood today of a heart attack. He was 53. March 23; Willie Stephenson, son of a Durham farmer and formerly a flat-race jockey, became the third trainer to saddle both a Derby and a Grand National winner when Oxo, in the colours of Bedfordshire farmer Mr J.E. Bigg, and ridden by Michael Scudamore, won the National on Saturday from proven Aintree horses Wyndburgh, Mr What and Tiberetta. Eight years ago, Stephenson trained Arctic Prince to win the Derby.
March 1960 UK Top Ten (first week of the month): 1. Poor Me - Adam Faith 2. Running Bear - Johnny Preston 3. Why? - Anthony Newley 4. A Voice In The Wilderness - Cliff Richard 5. Slow Boat To China - Emile Ford 6. Way Down Yonder - Freddie Cannon 7. Delaware - Perry Como 8. Pretty Blue Eyes - Craig Douglas 9. Be Mine - Lance Fortune 10. Beyond The Sea - Bobby Darin US Top Ten (first week of the month): 1. Theme From "A Summer Place" - Percy Faith 2. Handy Man - Jimmy Jones 3. He’ll Have To Go - Jim Reeves 4. Teen Angel - Mark Dinning 5. What In The World’s Come Over You - Jack Scott 6. Beyond The Sea - Bobby Darin 7. Running Bear - Johnny Preston 8. Let It Be Me - Everly Brothers 9. Baby (You’ve Got What It Takes) - Brook Benton & Dinah Washington 10. Wild One - Bobby Rydell US R&B chart toppers this month: Baby (You’ve Got What It Takes) - Dinah Washington & Brook Benton US Country chart toppers this month: He’ll Have To Go - Jim Reeves Some UK single 45 releases: Let It Rock/Too Pooped To Pop - Chuck Berry Straight A’s In Love - Johnny Cash Heartbeat/Everyday - Buddy Holly I’ll Sail My Ship Alone - Jerry Lee Lewis This Magic Moment - Drifters Country Boy - Fats Domino I Want That - Billy Crash Craddock Just Give Me A Ring - Clyde McPhatter Think Me A Kiss - Clyde McPhatter That’s All I’m Asking Of you - Rainbeaus I Only Want You - Passions Sink The Bismarck - Johnny Horton Clementine - Bobby Darin Stairway To Heaven - Neil Sedaka I Love You - Little Tony & His Brothers Jambalaya - Bobby Comstock If I Thought You Needed Me - Hollywood Flames With All My Heart - Curtis Lee What’s Happening - Wade Flemons Lawdy, Miss Clawdy - Gary Stites I’m Confessin’ - Louis Prima & Keely Smith Talking Harmonica Blues - Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee Summertime/Caravan - Santo & Johnny Wabash Cannonball - Dicky Doo & The Don’ts Heartsick And Blue - Rem Wall & His Green Valley Boys Teen-Ex - Browns Jet II - Royal Rockers Lullaby - Chevrons Fall In Love With You - Cliff Richard Mumbles - Johnny Bachelor Beatnik Fly - Johnny & The Hurricanes I’m Hanging Up My Rifle - Bobby Bare Crazy Arms - Bob Beckham I’m Walking Behind You - Brad Leeds Come On Over - Penny Candy Chinese Butterfly - Johnny Angel Ho Dee-ing Dong - Mike Shaun I Believe In Love - Floyd Robinson If You Don’t Know - Jody Gibson Just Too Late - Peter Jay & The Blue Men Johnny Rocco - Marty Wilde Wild One - Wee Willie Harris Too Pooped To Pop - Cuddly Dudley The Keeper Of Boot Hill - Tex Williams Riverboat Gambler - Jimmie Skinner April In Paris - Count Basie Puppy Love - Paul Anka Forget You - Milton Grayson Wreck Of The Old ’97 - Tommy Collins Valentino - Connie Francis Tell The Truth - Diamonds Don’t Throw Away All Those Teardrops - Frankie Avalon (Welcome) New Lovers - Pat Boone Angela Jones - Johnny Ferguson String Along - Fabian Little George - Anita Bryant Sweet Georgia Brown - Hutch Davie Someone Else’s Baby - Adam Faith My Old Man’s A Dustman - Lonnie Donegan Do You Mind - Tony Newley It’s Nice To Go Trav’ling - Frank Sinatra El Matador - Kingston Trio Footsteps - Steve Lawrence So Rare - Mavis Rivers Water Boy - Bob Crewe The Widow Walk - Damita Jo Theme From "A Summer Place" - Fontane Sisters Sweet Affection - Sarah Vaughan Love Kisses And Heartaches - Maureen Evans Look For A Star - Garry Mills A Girl Like You - Mike Preston Important events: Elvis Presley’s demobilization from the U.S. Army has proved to be just as big a media event as his induction. It began at the Friedberg Barracks in West Germany where "the most publicised soldier since General MacArthur" gave a "farewell" press conference before leaving Europe. Said Elvis of his immediate future: "I don’t know if I shall manage to get on top again. I only wish I knew. I hear that trends have changed, so it might be pretty difficult for me. But, I’ll tell you this….I’m sure gonna try hard. My attraction to rock’n’roll hasn’t changed one bit, and I think it would be a mistake for me to change my style. The public will let me know in due course if they don’t like it." Asked what he thinks of his new rivals - Fabian and Frankie Avalon - Elvis replies: "I don’t consider them rivals…..there’s room for everyone. And, if other people can make it, good luck to them." What souvenirs will Elvis be taking back to the USA? Aside from personal luggage, two tons of fan mail stuffed into 12 large sacks, and a collection of 2,182 records, Elvis reveals: "Two German guitars, one camera, but no girls!" What about 16-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu, who has been his steady Army date? "It’s nothing serious," insists Elvis. "I can promise you, there’s no romance!" A howling blizzard, singer Nancy Sinatra, 2,000 fans and a press battalion welcome Elvis back Stateside when, on March 3, the military aircraft carrying his unit back from Germany touched down at McGuire Airbase, New Jersey. The plane had made a refuelling stop at Prestwick Airport, Scotland, and while it is on the ground, Presley talked to fans through an airport fence. This is the only occasion he set foot on UK soil. Two days later, Elvis was back on civvy street. On March 20 and 21, he undertakes his first post-Army recording date, at the RCA Studios in Nashville. Two of the titles cut, "Stuck On You" and "Fame And Fortune" go on sale in Nashville within 48 hours of being taped. The momentum continues: on March 26, Elvis’s return to active public life via network TV occurs when he appears as a special guest on "The Frank Sinatra Timex Show". In the show, Elvis performs both sides of his newest single, then duets with Sinatra with a medley of "Witchcraft" and "Love Me Tender". ************************** The Everly Brothers have ensured both banner headlines and a box-office stampede when they revealed that that Buddy Holly’s former band - The Crickets - will do the back-up honours on Don and Phil’s UK tour scheduled to open on April 1. In the meantime, there was standing room only at the opening night of a package show featuring three other hot US chart stars - Bobby Darin, Duane Eddy and Clyde McPhatter - at the Lewisham Odeon, London. Emile Ford & The Checkmates supplied local interest. Actor-singer Anthony Newley’s latest movie "Jazzboat" has opened at London’s New Victoria Cinema. A French singer named Johnny Halliday, of whom much is expected, has released his first single on the Vogue label - "Laisse Les Filles" March 14 - Sam Cooke, who has recently joined Elvis on RCA, begins the first of three tours of the West Indies with a concert in Jamaica’s Montego Bay. March 7 - Johnny Horton cuts "Ole Slew Foot" in last his recording session "New Musical Express" headlines this month: Elvis Talks About Marty Wilde, Cliff Richard Perry Creates Another Top Ten Como-tion!. Perry Como, "Delaware", performances The Americans Cheer Chacksfield. Frank Chacksfield, "On the Beach", American success Joe Brown Won Two Contracts In A Night. ABC-TV, "People Gotta Talk", "Comes the Day" Johnny Preston’s ‘Running Bear’ had been forgotten for five months Bryan Johnson Rides ‘High, High, High’. Bryan Johnson, BBC-TV contest winner Jack Scott’s Records All Take Their Time. Jack Scott, "What In the World’s Come Over You" He Admits He Likes Money! Bobby Darin, biographical Tony Newley has two film premieres in one week. Anthony Newley, "Jazzboat", "Let’s Get Married" Rydell Breaks Through. Bobby Rydell, American success Adam Faith as a Barrow Boy on the Run. Adam Faith, film Frankie Vaughan. My Life in Hollywood. U.S. Girls have crush on Crash Liberace is Back! Liberace, British performances
March 1961 UK Top Ten (first week of the month): 1. Walk Right Back/Ebony Eyes - Everly Brothers 2. Are You Sure - Allisons 3. Sailor - Petula Clark 4. Will You Love Me Tomorrow? - Shirelles 5. Are You Lonesome Tonight? - Elvis Presley 6. F.B.I. - Shadows 7. Theme For A Dream - Cliff Richard 8. Riders In The Sky - Ramrods 9. Who Am I?/This Is It - Adam Faith 10. Rubber Ball - Bobby Vee US Top Ten (first week of the month): 1. Pony Time - Chubby Checker 2. Calcutta - Lawrence Welk 3. There’s A Moon Out Tonight - Capris 4. Surrender - Elvis Presley 5. Don’t Worry - Marty Robbins 6. Dedicated To The One I Love - Shirelles 7. Where The Boys Are - Connie Francis 8. Shop Around - Miracles 9. Ebony Eyes - Everly Brothers 10. Wheels - String-A-Longs US R&B chart toppers this month: Shop Around - Miracles Pony Time - Chubby Checker I Pity The Fool - Bobby Bland US Country chart toppers this month: Don’t Worry - Marty Robbins Some UK single 45 releases: Tonight Is So Right For Love/Wooden Heart - Elvis Presley What A Price - Fats Domino Oh Lonesome Me - Johnny Cash If You Want My Lovin’/Mister Loneliness - Gene Vincent Runaway - Del Shannon Lazy River/Oo-Ee Train - Bobby Darin Little Boy Sad - Johnny Burnette Is There Something On Your Mind? - Jack Scott Don’t Worry - Marty Robbins Don’t Worry/Talkin’ In My Sleep - Billy Fury Linda Lu - Johnny Kidd & The Pirates The Great Snowman - Bob Luman Sure ‘Nuff - Ruth Brown There’s A Moon Out Tonight - Capris Model Girl - Crests Blue Moon - Marcels I Remember - Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs Gee Whiz - Carla Thomas You’re The Boss - LaVern Baker & Jimmy Ricks I’m Hurtin’ - Roy Orbison I’ll Love You Till The Cows Come Home - Clyde McPhatter (I Wanna) Love My Life Away - Gene Pitney Your Friends - Dee Clark Pledge Of Love - Curtis Lee One Mint Julep - Ray Charles Muskrat Ramble - Freddy Cannon A Lover’s Question - Ernestine Anderson Foolin’ Around - Buck Owens Merry-Go-Round - Marv Johnson Pony Time - Don Covay & The Goodtimers Pony Express - Danny & The Juniors More Than I Can Say - Bobby Vee Hearts Of Stone - Bill Black’s Combo Goodnight Mrs Flintstone - Piltdown Men Good Time Baby - Bobby Rydell (If You Cry) True Love, True Love - Derringers No Wings On My Angel - Jordan Brothers What’d I Say - Jack Eubank’s Orchestra Oh Yeah - Joe Melson When Johnny Comes Slidin’ Home - Hollywood Vines Asia Minor - Kokomo The Magnificent Seven - John Barry Seven Vaya Con Dios - Slim Whitman Where The Boys Are - Connie Francis His Love - Tennessee Ernie Ford Lonely Blue Nights - Rosie (formerly of The Originals) Just For Today - Frankie Davidson Yea, Yea Baby - Frank D’Rone The Exodus Song - Pat Boone All Of Everything - Frankie Avalon Till There Was You - Peggy Lee Luna, Luna, Luna, Lu - Johnny Angel Mule Train - Vinny Lee & The Riders Why The Chicken? - Dave Sampson & The Hunters And The Heavens Cried - Anthony Newley You’re Driving Me Crazy - Temperance Seven My Kind Of Girl/This Time - Matt Monro Cowboy Jimmy Joe - Alma Cogan Marry Me - Mike Preston Keep Fit With Eileen Fowler (3) - Eileen Fowler Important events: The major British pop event of the year - the NME Annual Readers’ Poll Winners Concert at Wembley Pool, London - was held on March 5. Among those appearing were The John Barry Seven, Alma Cogan, Russ Conway, Lonnie Donegan, Adam Faith, Emile Ford, Connie Francis, Billy Fury, Ted Heath & His Music, The King Brothers, Jerry Lordan, Bob Miller’s Millermen, The Mudlarks, Cliff Richard & The Shadows, Bert Weedon and Mark Wynter. The 4,000-seater Bloch Arena, Pearl Harbour, Honolulu, was the location for what looks like becoming Elvis Presley’s last concert appearance for some time. Staged as a benefit for the USS Arizona Memorial Fund, the concert featured Elvis performing "Heartbreak Hotel", "All Shook Up", "A Fool Such As I", "I Got A woman", "Love Me", "Such A Night", "Reconsider Baby", "I Need Your Love Tonight", "That’s All Right", "Don’t Be Cruel", "One Night", "Are You Lonesome Tonight?", "It’s Now Or Never", "Swing Down Sweet Chariot" and "Hound Dog". With film work seeming to take up all of Presley’s energy and enthusiasm, concert appearances and tours seem to be a low priority in the foreseeable future. Elvis is in Hawaii to film "Blue Hawaii" All-American hot rockin’ instrumental combo Johnny & The Hurricanes have just celebrated their sixth UK Top 20 hit in 14 months with "Ja-Da". Firmly established as one of the most consistent transatlantic recording acts, The Hurricanes - led by 19-year-old tenorman Johnny Paris - specialise in modernising pre-rock era oldies. "We’re often asked whether the fact that we’re brothers has ever been a handicap in our careers. The way they figure it is that most brothers quarrel, and in our case if there’s no harmony behind the scenes, it’s not very likely that there’ll be much on stage" : The Everly Brothers The Allison’s "Are You Sure" was placed second in the "Song For Europe" Cliff Richard & The Shadows have opened their South African tour in Johannesburg. March 10 - Jeff Barry, co-writer of "Tell Laura I Love Her", signs a 10-year contract with Trinity Music. March 27 - Rick Nelson cuts "My One Desire" Beatles’ manager Alan Williams has secured a three month residency at Hamburg’s Top Ten Club for the Liverpool group. "New Musical Express" headlines this month: Johnny Mathis enthralled me. Part II of Russ Conway’s holiday in America Schoolgirl’s Dream Came True. Helen Shapiro, break into Britain show business Cliff Richard writes to you and lets you into some of his secrets. String-a-Longs’ "Wheels" isn’t wheels at all: wrong name for song, profile Keith Fordyce abandoned law studies for broadcasting. Rock? No its ballads for me. Mark Wynter, 18yr old, balladeer Don and Phil Everly Never lose the magic sound that spells success. Mister Versatility - Bobby Darin’s new title. New hit, "Lazy River," married life Brooks Brothers are Teenage Veterans. Presley Doesn’t wriggle anymore. Elvis’s success, pictures Tommy Steele Goes Back to Variety. Adam Faith Confesses. Success, Loneliness, Interview
