January 31

                                         
                                                                                                                 

                                                                                         From the stage to the screen: ELVIS PRESLEY signs a contract with the William Morris agency to represent him in films, January 31, 1956.

                                                                                                                  1959: BUDDY HOLLY, RITCHIE VALENS & The BIG BOPPER played at The Armory in Duluth, MN. Seventeen year old Robert Zimmerman was in attendance & became inspired to become a musician after attending this concert. He’s better known today as BOB DYLAN.

 

The BEACH BOYS recorded the epic race between a Super-Stock 413 cu. in.-powered 1962 Dodge Dart and a fuel injected 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray in 1963.

 

January 30

 

 

John, Paul, George and Ringo performed together for the last time; a lunchtime show on the rooftop of Apple Records on January 30, 1969.  The concert is documented in the film Let It Be.

 

 

 

At ELVIS PRESLEY's second session for RCA Victor, 1/30/1956, he cut his own version of

CARL PERKINS' "Blue Suede Shoes."  This energetic performance is from The Milton Berle Show.

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 29

JAMES JAMERSON (January 29, 1936 – August 2, 1983)

One of Motown's legendary Funk Brothers, James played on 30 number-one hits, more than any person or group in music history, and on more than 70 number-one R&B hits, also the most ever.

He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.

I was lucky enough to see James Jamerson play with SMOKEY ROBINSON at a show in Detroit in the 90's.

ROY ORBISON was posthumously awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on 1/29/2010.

In 1964, The BEATLES held their only recording sessions outside the U.K.

January 28

1956: ELVIS PRESLEY made his American television debut on the Dorsey Brothers Stage Show. Jackie Gleason predicted “He can’t last. I tell you flatly, he can’t last”.

BEATLES' manager Brian Epstein managed this band and PAUL SIMON co-wrote their biggest hit.

Drummer Martin Fried of The CYRKLE hits 69 today..

January 27

Have a beautiful Sunday!

January 26

Instant single: On Jan. 25, 1970 JOHN LENNON wrote, recorded and mixed "Instant Karma."

Look for YOKO in the video- this is her best performance with John, ever.

In 1974, RINGO STARR's cover of Johnny Burnette's "You're Sixteen" hit #1.

(That's PAUL McCARTNEY on the kazoo.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Big stuff- the sassy JEAN KNIGHT is 70.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She had many talents, but EARTHA KITT  (1/17-1927-1225/2008) was the purr-fect catwoman.

January 25

 ETTA JAMES (January 25, 1938 – January 20, 2012)

Although it would take until Feb. 1 to hit #1 on the Billboard charts, The BEATLES got their first U.S. #1 on Cashbox, Jan. 25, 1964.

Four years earlier, SAM COOKE recorded his first single for RCA after leaving Keen Records.

January 24

NEIL Leslie DIAMOND was born January 24, 1941 in Brooklyn, New York.

A worldwide superstar with a career spanning several decades, Neil was finally inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2011.


He started as a songwriter in the now famous Brill Building and wrote The MONKEES "A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You" which has always sounded like "Cherry Cherry." 

His musical talent may be questionable, but his tastes are not- JOHN BELUSHI (1/24/49-3/5/82)

January 23

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducted its inaugural class on January 23, 1986.

January 22

SAM COOKE, legend

(January 22, 1931 – December 11, 1964)

January 21

 Robert Weston Smith (January 21, 1938 – July 1, 1995)

Good God, EDWIN STARR would have been 71 today.

Born Charles Edwin Hatcher, he is most famous for "War", written by Norman Whitfield who wrote and produced some of The TEMPTATIONS hits in the late 60's and early 70's.

RICHIE HAVENS (b 1/21/1941) kicked of Woodstock in 1969 and only just retired from touring in 2012.

Bruce Springsteen inducted one of his heroes into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame today in 1987.

January 20

 

Marv Tarplin's tender guitar lick kicks off this lovesick ballad recorded on January 20, 1965.

January 19

Watch The EVERLY BROTHERS drive the girls crazy with their million-selling hit "Bye Bye Love."

30 acts, including ELVIS turned this song down.

Younger brother Phil is 74 today,

One of a kind on stage and off; JANIS JOPLIN (January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970) R.I.P., Pearl.

Denny Doherty, Carl Perkins and Wilson Pickett all went to the great gig in the sky on January 19.

(2007, 1998 and 2006, respectively)

In addition to her #1 hit, SHELLY FABARES (b 1/19/1944) was a successful actress from televisions "The Donna Reed Show" to "Coach", to three movie roles with ELVIS PRESLEY.

January 18

                            Remembering the incredible DAVID RUFFIN 

                      (January 18, 1941 – June 1, 1991)

Among five talented singers David Ruffin's vocals stand out as raw, yet pleading, rough with a smooth edge,  SMOKEY ROBINSION wrote "My Girl" with Ruffin's voice in mind, and David is also at his best on "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" and "I Wish That It Would Rain".

By 1968, ego and cocaine had gotten the best of him.  After The Supremes were renamed "Diana Ross & The Supremes", he insisted on "David Ruffin & The Temptations" even though he was missing rehearsals and shows.  

Fired in June of 1968, David Ruffin had a couple of solo hits, later teamed with former Temptaion Eddie Kendrik.and managed to keep it together for a fantastic show with Hall & Oates at The Apollo in  1985 before he overdosed on cocaine in 1991.

January 17

He's not shown in this video, but it's a good one- CHRIS MONTEZ is 70 today!

One-time Catwoman EARTHA KITT and former ROLLING STONE Mick Taylor share a birthdate.

The two Micks wrote one of the best Stones songs you never hear on the radio.

                                                                               

January 16

Liverpool's Cavern Club opened January 16, 1957.  Many bands played its stage over the years, but three of these four lads became part of the biggest group of all time.
 

The VENTURES are one of only two instrumental groups inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.  Watch co-founder Bob Bogle (January 16, 1934 – June 14, 2009) and company perform their biggest hit live.  

January 15

You can see Mick Jagger roll his eyes  as The ROLLING STONES sing a censored version of their latest song on the Ed Sullvian Show, January 15, 1967.

Two years earlier, The WHO released their debut single in the U.K.

In America, young Motown records signed a band called The Primettes; a quartet that featured a young Diane Ross, on the condition that they change their name.

Barbara Martin would leave the group the next year but success did not come easy.  The girls were called the "no hit Supremes" in the hallways at Hitsville as 9 singles failed to chart until they rang up a string of 5 #1 hits in a row in 1964 beginning with "Where Did Our Love Go."