"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.
Jan 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
Jan 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.
Jan 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.
Jan 29 Sam Cooke appears on CBS-TV's "The Big Record"
Jan 29 Eddie Cochran appears on "American Bandstand"
Feb 6 The Pat Boone Show debuts on ABC-TV at 9:00
Feb 7 Gene Vincent appears on "American Bandstand."
Feb 15 "The Dick Clark Show" is ABC-TVs latest Saturday night show.
Carl Perkins leaves Sun Records for Columbia Records
Feb 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.
Apr 4 Fats Domino stars at the Apollo Theater in New York
Apr 16 Dion and the Belmonts perform "I Wonder Why" on
American Bandstand.
Apr 19 Carl Perkins appears on ABC-TVs "The Dick Clark Show."
Apr 27 The Everly Brothers are guests on "The Ed Sullivan
Show" on CBS-TV.
Apr 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
Jun 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.
Jun 7 High School Confidential opens nationally.Jerry Lee Lewis, who sings the title song,
makes a cameo singing appearance in the movie.
Jun 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
Jul 2 King Creole Elvis Presley's fourth movie is released.
Mid Jul 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.
Jul 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
Aug 5 The Coasters perform their latest hit Yakety Yak on "American Bandstand
Aug 14 Elvis Presley's mother Gladys dies
Aug 15 Buddy Holly in Lubbock, Texas marries Maria Elena Santiago. They met when she was
an employee at Southern Music in New York.
Aug 24 The Teenagers reunite with Frankie Lymon to play "The Ed Sullivan Show."
Aug 26 Eddie Cochran sings Summertime Blues on "American Bandstand"
Aug 30 Bill Haley and His Comets appear on ABC-TVs "The Dick Clark Show."
Sep 19 The Coasters headline the Apollo Theater in New York
Sept 20 Pvt. Elvis Presley leaves to Germany where he will be station at Ray Barracks in
Friedberg
Sept 27 The Everly Brothers appear on the "Perry Como Show" on NBC-TV.
Oct 11 "the Dick Clark Show" is broadcasted live from the Southeastern Fair
in Atlanta, Georgia Guests include Sam Cooke,
Danny and the Juniors, Conway Twitty, the Applejacks and Paul Peek.
Oct 22 Bo Diddley appears at the Apollo Theater in New York
Oct 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.
Nov 6 The Platters headline in the Flamingo Room of the Flamingo Hotel and Casino in Las
Vegas
Nov 10 Sam Cooke is injured in an automobile accident
Now 14 Eddie Cochran plays"C'mon everybody" on American Bandstand
Nov 22 The Big Bopper is among the guests appearing on ABC-TVS "The Dick Clark
Show."
Nov 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
Dec 13 Fats Domino plays "The Dick Clark Show."
Dec 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