“Autumn Leaves” is the first number one instrumental of the rock era. The melody was originally written in France by Joseph Kosma and was called “Les Feuiles Mortes” which means “Dead Leaves.” I guess that describes autumn leaves pretty well. … Continue reading →
“Love is a Many Splendored Thing” was the first song in the rock era written exclusively for a movie that reached number one. It was, of course, written for the movie by the same name Love is a Many Splendored … Continue reading →
In 1955, performers could see the writing on the wall. All of the so-called “Rhythm and Blues” artists such as Fats Domino and Chuck Berry were starting to cross over into the pop world. Fats Domino wrote the song “Ain’t … Continue reading →
Believe it or not, “The Yellow Rose of Texas” was written during the Civil War in 1853. No one knows who actually wrote the song. All we know is that his initials were “J. K.” It was a favorite of … Continue reading →
The influences of the Big Band Era were still strong in 1955. Rock and roll hadn’t caught on yet and the crooners of the Forties were still very popular. It would be another six or eight months before Elvis Presley … Continue reading →
Bill Haley was born William John Clifton Haley Jr in Highland Park, Michigan on July 6th, 1925. When he was seven, he and his family moved to Delaware where he taught himself how to play the guitar using one made … Continue reading →
Rock Around the Clock Number1project.com is interested in the number ones of the Twentieth Century. And it is also interested in the rock and roll era. Today, I start a project that I have been wanting to do for a … Continue reading →
Elvis Presley Week: The End Elvis died 38 years ago today. In my eyes, he was the king and will always be the king. There will never be another Elvis Presley. Here are some words from my book about his … Continue reading →
Leiber and Stoller (great rock and roll writers) were brought to New York to write the music for “Jailhouse Rock”. I assume they had not been there before, so they decided to see the sights. They got so wrapped up … Continue reading →
Remember Ed Sullivan? He booked Elvis for three shows, paying him $50,000 for the appearances, an unheard of amount in those days. The first was September 9, 1956. There is a legend that Sullivan was so offended by the movement … Continue reading →