(Saturday, April 21, 1956) — “Heartbreak Hotel” by Elvis Presleys peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for eight consecutive weeks (Apr. 21/28, May 5/12/19/26, June 2/9, 1956).
It was Presley’s first of 18 number one hits on the chart (1956-1969).
In 2004, it was ranked #45 on Rolling Stone‘s list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”
(Saturday, April 21, 1956) — “Rock Island Line” by Lonnie Donegan peaked at #8 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for one week.
(Saturday, April 14, 1956) — “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” by Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers peaked at #6 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for three weeks.
The song was ranked #314 on the Rolling Stone magazine’s list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”
Video: 'Elvis Presley Blue Suede Shoes Screen Test Paramount Studios 1956'
(Friday, April 6, 1956) — Paramount Pictures signed Elvis Presley to a three-movie contract today just a few days after his first screen test.
Video: '''The Milton Berle Show'' - 3 April 1956'
(Tuesday, April 3, 1956, 8:00-9:00 p.m. EST) — Elvis Presley made the first of two appearances on the comedy-variety show The Milton Berle Show, broadcast live from the deck of the USS Hancock on NBC while docked at the Naval Air Base in San Diego, California, performing 13-second “Shake Rattle & Roll,” “Heartbreak Hotel” and “Blue Suede Shoes.” He earned $5,000. Continue reading Elvis Presley performs on ‘The Milton Berle Show’ 60 years ago this hour (Apr 3 1956)
(Saturday, March 24, 1956) — “The Poor People of Paris” by Les Baxter peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for four consecutive weeks (Mar. 24/31, Apr. 7/14, 1956).
Video: 'Carl Perkins, Matchbox (1950s)'
(Thursday, March 22, 1956, shortly before sunrise EST) — Musician Carl Perkins, 23, was severely injured this morning when the car he was riding in crashed on Route 13 between Dover and Woodside, Delaware. Continue reading Carl Perkins severely injured in car crash 60 years ago this morning (Mar 22 1956)
Video: '1956 HITS ARCHIVE: Blue Suede Shoes - Carl Perkins'
(Saturday, March 10, 1956) — Carl Perkins’ “Blue Suede Shoes” showed up on all three of today’s Billboard best selling retail charts — pop, country and western and rhythm and blues — marking the first time a country and western artist ever scored in all three categories.
(Saturday, February 25, 1956) — “Lisbon Antigua” by Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for four consecutive weeks (Feb. 25, Mar. 3/10/17, 1956).
(Saturday, February 18, 1956) — “The Great Pretender” by The Platters peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Top 100 chart for two consecutive weeks (Feb. 18/25, 1956). In 2004, the song was voted 360th greatest song of all time by Rolling Stone.
