Today in Rock in Roll

– May 22 –

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        1935

Mahalia Jackson lands her first recording contract after she’s heard singing at a funeral.

1942

Calvin “Thang” Simon was born.

1945

Joe Liggins hits #1 on the R&B chart and #13 on the pop chart with “The Honeydripper.”

1951

Roy Milton hits #2 on the R&B chart with “Best Wishes”.

1951

The Dominoes hit #6 on the R&B chart with “Do Something For Me” and #1 on the R&B chart and #17 on the pop chart with “Sixty Minute Man”.

1958

As Jerry Lee Lewis begins a British tour, a scandal erupts over his marriage to a barely teenage relative, as well as his two prior divorces. Lewis is booed offstage, the tour is canceled after three shows, and he returns to the U.S. to find himself mired in controversy.

1961

“Mother-in-Law,” written and produced by Allen Toussaint and recorded by Ernie K-Doe, hits #1 on the national chart.

1963

Frank Zappa opens Studio Z in Cucamonga, California.

1965

The Dixie Cups hits #20 with “Iko Iko”.

1965

“Iko Iko” by the Dixie Cups charts at #20.

1966

When a Man Loves a Woman (Percy Sledge) was a hit.

1971

Ray Charles Orchestra hits #36 with “Booty Butt”

1976

ELO hits #14 in the US with “Strange Magic”.

1982

Adam & the Ants hit #1 with “Goody Two Shoes”.

1982

Japan hits #24 in the UK with “Cantonese Boy”.

1988

One More Try (George Michael) was a hit.

1999

Robbie Williams’ US album debut, ‘The Ego Has Landed’, a compilation of his two UK albums, reaches #85 on the US charts.

1999

Fatboy Slim hits #36 in the US with “Praise You”.