Daily Events 1961

January 1  

        Buzz Clifford begins tour to promote Baby Sittin' Boogie.

January 2

       Aretha Franklin launches her switch to secular music at the Showboat in Philadelphia tonight.

January 4  

       Etta James is at the Counterpoint in Chicago. Bobby Rydell appears on the Perry Como Show.

January 6  

       Bill Doggett headlines the wekly revue at the Howard Theater in Washington, D.C. Also appearing are the Drifters. Ruth Brown and Gary U.S. Bonds.


January 10 

      Buzz Clifford sings "Baby Sittin' Boogieon American Bandstand.

January 11 

      Frankie Avalon opens for Joey Bishop at the Dunes Hotel and Casini in Las Vegas.

      Fats Domino begins a nine day tour of Texas and Oklahoma that grosses $50,000.

January 13 

      Sam Cooke appears at New York's Apollo Theater with the Shells opening for him. 

      James Brown and the Fabulous Flames are at the Howard Theater in Washington, D.C.

January 14 

      Saturday Prom features the Playmates and Johnny and the Hurricanes.

January 14 

      Mickey and Sylvia appear on American Bandstand. It is reported that Jerry Lee Lewis and the American Federation of Musicians have reached an agreement.
      Supposedly Lewis had owed the Union $10,000 in back dues. In retalition the A.F.M had banned Lewis from playing in Union controlled venues in Las Vegas.

January 20 

      Jerry Butler headlines the Regal Theater in Chicago. Also appearing are Dee Clark, the Miracles, the Shirelles and LaVern Baker, Clyde McPhatter, Little
     Anthony, Ben E. King and the Shells.

January 21 

      Dale Hawkins opens at the Rocket Room In Washington. The Ventures perform on Saturday Prom.

January 24 
     Johnny Burnette sings "Little Boy Sad" on American Bandstand.

January 25 

     Ricky Nelson "Your the Only One" on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.

January 26 

     Dodie Stevens, Bobby Rydell and Chubby Checker complete a tour of Australia.

     Frankie Lymon sings Silhouttes in American Bandstand.

January 27 

     Carla Thomas makes her television debut on American Bandstand and performs "Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes).

     Gene Vincent plays The Gaiety Ballroom in Grimsby, Great Britain.

January 28 

     Brook Benton ends his month long tour in Orlando, Florida. Saturday Prom is broadcast from the Winter Carnival in St. Paul, Minnesota. Appearing are Freddy
     Cannon, JoAnn Campbell, Buzz Clifford and the String-A-Longs.

January  31 

      Bobby Darin and Friends, an hour long special, airs on NBC-TV.

Late January
The Everly Brothers are reported to be in Hollywood taking acting classes.

Aretha Franklin is booked to play the Library portion of the Playboy Club in Chicago.

Bill Doggett is at Pep's Musicasl Lounge in Philadelphia.

Feb 1

      The Belmonts are American Bandstand's musical guests.

February 3

      The Show of Stars Boby Rydell, Chubby Checker and Dodie Stevens swing through Oahu, Hawaii.

      Brook Benton, the Shirelles, Maxine Brown and the Dynamics are at the Howard Theater.

February 4

      Johnny Burnette under goes an appendectomy at Hollywood Hospital. This will cause the postponment of his European tour and an estimated lose of $10,000 in
      bookings.

February 6

      Dion is a guest on American Bandstand and sings "Havin' Fun." 

February 7

      Bobby Rydell in his hometown of Philadelphia receives 1960s Outstanding Entertainer Award from the Sons of Italy at Palumbo's resteraurant.

Early February

Johnny Tillotson begins a three week tour of Ohio, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Illinois.

Fabian is at the Arenta Colesium in Manilla, Philippines.

Gene Vincent begins tour in London to begin a tour of England.

Bill Haley and His Comets are touring Mexico, but also visit Chile, Peru and Ecuador.

February 8

       The Ramrods perform (Ghost) Riders in the Sky" on American Bandstand.

February 10

        Gene Pitney appears in Montreal for two days.

Februay 11

        Gene Pitney and the Shirelles guest on Saturday Prom.

February 12

        Bobby Rydell begins a six week European tour.

        Paul Anka is on CBS-TV's Ed Sullivan Show.

February 15

       While relaxing Jackie Wilson is shot by a female fan who then attempts suicide. Wilson claims he was trying to take the gun when it went off. The bullet hits him
        in the stomach. He is taken to Roosevelt Hospital. The bullet is in a position where it can't be removed and is left lodged in his back.

       Billy Ward and the His Dominoes are at Miami's Eden Roc Hotel.

Mid-February

The Bombers, formerly the Jive Bombers, are at the Pillow Talk in New York City.

February 17

       The Coasters, Ike and Tina Turner Chuck Jackson and the Capris are at Washington's Howard Theater.

February 19

       Bill Black's Combo appears on The ed Sulivan Show.

       In London, Bobby Rydell appears on British TV's Sunday Night at the Palladium.

       Dave "Baby" Cortez is at the Randolph Social Club in Philadelphia.

February 21

       The Shirelles sing "Will You still Love Me Tomorrow" and "Dedicated To the One I Love" on American Bandstand.

February 22

       Ray Charles sings "Georgia on My Mind on NBC-TV's Perry Como Show.

February 24

       Sam Cooke is at the Apollo for a week. Opening acts are Little Anthony and the Imperials and Aretha Franklin.

       Brook Benton begins a sixteen day tour of England.

       Bobby Rydell is the headliner at France's first annnual rock and roll festival Festival du Rock.

February 23

       Elvis Presley headlines two shows at the Ellis Auditorium in Memphis. These are his first concerts since 1957 and raise $50,00 for charities in Memphis and
       Tupelo.

February 27

       Fats Domino begins a wek at Sciolla's Club in Philadelphia.

March 3

       Bobby Rydell ens Europen Tour In England. 

       James Brown is at the Apollo.

       Sam Cooke at the Royal Theater in Baltimore.

       Jimmy Charles Headlines the Howard Theater. Also on the bill are the Bobettes, the Clovers, the Vibrations and Jimmy Jones.

Early March

Chuck Berry is touring around Jamaica in the British west Indies.

Gene Pitney is touring the West Coast.

Freddie Bell and the Bellboys are at Riverside Hotel in Reno.

The Pono-Tails are appearing at the Holiday Inn and Casino in Reno.

March 7

       Sam Cooke is at the Howard Theatre along with the Rochelles and the Candles.

       LaVern Baker headlines the Apollo

March 13

       The Capris sing "There's A Moom Out Tonight" on American Bandstand.

Mid-March

Danny and the Juniors begin European Tour.

The Coasters are appearing at the Summit in Holywood.

March 15

       Gene McDaniels performs "A Hundred Pounds of Clay" on American Bandstand.

March 16       

       The Echoes sing "Baby Blue" on American Bandstand.

March 17

       Chubby Checker headlines Chicago's Regal theater. Also on the bill are Joe Jones, the Drifters, Maxine Brown, Chuch Jackson, Jimmy Charles and the Blue
       Notes.

      Sam Cooke goes to the British West Indies for concerts in Jamaica, Kingston, Trinidad and Montego Bay. Ticket sales are estimated at $45,000

March 20

       Elvis starts work on Blue Hawaii.

March 24

       Bobby Rydell is playing the Lotus Club in Washington, D.C.

March 23

       In Honolulu  to film Blue Hawaii. Elvis performs a benefit show with all the proceeds going to build a memorial to the sailors when the USS Arizona was sunk at
       Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. This will be Presley's last live concert and raises $52,000.

      A major rock and roll show at the Paramount in Newark, New Jersey features the Shrelles, the Olympics, Shep and the Limelites and Lenny Miles.

March 28 

      The Larks and Chuck Jackson are guests on American Bandstand.

March 29

      March 29 is declared Brenda Lee Day by Decca Records and Governor Ernest vandiver of Georgia. A 125,000 copies are sold of "Emotions" today.

March 31

       Jocko's Rocketship Revue at the Apollo Theater features Clyde McPhatter. the Blue Note, Baby Washington, Shep and the Limelites,, Bobby Freeman and
       the Larks.

       Bob Luman is discharged from the Army.

April 2

      The Biggest Show of Stars for 61 begins at the Uline Arena in Washington, DC. The tour includes headliners Fats Domino, the Shirelles, and Chubby Checker.
      Also  the Drifters, Bo Diddley, Ben E. King, the Shells and Chuck Jackson.

April 3

       Jimmy Jones performs at the Asbury Park Covention Hall  in New Jersey.

April 4

       Fabian returns to South Side High in Philadelphia to receive his high school dipolma. He graduates with a B+ average,

April 5

       The Paris Sisters sing "Be My Boy" on American Bandstand.

April 7

       The Poni-Tails are at the Twin Coaches Lounge in Pittsburgh.

       Gene Pitney is on American Bandstand

April 8

       Ray Charles begins a twenty stop tour at the McCormick Place in Chicago. His two days in Chicago gross $34,000 with tickets costing up to $4.00

April 10

       Del Shannon performs "Runaway" on American Bandstand.

April 12

       James Darren appears on Bob Hope's NBC-TV special Darren sings "Gidget Goes Hawaiian" and "Wild About That Girl."

       Freddy Cannon is on American Bandstand.

April 11

       Jerry Butler, Dee Clark, Maxine Brown, and the Marcels are at the Howard Theater.

April 15 

       The Ray Charles revuse stops at Detroit's Music Hall and then Cleveland Music Hall grosses $22,000 on $4.00 tickets.

Mid-April

Duane Eddy is on location in Tuscon, Arizona filming "Thunder of Drums."

April 17

       Dion appears at the Casino Royal in Washington.

       Neil Sedaka is at the Blinstrub's Club in Philadelphia.

       JoAnn Campbell is on American Bandstand.

April 20

       Paul Evans and Johnny Preston open for six days at the Armata Coliseum in Manila, Philippines, that wil draw 36,000 fans A brief swing through Australia
       follows. In all, they are seen by 1000,000

       Pat Boone's TV special features Fabian.

April 21

       Ernie-K-Doe, Jimmy Jones and Freddie Scott appear at Pittsburgh's Carnegie Music Hall. The Flamingos, the Olympics and the Dells are at Chicago's Regal
       Theater for a week.

April 25

       Johnny Maestro sings "Model Girl" on American Bandstand.

April 27

       The Roomates sing "Glory of Love" on American Bandstand.

April 28

       The Biggest Show of Stars for 61 stops in St. Louis and the next day at Chicago's McCormick Place. The two dates brings in $25,000

       The Flamingos, Jerry Butler, the Miracles, Maxine Brown, the Vibrations and Shep and the Limelites are ayt the Uptown Theater in Philadelphia.

Late April

Sam Cooke appears for a week at the Flame Show Bar in Detroit.

May 1

       Bobby Rydell makes his debut as a nightclub performer at Sciolla's Club in Philadelphia.

       Danny and the Juniors are at Casino Royal in Washington, DC for a week.

       Neil Sedaka sings "Litle Devil" on American Bandstand.

       Johnny Preston is in Philadelphia to begin a 30 day tour to promote "I Feel Good."

May 3

       Fats Domino plays the Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh.

May 4

       Neil Sedaka begins a tour of the Philippines and Australia.

      Paul Revere and the Raiders make their national TV debut on American Bandstand and sing "Like Long Hair."

May 5

       Ral Donner is on American Bandstand.

Early May

Bobby Darin is touring Japan.

May 8

       For his 21st birthday Ricky Nelson is granted his wish to be called professionally Rick.

       Fat Domino is performing at the Showboat in Philadelphia.

       Gene McDaniels begins a tour in Minneapolis to promote his new album.

May 10

       Danny and the Juniors are on American Bandstand.

May 12

       Gene McDaniels opens at the Village Vanguard in New York City.

May 13

       Sam Cooke has a SRO for his show at the Keil Auditorium. Also appearing are Hank Ballard and the Midnighters, Clyde McPhatter, Aretha Franklin and the
       Olympics.

      Gene Vincent returns to England. He becomes the first American to appear on the British variety television program Thank Your Lucky Stars.

Mid-May

Jerry Lee Lewis is performing every Sunday at Lil' Rebel Room in Memphis while he is on vacation at his home in Hernando, just across the state line in Mississippi.

Freddy Cannon is recuperating from tonsillectomy.

Jackie Wilson is leaving the hospital after recovering from the gunshot wound he sufferred on 2/15/61

May 17

       Dion is at the International Club in New York City.

May 19

       Jerry Lee Lewis is at the Regal theater in Chicago.

May 21

       Gene Vincent begins an eight day tour through South africa.

May 23

       Little Caesar and the Romans sing "Those Oldies But Goodies" on American Bandstand.

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