Time to take a look back into this day in rock history: January 22
University of Mississippi’s Center for the Study of Southern Culture gets B.B. King’s 20,000-record collection including 7,000 discs King played as a disc jockey at Memphis’ WDIA back in the 1950s.
Jackie Wilson passed away at the age of 49. One of the most dynamic performers in early R & B., Wilson was known as “Mr. Excitement”. He suffered a heart attack while singing “Lonely Teardrops” at a “Dick Clark Good Ol’ Rock & Roll Revue” in New Jersey and with the words, “My heart is crying” he collapsed on stage. People in the audience applauded because they thought it was part of the act. Wilson lingered for a time before death finally claimed him.
One of the greatest pitchmen in rock and roll, former carnival barker Colonel Tom Parker…who managed Elvis Presley…dies after a stroke at age 87. What a character! His real name was Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk and was born in Holland, illegally entering the US in 1929. That was a major reason Elvis never toured outside North America or Hawaii. The Colonel couldn’t get a passport! He served in the US army and joined the carnival circuit in Florida. He took the name of his former commanding officer, Thomas Parker, and told people he was from West Virginia. Story was that he also spray painted birds yellow and sold them as canaries. He became Elvis’ manager after Cleveland disc jockey Bill Randle turned down the offer.
Sonny Geraci hits again. His LA based band Climax with Geraci on lead vocals scores with “Precious and Few”, a song seemingly played at as many weddings as the “Here Comes the Bride” wedding march. Geraci last topped the US charts seven years before with the Outsiders and “Time Won’t let Me”.
Former Fleetwood Mac guitarist Peter Green is institutionalized after firing a gun at a delivery boy trying to give him a $30,000 royalty check. Green wanted no part of the money because it represented rock and roll. He was later employed in a series of jobs including hospital porter and gravedigger before returning to music in 1979. Green was thought to have been a victim of heavy psychedelic use. For a time he was also deeply into religion.
2020
Neil Young finally wins his long struggle to share dual citizenship with the US and Canada. He proudly proclaims on Instagram, “I’m proud to be Canarican!” while waving miniature flags from both his countries. Young had actually first entered the US illegally when he drove his Pontiac hearse over the border in 1966. So why did it take so long? Did certain intoxicants cause any issues?
