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Details and Notes

Outside the period but interesting because of the age

Outside the period but interesting because of the age

Outside the period but interesting because of the age

"The British Band That Rocks"

1952 lineup

London based band that was formed in 1952.
Ivor Kirchin was the leader and his son Basil was the drummer. They recorded a number of "rock" records for Parlophone in 1956 and 1957 that were produced by George Martin.
 

Basil later found fame as a composer for film and tv plus some experimental works. He died in June 2005 aged 77

1959 lineup

Sid Phillips (1907-1973)
British dance band formed by Sid Phillips after the war in 1945. Before the war he was a prominent member of the Ambrose Orchestra. Became known as "England's King Of The Clarinet". The band recorded for HMV

Bill Haley & His Comets
The Platters
Freddie Bell & The Bellboys

SONGS

Bill Haley : Rock Around The Clock, Razzle Dazzle, Rock A Beating Boogie, ABC Boogie, Rudy's Rock, Happy Baby, Mambo Rock, R-O-C-K, See You Later Alligator.

Freddie Bell : We're Gonna Teach You To Rock, Giddy Up Ding Dong

Platters : Only You, The Great Pretender

Johnny Stewart
Maxine Daniels
Don Fox
Dolores Ventura
Bobby Limb
Ron Scott

 
Maxine Daniels & Dolores Ventura

Johnny Stewart recorded for HMV in 1958. Maxine Daniels was a jazz and cabaret singer who recorded for Oriole. Don Foz made several singles for Decca including a version of Be My Girl. Dolores Ventura was recording for Parlophone in 1956. Bobby Limb is probably an Australian who later had his own tv show in Australia.

1952 band lineup

British big band led by Johnny Dankworth on alto sax. He is married to Cleo Laine one of the featured singers.

In June 1956 the single Experiments With Mice reached number 7 in the charts. African Waltz in February 1961 also reached the top 10

Dankworth provided the theme music for a number of films including The Criminal and Modesty Blaise

The band is still touring in 2005

Official website

Promoter: Harold Davison

His first tour of the UK was controversial because he included rock'n'roll. Johnny Dankworth walked out of one of his concerts and demanded his money back. Melody Maker published letters such as "Spare us this trash , Hampton"

Lionel Hampton was born in 1908 and died in 2002

Winner of the NME poll Big Band category

Ted Heath (1900-1969)
Trombonist and band leader

Probably same concert tour

Johnny Olenn - My Idea Of Love,
I Ain't Gonna Cry No More

Little Richard - The Girl Can't Help It,
Ready Teady, She's Got It

Eddie Fontaine - Cool It Baby

Teddy Randazzo & The Three Chuckles -
Cinnamon Sinner

Nino Tempo - Tempo's Tempo

Julie London - Cry Me A River

Gene Vincent - Be Bop A Lula

Eddie Cochran - Twenty Flight Rock

The Treniers - Rocking Is Our Business

Fats Domino - Blue Monday

The Platters - You'' Never, Never Know

Ray Anthony Orchestra - Rock Around
The Rockpile

Jayne Mansfield - Every Time You Kiss Me

Guest star : Bill McGuffie

SONGS

Bill Haley : Don't Knock The Rock, Rip It Up, Hook Line & Sinker, Hot Dog Buddy Buddy, Goofin' Around, Calling All Comets,

Treniers : Rocking On Saturday Night

Little Richard : Tutti Frutti, Long Tall Sally

Applejack, Country Dance - Dave Appell & The Applejacks

Drummer who previously played with Ted Heath
Born 1923 and started his own band in 1951. Disbanded his band in 1958 and became musical director of the ATV Orchestra

Irene Miller also sang with Ken Mackintosh and the Tito Burns Sextet. She died in 2005 aged 77

First UK pop music show that was originally presented by Ker Robertson

Kent Walton was also a Radio Luxemburg DJ and presented the Honey Hit Parade. He later became the "voice of wrestling" when working for World Of Sport

Last show was in February 1961

Top Singles

No.	Artist	Single	Points
1	Doris Day	Whatever Will Be Will Be (Que Sera)	21.57
2	Pat Boone	I'll Be Home	20.06
3	Frankie Laine	A Woman In Love	17.73
4	Elvis Presley	Heartbreak Hotel/I Was The One	17.07
5	Bill Haley & His Comets	The Saints Rock N Roll	16.11
6	Dreamweavers	Its Almost Tomorrow	15.91
7	Kay Starr	Rock & Roll Waltz	15.78
8	Hilltoppers	Only You (& You Alone)	15.59
9	David Whitfield	My September Love	15.32
10	Mel Torme	Mountain Greenery	15.24
11	Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers	Why Do Fools Fall In Love?	15.12
12	Johnnie Ray	Just Walking In The Rain	14.82
13	Winifred Atwell	Poor People Of Paris	14.31
14	Anne Shelton	Lay Down Your Arms	14.28
15	Bill Haley & His Comets	Rockin' Through The Rhye	14.22
16	Elvis Presley	Hound Dog	14.09
17	Ronnie Hilton	No Other Love	13.66
18	Lonnie Donegan	Stewball/Lost John	13.40
19	Bill Haley & His Comets	Rock Around The Clock	13.27
20	Bill Haley & His Comets	See You Later Alligator	13.05

Top Artists

No.	Artist	Points
1	Bill Haley & His Comets	75.88
2	Elvis Presley	52.41
3	Lonnie Donegan	35.85
4	Pat Boone	31.62
5	Winifred Atwell	29.32
6	Ronnie Hilton	28.26
7	Perry Como	22.90
8	Nat King Cole	22.46
9	Teresa Brewer	22.30
10	Frankie Laine	21.79

Number 1 Albums

Other Albums

Number 1 Singles

Other Singles

Number 1 Singles

Joel Whitburn charts up to 1958 are based on the four published pop charts

Titles that made number 1 on all four charts are in green

Top 20 Singles

   
   
UK 'B' side of Blue Moon was I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine

FA Cup
Man City 3
Birmingham 1