Image: 'Elvis Presley - Backstage at the Overton Park Shell, Friday, July 30, 1954'
(Friday, July 30, 1954, 8:00 p.m. local time) — Elvis Presley made his professional debut in Memphis. It was his first concert to be advertised.
Category Archives: Popular Music 1950s
Bill Haley’s ‘Rock Around the Clock’ released 60 years ago today (May 20 1954)
(Thursday, May 20, 1954) — Bill Haley & His Comets’s “Rock Around the Clock,” considered the first rock and roll song to top the charts, was released today, but it didn’t catch on until it appeared on the soundtrack of Blackboard Jungle the following year.
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Fender Stratocaster guitar officially released 60 years ago today (May 15 1954)
Video: 'Fender 60th Anniversary American Vintage 1954 Stratocaster Electric Guitar'
(Saturday, May 15, 1954) — The Fender Stratocaster, a double-cutaway electric guitar with an extended top “horn” shape for balance designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton and Freddie Tavares, was released today.
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Bill Haley & His Comets record ‘Rock Around the Clock’ in New York 60 years ago today (Apr 12 1954)
(Monday, April 12, 1954) — Bill Haley and His Comets today recorded “Rock Around The Clock,” considered the first rock and roll song to top the charts, for Decca Records at the Pythian Temple studios in New York City.
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Big Joe Turner records ‘Shake, Rattle and Roll’ 60 years ago today (Feb 15 1954)
Video: 'Big Joe Turner - Shake Rattle N'Roll (Rare Stereo Mix 1954)'
(Monday, February 15, 1954) — “Shake, Rattle and Roll,” a twelve bar blues-form rock and roll song, was recorded today by Big Joe Turner in New York. The Turner version was ranked #127 on the Rolling Stone magazine’s list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
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Muddy Waters records ‘Hoochie Coochie Man’ 60 years ago today (Jan 7 1954)
Video: 'Muddy Waters - Hoochie Coochie Man ( Chess 1954)'
(Thursday, January 7, 1954) — Muddy Waters recorded “Hoochie Coochie Man”, a blues standard written by Willie Dixon, today in Chicago. The song was ranked #225 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
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Georgia Tech Glee Club performs on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ 60 years ago this hour (1953)
Video: 'Georgia Tech Glee Club on The Ed Sullivan Show'
(Sunday, October 11, 1953, 8 p.m. EDT) — The Georgia Tech Glee Club performed the “Georgia Tech Fight Song” on tonight’s live edition of the CBS-TV variety show The Ed Sullivan Show.
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Elvis Presley makes his first recording 60 years ago today (1953)
Video: 'Elvis Presley - My Happiness (Elvis' first recording)'
(Saturday, July 18, 1953) — Elvis Presley, 18, recorded “My Happiness” today as a gift for his mother at The Memphis Recording Service, home of the Sun label; it was his first recording.
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‘The Band Wagon’ opens in New York City 60 years ago today (1953)
Video: 'The Band Wagon' trailer
(Thursday, July 9, 1953) — The Band Wagon, a musical comedy film about an aging musical star who hopes a Broadway play will restart his career, opened today at the Music Hall in New York City.
Directed by Vincente Minnelli, the film starred Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Oscar Levant, Nanette Fabray and Jack Buchanan.
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Edith Piaf performs on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ 60 years ago this hour (1952)
(Sunday, November 16, 1952, 8 p.m. EST) — Edith Piaf performed “Le Vie En Rose” on tonight’s live edition of the CBS-TV variety show The Ed Sullivan Show.
