1957, Johnnie Ray was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Yes Tonight Josephine’, the US singers third and final UK No.1. Ray became deaf in his right ear at age 13 after an accident during a Boy Scout “blanket toss,” a variation of the trampoline. (Ray later performed wearing a hearing aid).
1959, The first edition of Juke Box Jury aired on the BBC. The shows host, David Jacobs, lead a revolving panel of guests in critiquing the week’s top record releases. Although the songs were never played in their entirety, the four judges gave a verdict on whether each would be a “hit” or a “miss”.
1961, Chuck Berry opened ‘Berry Park’, an amusement complex near St Louis. The park had its own zoo, golf course and ferris wheel.
1964, The Beatles went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Love Me Do’, the group’s fourth US No.1 in five months. The version released in America had Andy White playing drums while Ringo played the tambourine. The British single was a take on which Ringo Starr played the drums.
1942, Bing Crosby recorded the Irving Berlin song ‘White Christmas’. Crosby recorded the song with the John Scott Trotter Orchestra and the Ken Darby Singers in just 18 minutes. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the version sung by Bing Crosby is the best-selling single of all time, with estimated sales in excess of 50 million copies worldwide.
