Time to take a look back into this day in rock history: March 7
What is considered the first rock and roll record, Jackie Brenston And His Delta Cats’ “Rocket 88”, is put on wax at Sam Phillips’ Memphis Recording Service. The band is actually Ike Turner and His Kings of Rhythm backing Brenston, and toured the promote the record in 1951 and 52. Brenston never had another hit, though Turner did pretty well.
A crossover hit for a rock and roll pioneer. Carl Perkins’ “Blue Suede Shoes” tops Billboard’s R & B chart. It was also a hit on the Country charts, and Perkins’ is the first country artist to reach that goal.
It looked like a sure hit and it was…in the UK. Tina Turner records the vocals for Phil Spector’s “River Deep Mountain High”. It has the signature Spector “Wall of Sound” but only makes it to #88 in the US.
That was a close one! Legendary CBS talent spotter John Hammond, who worked with everyone from Billie Holliday to Bob Dylan, suffered a heart attack at New York’s Max’s Kansas City. It happened while he signing a new act, a kid named Bruce Springsteen.
One of the few instrumentals to be awarded a gold record, “Dueling Banjos” from Deliverance goes all the way to number two on the Billboard Hot 100. Major hit for Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandel.
Sissy Spacek wins the Oscar for Best Actress for her portrayal of Loretta Lynn in The Coal Miner’s Daughter.
There are some things you can’t unsee. Like that last scene in Pink Flamingos! It was on this date that Harris Glenn Milstead, better known as Divine, dies in his sleep from heart failure. He was just 42 years old and was about to play a role in Fox-TV’s Married with Children. Best known for his work in John Waters’ films, he also had a UK hit single in 1984 with “You Think You’re a Man.”
1990
Joe Walsh does “theater in the round” at the Front Row Theater.
Poster courtesy of Raw Sugar Studio
2015
A vintage voice and classic folk at the Kent Stage with Peter Yarrow.
Poster courtesy of Raw Sugar Studio
