1951
The Clovers, an R&B vocal group from Washington DC, recorded their first song for Atlantic Records. The debut, “Don’t You Know I Love You” became the groups first #1 R&B hit. They followed with six more top 3 hits on Atlantic through 1953. Other hits from the early 50′s were “Lovey Dovey” and “Devil Or Angel”, which Bobby Vee would release in 1960.
1952
In Corinth, Mississippi, 19-year-old singer Carl Perkins married Valda Crider. She encouraged him to pursue a career in music. Carl was from a poor sharecropping family in Tennessee and had been picking cotton since he was the age of six. He made his first guitar from a broom handle and a cigar box, using baling wire for strings.
1955
Carl Perkins recorded “Movie Magg” and “Turn Around” at his first recording session at Sun Records. The songs were released on the Flip Records, one of Sam Phillips new labels. Perkins said “Turn Around” was always a favorite of his because of how he felt about his wife (see previous post). He indicated if she were ever in trouble or felt lonely, all she’d have to do is turn around and he’d be right there following her.
Fats Domino began a 42-date US tour in New York.
1956
James Brown & the Famous Flames were signed to Federal Records.
Buddy Holly & the Three-Tunes recorded their first sessions for Decca in Nashville.
Irvin Feld’s Super Attractions R&B package trek opened in Pittsburgh. The ten-date-all-star tour featured Bill Haley & His Comets, the Platters, LaVern Baker, Shirley & Lee, the Drifters, Bo Diddley and Joe Turner.
Elvis Presley made his first of four appearances on the Stage Show, hosted by Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey and aired live from CBS Studio 50 in New York. Elvis received $1,250 for each show. Jackie Gleason, whose company produced the show said, “He can’t last. I tell you flatly, he can’t last.” The initial four shows were immediately upped to six by popular demand. So much for Jackie Gleason being much of a predictor.
1958
Buddy Holly recorded at Bell Sound Studios in New York. The next day he and the Crickets performed “Oh Boy!” on their second appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.
Little Richard embarked on a four-year course in religious studies at the Oakwood Theological College in Huntsville, Alabama. He would receive his BS and be ordained as a Seventh Day Adventist minister like his father and grandfather before him. Little Richard said, “The Lord is on the side of the ballad singers. Rock ‘n’ Roll is strictly Satan’s music. Sure I made a lot of money out of rock ‘n’ Roll. Now I want to make up for my sins for the rest of my life.”
1959
Buddy Holly made what proved to be his last recordings, on a tape recorder, in his New York apartment. The next day he began a 24-date Winter Dance Party tour in Milwaukee. It was set to end on February 15 in Springfield, Ill. Also on the bill is Big Bopper, Richie Valens and Dion & the Belmonts. We all know what happened on February 3, just eleven days after the start of the tour. The day the music died.
