January 4
Billy Ward and His Dominoes play a two week engagement in Los
Angeles at Macambo
January 7
Bill Kenny headlines the revue at the Apollo Theater for the
week.
The Bill Doggett Trio splits the bill with the Five Keys at the Washington's Howard Theater.
Louis Jordan plays a weekend engagement at the Savoy Ballroom In Los Angeles. Across town. Amos Milburn entertains at the 5-4 Ballroom.
John Lee Hooker and His Boogie Ramblers open a four-week engagement at Detroit's Town Casino.
Early January
Lucky Millender signs a new contract extending his terms with
King Records. Lucky Millender heads the house band at the Apollo
Theater most weeks.
Recorded In Hollywood Records leases four more sides from the defunct Swing Time Records, leading to the re-release of Lowell Fulson's "Every Day I Have the Blues" and Lloyd Glenn "Old Time Blues."
January 10
Bill Haley and His Comets open in Washington at the Casino Royal
for one week.
January 11
Following RCA Victor's lead, MGM Records cuts the pricier of its
albums. Prices for single records will remain steady at
eighty-nine cents for 45 rpm and ninety-eight cents for 75 rpm
disks.
January 12
Studio Films, Inc. of Los Angeles announces a schedule of twelve
thirty-six-minute shorts featuring r&b talent to be released
to movie theaters following completion in early February.
Featuredare Ruth Brown, the Clovers, the Larks, Joe Turner, Dinah
Washington and Rhythm Boys.
January 13
Johnny Otis plays a one-nighter at the Club Alimony in Los
Angeles.
January 14
Alan Freed produces the first "Rock And Roll Ball" in
the New York area at the St. Nicholas Arena for two nights ( 14th
and 15th). Both shows sell out a week in advance with a total
12,000 attending to the tune of $24,000 for both days. Performers
for the two nights are Joe Turner, Fats Domino, the Clovers, the
Drifters, Danny Overbea. the Moonglows, the Harptones, Nolan
Jackson, Ella Johnson, the Buddy Jackson Orchestra and Red
Prysock Trio.
The Five Pearls open at the Madison Ballroom in Detroit for three nights.
At the Apollo Theater, Dinah Washington and the Penguins headline, backed by the James Moody band.
At the Los Angeles' Savoy Ballroom. Roy Milton and Memphis Slim cook up a boogie woogie stew for dancers this weekend. At the 5-4 Ballroom, the Robins join T-Bone Walker and Floyd Dixon for a three-day stay.
In Detroit, the Crystal Lounge hosts Roy Hamilton for three days and Nolan Strong and the Diablos are at Dudley's Garden Theater for a week-long layover.
January 15
Bill Haley's "Dim, Dim the Lights" is tied to an auto
safety bumper sticker campaign through a Decca Records promotion.
Haley also renews his contract with Decca during the week.
Sonny Thompson and lulu Reed play the weekend at the Club Desire in New Orleans.
Mid-January
Roy Hamilton appears at the Basin Street in New York.
Two new record labels specializing in r&b. Teenage and Dice, are formed in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Savoy Records announces the signing of Larry Darnell, formerly with Okeh.
Victor reports the company will set up recording studios in Nashville as soon as a site is found.
Dootone Records signs the Swans and Meadowlarks. Dootsie Williams owner of Dootone, states flatly that the Penguins the hottest act on his label, will not be moving to a major label as has been rumored. According to Williams, he has a three year contract with the group.
January 17
Joe Turner is featured at the Celebrity Club in Providence, Rhode
Island.
Margie Day starts an appearance at the Showboat in Philadelphia. fats Domino stops for a week at Hi Hat Club in Boston.
The Crystal Lounge in Detroit hosts Tiny Bradshaw for the week.
January 20
The Orioles start a three-day stint at the Riveria Club in St.
Louis as part of their Midwestern tour.
January 21
Faye Adams, the Moonglows/Moonlighters, the Bill Dogett Combo, Al
Savage and the Joe Morris Band are at the Apollo for a week's
stay.
In Los Angeles, the three-day weekend brings Amos Milburn, Charles Brown and Wild Bill Davis to the Savoy Ballroom and the Four Tunes to the 5-4 Ballroom.
January 22
Joe Jones, formerly with Roy Brown and B.B. King, is doing big
business at the Dew Drop Inn backing the strippers and
female impersonators.
January 24
Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson has a two-day layover at
Chicago's Basin Street Club. Also, in the Windy City , Muddy
waters is playing an extended engagement at the 706 Club.
January 27
Johnny Otis performs at the Club Alimony in Los Angeles for the
evening.
January 28
The "Top Ten Rhythm and Blues Show' booked by the Shaw
Agency takes to the road for six weeks. Entertainers include the
Clovers, the Charms, Moonglows/Moonlighters, Faye Adams, Bill
Doggett, Lowell Fulson,, Joe Turner and the Paul Williams
Orchestra. Tonight's kickoff performance is in
Northfolk, Virginia. Shows for the remainder of January are held
in Richmond (29th), Washington (30th) and Baltimore (31st).
The Ravens with Jimmy Ricks front the Arnett Cobb Band at the Apollo for a week.
Washington's Howard Theater hosts LaVern Baker, the Harptones and the Counts backed by Illinois Jacquet's Combo.
In Los Angeles, the "Rock & Roll Jamboree" at the Shrine Auditorium features Billy Ward and His Dominoes, Gene and Eunice, the Medallions, the Jewels, T-Bone Walker, Shirley Gunter and the Queens, Richard Berry and the Dreamers, Marvin and Johnny, Joe Houston, Chuck Higgins and Oscar McLollie for one night.
Also in Los Angeles, for a three-day weekend shows, Sonny Thompson and Lulu Reed are at the 5-4 Ballroom and Roy Brown and the Ink Spots are at the Savoy Ballroom.
Charles Brown plays the Club Desire in New Orleans for three days.
January 29
Earl Bostic starts a southern tour with a show in Baltimore. The
first two weeks will bring in 9,000 patrons and $13,000 with
one-nighters in Salsbury, Maryland; Raleigh, Fayetteville, North
Carolina, South Carolina; Roanoke Virginia and Charleston West
Virginia.
Roy Hamilton is at Pep's Musical Bar in Philadelphia.
Decca Records announces a major coup in the signing of Billy Ward and His Dominoes. The group is one of the strongest acts currently on the rhythm and blues scene. They have record for King Records and King's subsidiary Federal Records, for several years before going to Jubilee late last year.
Gene and Eunice are riding high with their hit "Ko Ko Mo" on Combo Records, are forced to re-record the tune for Aladdin Records, which claims rights to the duo and especially to Gene Forrests' writing talents.
January 31
Dinah Washington is on stage for a ten-day engagement at the
Crystal Lounge in Detroit.
February 1
The "Top Ten Rhythm and Blues Show" continue touring
with a performance tonight at the Court Theater in Springfield,
Massachusetts. Ulysses Hicks of the Five Keys dies of a heart
attack following tonight's show and the Five Keys are forced to
drop out of the tour. Hicks is quickly replaced by Rudy
West, who had sung previously with the group and just has been
released from active duty in the Army. Other cities played this
month include Bridgeport, Connecticut; Pittsburgh; Chicago;
Youngstown; and Cleveland and Cincinnati, Ohio; Evansville,
Indiana; Nashville and Jackson. Tennessee; St.
Louis; Omaha; Kansas City; Dallas; Longview and Austin, Texas;
Oklahoma City; Wichita, Kansas; Tulsa; Fort Worth, Waco, San
Antonio, Galveston, Houston and Port Arthur Texas; New Orleans;
Macon Georgia and Jacksonville, Florida.
Louis Jordan opens at Pep's Musical Bar in Philadelphia.
February 4
LaVern Baker and the Rivileers are backed by the Illinois Jacquet
Combo during their week at the Apollo Theater.
This weekend in Los Angeles brings the Spiders and Chuck Willis to the Savoy Ballroom and the Orioles to the 5-4 Ballroom.
Billy Ward and His Dominoes start a sixteen-week stay at the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas.
February 5
The second annual Festival of Negro Music is broadcast live from
the Savoy Ballroom in New York and features Faye Adams, Johnny
Hartman, LaVern Baker and the Solitaires.
MGM Pictures announces that "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley and His Comets will be featured in the new picture "Blackboard Jungle" to be released this month.
Early February
Alan Freed can be heard doing the introduction to the new release
of Billy Williams. I Wanna Hug Ya, Squeeze Ya, Kiss Ya, on Coral
Records.
Bill Haley and His Comets play a one-night stand in Rome, New York.
Radio station WMBL in Macon, Georgia, hires its first Black deejay, Hamilton Swain, who will play r&b for two hours daily.
Rainbow Records signs guitarist Mickey Baker to the label. Other label signings include the Cookies and Regals, both formerly of Aladdin's subsidiary, Lamp and T-Bone Walker (previously with Imperial), all with Atlantic and Buddy Ace with Duke.
The Cardinals return to the recording studio following a long period of inactivity while lead singer Ernie Warren served in the Army.
February 8
In a rare interview in Camden, New Jersey, Billy Kenny former
lead tenor of the Ink Spots, says that he feels " the day of
group singing is passing."
February 11
Roy Hamilton headlines the revue at the Chicago Theater for two
weeks.
Lucky Millender's Orchestra is the headerliner at the Apollo Theater this week.
In Washington at the Howard Theater, the week's entertainment features the Rivileers, Big Maybelle and the Gene Ammons Band.
The Orioles repeat at the 5-4 Ballroom in Los Angeles for another three-day weekend. They share the bill with Charles Brown.
February 12
Pat Boone, previously recording for Nashville's Republic Records,
signs with Dot Records of Gallatin, Tennessee. Boone is recent
winner on both "Ted Mack's Original amateur Hour" and
Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts television shows.
Dave Bartholomew's Combo entertains at New Orleans' Riveria Club for the weekend. Across town, guitarist Roy Montrell is playing nightly at the Hi-Hat Club.
February 18
Willie Mae Thornton, Charlie and Ray, Danny Overbea and the El
Dorados split the bill at the Apollo Theater for the week.
In Los Angeles, the Savoy Ballroom offers patrons Charles Brown with the Stomp Gordon Band, At the 5-4 Ballroom, Roy Brown headlines the Hollywood Revue which included local favorites Johnny "Guitar" Watson and Linda Hayes.
February 19
Earl Bostic plays Columbus, Georgia tonight and Pensacola,
Florida tomorrow.
In Philadelphia, the Cosmopolitan Club hosts the Five Keys, Dakota Stanton and the Valentines for a one-night stand.
In New Orleans, Dave Bartholomew returns to the Club Riveria for the evening. is is Also Scheduled to entertain at the club on Mardi Gras Tuesday. Thereafter, he is booked at the Riveria for a long run of Saturday night dates.
February 21
The Orioles open for a week at Pep's Musical Bar in Philadelphia.
Chuck Willis stops for a one-night stand at the Club Desire in New Orleans.
The Savoy Ballroom in Los Angeles has an Ooky Oak dance (based on the song by the Penguins of the same name). The show features Johnny Otis, the Medallions, the Meadowlarks and Marie Adams for the evening.
February 22
Charles Brown spends to days at the Club Desire in New Orleans
February 25
Wynonie Harris opens for three days at Chic's Show Bar in
Detroit.
The "5" Royales are with Tam Smith's Combo entertain at the 5-4 Ballroom in Los Angeles.
February 26
LaVern Baker
appeals to her representative, Charles Diggs (Democrat-Michigan)
to have him study the possibility of authoring a bill that will
revise the 1909 copyright act. Miss Baker is upset that the
current copyright act does not ever duplicating arrangements on
her records, such as "Tweedle Dee."
She claims she
has lost $15,000 in royalties to singers Georgia Gibbs and Vicki
Young, who took her record and virtually duplicated the song note
for note.
The New Orleans Municipal Auditorium presents the Clovers, the Charms, the Moonglows. Faye Adams, Joe Turner, Bill Doggett, Lowell Fulson and the Paul Williams Orchestra for an evening concert.
February 28
During his six-week engagement, Earl Bostic becomes the
highest-paid entertainer in the history of the Palms Supper Club
in Hallandale, Florida.
March 1
The
"Top Ten Rhythm and Blues Show" completes its six-week
tour this month with shows in the following cities: Raleigh,
Fayetteville and Kingston, North Carolina; Roanoke, Virginia;
Columbia, South Carolina; Birmingham; Chattanooga;; Greenville,
South Carolina; Durham and Greensville, North
Carolina;
Charleston, West Virginia; Knoxville, Tennessee; Bluefield, West
Virginia; Atlanta; Tampa; Charleston, South Carolina; Northfolk
and Richmond. Virginia; Philadelphia; New York City and
finally closing in Buffalo New York on the 20th.'Following his
record breaking engagement at the
Carolyn Club in Columbus, Ohio, Rusty Bryant embarks on a
tour of one-night stands. Big Jay McNeeley brings his combo to
the Crystal Lounge in Detroit.
March 4
The
Apollo Theater plays host to Ruth Brown and Willis Jackson
Orchestra this week.
Fats Domino plays the first of two weekend engagements at Los Angeles' 5-4 Ballroom. Also in town, LaVern Baker and Ivory Joe Hunter split the bill at the Savoy Ballroom this weekend only Baker is just starting a three-week tour of the West Coast.
March 5
Earl
Bostic takes to the road following his week in Hallendale,
Florida, with a one-night stand in Jacksonville.
Early March
Duke
Records announces its plans to release its first rhythm and blues
album, a ten-incher containing all the hits of Johnny Ace.
Steve Gibson and His Red Caps open for a month at the Cafe Society in New York
The rhythm and blues trend has hit its peak and is on its way out according to an announcement from Mercury Records, Consequently, the company doesn't have any for any further r7b cover records for Georgia Gibbs, Sarah Vaughn or the Gaylords.
Coral Records and Alan Freed reach an agreement whereby Fred will become an artist, a talent scout and an artist and repertoire representative for the company for a period of two years, The agreement is cancelled by mutual consent April 30th.
Rainbow Records launches a new subsidiary, Riveria Records, which will also specialize in r&b. The first release will be by the Five Crowns.
March 8
Ruth
Brown guests on the Steve Allen show on NBC-TV.
Earl Bostic is the first Negro to play the Celtic Room in Nashville during his four-day layover.
March 10
Red
Prysock and his band start a five-day engagement at the Apache
Inn in Dayton, Ohio.
On the stage of the Apollo Theater, Ruth Brown receives a gold record representing sales of over five million records on Atlantic Records.
March 11
Al
Hibbler and Sarah Vaughn front Tito Puente's Orchestra for a week
at the Apollo.
Bullmoose Jackson starts two weeks at the Flame Show Bar in Detroit.
Ruth Brown moves to the Howard Theater in Washington with the Willis Jackson Orchestra for a week.
March 13
Roy
Milton, Pee Wee Crayton and Chuck Higgins share the billing for
the Sunday night dance at the Elks Ballroom in Los Angeles.
Mid-March
Buddy Johnson and sister Ella are currently on tour of the South
and Midwest.
Alan Freed hosts a meeting with Saul Bihari (RPM/Modern/Flair), Jack Angel (Herald), Bob Rolontz (Groove) and Ahmet Ertegun (Atlantic). Details aren't disclosed.
March 16
In a rushed attempt to cover Al Hibbler's version of
"Unchained Melody," Epic sets up a session for Roy
Hamilton. The resulting single is shipped within five days.
Earl Bostic plays a one-nighter at the New Orleans Municipal Auditorium.
March 17
Johnny Ace is posthumously awarded the first Billboard magazine
rhythm and blues "Triple Crown" as "Pledging My
Love" tops all three R&B Charts: "Best Seller In
Stores," Most Played in Juke Boxes," and "Most
Played By Disk Jockeys."
March 18
The
Drifters team with Varetta Dillard and the Eddy Heywood Combo for
a week at the Apollo Theater.
Dinah Washington, Danny Overbea and the James Moody Band thrill the crowd at the Howard Theater in Washington.
Sonny Thompson and Lulu Reed play a three-day weekend engagement at the 5-4 Ballroom in Los Angeles. Across town at the Your Room Lounge. Charles Brown with Johnny Moore's Three Blazers start an extended stay of three-day weekends.
March 21
Al
Hibbler is scheduled for and eight-day booking at the Crystal
Lounge in Detroit.
March 23
In
New England public outcry against rhythm and blues peaks when six
Boston deejays meet with press and religious leaders to form a
record censorship board, Songs included on the groups' initial
list that will not be played over local Boston stations include
"Make Yourself Comfortable," "Teach Me
Tonight,"
Idle Gossip," "From the Bottom To the Top,"
"Honey Love and all versions of the "Annie" songs.
March 25
Jimmy Reed entertains at the Royal Peacock in Atlanta.
The movie "Blackboard Jungle," which features Bill Haley's "Rock Around the Clock" is released to theaters.
The Apollo Theater offers the Chordcats and the Charms on its weekly bill.
The "5" Royales and Tab Smith's Combo perform at the 5-4 Ballroom in Los Angeles this weekend.
Radio station WGN in Chicago forms a record review board after receiving fifteen thousand letters, many from teenagers accusing the station of playing dirty records.
March 29
Al
Hibbler stars for the week at the Copa Club in Buffalo, New York.
Late March
LaVern Baker opens at the Orchid Club in Kansas City for a week.
Dootone Records signs Roy Milton, Mabel Scott and Chuck Higgins.
Charles White, formerly with the Clovers, forms a new group, the Playboys. The group will record for Cat Records.
Following Mercury's lead, RCA Victor decides it will no longer cover records put out by competing companies.
April 1
In Los Angeles,
the 5-4 Ballroom offers Fats Domino's talents for three days,
while the Elks Ballroom has a one-nighter featuring Richard
Berry, Etta James and Johnny "Guitar" Watson in a show
billed as "Modern Records Rhythm and Blues Caravan."
Ruth Brown is on the stage at Detroit's Crystal Lounge.
April 2
The "Rock
and Roll Festival" is held in St. Nicholas Arena in New
York. Prermiers on the bill are Varetta Dillard, Red Prysock, the
Cadillacs, the Mellows, Otis Blackwell and the Joe Morris Combo.
Little Walter, currently touring the South, plays a one-nighter at Houma, Louisiana, followed by a performance at New Orleans' Labor Union Hall on April 3rd.
Guitar Slim plays a one-stand at the Savoy Ballroom in Los Angeles.
All nine local radio stations in San Antonio join together to censor rhythm and blues records before allowing them to be played.
April 7
Earl Bostic starts a
West Coast one-nighter tour that is scheduled to run through
July.
The ABC radio network premiers "Rhythm and Blues On Parade," which will be broadcast live every Thursday night from prominent Black clubs in Harlem. The show will spotlight new talent as well as established artists,
Early April
The Du Droppers
are all set to record for for Groove Records when it is
discovered that lead tenor Jay Van Loan has a contract with
Herald Records. The mix-up occurred in October 1954 when the
contract between RCA Victor, owner of Groove, expired and the
group signed with Herald. When the group took on a new lead
singer, Van Loan, he signed a separate contract with Herald. RCA
claimed that it had a prior agreement to keep the group, which
left Van Loan still under contract to Herald. The matter is
finally resolved when a new lead tenor, Charlie Hughes, is hired
by the group.
Della Reese, former gospel singer from Detroit and now a regular performer at the city's Flame Show Bar, signs with Jubilee Records to record pop and r&b material.
Juke box operators report using sixty percent more rhythm and blues records than they did a year ago.
April 8
Alan Freed's
"Rock and Roll Easter Jubilee" opens for a one-night
run at the 4,264 seat Paramount Theater in Brooklyn. Performers
are Lavern Baker, the Penguins, Danny Overbea, the
Moonglows/Moonlighters, the Three Chuckles. Eddie Fountaine and
Red Prysock's Band, augmented with Sam "The
Man" Taylor,
Al Sears and Mickey "Guitar" Baker. The Easter holiday
show is run five times daily and breaks the all-time record at
the Paramount set in 1932 by Russ Colombo, bringing a total
$107,000 for the week. Freed reportedly receives $50,000 based on
a percentage. The total paid out to the
talent comes to
$11,000. News reports that the teenagers are exuberant but well
behaved, "There's excitement but no trouble."
The Hearts and Louis Jordan open at the Apollo Theater for the week.
The 5-4 Ballroom in Los Angeles features Roy Milton for the weekend's entertainment.
Ivory Joe Hunter starts two weeks at the Flame Show Bar in Detroit.
April 9
While in New York for
the Paramount show, the Penguins sign with Mercury Records. The
group had formerly been with Dootone but had recorded for Mercury
in March. The contract was delayed pending court approval that
their contract was not valid, as it was signed by three members
of the group who
were minors. Buck Ram, manager of the group, also arranges for
another of his acts to switch to Mercury: the Platters, formerly
with Federal, who remain hitless at the time.
April 10
The "Dr.
Jive Ball" at the Rockland Palace in New York is sponsored
by WWRL radio and emceed by Dr. Jive. Entertainers include Roy
Hamilton, Buddy and Ella Johnson, Charlie and Ray and the
Cadillacs. The show brings in a capacity crowd of 4,200 with over
2,000 turned away at the door.
Gene and Eunice open at the Tippin Inn in Berlin, New Jersey.
The Easter Sunday dance at the Elks Ballroom in Los Angeles features the Johnny Otis Combo with Marvin and Johnny.
In New Orleans, the Easter dance at the Labor Union Hall features Jimmy Nelson, Jesse Allen and the Joe Jones Combo.
April 11
The Jewels start
a two-week engagement at the Midway Lounge in Pittsburgh.
April 13
Variety's front
page story on the Brooklyn Paramount shows compares the opening
night crowd with those of the the Paramount's heyday in the 1930s
and 1940s with the teens dancing in the aisles.
April 14
Bill Haley and
His Comets are off on a tour of the Eastern Seaboard with a show
in Binghampton, New York. Other dates on the tour include Boston
(15th); Baltimore (16th); Cleveland (17th); Buffalo (18); Rome,
New York (19); Plainville, Connecticut ( (20th-23rd) and
Wilmington, Delaware (24th).
April 15
Dinah Washington
entertains at the Tiffany Club in Los Angeles for two weeks.
Mid-April
Treat Records
signs Blind Boy Fuller and the Five Stars.
LaVern Baker sues the Savoy Ballroom in Los Angeles for $2,000 in back pay due to her from previous engagements. The suits forces the ballroom to close pending settlement. The Savoy does not reopen until September 30th.
The Rivileers are currently limiting engagements to the New York area, where two members attend college.
Lowell Fulson is booked solid on his current tour of Texas.
April 18
Roy Hamilton
headlines the Lord Calvet Hotel in Miami for two weeks.
Billy Eckstine starts a world-wide tour with a performance in London.
Ray Charles and Faye Adams bring in ten thousand ticket holders during their week-long stand at the Palms Club in Hallendale, Florida.
April 21
Following a
one-nighter tour, the Penguins open at the Apache Club in Dayton,
Ohio.
April 22
Al Hibbler
starts at the Kin Wah Low Club in Toledo, Ohio.
Headliners this week at the Apollo Theater include the Clovers, Little Esther, the Paul Williams Orchestra and teenager Little Willie John.
Louis Jordan brings his Tympany Five to the Royal Theater in Baltimore for a week.
Earl Bostic entertains at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on a one-nighter.
LaVern Baker and the Drifters join the Nat "King" Cole package tour for three weeks.
T-Bone Walker starts a two week stay at the Flame Show Bar in Detroit.
April 24
Nat Cole, LaVern Baker
and the Drifters play a one-nighter at the National Guard Armory
in Washington.
Bullmoose Jackson starts a week at the Creole Cabana in Philadelphia.
Louis Jordan starts a week-long engagement at the Howard Theater in Bill Haley and His Comets entertain nightly for a week at the Casino Royal in Washington.
April 26
Curtis Williams
of the Penguins sues Dootsie Williams of Dootone Records (no
relation) for $100,000, claiming damage to his career because he
signed a recording contract with Dootone Records when he was a
minor
April 27
Philadelphia's
Academy of Music presents the Nat Cole tour featuring LaVern
Baker and the Drifters.
The Met in Philadelphia plays host to the "Rock and Roll Show of 55. Entertainers include Varetta Dillard, the Hearts, the Roamers, Dean Barlow and Buddy Johnsons' Orchestra.
The Apollo heater hosts the "5" Royales, Dakota Stato, Hal "Cornbread" Singer Orchestra and Memphis Slim.
Earl Bostic plays for three days at the 5-4 Ballroom in Los Angeles.
John Lee Hooker entertains at the Club Royale in Detroit.
Eddie Fontaine and the Three Chuckles appear with Ella Fitzgerald at the Chicago Theater for two weeks.
In Buffalo, New York, the Nat Cole tour with Lavern Baker and the Drifters plays to a full house.
May 1
Ray Charles and Fats
Domino perform at the New Orleans Municipal Auditoriums.
Elvis Presley joins "Hank Snow's All Star Jamboree" tour in New Orleans. This is his first major trek, covering twenty cities in twenty-one days through Louisiana, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia.
May 2
The Jewels are at the
Creole Cabana and Ivory Joe Hunter is opening at the Club Zelmar,
both in Philadelphia.
Bill Haley and His Comets start a four-week engagement at Sandy's Log Cabin in Gloucester, New Jersey. Also, in New Jersey, Red Prysock brings his combo to the Cadillac Club in Trenton.
Guitar Slim is at the Ebony Lounge in Cleveland for a week.
May 3
Roy Milton brings his
rock and roll to Alaska, with a series of one-nighters in and
around Anchorage.
May 4
Chuck Willis starts a
four-day run at the Crown Propeller Lounge in Chicago.
At the Apollo Theater, the Cardinals share the headline with Sister Rosetta Tharpe for a week.
This week the Penguins appear at the State Theater in Hartford.
The Howard Theater presents the talents of Sarah Vaughn and Al Hibbler this week.
Sonny Thompson and Lula Reed open in Detroit at the Crystal Lounge.
Early May
Star Maid Records of Chicago, formerly specializing exclusively in country and western records, has started a rhythm and blues department. A two-year-old recording by the Embers on Ember Records, "Paradise Hill,' has been revived in Los Angeles and is re-released by Herald Records.
Dean Barlow, lead singer of the Crickets, records "Forever" on Jay-Dee Records. The song is the first with lyrics and music by Alan Freed.
May 11
The motion picture
"Harlem Variety Revue" opens across the country. The
film stars Faye Adams, Amos Milburn and the Larks, among others.
May 13
In Los Angeles, Joe
Houston and his band entertain the dancers at the 5-4 Ballroom
this weekend.
The Apollo Theater hosts Wynonie Harris and the Regals for the week.
Al Hibbler starts a five-day appearance at the Royal Peacock in Atlanta.
"The Biggest Show of 55," featuring Roy Hamilton, LaVern Baker, the Drifters, Willie Mabon, the Hearts, the Spaniels, Jimmy Reed and the combos of Little Walkin' Willie and Erskine Hawkins start a six-week tour with a show in Oklahoma City. The tour will play dates throughout the Southwest. South, including New Orleans on the 18th and the East Coast before winding up with a show in western New York on June 26.
The "Rhythm and Blues Caravan plays the Howard Theater for a week. Featured performers include the Moonglows, Etta James and Memphis Slim.
At the Chicago Theater, Pat Boone shares the stage with the Mariners for two weeks.
In Los Angeles, Dootone Records sues Mercury Records for allegedly inducing the Penguins to break their three-year contract with Dootone. In a related matter, Jessie Belvin and Johnny Green file suit in Los Angeles claiming that they wrote "Earth Angel" the big hit for the Penguins ascribed to Curtis Williams, a member of the group. The court places an injunction against Dootone Records, requiring all monies generated from the sale of "Earth Angel" be placed in a trust.
May 15
Ruth Brown
travels to the Crown Propeller Lounge in Chicago.
Mid-May
Baton Records
announces that it has found a name for its previously unnamed
vocal group. Through popular consent. the group will be called
the Miracles. A new release will be out shortly.
T-Bone Walker is currently playing a series of dates around his hometown of Chicago, while he recuperates from an operation.
May 16
Fats Domino is
welcomed for a short stay at the Showboat in Philadelphia.
May 18
Earl Bostic takes his
combo to the Blackhawk Cafe in San Francisco for two weeks
May 20
Alan Fred brings his
""Rock 'N'' Roll Show" to Boston's Loews State
Theater for a seven-day run. Entertainers include Dinah
Washington, Al Hibbler, Dakota Staton, Little Walter, Moonglows,
the Five Keys, Bo Diddley,Nappy Brown, Ella Johnson and the Buddy
Johnson Orchestra.
Roy Milton plays the 5-4 Ballroom for a three-day weekend.
Arthur Prysock and Della Reese share the bill for two week at Detroit. Flame Show Bar.
Charlie and Ray open for two weeks at the Royal Peacock in Atlanta.
May 21
"Shake, Rattle
and Roll," the ten inch long play album by Bill Haley and
His Comets is released by Decca.
May 22
The owner of the Otis
Ballroom in Bridgeport, Connecticut cancels a scheduled dance
when he discovered that Fats Domino will be playing rock 'n' roll
music.The police have banned a rock 'n' roll dances following a
report of a riot at the New Haven Arena during a rock 'n' roll
concert.
May 23
The Four Buddies and
Rudy Greene entertain at Chicago's first rock 'n' roll dance at
the City Bowl Park.
May 27
Alan Freed take his
"Rock 'N' Roll Show" to Providence, Rhode Island for
three days.
The Bill Doggett Trio entertains at the 5-4 Ballroom for the weekend.
Lionel Hampton and his band headline the Apollo Theater revue for the week.
In Washington, the Howard Theater hosts the Orioles, Gene and Eunice and Jimmy Witherspoon for the week.
The Dew Drop Inn features Floyd Dixon for three days.
May 29
Joe Turner, Smiley
Lewis and the Joe Morris Orchestra hold forth for the evening at
the Labor Union Hall in New Orleans.
May 30
Bill Haley and His
Comets start a week at the Colonial Tavern in Toronto. The group
makes its first major television appearance as the guest of the
Milton Berle show on the 31st.
May 31
Roy Milton on a tour
of one-nighters, makes a stop in Denver
Late May
The Clovers are booked into
the Palm Club in Hallendale, Florida.
June1
Bo Diddley is the inaugural
act at the new Figueroa Ballroom in Los Angeles. He performs for
five days.
Steve Gibson and His Red Caps with Damita Jo returns to New York's Cafe Society for a month.
June 3
The weekend
entertainment at the 5-4 Ballroom features the Jewels for three
days.
The Apollo Theater offers Linda Hayes and Nappy Brown fronting the Prez Prado Combo for this week's entertainment.
In Lubbock, Texas, in the middle of a month-long tour Elvis Presley gives a free performance at a Pontiac dealership along with local country performers, Buddy and Bob.
June 5
"The Big
Show" featuring Roy Hamilton. LaVern Baker, the Drifters,
the Spaniels. Jimmy Reed and the Hearts, plays a one-night stand
at Washington's National Guard Armory.
June 5
Lowell Fulson and
Choker Campbell' Orchestra open at the Palm Club in Hallendale,
Florida.
Early June
The Du Droppers are
playing dates in Canada. Also on tour are Amos Milburn the
Clovers and the Paul William's Orchestra in Texas.
The first release from Atlantic's Twin Tones has stirred up trade action as inquisitive deejays are guessing who the members are.
Charlie Hughes, lead singer of the Du Droppers' latest release, signs a contract as a solo artist with Groove Records.
MGM Records signs eighteen-year old Connie Francis, who had previously appeared on the Horn and Hardhardt children's show.
Following the demise of Bruce Records, the Harptones sign with Old Town Records.
Mercury Records establishes a new subsidiary, Wing Records. New r&b talent assigned to the label includes Jay Hawkins and Titus Turner.
June 8
Earl Bostic starts
two-weeks at the 1042 Club in Anchorage, Alaska.
The Charms open for five days at the Figueroa Ballroom in Los Angeles.
June 9
The Five Keys are at
the Copa Ballroom in Pittsburgh.
June 10
"Dr. Jive Rhythm
and Blues Show" fills the Apollo Theater with music for the
week
Featured entertainers include Gene and Eunice, the Four Fellows, Delores Ware, the Nutmegs, Bo Diddley, Etta James, Charlie and Ray, the Moonglows and the Buddy Johnson Orchestra featuring Ella Johnson.
Rusty Bryant blows foe patrons at the Weeke's Tavern in Atlantic City.
June 13
The Graystone Gardens
and Ballroom in Detroit presents "The Big Show" with
Roy Hamilton, LaVern Baker, the Drifters, the Spaniels, Willie
Mabon, Jimmy Reed, the Hearts and Della Reese for the evening's
entertainment.
June 15
Lowell Fulson starts a
five-day layover at Los Angeles' Figueroa Ballroom.
June 17
The Nutmegs, T-Bone
Walker and Buddy Johnson Orchestra featuring Ella Johnston are
booked for a week at the Howard Theater.
Sam "The Man" Taylor has his first major booking at the Apollo Theater. Also on the bill are the Orioles, Etta James and the Peaches, and Baby Washington.
Ruth Brown, Bo Diddley, Dean Barlow, the Dreams, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Charlie and Ray and the Diamonds entertain for two shows at the Philadelphia Town Hall.
The Ernie Fields Combo plays for the dancers at the 5-4 Ballroom for the weekend.
June 21
Joe Liggins and the
Honeydrippers open in Los Angeles at the Sirocco club.
June 24
The second edition of
the "Rock 'n' Show" plays the Philadelphia Arena.
Featured on the bill are Bill Haley and His Comets, the
Cardinals. Gloria Mann, Jimmy Ricks and the Ravens, Varetta
Dillard, the Nutmegs and the Buddy Johnson Orchestra.
Etta James opens for two weeks at the Flame Show Bar.
At the 5-4 Ballroom, the headliners for this weekend are the Medallions and the Johnny Fuller Band.
Bo Diddley and Faye Adams share the bill for the week at the Howard Theater.
The Apollo Theater plays host to Big Maybelle, the Harptones and Gene Ammons' Combo.
June 25
It is reported in the
music press that Bill Haley and His Comets have sold an
astounding three million singles in their first thirteen months
with Decca Records, "Shake, Rattle and Roll" and
"Rock Around the Clock" have each sold more than a
million copies.
June 27
LaVern Baker moves
into the Showboat Lounge in Philadelphia.
July 1
Ivory Joe Hunter opens at
the New Era Club in Nashville.
At the Apollo Theater, the Drifters and Illinois Jacquet entertain for the week
The Charms and Marvin and Johnny start a three-day run at the 5-4 Ballroom.
July 3
Rusty Bryant is booked into
the Hollywood Club in Akron, Ohio.
The Jaguars and the Savoys play a one-nighter at the Will Rogers Auditorium in Los Angeles.
July 4
Bullmoose Jackson starts a
two-week stay at the Zanzibar Club in Buffalo, New York.
July 5
Gleason's in Cleveland
welcomes Big Maybelle for a two-week stay.
Also in Cleveland, radio station WINS sues Alan Freed after he was sued, in turn, by "Moondog," the New York street performer, for allowing Fred to use the "Moondog" name on the air. The station claims that Freed told them the "Moondog" name was fully protected.
July 7
Dinah Washington appears at
the Basin Street in New York for two weeks.
Early July
Mercury Records, in a
moved designed to help rhythm and blues and country and western
to cross over into pop stream music. consolidates the color
scheme for all its single releases. Previously, rhythm and blues
singles were issued with a pink label, country and western with a
green label. and pop with a maroon label. All singles will be
released with a black label as the color labels are phased out.
July 8
The Drifters open at Weeke's
Tavern in Atlantic City.
The "Hal Jackson Rhythm and Blues Show," featuring Willie Mabon, Titus Turner, the Solitaires, the Cadillacs and the Arnett Cobb's Band play the Apollo for a week.
The 5-4 Ballroom offers the Penguins and Percy Mayfield for three days,
The Harptones spend the weekend in Pennsylvania performing a series of one-nighters in Harrisburg, Altoona and Johnson.
July 9
Fats Domino becomes only the
second rhythm and blue artist to be awarded Billboard magazines'
"Triple Crown" as "Ain't That A Shame" tops
all three r&b charts.
July 10
The "Pop R&B
Show" starts two month tour with it's evening show at
Chicago's Trianon Ballroom. The tour features Sarah Vaughn, Al
Hibbler, Red Prysock, Nappy Brown, Muddy Water, the Moonglows and
the Cardinals. The tour winds up August 6 after traveling through
Texas and the South.
Lowell Fulson plays for the Sunday night dancers at the Elks Ballroom in Los Angeles.
July 15
The Shrine Auditorium in Los
Angels hosts the "Annual Rhythm and Blues Jamboree,"
featuring Earl Bostic, the Meadowlarks, Chuck Higgins, the
Clovers, Marvin and Johnny, the Voices and the Jewels.
The Clovers do double duty this evening as they as open for three days with the Paul Williams Combo at the 5-4 Ballroom
Mid-July
Groove Records recently
signed the Cheeks. Other recent signings include the Sparks Of
Rhythm with Apollo and blues-singer Irene Reed with Savoy
Clyde McPhatter formally announces that he is leaving the Drifters and will continue to record as a single artist for Atlantic. He has been a member of the U.S. Army since May 1954 and has recorded with the group once during that time.
Ruth Brown is at the Patio Club in Philadelphia.
Bill Haley and His Comets following a successful booking at the Regal Theater in Chicago, are booked on an extensive tour of one-night stands starting in Maryland and continuing through Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Kentucky, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Ohio, Nebraska and Kansas. Also scheduled are stops in Canada
Guitar Slim and T-Bone Walker are touring night spots in Texas.
July 22
Earl Bostic starts a
three-day layover at the 5-4 Ballroom.
In Baltimore, the Royal Theater offers the Orioles for a week.
July 23
Atlantic Records reports that the
company will be a new subsidiary label to be called Atlas
Records, Talent signed to the new label include the Royal Jokers,
New Orleans blues-shooter Billy Nightingale a Jesse Stone.
It is reported that "Shake, Rattle and Roll" by Bill Haley and His Comets is to be included in the movie "How To Be Very, Very Popular" starring Sheree North, following the success of "Rock Around The Clock" in "Blackboard Jungle." In addition, Haley's "Razzle-Dazzle" is to be featured in "Running Wild" with Mamie Van Doren.
July 24
LaVern Baker graces the
state at the Lord Calvert Hotel in Miami for one week.
July 29
Faye Adams starts a week at the Flame
Show Bar.
Gene and Eunice front the Gene Ammons Combo for two three-day weekends at the 5-4 Ballroom in Los Angeles. Also in town for three days, Pee Wee Crayton headlines the show at the Harlem Club.
July 30
Bill Haley is awarded the
Billboard magazine Triple Crown" as "Rock Around the
Clock" top all three pop record charts.
Late July
Despite their earlier proclamation
that rhythm and blues was a declining in popularity, pop record
companies continue to heavily cover r&b tunes. Recent cover
versions include "Gum Drop," originally by Otis
Williams, covered by the Crew-Cuts; "Seventeen"
originally by Boyd Bennett, covered by Rusty Drapper; the Fontane
Sisters and Ella Mae Morse, "Razzle-Dazzle" by Bill
Haley, covered by Ella Mae Morse; "Story Untold,"
originally by the Nutmegs, covered by the Crew-Cuts; "The
Wallflower" originally by Etta James, covered by Georgia
Gibbs; "Ain't It A Shame," originally by Fats Domino,
covered by Pat Boone as "Ain't That A Shame;
"Piddily Patter" originally by Nappy Brown, covered by
Patti Page and "Song Of The Dreamer," originally by
Billy Brooks, covered by Johnnie Raye and Eddie Fisher.
August 2
LaVern Baker spends five
days at Gleason's in Cleveland.
August 3
As an example of speed with which
one record company could cover another artist's record, at a 2
p.m. session in New York, Georgia Gibbs, Mercury Records
recording star, records a version of Lillian Biggs' "I Want
You To Be My Babby." By the next morning, the deejays in the
area are already
receiving
acetate copies of Gibbs' version and August 5th regular copies
are in stores.
August 5
The Nutmegs start a three-day
stand at the Copa Casino in Youngstown, Ohio.
The Four Fellows play a one-nighter at the Royal Peacock In Atlanta.
Arthur Prysock is booked for a three-week run at the Club Ebony in Houston.
Roy Hamilton opens in Washington at the Casino Royal for three days.
"Rock 'N' Roll Revue" opens across the country. The motion picture features, Nat Cole, Lionel Hampton, Joe Turner, Duke Ellington, Dinah Washington, Ruth Brown, the Clovers and the Delta Rhythm Boys.
August 6
The Trinidad Club in
Cleveland hosts the Four Fellows for a three-day stint.
The "Pop R&B Show" plays a one-nighter at the Watergate Theater in Washington to close out its four week tour.
Billy Haley files a lawsuit in Philadelphia against his former label, Essex Records, in an attempt to stop them from re-issuing old recordings, which Haley feels are of "inferior quality" to his recent Decca releases.
In New Orleans, Larry Darnell is the featured performer at the grand opening of the Cavern Club.
Atlantic Records launches its new subsidiary, Atco Records. the new company had originally planned to be named Atlas Records.
August 7
The Penguins and Big Jay
McNeeley's Band entertain at the Elks Ballroom in Los Angeles.
Early August
The Drifters, following a four-day
engagement at the Farmer Dell Club in Dayton, Ohio, are off on a
series of one-nighters that will take them to California.
Gene and Eunice play a one-night stand in El Paso on their current swing through the Southwest.
August 8
The Casino Royale in Philadelphia
plays host to Della Reese.
Bill Haley and His Comets play the Broadway-Capitol in Detroit for three days.
August 9
Rusty Bryant stops over for a
week's engagement at the Club Zanzibar in Buffalo, New York.
Bill Doggett returns to his hometown of Philadelphia to play at Pep's Musical Bar.
August 11
Roy Hamilton fronts the Buddy
Johnson Orchestra featuring Ella Johnson at Basin Street in New
York for two-weeks.
In New Orleans, Dave Bartholomew; Combo is featured at the Lincoln Beach Midway for the evening.
August 12
Ruth Brown, the Clovers, Little Willie John and the Paul Williams
Orchestra appear at the Apollo Theater for the week.
Charlie Fuqua's Ink Spots are continuing a Canadian tour with a two-week engagement in Hull, Quebec.
T-Bone Walker is welcomed for a two-week engagement at the Flame Show Bar in Detroit.
The Platters start an eight-week run at the Show Bar of the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas.
August 15
Chuck Berry makes his initial showing at Gleason's in Cleveland.
Following the engagement, he travels to the Copa Casino in
Youngstown, Ohio and Paramount Theater in New York.
Al Hibbler holds court for a week at the Hollywood Club in Akron, Ohio.
Earl Bostic plays the Stealer's Home of Jazz in Milwaukee.
Mid-August
Roy
Brown is booked into the Palms in Hallendale, Florida.
The "5" Royales are currently on tour of the South and
Southwest. In a related story, Lowman Pauling, the leader of the
"5" Royales. files a lawsuit in New
York
City against his former label. Apollo Records. He asks the court
to require an accounting of all royalties and rights to songs he
wrote will at the company.
Recent signings include the Cavaliers, a new Philadelphia group, with Atlantic and the Empirers, previously on Harlem, with Wing.
Sonny Thompson, Lula Reed and the Champions are booked solid
through the end of the year. They play the South and Southwest
into September and the
West Coast
through Christmas.
Atlantic, Savoy, Decca, Capitol and Dootone announce t5hat they
will soon be releasing r&b material on 12-inch long-play
records. They will also greatly
increase the
output of rhythm and blues 45 rpm extended-play records.
August 19
"D. Jive's Rhythm and Blues Show" returns to the Apollo
Theater for a week. Extra performances have to be added each day
to accommodate the overflow crowd. Featured performers include
the Spaniels, Charlie and Ray, the Hearts, Joe Turner, the Five
Keys, Bo Diddley, the Moonglows and the
Griffin Brothers' Orchestra. Following the week's run, many of
the performers join the "Top Ten Revue" tour.
At Lincoln Beach in New Orleans, Dinah Washington performs for the midway crowd.
Pee Wee Crayton plays the blues during his three-day stay at the 5-4 Ballroom.
August 22
The Four Fellows headline for a week at the Copa in Pittsburgh.
August 26
"The Top Ten Review" takes to the road with a show in
St. Louis. The tour will be 60-days through the East, Midwest,
Southwest and South. Performers include the Clovers. Gene and
Eunice, the Five Keys, Joe Turner, Bo Diddley, Etta James, Jimmy
Reed. Charlie and Ray, Faye Adams. Bill Doggett,
the Charms and the Paul Williams Orchestra. Other date for the
tour include Memphis (27th) and New Orleans (28th).
Roy Hamilton starts two-weeks at the Cat and Fiddle Club in Nassau, Bahamas.
The "Big Blues-O-Rama" starts a six-week tour. Featured entertainers include the Cardinals, Little "Wakin' Willie, Jimmy Reed and Little "Junior" Lewis.
The Apollo Theater offers the Moonglows, Baby Dee and the Jimmy Smith Trio this week.
Pat Boone is the headliner at the Chicago Theater this week.
August 28
In New Orleans, Arthur Prysock and Earl King share the spotlight
at the Labor Union Hall tonight.
August 29
The Charlie Fuqua Ink Spots start a week at Toronto.
Late August
The
Ravens are touring the the Carolinas, Alabama, Georgia and
Florida into next month.
Fortune Records signs the Five Dollars.
September 2
Alan
Freed's "Big Rock 'N' Roll Show' opens the week at the
Paramount Theater in New York. The show features Tony Bennett,
the Harptones, Moonglows, Chuck Berry, the Cardinals, the
Nutmegs, Lillian Briggs, Sam "The Man" Taylor, Nappy
Brown and the Red Prysock Orchestra. Bennett
becomes
ill and only plays the first day.
Roy Hamilton plays a weekend engagement at Michigan State University.
The Larks and Betty McLaurain back by Tito Puente's mambo orchestra starts a week at the Apollo Theater.
The Regal Theater in Chicago hosts the "Rhythm In Blues Revue," featuring the Buddy Johnson Band with Ella Johnson, al Savage, LaVern Baker, the Spaniels the Orchids and the Four fellows.
Al Hibbler heads the show at the Flame Show Bar in Detroit.
Willie Mabon is at the Blue Flame in East St. Louis, Illinois.
The 5-4 Ballroom in Los Angeles, presents the Penguins with the Chuck Higgins Combo for the three-day weekend.
Boyd Bennett and His Rockets are part of the revue for two weeks at the Chicago Theater with Patti Page.
September 5
Sil Austin appears for
a week at the Zanzibar Club in Buffalo, New York.
Early September
Fats Domino is currently
plain "pop" clubs in New London, Connecticut and
Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, as well as the usual r&B clubs
on his East Coast tour.
Roy Hamilton is at the St. Louis; Riveria Club.
Billy Ward and His Dominoes open at New York's Copacabana for six weeks following three weeks at Harrah's Club in Lake Tahoe.. The group is currently negotiating for a weekly half-hour television show.
September 9
Buddy Johnson's "Big Rock and
Roll Show' starts a two-month tour. Featured performers include
Chuck Berry, the Nutmegs, the Cardinals, the Spaniels and the
Four Fellows.
Ruth Brown, the Moonglows an Guitar Slim share top billing at Washington's Howard Theater.
Roy Milton headlines at the 54- Ballroom for a week.
September 10
Chuck Berry becomes the third
r&b artist to be awarded Billboard magazine;s "R&B
Triple Crown" for "Maybellene."
September 12
The Buddy Johnson package tour
plays a one-nighter at the Graystone Ballroom in Detroit.
Featured in tonight's lineup are Chuck Berry, the Nutmegs, the
Four Fellows, the Spaniels, Ella Johnson and Al Savage.
The Brass Rail in London, Ontario, hosts Sil Austin's show for a week.
September 14
Steve Gibson and His Red
Caps are booked for a month at the Cafe Society in New York.
Mid September
Imperial Records starts a
new subsidiary, Post Records. Talent already signed to the new
label includes T-Bone Walker, the Kidds and the Hawks, all
previously recording for the parent company.
Ivory Joe Hunter is currently touring through Texas.
Grant Records announces the signing of the Dreamers to a contract.
The music press reports that Bill Haley will probably earn $300,000 to $500,000 this year from tours alone. By way of comparison, B.B. King will only bring in $30,000 from over 300 days on tour.
AmPar Records officially changes its name to ABC-Parmount Records.
September 16
Billy Holiday graces the stage of
the Apollo theater for a week. Al Hibbler takes over the Copa
Casino in Youngstown, Ohio.
The Drifters, backed by the Joe Houston Band, entertain for three-days at the 5-4 Ballroom.
September 17
Alan Freed expands his on-air time
as WINS radio schedules his show from 6 to 9 p.m and 11 p.m. to 1
a.m. weeknights and 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday
nights.
September 19
Sil Austin begins a week-long
stint at Darrow's Lounge in Cleveland.
September 23
T-Bone Walker starts two-weeks at
Detroit's Flame Show Bar.
At the 5-4 Ballroom, Lowell Fulson appears for a week.
September 24
Bill Haley hires a new group
of Comets to replace the three members that left the group. The
new Comets are Francis Beecher (guitar), Rudy Pompelli (sax),
Al Rex (bass) and Don Raymond (drums). In a related
story, the departing Comets are joining Capitol records. The
ex-Comets are Joe
D'Ambrosia
(sax); Dick Reynolds (drum) and Marshall Lytle (bass). The group
will be called the Jodimars (arrived at by combining portions of
their first names). Joining the group are Charles Hess (guitar),
Jim Buffington (drums) and Bob Simpson (piano).
September 25
"The Big Rock 'N' Show"
plays the New Orleans Municipal Auditorium. Featured performers
are the Buddy Johnson's Band. the Chuck Berry Trio, the Spaniels,
the Nutmegs, the Four Fellows, Al Savage, Ella Johnson and Arthur
Prysock. Also in town, Ray Charles appears at the Labor Union
Hall tonight.
September 30
Al Hibbler, LaVern Baker, the El
Dorados, the Hearts and the Red Prysock Combo perform at the
Howard Theater in Washington.
The Apollo Theater hosts the Royal Jokers backed by Lucky Millender Orchestra for the week.
The Savoy Ballroom in Los Angeles re-opens following some legal problems. Louis Jordan headlines for two three-day weekends. Also in town, Sarah Churchill and Oscar McLollie perform at the 504 Ballroom for the weekend.
October 3
Boyd Bennett and His Rockets
open at the Town Casino in Buffalo following their engagement at
the Chicago heater.
October 6
Connie Francis opens for a
week at the LaVie Club in New York.
October 7
LaVern Baker, Al
Hibbler, the El Dorados and Red Prysock combo share the stage for
a week at the Apollo Theater.
The second annual "Rock And Roll Dance" is held at the Moose Auditorium in Trenton, New Jersey. Featured performers include the Moonglows/Moonlighters with Arnett Cobb's Band.
The Jodimars are booked for a week at the Palace Theater in New York as part of the revue.
Sonny Thompson and the Champions start a three-day appearance at the 5-4 Ballroom.
October 8
In Los Angeles, the
Medallions. the Gaylarks and the Calvanes entertain at the
Masonic Ballroom for the evening.
The Palace Theater in New Orleans presents the "Big Blues-O-Rama' show, featuring the Cardinals, Little "Junior" Lewis, Jimmy Reed and Little "Walking" Willie as the tour winds down.
October 9
John Lee Hooker
and the Turbans play a one-nighter at the Stan Pan Bar in
Detroit.
October 10
Bill Haley joins
country music star Hank Snow on a tour with tonight's opening
performance in Omaha.
Over 6,000 attend the show. During the next three days with shows in Lincoln (11th) and Topeka (12th0, almost 17,000 will attend. On the 13th, Elvis Presley joins for a show in Oklahoma City.
October 14
Sonny Til and the
newly re-formed Orioles share the bill with Joni James at the
Chicago Theater for two weeks.
The Apollo Theater hosts Roy Hamilton, the Cardinals and Eddie Heywood Combo for a week.
Al Hibbler, Lillian Briggs, Red Prysock, the Moonglows, Mickey and Sylvia and Sreamin' Jay Hawkins are Philadelphia's Academy of Music performing two shows that attract a total five thousand fans.
In Detroit, Otis Williams and the Charms open at the Roosevelt Lounge for two days.
The 5-4 Ballroom in Los Angeles presents Lowell Fulson and Dakota Staton for the weekend. Also in town, Louis Jordan stops for a night to perform for the dancers at the Elks Ballroom before starting a lengthy date at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas.
George Woods, popular rhythm and blues deejay on WHAT radio and successful promoter of r&b stages shows, is fired. His spot is filled by a man that the station manager calls "very Sweet and cooperative."
Mid-October
Performers currently on tour
are Fats Domino and Ray Charles Playing dates in the
Texas-Oklahoma area, Percy Mayfield traveling through the
Southwest,
Tiny Bradshaw working the
Midwest, the Midnighters performing a series of one-nighter
dances in the South and Billy Ward and His Dominoes at Pep's
Musical Bar in Philadelphia.
Atlantic Records buys the small independent label Spark Records of Los Angeles. Atlantic acquires all the master recording as well as the talents of Spark owners Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, well known songwriters in the rhythm and blues field. The top recording group for Spark Records has been the Robins, but the group has recently split up. A new group will be formed that will feature the lead tenor and bass singer from the Robins.
October 16
Pee Wee Crayton plays a
one-night stand at the Club Harlem in Los Angeles.
October 17
The "Top Ten Revue'
plays the Madison Theater in Detroit on its regular on-nighter
trip across the country.
October 20
Roy Hamilton opens for four
days at the Savoy Ballroom in Los Angeles.
October 21
The Platters make their debut at
the Apollo Theater this week, The group just finished eight weeks
at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas. Also on the bill is Varetta
Dillard.
Roy Hamilton heads the show at the Howard Theater for a week.
The Turks, Johnny "Guitar" Watson and Chuck Higgins share the billing for a weekend at the 5-4 Club.
October 27
Roy Milton is back by popular
demand at the Savoy Ballroom in Los Angeles for another four-day
weekend.
October 28
The "Lucky Eleven Blues
Show" starts on a three-month tour with a week at the Apollo
Theater. The show features Jack Dupree, Earl King, Little Willie
John, Otis Williams, Marie Knight and Hal "Cornbread"
Singer's Band. The tour will make its way through the South and
Midwest before finishing about
New Year's on the West Coast.
Fats Domino is at the 5-4 Ballroom for three days,
October 29
The "Top Ten Revue"
closes out three months touring with a show at Carnegie Hall in
New York. This is the first exclusive R&B show to play this
venue. Featured performers are Faye Adams, Bo Diddley, the Five
Keys, the Clovers, Joe Turner, Bill Doggett, the Charms, Charlie
and Ray, Etta James, Gene
and Eunice and the
Paul Williams Orchestra.
November 2
The "Rock 'N' Revue" at
the Paramount Theater in Los Angeles features Dinah Washington,
Big Jay McNeeley, Joe Houston, the Platter, the Penguins and the
Colts.
November 3
In Los Angeles, Fats Domino is
held over for four-days at the 5-4 Ballroom and Johnny Otis and
Marie Adams entertain at the Savoy Ballroom for the weekend.
November 4
Buddy Johnson's "Big Rock
& Roll Show" winds up its two-month- long tour with two
week's at the Howard Theater in Washington.
Joe Turner appears for six days at the Flame Show Bar in Detroit.
Following a successful week at the Apollo Theater, the "Lucky Eleven Blues Show" takes to the road with a performance in Pittsburgh tonight. Other stops will include Cleveland (6th), Detroit (7th-8th); Indianapolis (9th); Evansville, Indiana ( (10th); Davenport, Iowa * 11th); Saginaw, Michigan (12th); Toledo, Ohio (13th); Cincinnati (14th); Chattanooga (15th); Atlanta (16th); Tuskeegee, Alabama (17th); Jacksonville, Florida (18th); Miami (20th); Durham, North Carolina (22nd); Roanoke (23rd); and Raleigh (24th) before stopping for a week at the Howard Theater in Washington (25th).
Early November
The Fi-Tones formerly the
Cavaliers on Atlas, sign with Mercury and Little Jimmy Scott
signs with Savoy.
Screamin' Jay Hawkins is currently playing Spider Kelly's in Philadelphia.
November 11
The "Top Ten Revue"
stops for a week at the Howard Theater. Featured performers are
the Clovers, the Solitaires, Joe Turner and Five Keys.
The Savoy Ballroom in Los Angeles features Dinah Washington for four days. She is held over for the upcoming weekend
B.B. King performs for the first of two weekends at the 5-4 Ballroom.
November 12
Pat Boone is voted "the Most
Promising Vocalist" in pop music in Billboard magazine's
annual disk jockey poll. Elvis Presley is voted "Most
Promising Male Vocalist" in country and western music, while
Chuck Berry garners the same award in r&b music. This week,
Billboard also awards the Platters a
"Triple Crown" in rhythm and blues music for topping
all three r&b charts with "Only You".
November 13
Roy Charles, the Moonglows, the
Cadillacs. Five Crowns and Charlie and Ray entertain a large
crown in New York at the Rockland Palace.
November 14
Buddy Johnson and his sister Ella open
for three weeks at the Copa in Pittsburgh.
Mid-November
Jules Bihari of Modern Records purchases
the California Record Manufacturing Company in Los Angeles, which
expands his record producing output to 30,000 singles a day.
November 16
Ruth Brown, Count Basie, Joe Williams,
George Shearling, the Orioles, T-Bone Walker and the Jacks begin
a tour with a show in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
November 18
"Hal Jackson's Rhythm and Blues
Revue" plays the Apollo Theater for a week.Featured
performers include the Valentines, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, the
Four Fellows. Arthur Prysock, the Solitaires, the Chuck Berry
Trio and Buddy Johnson's Orchestra featuring Ella Johnson.
Detroit's Flame Show Bar presents Al Hibbler and the Royal Jokers for a week.
November 20
Elvis Presley signs a three year
contract with RCA Victor Records. His previous recording contract
had been bought from Sun Records for $35,000 with Presley
receiving an additional $5,000 for back royalties.
"The Ed Sullivan Show" on CBS-TV presents a special fifteen-minute segment hosted by "Dr. Jive (Tommy Smalls) that feature LaVern Baker, Bo Diddley and the Five Keys.
November 21
Blubber Johnson starts a three week
engagement at the New Marinas Club in Washington.
November 23
Bill Haley and His Comets. Johnnie Ray
and LaVern Baker are booked for five days at the Paramount
Theater in Brooklyn. The gate receipts exceeded $56,000.
November 24
Sonny Thompson and Lulu Reed appear at
the Savoy Ballroom in Los Angeles for the weekend.
November 25
Chuck Berry, Nappy Brown. Big Maybelle,
the Cardinals, the Nutmegs and the Red Prysock Band appear at the
Royal Theater in Chicago for two weeks.
The Howard Theater offers a full bill for the Thanksgiving weekend patrons in the form of the "Lucky Eleven Blues Show"; Earl King, Jack Dupree, Little Willie John. the Charms, Marie Knight and the Hal Singer Orchestra. Following this week, the caravan takes off for shows in the South and on the West Coast through January.
November 26
Charlie and Ray entertain nightly
at the Flame Show Bar in Detroit for the week
A film short starring Cleveland deejay Bill Randle is cancelled in mid-production because of a In Los Angeles, Guitar Slim, Johnny "guitar" Watson and Young Jessie appear at the 5-4 Ballroom.dispute between Universal Films, the producer of the short and CBS-TV in New York. Artists scheduled to appear in the short were Bill Haley and His Comets, LaVern Baker, Johnnie Ray, Roy Hamilton. Gloria Mann, the CHordes, the Crew-Cuts, the McGuirre Sisters and Elvis Presley.
In New Orleans, the Dew Drop Inn schedules Paul Monday to back the cocontnuous run of strippers
November 27
Fats Domino opens at the Club Harem in
Los Angeles.
Late November
Federal Records sues Mercury Records
claiming prior rights to the song "Only You" by the
Platters. The group had recorded it for Federal in May 1954, but
the company thought it was poorly produced and didn't release it
at that time.
Savoy Records signs bandleaders Hal "Cornbread" singer and Buddy Lucas to recording contracts.
Earl Bostic is currently touring along the East Coast
December 1
Bubber Johnson starts four days at the
Veterans Club in Sewickley, Pennsylvania.
The Savoy Ballroom in Los Angeles presents a four-day show featuring Nappy Brown and Percy Mayfield.
December 2
Fats Domino headlines the three-day
weekend show at the 5-4 Ballroom in Los Angeles before leaving on
a tour of Texas and the East Coast.
The Apollo Theater features the Cadillacs, the Pearls and Sil Austin Combo or the week.
December 3
Bill Haley and His Comets pack the Keith
Theater in Baltimore with over four thousands showing up for the
two shows.
December 5
Alan Freed receives several awards at
the annual Broadcast Music, Incorporated (BMI) dinner in New York
for his assistance in getting BMI records played on radio.
Performers during the evening include LaVern Baker.
The Chatterbox Club in Cleveland hosts the Bubber Johnson Orchestra for a week.
Early December
Lloyd Price returns to civilian life
after twenty-one months with the U.S. Armory.
At the Magnolia Ballroom in Atlanta, the Drifters beat the El Dorados in a mock "Battle Of The Quartets."
Dootone Records signs the Four Pipes and the Cool Notes.
Grove Records announces the signing of a new group from Detroit, the Nitecaps.
Chuck Berry opens for two weeks at the Stage Club in Chicago.
December 8
B.B. King begins four days at the Savoy
Ballroom in Los Angeles. Also in town, Johnny Otis at the Rutland
Inn for the evening, while the Ernie Freeman Combo is playing the
Backstage Bar for an extended engagement.
December 9
The Flame Show Bar presents Willie Mabon
for the week. Across town, Jack Dupree is at the Roosevelt
Lounge.
The Dew Drop Inn books Larry Darnell for a three-day weekends through the end of the year.
The Turbans and Nolan Strong and the Diablos headline the show at the Apollo Theater.
December 11
The Drifters start at the Lord Calvert
Club in Miami.
December 12
LaVern Baker headlines a week-long show
at the Mastbaum Theater in Philadelphia,. Other entertainers
include the Valentines, the El Dorados, Screamin' Jay Hawkins,
Gloria Mann. Red Prysock and Bubber Johnsons' Orchestra.
December 15
Joe Houston and Oscar Peterson entertain
at the Savoy Ballroom in Los Angeles for four days.
Mid-December
Ekko Records recording artist
Eddie Bond returns to his hometown Memphis after several play
dates in the Louisville, Kentucky area. His latest release is
"Double Duty Lovin." Ekko's other rockabilly. the
Cochran Brothers (Hank and Johnny), have completed an extended
tour that started on the West Coast and ended up in Arizona and
Kansas.
In a reverse move, rhythm and blues giant Chess starts a "pop" subsidiary, Marterry Records.
Neshui Ertegun joins his brother Ahmet as a partner in Atlantic Records.
December 16
Bullmoose Jackson brings his orchestra
to the Flame Show Bar in Detroit for a week.
Joe Turner and Floyd Dixon are appearing at the 5-4 Ballroom in Los Angeles for a three days. Also in town, Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Tony Allen and the Champs for three days at the Bard's Theater.
December 17
Bill Haley and His Comets play the first of
two days at the Court Square Theater in Springfield,
Massachusetts. The break the house records with a two-day gross
of $5,000.
Elvis Presley signs for four consecutive appearances on Jackie Gleason's "Stage Show" program that will broadcast nationally over CBS-TV beginning January 28, 1956. He will be paid $1250 per show.
December 20
Shirley and Lee with the Joe Jones Orchestra
start on a tour of the South.
December 22
LaVern Baker headlines the twelve-day
"Rock ;N' Roll Holiday" show hosted by Alan Freed at
the Academy of Music in New York. Also on the bill are the Three
Chuckles, the Cadillacs, the Valentines, Gloria Mann, the
Heartbeats, the Wrens, Boyd Bennett and His Rockets, the Al Sears
Orchestra with
Sam "The Man" Taylor and the Count Basie Band with Joe
Williams.
The Savoy Ballroom in Los Angeles presents Big Jay McNeeley, the Gaylarks and Shirley Gunter and the Queens for three days.
December 23
Chuck Berry starts a two week tour of
one-nighters.
At the Brooklyn Paramount, Dr. Jive opens the holiday revue featuring Pat Boone, the Cheers, Ruth Brown, Bo Diddley. the Five Keys, the Turbans and Willis Jackson's Orchestra.
Willie Dixon is booked at the Blue Flame in East St. Louis, Illinois, for twelve days.
The Orioles, Sonny Boy Williamson and Nolan Strong and the Diablos entertain for a week at the Howard Theater.
Percy Mayfield is scheduled through Christmas at the Rutland Inn in Los Angeles. Also in town, Ray Charles opens for a three-day weekend at the 5-4 Ballroom.
The Clovers headline the Apollo Theater for a week.
December 26
Della Reese, the El Dorados, Big
Maybelle, the Royal Jokers and James Moody's Combo entertain at
the Graystone Ballroom in Detroit.
December 29
The Drifters return to Atlanta's Magnolia
Gardens, the site of their success in the recent "Battle Of
The Quartets."
Johnny Otis plays a one-nighter at the Rutland Inn in Los Angeles.
December 30
Lloyd Price, the Turbans,Band and the
Cardinals are featured at the Howard Theater.
Faye Adams starts a week at the Flame Show Bar in Detroit.
In Los Angeles, Louis Jordan plays for two nights at the Savoy Ballroom, Joe Turner and Floyd Dixon open for the tree-day weekend at the 5-4 Ballroom and Chuck Higgins and his band are at the Rutland Inn Through New Year's Eve.
December 31
The Plaza Theater in Buffalo, New York,
boasts a fine New Year's lineup with Clyde McPhatter headlining
the show.
Screamin' Jay Hawkins plays the Mandy Lounge in Buffalo, New York.
The New Year's Eve party at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles features the newly re-formed Robins, Joe Turner, Oscar McLollie, Gene and Eunice and the Calvanes.
Late December
Bull Moose Jackson. formerly
with King Records and Savannah Churchill previously with Decca
and RCA Victor, sign with Chess Records.
The music press reports that 1955 record sales are up more than forty percent over 1954.