"Rock and Roll is an economic thing," says "pop"
singer Jo Stafford, quoted in Billboard, October 13, 1958. "Today's nine-to fourteen
year old group is the first generation with enough money given to them by their parents to
buy records in sufficient quantities to influence the market. In my youth if I asked my
father for 45 cents to buy a record, he'd have thought seriously about having me
committed."
According to record industry reports during 1958 5,249 singles are issued by over six hundred labels. This is an 11% increase over 1957. However, fewer then 6% of them make the Top Fifty. Tommy Dorseys's Tea For Two Cha Cha and Peggy Lee's Fever." The National Academy of recorded Arts and Sciences announces the first Grammys. Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu wins the Best Record and Best Song. The only rock and roll winner is "Tequila' for Best Rhythm and Blues Performance. 1958 is the year of the teen idol,. Led by Ricky Nelson, Paul Anka, Frankie Avalon, Bobby Darin, Jimmie Rodgers, the Everly Brothers and Jimmy Clanton they steal the thunder away from Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis Gene Vincent, et al whose styles are rockabilly. In early March the press begins to concentrate on the strangle hold by the union controlled rackets over the juke box industry. State officials in St. Louis, move to clean up the pinball, juke box and cigarette industry. Robert Kennedy, staff counsel for the Senate Rackets Committee, announces that Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland will be spotlighted in the committee's investigation into the nationwide relationship between the coin machine industry and labor unions. The Senate Commerce Communication sub committee branches out to probe ties between radio broadcasters and the record business. Riots at rock and roll concerts continue, with those in Boston getting the most Publicity. Once again, it happens during an Alan Freed Tour. There is a melee in which fifteen people are injured. Freed is indicted by Boston authorities for creating a civil disturbance. While records play an important part in the exploitation of an act, the insurance of regular television exposure is equally important.. Marvin Rainwater Billboard September 15, 1958 Televisions influence over the recording industry reaches an all time high, with Dick Clark's "American Bandstand" leading the way.
January 5
The Everly Brothers appear
on CBS-TV's The Ed Sullivan Show. Bo Diddley receives his custom built, square guitar from
the Gretsch Guitar Co. He
designed the guitar and
Gretsch built it to his specifications
January 8
Jerry Lee Lewis appears
on CBS-TVs "The Big Record." RCA Victor announces that tests conducted at its
pressing facility in Indianapolis have determined
that stereo records are
incompatible with monaural hi-fi players.
January 24
Frankie Lymon and
the Teenagers perform "Goodie Goodie" on American Bandstand. Little
Richard enrolls at Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama.
Oakwood is an all-Negro
theological school operated by the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Using some of his
rock and roll money, Little Richard paid
cash-in-advance for his
four year tuition.
January 29
Sam Cooke appears
on CBS-TV's "The Big Record"
January 29
Eddie Cochran appears
on "American Bandstand"
February 6
The Pat
Boone Show debuts on ABC-TV at 9:00
February 7
Gene Vincent
appears on "American Bandstand."
February 15
"The Dick Clark
Show" is ABC-TVs latest Saturday night show. Carl Perkins leaves Sun Records for
Columbia Records
February 22
The Big
Beat a full color rock and roll motion picture premiers in Detroit. Fats
Domino, the Dell-Vikings and the Diamonds appear in it
March 2
Sam Cooke appears on
"The Steve Allen Show" on NBC-TV
March 7
Chuck Berry headlines the
Apollo Theater in New York
March 8
Jerry Lee Lewis appears on
"The Dick Clark Show" and sings "Breathless and "You Win Again."
March 9
The Everly Brothers appear on
CBS-TVs "The Ed Sullivan Show." Gene Vincent wraps up filming his part in the
movie "Hot Rod Rock."
March 18
Jerry Lee Lewis appears on
"American Bandstand. He performs an unprecedented three songs: "You Win
Again" "Whole Lotta Shakin Goin' on" and
"Breathless. Billy
Haley and His Comets appear on ABC-TVs "The Dick Clark Show."
March 24
Elvis Presley is inducted
into the US Army
March 28
Pvt. Elvis Presley leaves
Fort Chafee to Fort Hood Texas to begin eight weeks of basic training . Carl Perkins
cancels his Canadian tour to be with his
brother Jay who is in
critical condition in Memphis.
April 4
Fats Domino stars at the Apollo Theater
in New York
April 16
Dion and the Belmonts perform "I
Wonder Why" on American Bandstand.
April 19
Carl Perkins appears on ABC-TVs "The Dick Clark
Show."
April 27
The Everly Brothers are guests on
"The Ed Sullivan Show" on CBS-TV.
April 28
Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent headline
the Youth Rally in Chicago Stadium.
May 3
There is a riot at Alan Freed's Big Beat Tour
in Boston. Fifteen people are hurt or stabbed after the show. the tour moves on and
is well received in other
cities
May 6
A show for the benefit of Catholic Youth
Organization in Troy, NY is cancelled by the Albany Diocese of the Catholic Church.
March 7
Chuck Berry headlines the
Apollo Theater in New York
March 8
Jerry Lee Lewis appears
on "The Dick Clark Show" and sings "Breathless and "You Win
Again."
May 9
In New Haven the city cancel the show
May 9
A show in New Britain, Connecticut is cancelled
by the chief of police.
May 10
Alan Freed's tour, after 45 shows in 45 days
ends in with the final show in Trenton, NJ being canceled by a Major in the National Guard
who cities concerns
for public safety.
May 16
In Boston Alan Freed is indicted on charges
stemming from the May 3 incident. He is charged with anarchy and inciting a riot. He
pleads innocent and is
released on $3,000 bond. It will take nearly a
year to work its way through the court system, Freed will quit his job at WINS after the
station refuses to back
him
May 22
Jerry Lee Lewis arrives in Britain for a tour
of the British Isles. Decca Records throws a party and invites the British Press. Jerry
and his new bride Myra
attends. It is soon broadcast that his new
bride is only 13 and his second cousin.
May 25
Frankie Lyman and the Teenagers perform
on "The Ed Sullivan Show"
May 28
Jerry Lee Lewis returns to the United State
after only three performances
Mercury becomes the first major record company to discontinue the 78 r.p.m. record format.
June 1
Elvis Presly completes his basic training.
After a two week furlough he returns to Fort Hood to receive eight weeks advanced training
as an armor crewman
June 2
Chuck Berry is arrested in St. Charles,
Missouri with a French woman on his way to St.Louis after playing in Topeka, Kansas. It is
alleged that he molested
the woman a charge they both deny. a
hearing is set for June 2o, at which time Berry will be charged with carrying a concealed
weapon and an auto
registration infraction. He is fined
thirty dollars and the alleged molestation is never mentioned.
June 7
High School Confidential opens nationally.Jerry
Lee Lewis, who sings the title song, makes a cameo singing appearance in the movie.
June 11
The New York Paramount Theater refuses to
let Alan freed hold his annual summer show.
June 14
The Everly Brothers appear on "The Perry
Como Show' on on NBC-TV.
June 21
Dick Clark broadcasts his Saturday night
television by remote from Atlantic City, New Jersey.
June 15
Via film clip made in Italy, the Platters
perform "Twilight Time" on the "Ed Sullivan Show." "The Ed
Sullivan Show" offers a tenth anniversary filmed
retrospective that include parts of
Elvis' previous performances.
June 30
Alan Freed's new television show begins in NY.
Chuck Berry and the Four Lads appear. The show is seen locally on WARD-TV from 5-6, Monday
through
Friday
July 2
King Creole Elvis Presley's fourth movie is released.
Mid- July
It is announced that Alan Freed's new television show
will be syndicated coast to coast by video tape
RCA Victor announce a four track audio tape cartridge
system to be introduced shortly.
July 19
Alan Freed files for bankruptcy citing liabilities of
$51,000, mostly in bookings from his recent "Big Beat" tour. His assets are
listed as zero
August 5
The Coasters perform their
latest hit Yakety Yak on "American Bandstand
August 14
Elvis Presley's mother
Gladys dies
August 15
Buddy Holly in Lubbock,
Texas marries Maria Elena Santiago. They met when she was an employee at Southern Music in
New York.
August 24
The Teenagers reunite with
Frankie Lymon to play "The Ed Sullivan Show."
August 26
Eddie Cochran sings
Summertime Blues on "American Bandstand"
August 30
Bill Haley and His Comets
appear on ABC-TVs "The Dick Clark Show."
September 19
The Coasters
headline the Apollo Theater in New York
September 20
Pvt. Elvis
Presley leaves to Germany where he will be station at Ray Barracks in Friedberg
September 27
The
Everly Brothers appear on the "Perry Como Show" on NBC-TV.
October 11
"The Dick Clark
Show" is broadcasted live from the Southeastern Fair in Atlanta, Georgia Guests
include Sam Cooke, Danny & Tthe Juniors,
Conway
Twitty, the Applejacks and Paul Peek.
Octtober 22
Bo Diddley
appears at the Apollo Theater in New York
October 28
Buddy Holly
and the Crickets sing "Think It Over," "Fools Paradise," and
"Heartbeat" on "American Bandstand."
The
Crickets decide to stay in Lubbock after their October tour. Buddy Holly returns to New
York with his new wife. Holly gives up all rights to the
Cricket's
name and will continue to record and perform as a solo act.
November 6
The
Platters headline in the Flamingo Room of the Flamingo Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas
November 10
Sam Cooke is injured in an automobile accident
November 14
Eddie Cochran plays"C'mon Everybody" on American Bandstand
November 22
The Big Bopper is among the guests appearing on ABC-TVS "The Dick Clark Show."
November 29
"The Dick Clark Show" is arranged as a special twenty-ninth birthday party for
Clark. Guest hosts are Pat Boone, Bobby Darin, and Sal Mineo.
Performers include Frankie Avalon, Connie Francis, Danny and the Juniors, Eddie Cochran
and Little Anthony and the Imperials.
Unable to come up with a hit record Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps split when he can not
pay the band three weeks back salary. The musicians union
yanks his union card. He will move back to the Northwest with his new wife and play
locally until mid-1959
December 13
Fats Domino plays "The Dick Clark Show."
December 26
Following a Dick Clark appearance at the Sunnybrook Ballroom in Pottsdown,
Pennsylvania a teenager is stabbed
Payola was rampent in the 30s and 40s. Billboard noted that it had very little to do
setting musical trends
