Today in Music History Archives

April 25th, 2018

1954, Johnnie Ray was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Such A Night.’ The singer’s first of three UK No.1’s. He became deaf in his right ear aged 13 after an accident and would later perform wearing a hearing aid. Dexys Midnight Runners’ 1982 music video for ‘Come On Eileen’, used footage of Ray from
1954. The lyrics of the song say, “Poor old Johnnie Ray sounded sad upon the radio / he moved a million hearts in mono”.

April 24th, 2018

1955, Perez Prado was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White’. Known as the ‘King of the Mambo’ the instrumental was the theme from the film ‘Underwater’ where Jane Russell can be seen dancing to ‘Cherry Pink’.

April 23rd, 2018

1956, Elvis Presley (with Scotty Moore and Bill Black), played the first night of a two-week engagement (playing 2 shows a day) at the New Frontier Hotel, Las Vegas. Presley was not the typical Las Vegas Strip entertainer of the time and his shows were met with a cool reception.

April 22nd, 2018

1957, Elvis Presley had his custom built ‘Music Gates’ installed at Gracelands. The gates were designed by Abe Saucer and custom built by John Dillars Jr, of Memphis Doors inc.

April 21st, 2018

1958, US country music singer Marvin Rainwater was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Whole Lotta Woman’. Rainwater was a full-blooded Cherokee Indian, known for wearing Native American-themed outfits on stage.