-
Under her stage name "Sister Rosetta Tharpe" released gospel recordings, including her hit "Strange Things Happening Everyday
-
In 1948 Wynonie Harris reached US #1 in Rhythm and Blues Chart with the song "Good Rocking Tonight"
-
Michigan Saxophonist Paul Williams sparked a country wide dance trend w/ his #1 single "The Hucklebuck".
-
Roy Brown smashes #1 hit charts with "Hard Luck Blues"
-
-
In 1951, the first 45 RMP jukebox is released, with the LP album
-
(May, 1951)
The single "Sixty Minute Man" was released by New York City R&B singing group "Billy Ward and the Dominoes" Rises to #1 R&B. They also appeared in the Pop Charts at number 17 -
(Feb, 1952) Blues guitarist, singer and songwriter B.B King had his first hit single "Three O'Clock Blues" goes straight to #1 R&B charts for 5 weeks!
-
(June, 1953) Bill Haley & His Comets were a former Western Swing Band from Pennsylvania, composes a song called "Crazy Man, Crazy" which reaches to No. 12 on the US pop charts. They are the first white band to succeed in Rock & Roll.
-
(July, 1953) Clyde McPhatter, a former gospel singer, formed his own group named "The Drifters" with their single "Money Honey" reaching NO. 1 R&B, remaining on the charts for 23 weeks!!!
-
(August, 1953) Maryland singing group race up to the top of the charts with their single "Crying In The Chapel". Their single also made it to number 12 on the pop charts
-
(Mar, 1953) Portsmouth local Ruth Brown releases her seventh top 10 R&B hits with her #1 single "(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean." Ruth later on became known as the "Queen of R&B"
-
(April, 1953) Blues Shouter Big Mama Thornton relaxes in the number 1 spot for 7 weeks with the hit single "Hound Dog"
-
(July, 1954) Elvis Presley makes his debut with the single "That's Alright" from the company Sun records
-
(August, 1954) Canadian Group named "The Crew Cuts" for the trendy Hair styles in the 50's, climb to the top of the US pop charts for their cover of "Sh-Boom". In the UK it reached to number 12.
-
(Dec, 1954) The Chordettes take on a more doo wop sound and climb to success in the US and the UK with their hit single "Mister Sandman".
-
(January, 1995) LA doo-wop group, The Penguins reach number 1 in the R&B charts with their song "Earth Angel"
-
(January, 1995) The film "Blackboard Jungle" released with a song by Bill Haley and his Comets "Rock Around the Clock". This is the Rock and Roll record to reach top of the pop charts in the UK and US.