http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00772I9V6 Paul Anka started acting in films in 1958 with the teen movie, Let’s Rock. The description of this movie says it is about a singer’s girlfriend who helps him adjust to the new rock ‘n’ roll music. It seems … Continue reading →
The last battle of the War of 1812 was fought in 1815 when General Andrew Jackson defeated the British in a battle at New Orleans, Louisiana. A folk song was written about the battle called “The Eighth of January.” Many … Continue reading →
For a couple of white guys, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller wrote great music for black artists and, in the case of Elvis Presley, a white artist that sounded like a black artist. (They wrote Hound Dog not particularly for … Continue reading →
Dave “Baby” Cortez was born David Cortez Clowney in Detroit, Michigan in 1938. He started playing the piano at a young age and became something of a prodigy. He wrote “The Happy Organ” with a different title, “A Dog and … Continue reading →
The Fleetwoods were made up of two girls and a guy. The girls were Gretchen Christopher and Barbara Ellis who knew each other most of their lives. In fact they grew up in the same neighborhood and played together as … Continue reading →
It probably won’t surprise anyone to learn that Frankie Avalon is not his real name, although his real name is not that different. He was born Francis Thomas Avallone in 1939 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In his youth he wanted to … Continue reading →
Lloyd Price is from the New Orleans school of rock and roll. He has that in common with many other performers, most notably Fats Domino. He was born March 9, 1933 in the Big Easy and was interested in music … Continue reading →
And so we come to the last gasp of the Big Band era. “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” was a number one song by the Paul Whiteman Orchestra in 1934 and charted by other performers that year as well. It … Continue reading →
We have made it to the last number one of 1958. We’ve seen David Seville before. He had the number one hit “Witch Doctor” earlier in 1958. This time he is with three rambunctious cartoon chipmunks who sing the biggest … Continue reading →
Phil Spector was one of the biggest producers of rock and roll during the early Sixties. He produced such groups as the Crystals, the Ronettes, Bobby Sox and the Blue Jeans and the Righteous Brothers. He started his own record … Continue reading →