Today in Music History Archives

April 14th, 2019

1953 – Lita Roza was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘(How Much) Is That Doggie In Window.’ The 27 year old singer was the NME readers’ Top Female artist of 1953 and with this single became the first British female singer to top the UK singles Chart, (and the first Liverpudlian to do so).

April 13th, 2019

1962 – The Beatles made their third trip to Germany for a 48-night residency at The Star Club, Hamburg. During the seven week run The Beatles had only one day off.

April 12th, 2019

1954 – Bill Haley recorded ‘Rock Around the Clock’ at Pythian Temple studios in New York City. Considered by many to be the song that put rock and roll on the map around the world. The song was used over the opening titles for the film ‘Blackboard Jungle’, and went on to be a world-wide No.1 and the biggest selling pop single with sales over 25 million. Written by Max C. Freedman and James E. Myers, ‘Rock Around The Clock’ was first recorded by Italian-American band Sonny Dae and His Knights.

April 11th, 2019

1956 – Travelling from Amarillo to Nashville, the plane that Elvis Presley was flying on developed engine trouble and was forced to make an emergency landing. The incident created a fear of flying for Presley.

April 10th, 2019

1962 – The Beatles former bass player Stuart Sutcliffe died, (original bassist for eighteen months – January 1960 – June 1961). Sutcliff had stayed in Hamburg Germany after leaving the group. He died of a brain haemorrhage in an ambulance on the way to hospital, aged 22.