Pick a Day

Music History Events: Odds And Ends

November 22, 1955 Elvis Presley sends a telegram to his new manager, Colonel Tom Parker, which reads: "Dear Colonel, Words can never tell you how my folks and I appreciate what you did for me. I've always known and now my folks are assured that you are the best, most wonderful person I could ever hope to work with. Believe me when I say I will stick with you through thick and thin and do everything I can to uphold your faith in me. Again, I say thanks and I love you like a father."

November 10, 1955 In his Nashville hotel room, songwriter Mae Axton plays Elvis Presley a demo of a song she's co-written called "Heartbreak Hotel."

May 22, 1955 Police cancel a Fats Domino show at the Ritz ballroom in Bridgeport, Connecticut, fearing his music will lead to a riot.

May 13, 1955 Elvis Presley's performance in Jacksonville, Florida, is the first Presley show at which a riot ensues. After Elvis tells the audience, "Girls, I'll see you backstage," he has some of his clothes ripped off, but escapes unharmed.

May 1, 1955 A St. Louis guitarist named Chuck Berry is signed to Chess Records in Chicago after bluesman Muddy Waters recommends him to the label.

April 25, 1955 The UN's commission on narcotics releases a report stating "definite connection between increased marijuana smoking and that form of entertainment known as bebop and rebop."

March 10, 1955 Trumpeting their new signing, RCA Victor places a half-page ad in Billboard announcing Elvis Presley as the "new singing rage."

November 26, 1954 On tour, Elvis Presley sends a telegram to his parents: "Hi babies, here's the money to pay the bills, don't tell no one how much I sent I will send more next week. There is a card in the mail. Love Elvis."

September 30, 1954 Patsy Cline signs a contract with Four Star Music Sales.

June 14, 1953 Elvis Presley graduates from Humes High School in Memphis, Tennessee.

September 1, 1952 Ray Charles signs to Atlantic after leaving Swingtime Records; the label takes him in a harder R&B direction than the crooner-style pop and West Coast blues he had been recording.

February 19, 1952 Seventeen-year-old Gene Vincent, still known by his real name Vincent Craddock, enters the US Navy.

July 11, 1951 On WJW in Cleveland, Alan Freed broadcasts his first "Moondog House Rock and Roll Party," marking the first radio show with the phrase "Rock and Roll" and giving Freed a claim on the origin of the term. More importantly, Freed plays R&B music, which introducing the sound to a new (and mostly white) audience.

July 7, 1950 Johnny Cash joins the US Air Force.

September 12, 1948 Giving up her job at the Tupelo Garment Company in Mississippi, Gladys Presley and her husband Vernon move to Memphis with their son, Elvis.

July 11, 1946 Dean Martin begins his recording career mere weeks before teaming up with nightclub comic Jerry Lewis.

April 21, 1945 One of the world's first great R&B labels, Modern Records, is formed by Saul and Jules Bihari in Los Angeles. It would prove to be the launching pad for everyone from John Lee Hooker to Etta James.

November 28, 1944 The movie musical Meet Me in St. Louis, featuring Judy Garland, opens in theaters.

June 17, 1943 After planning to return to his hometown and resume his career as a barber, Perry Como is signed to RCA Records.

September 30, 1935 The Gershwin musical Porgy and Bess opens at Boston's Colonial Theatre. While not commercially successful, a revival in 1942 will turn it into one of the longest-running musicals in history.

September 30, 1933 WLS radio in Chicago's popular program The National Barn Dance, one of the first country music radio programs, goes national with a move to NBC radio.

December 27, 1932 With 6,200 seats and a stage spanning 10,000 square feet, the world's largest indoor theater of the time, Radio City Music Hall, opens in New York City with a massive six-hour show.

November 12, 1931 Abbey Road Studios opens for business at 3 Abbey Road, St. John's Wood, London. The Beatles do most of their recording there and name their 1969 album Abbey Road, with a famous photo of the band traversing the crosswalk outside the studio.

October 14, 1930 Ethel Merman becomes a star overnight with her rendition of "I Got Rhythm," featured in the new Broadway hit Girl Crazy.

December 13, 1928 An American in Paris, a musical by George Gershwin, premieres in New York City. In 1951, it's turned into a movie starring Gene Kelly.

October 10, 1902 Kalamazoo, Michigan, mandolin maker Orville Gibson founds the Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Mfg. Co, Ltd. In 1936 it would create the first commercially successful electric guitar.

October 3, 1901 The first record company, The Victor Talking Machine Company, is incorporated, later merging with the Radio Corporation of America to become RCA-Victor.

January 22, 1889 The Columbia Phonograph Company is formed in Washington, DC. The record label eventually morphs into the Columbia Broadcast System, better known today as CBS.

February 14, 1847 A saxophone school is created in Paris, France. It is set up at "Gymnase Musical," a military band school.

July 25, 1828 Ignaz Bösendorfer is granted a trade license number which enables him to start a piano manufacturing company in Vienna.