SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS

Conway Twitty - 1 September, 1933 (Friars Point, MS)
   Died 5 June, 1993, Springfield, MO
Roy Head  - 1 September, 1941 (Three Rivers, TX)
Russ Conway - 2 September, 1927 (Bristol, England)
    Died 16 November, 2000, Eastbourne, Sussex, England
Charline Arthur - 2 September, 1929 (Henrietta, TX)
    Died 27 November, 1987, Pocatello, Idaho
Jimmy Clanton - 2 September, 1940 (Baton Rouge, LA)
Memphis Slim - 3 September, 1915 (Memphis, TN)
    Died 24 February, 1988, Paris, France
Hank Thompson - 3 September, 1925 (Waco, TX)
Freddie King - 3 September, 1934 (Gilmer, TX) 
   (Some sources say 30 September, 1934)
   Died 28 December, 1976, Dallas, TX
Danny Gatton - 4 September, 1945 (Washington, D.C.)
   Died 4 October, 1994, Newburg, MD
Sunnyland Slim - 5 September, 1907 (Vance, MS)
   Died 17 March, 1995, Chicago, IL
Art Rupe - 5 September, 1917 (Greensburg, PA)
Joe "Speedo" Frazier (Impalas) - 5 September, 1943 (Brooklyn, NYC)
Jimmy Reed - 6 September, 1925 (Dunleith, MS)
   Died 29 August, 1976, Oakland, CA
Albert Ammons - 7 September, 1907 (Chicago, IL)
   Died 5 December, 1949, Chicago
Al Caiola - 7 September, 1920 (Jersey City, NY)
Ray Harris - 7 September, 1927 (Mantachie, MS)
Johnny Duncan - 7 September, 1932 (Oliver Springs, TN)
   Died 15 July, 2000, Taree, New South Wales, Australia
Little Milton - 7 September, 1934 (Inverness, MS)
Buddy Holly - 7 September, 1936 (Lubbock, TX)
   Died 3 February, 1959, near Clear Lake, IA
Jimmie Rodgers - 8 September, 1897 (Meridian, MS)
   Died 26 May, 1933, New York City, NY
Jules Bihari - 8 September, 1913, Philadelphia, PA
   Died 17 November, 1984, Los Angeles, CA
Patsy Cline - 8 September, 1932 (Winchester, VA)
   Died 5 March, 1963, near Camden, TN 
Merle Kilgore - 8 September, 1934 (Chickasha, OK)
Bill Parsons - 8 September, 1934 (Crossville, TN)
Joe Clay - 9 September, 1938 (Harvey, LA)
Otis Redding - 9 September, 1941 (Dawson, GA)
   Died 12 December, 1967, Madison, WI
Dee Dee Sharp - 9 September, 1945 (Philadelphia, PA)
Roy Brown - 10 September, 1925 (New Orleans, LA)
   Died 25 May, 1981, Pacoima, CA
Ella Mae Morse - 12 September, 1924 (Mansfield, TX)
   Died 17 October, 1999, Bullhead City, AZ
George Jones - 12 September, 1931 (Saratoga, TX)
Meade Lux Lewis - 13 September, 1905 (Chicago, IL)
   Died 7 June, 1964, Minneapolis, MN
Bill Monroe - 13 September, 1911 (Rosine, KY)
   Died 9 September, 1996, Springfield, TN
Charles Brown - 13 September, 1922 (Texas City, TX)
   Died 21 January, 1999, Oakland, CA
Johnny Restivo - 13 September, 1943 (Bronx, NYC)
Archibald (Leon Gross) - 14 September, 1912 (New Orleans, LA)
   Died 8 January, 1973, New Orleans
Malcolm Yelvington - 14 September, 1918 (Covington, TX)
   Died 21 February, 2001, Memphis, TN
Tommy Blake - 14 September, 1931, Dallas, TX
Johnny Jano(t) - 14 September, 1933 (Eunice, LA)
   Died 16 January, 1984, Beaumont, TX
Roy Acuff - 15 September. 1903 (Maynardsville, TN)
   Died 23 November, 1992, Nashville, TN
B.B. King - 16 September, 1925 (Itta Bena, MS)
Little Willie Littlefield - 16 September, 1931 (El Campo, TX)
Hank Williams - 17 September, 1923 (Mount Olive West, AL)
   Died 1 January, 1953, Oak Hill, West Virginia
Bill Black - 17 September, 1926 (Memphis, TN)
   Died 21 October, 1965, Memphis
Sil Austin - 17 September, 1929 (Dunellon, FL)
   Died 1 September, 2001, Atlanta, GA
Aubrey Cagle - 17 September, 1934 (Lexington, TN)
Hardrock Gunter - 18 September, 1918 (Birmingham, AL)
G.L. Crockett - 18 September, 1928 (Carrollton, MS)
   Died 15 February, 1967, Chicago, IL 
Jimmie "Honeycomb" Rodgers - 18 September, 1933 (Camas, WA)
Frankie Avalon - 18 September, 1939 (Philadelphia, PA)
Jack Hammer - 18 September, 1940 (New Orleans, LA)
Billy Ward - 19 September, 1921 (Los Angeles, CA)
Brook Benton - 19 September, 1931 (Camden, SC)
   Died 9 April, 1988, Queens, NYC
Bill Medley (Righteous Bros) - 19 September, 1940 (Santa Ana, CA)
Bobby Nunn (Robins) - 20 September, 1925 (Birmingham, AL)
   Died 5 November, 1986, Los Angeles, CA
Eddie Bo - 20 September, 1930 (New Orleans, LA)
Dickey Lee - 21 September, 1936 (Whitehaven, TN)
Tiny Bradshaw - 23 September, 1905 (Youngstown, OH)
   Died 26 November, 1958, Cincinnati, OH
Joe Hill Louis - 23 September, 1921 (Froggy Bottom, TN)
   Died 5 August, 1957, Memphis, TN
Ray Charles - 23 September, 1930 (Albany, GA)
Ben E. King - 23 September, 1938 (Henderson, NC)
Roy Buchanan - 23 September, 1939 (Ozark, AK)
   Died 14 August, 1988, Fairfax, VA
Tarheel Slim - 24 September, 1924 (Bailey, NC)
   Died 21 August, 1977, Bronx, NYC
Anthony Newley - 24 September, 1931 (London, England)
   Died 14 April, 1999, Jensen Beach, FL
Steve Douglas - 24 September, 1938,  Los Angeles, CA
   Died 19 April, 1993, Los Angeles
Mike Berry - 24 September, 1943 (Northampton, England)
Rene Hall - 26 September, 1912 (Morgan City, LA)
   Died 11 February, 1988, Los Angeles, CA
John Zacherle - 26 September, 1918 (Philadelphia, PA) 
Merrill Moore - 26 September, 1923 (Algona, IA)
   Died 14 June, 2000, San Diego, CA
Marty Robbins - 26 September, 1925 (Glendale, AZ)
   Died 8 December, 1982 , Nashville, TN
Julie London - 26 September, 1926 (Santa Rosa, CA)
   Died 19 October, 2000,  Los Angeles, CA 
Tommy Collins - 28 September, 1930 (Oklahoma City, OK)
   Died 14 March, 2000, Ashland City, TN
Koko Taylor - 28 September, 1938 (Memphis, TN) 
Helen Shapiro - 28 September, 1946 (Bethnal Green, London, England)
Tillman Franks - 29 September, 1920 (Stamps, AK) 
Jerry Lee Lewis - 29 September, 1935 (Ferriday, LA)
Frankie Lymon - 30 September, 1942 (Washington Heights, NYC)
   Died 28 February, 1968, New York City, NY

September 1955

UK Top Ten (first week of the month):

1. Rose Marie - Slim Whitman
2. Cool Water - Frankie Laine
3. Learnin' The Blues - Frank Sinatra
4. Ev'rywhere - David Whitfield
5. The Breeze And I - Caterina Valente
6. Indian Love Call - Slim Whitman
7. Strange Lady In Town - Frankie Laine
8. Ev'ry Day Of My Life - Malcolm Vaughan
9. Evermore - Ruby Murray
10. John And Julie - Eddie Calvert

US Top Ten (first week of the month):

1. Rock Around The Clock - Bill Haley & His Comets
2. Ain't That A Shame - Pat Boone
3. Yellow Rose Of Texas - Mitch Miller
4. Learnin' The Blues - Frank Sinatra
5. Hard To Get - Giselle Mackenzie
6. Yellow Rose Of Texas - Johnny Desmond
7. Seventeen - Boyd Bennett
8. A Blossom Fell - Nat King Cole
9. House Of Blue Lights - Chuck Miller
10. Maybelline - Chuck Berry

US R&B chart toppers this month:

Maybelline - Chuck Berry & His Combo

US Country chart toppers this month:

I Don't Care - Webb Pierce

Some UK single releases:

Ain't That A Shame/La La - Fats Domino
Ain't That A Shame/Tennessee Saturday Night - Pat Boone
Ain't That A Shame/Razzle-Dazzle - Ella Mae Morse
Ain't That A Shame - Southlanders
Ain't That A Shame - Rosemary Gaynor
Pitter Patter - Nappy Brown
Cat Nap/Stomping Room Only - Tiny Bradshaw Orchestra
Seventeen - Boyd Bennett & His Rockets
Seventeen - Fontane Sisters
Seventeen - Confrey Phillips
Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young - Faron Young
Run, Manny, Run - Ronnie Grey & The Jets
Livin', Livin', Livin' - Ella Mae Morse
I Must Be Dreaming - The Cheers
Sugar Booger Avenue - Vonnie Fritchie
The Kentuckian Song/Wabash Cannonball - Mac Wiseman
Tahiti - Jim Reeves
The Richest Man (In The World) - Eddy Arnold
The Popcorn Song - Cliffie Stone Orchestra
Everybody's Somebody's Fool - Bertice Redding
Hummingbird - Frankie Laine
Now I Lay Me Down To Dream - Al Hibbler
More Than You Know - Billy Eckstine
Belonging - Guy Mitchell
Wichita - Tex Ritter
Drifting And Dreaming - Dinning Sisters
I Love Paris - Dave Burgess Trio
Sugar - Peggy Lee
He Needs Me - Peggy Lee
Pete Kelly's Blues - Ella Fitzgerald
Ain'tcha-cha-comin' Out T-tonight - Jo Stafford
I'll Never Stop Loving You - Doris Day
Let's Make The Most Of Tonight - Kitty Kallen
Something Happened To My Heart - Yana
Banjo Woogie - Sunnysiders
Banjo Woogie - Georgie Shaw
Hey There - Sammy Davis
Dream For Sale - Norman Wisdom
Ma (She's Making Eyes At Me) - Ferko String Band
Hernando's Hideway - Ethel Smith
Hernando's Hideaway - Archie Bleyer Orchestra
Hernando's Hideaway - Lita Roza
Hernando's Hideaway - Ray Martin Orchestra
Hernando's Hideaway - Johnston Brothers
Frenesi - Les Brown & His Band Of Renown
Soldier Boy - Ella Fitzgerald
Soldier Boy - Eydie Gorme
Soldier Boy - Janie Marden
Sailor Boys Have To Talk To Me In English - Five DeMarco Sisters
Sailor Boys Have To Talk To Me In English - Rosemary Clooney
Love Is A Many Splendoured Thing - Eddie Calvert
Domani - Tony Reid
The Yellow Rose Of Texas - Mitch Miller
The Yellow Rose Of Texas - Billy Cotton Band
The Yellow Rose Of Texas - Michael Holliday
The Magnificent Matador - Billy Butterfield Orchestra
The Man From Laramie - Jimmy Young
Riding My Bike/Shopping - Vera Lynn

Important Events:

In recent months, American C&W singer Slim Whitman has astounded the music
world with his British record sales.  His 'Rose Marie' disc has been No. 1
since July and is almost certain to become the biggest seller of any record
ever released  in Britain.  Slim - aged 31 - worked as a shipfitter and
boilermaker in his home town of Tampa, Florida before taking up guitar
while serving in the US Navy.  Since his demobilization in 1945, he's never
looked back.  A well known name on the American country circuit, Slim was
virtually unknown in Britain three months ago, yet today his records
outsell all competition.  In addition to his fantastic success with 'Rose
Marie', an earlier recording of 'Indian Love Call' has occupied a high
place in the best sellers for several weeks, and now a third disc, 'China
Doll', has joined them in the chart.  Two more titles, 'Roll On Silvery
Moon' and 'Cattle Call', are also enjoying brisk sales in every corner of
Britain.  Coincidentally, another 'Rose' is topping the US best sellers -
Mitch Miller's 'Yellow Rose of Texas'.

Commercial TV has begun transmission in Britain, creating an alternative
channel to the BBC.

Bill Haley & His Comets have turned down a tour of Australia because some
of the combo refuse to travel by air.

The rise of R&B in America has seen a proliferation of black vocal groups,
usually quartets or quintets, patterned after such pioneering teams as The
Ravens, The Orioles and The Dominoes.  The number of groups is as
incredible as some of their fanciful names.  The Crows, The Charms and The
Penguins have all had fleeting pop success, but what of the Drifters, The
Dreamers, The Roamers, The Leaders, The Flamingos, Robins, Larks, Blues
Jays, Cardinals, Wrens, Hawkettes, Meadowlarks, Swallows and Spaniels?  Or
The Spiders, Crickets, Turks, Turbans, Sultans, Squires, Regals, Barons,
Counts, Coronets, Crowns and Queens?  Not to forget The Royals, The
Orchids, Clovers, Marigolds, Nutmegs, Willows, Evergreens, Rivileers,
Vocaleers, Danderliers, Buccaneers, Blue Flames, Blazes, Embers, The
Diablos or The Angels ... and countless others.

Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds finally wed, ditto Ray Anthony and Mamie
Van Doren.  But screen goddess Rita Hayworth and Singer Dick Haymes (her
fourth husband) have parted company.

Peggy Lee is winning rave reviews for her screen role in Pete Kelly's
Blues, the story of a jazz band's bloody skirmishes with protection
racketeers in Kansas City during the twenties.  Star and producer is Jack
Webb, whose crime series, Dragnet, begins on British television this month.
 Miss Lee also embellishes the latest Disney release, 'The Lady And The
Tramp'.  She co-wrote the score and also does the voice characterisations
of the Siamese cats.

"New Musical Express" headlines this month:

The Words Must Be Sincere - Or David Will Not Sing Them. Portrait of
Whitfield by the man who knows him best.

So You Want To Buy a Record Player?  Recommends certain players to readers.

Dennis Lotis Deserves His Success. Story and future plans of British
singer, movie and TV star.

David Hughes Struggles with Pit Orchestra. Reviews Finsbury Park Empire
debut.

Hail to the Handsome Dennis Hale. Reviews singer's Glasgow debut.

Golden Days for Mantovani. British musician tours U.S. and Canada.

'It's David's Day' says Joan Regan. David Whitfield fan convention.

Ruby Murray. My Biggest Break Scared Me Stiff! Singer writes about nerves,
illness, and success.

The Boys with the Barber Shop Voices. Leader of American vocal group Crew
Cuts.

Song, Sand, and Suspense! Singers Diana Coupland and Monty Norman talk
about touring Europe and the Middle East.

Johnnie Ray - By His Manager. Interview with Bernie Lang.

Lee Plugs a Song He Hasn't Recorded! Reviews Lee Lawrence at Brixton
Empire.

'Off the Record'- An Improvement Must Be Made. Reviews TV show.

Wedding Bells for Eddie and Debbie. Singer Fisher and film star Reynolds
wed.

East Ham Sings It with Joe. Reviews pianist Joe Henderson.

Other events:

September 20: As revolutionary forces extended their control over large
areas of Argentina yesterday President Peron, 59, announced that he
'insisted' on offering his resignation.  He suggested that the army was
best qualified to take over control.

September 23:  Commercial television, offering London viewers for the first
time a choice of home pictures, last night made a subdued and dignified
start, reminiscent of the B.B.C. service, when the Independent Television
Authority opened its regular transmissions.  It warmed up late in the
evening.  George Formby was in rollicking form with his ukelele at the May
Fair Hotel.  An hour lapsed before the first 'commercial' was seen - an
advertisement for Gibbs SR Toothpaste.

September 8:  More than 600 men of No. 45 Royal Marine Commando were on
their way from Malta to Cyprus today in three tank-landing craft.  At the
same time 100 officers and men of the 1st Bn. The South Staffordshire
Regiment were disembarking in Nicosia from the Suez Canal.  These moves to
reinforce public security in the island coincide with increased tension
between the Greek and Turkish-speaking sections of the population.

September 14: South African customs men sent copies of 'Black Beauty', Anna
Sewell's novel about a horse, to the censors because they thought it had a
suspicious title, it was disclosed in Durban.  Also examined were a number
of Enid Blyton's child books and a book called 'Before We go To Bed' -
which the censors found was an anthology of bed-time prayers for children.
The censors have banned 700 books so far this year.

---

September 1956

UK Top Ten (first week of the month):

1. Whatever Will Be Will Be - Doris Day
2. Why Do Fools Fall In Love? - The Teenagers featuring Frankie Lymon
3. A Sweet Old Fashioned Girl - Teresa Brewer
4. Rockin Through The Rye - Bill Haley
5. Walk Hand In Hand - Tony Martin
6. Mountain Greenery - Mel Torme
7. I Almost Lost My Mind - Pat Boone
8. Wayward Wind - Tex Ritter
9. Heartbreak Hotel - Elvis Presley
10. Serenade - Slim Whitman

US Top Ten (first week of the month):

1. Hound Dog/Don't Be Cruel - Elvis Presley
2. My Prayer/Heaven On Earth - Platters
3. Whatever Will Be Will Be - Doris Day
4. Flying Saucer - Buchanan & Goodman
5. Canadian Sunset - Hugo Winterhalter
6. Allegheny Moon - Patti Page
7. I Want You, I Need You, I Love You - Elvis Presley
8. Be-Bop-A-Lula - Gene Vincent
9. I Almost Lost My Mind - Pat Boone
10. Tonight You Belong To Me - Patience & Prudence

US R&B chart toppers this month:

Let The Good Times Roll - Shirley & lee
Hound Dog/Don't Be Cruel - Elvis Presley

US Country chart toppers this month:

I Walk The Line - Johnny Cash
Hound Dog/Don't Be Cruel - Elvis Presley

Some UK single 45 releases:

Hound Dog/Don't Be Cruel - Elvis Presley
Race With The Devil/Gonna Back Up Baby - Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps
One Night - Smiley Lewis
I Promise To Remember - Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers
Love, Love, Love - Clovers
Love, Love, Love - Diamonds
Giddy-Up-A-Ding-Dong - Freddie Bell & The Bell Boys
The Groovy Age - Big Moe with Boyd Bennett & His Rockets
Lotsa Love - Jodimars
The Ying Tong Song/Bloodnok's Rock'n'Roll Call - Goons
Just Walking In The Rain - Johnnie Ray
A Woman In Love - Frankie Laine
A Woman In Love - Four Aces
I Wish I Had A Nickel/There's No Room In My Heart (For The Blues) - Hank
Williams & His Guitar
Never Turn Back - Al Hibbler
Born To Be With You - Four Lads
No Rock'n'Roll Tonight - Bonnie Lou
Condemned For Life (With A Rock And Roll Wife) - Ray Burns
Rich In Love - Pat Boone
What Should A Teen Heart Do? - Joan Weber
Canadian Sunset - Andy Williams
Don't Be That Way - Gale Storm
I Cried For You - Vic Damone
They Didn't Believe Me - Buddy Greco
That's All Right Honey - Peggy Lee
Pet Me, Poppa - Rosemary Clooney
Pardners - Alan Dale & Buddy Hackett
It Only Hurts For A Little While - Ronnie Carroll
Nellie The Elephant - Mandy Miller
The Runaway Train - Michael Holliday
It's No Secret - The Cowboy Chuch Sunday School
Balintore Fisherman Polka - Jimmy Shand
English Muffins And Irish Stew - Sylvia Sims

Important events:

During the past year, rock'n'roll and teen-slanted music has penetrated
deep into the popular music mainstream.  This month, Britain's Top 30
listing contains records by The Platters, The Teenagers, Freddie Bell & The
Bellboys, Fats Domino, Gene Vincent, Lonnie Donegan,  two by Pat Boone,
three by Elvis Presley and a remarkable five by Bill Haley & His Comets.
All Haley's discs are in the top twenty - equalling British singer Ruby
Murray's achievement last year.  When he visits Britain next February,
Haley will have to answer potentially embarrassing questions about the film
'Rock Around The Clock', which has been at the centre of highly publicised
youth riots and cinema smashing in the UK.  The film has been banned in
some cities and heavily criticised by senior police officers and
councillors in others.

Elvis Presley's 'Hound Dog' is no new breed.  Its pedigree stretches back
to 1953, when it became a R&B chart topper in the hands of Alabama blues
singer, Big Mama Thornton.  That record was the first major success for the
young songwriting/producing team of Leiber and Stoller - although Elvis
picked up the song when he played Las Vegas, earlier this year.  Freddie
Bell & The Bellboys, currently on view in 'Rock Around The Clock', were
featuring it in their night club act, and Elvis took a fancy to it.  He
performed it on Steve Allen's TV show in early July and went straight into
RCA's New York studio to record it the next day.  Only after the 28th take
was everybody happy.  Mike Stoller was fortunate to hear the results at
all.  He was returning from Europe on the 'Andrea Doria' when the liner
collided with another vessel.  Fifty people were lost, but Stoller escaped
by lifeboat and eventually reached New York - where Jerry Leiber greeted
him with the news that Presley's next single was going to be their song.

Harry Belafonte has reached the top of the US album charts for the second
time this year.  On 'Calypso', New York-born Belafonte has chosen to record
a selection of Caribbean songs, including 'Jamaica Farewell' and 'The
Banana Boat Song'.  Pundits are speculating that calypso music could well
become the next trend when the rock'nroll craze fades.

Now that the Mercury label has a UK outlet, The Platters have finally found
their way into the British best sellers - with a coupling of 'Only
You'/'The Great Pretender'. 

Tremendous British interest has developed in the weekly rock'n'roll
programme, 'Jamboree', presented on Radio Luxembourg by American
disc-jockey Alan Freed.

Decca UK are bubbling with enthusiasm about their first rock'n'roll
signing, Tommy Steele.

"New Musical Express" headlines this month:

The Deeps are Back! Deep River Boys.

Jiver Hutchinson will Launch Own Band in November

Variety Radio for Anne Shelton.

Stephanie Grappelly in Yana TV series.

Polydor Sign Peter Yorke

Lionel Hampton All-stars. Opening Dates in Britain

June Marlowe Joins Stargazers: Eula Parker Leaves

Lonnie Donegan West End Variety Debut

Lonnie Donegan - His Skiffle Plans and Hopes.

Anne Shelton is Back Among the Hits Again.

Don't Think it all Began With Presley and Haley.

Spotlight on The Rock 'N' Roll Stars. [Bill Haley, Elvis Presley, Pat
Boone]

He Writes Rock 'N' Roll and He Sings It Too.  [Fats Domino]

Riots: Why blame Elvis?

Bill Haley's Comets Starring in Another Hollywood Film

Other events:

September 5:  Police were called to five cinemas in London and surrounding
districts last night to deal with excited young people creating
disturbances during showings of the film, 'Rock Around The Clock'.  The
film is based on 'jive' music.  Teddy boys and girls started by clapping
hands and banging their feet to the rhythm of the music.  As the tempo grew
faster, they left their seats to dance in the gangways.  At the Gaumont,
Chadwell Heath, Essex, 30 youths were ejected after scuffles.  A policeman
and several of the staff were hit.  Seats were torn.  Later, Edward Pillar,
17, of Lord Avenue, Ilford, Essex, was charged with assaulting the
policeman.  About 120 youths and girls jumped out of their seats at the
Gaumont, West Ham, East London.  Many protested at being ejected by the
police.  Crowds of Teddy boys and girls stood outside the Gaumont,
Dagenham, Essex, hissing and booing as police ejected dancing and chanting
youths.  Police were called to deal with a number of youths singing and
dancing in the streets after leaving the Gaumont, Twickenham, Middlesex.
Last night's incidents brought to seven the number of times police had been
called in the last fortnight to deal with young people excited after seeing
the film.  The other incidents were at Shepherd's Bush and Kilburn.

September 14: Guy Burgess, former British diplomat, is working for a
Russian foreign languages publishing house.  This was disclosed in Moscow
today by Mr Tom Driberg, former Socialist M.P. for Maldon, Essex.  Mr
Driberg said he had seen Burgess constantly since he, Mr Driberg, arrived
in Russia a month ago.  'He still wears an Old Etonian tie' said Mr
Driberg.

September 8: The death is announced of cricketer C.B. Fry, aged 84