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Stepping Back In Time: Appropriate Song for Christmas Day

By
Home Inspector with King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. Home Inspector Lic #207

The first Billboard Top 40 Charts of the rock era emerged in 1955 when the Bill Haley classic "Rock Around the Clock" hit #1. Anyone who is into the era, and the evolution of the music, knows that rock 'n' roll was a derivative of the soul and gospel music that was created and popular with African Americans.

It is not surprising that the first #1 hit by an African American group was on the horizon, shortly after the inception of the Top 40 Charts.  This group, today, is lesser known than some of the big 1960's soul groups -- Temptations, Supremes, Four Tops. However this group, from Los Angeles, while not exactly rock "n" rollers, could sing like canaries and they were a dominant force in the 1950's and the early 1960's.

Back in 1956, those were simpler and less controversial times. It was exciting. Rock music was new, TV was new, the Second World War was over and people liked, and respected, the President. Ike Eisenhower was a universally popular President (a phenomenon that has eluded recent occupants of the oval office). Ike was a former war hero, who had helped engineer the defeat of Hitler and Nazi terror. Both political parties had wanted him as their Presidential candidate, he was coy about his political affiliations, but Ike ended up serving two terms as a Republican.

 

This group that goes down in history as scoring the first #1 hit for African American artists in the rock era, consisted of four guys and a 15 year old girl. In the end, these kids were the most popular vocal group during the first five years of the rock era. They had forty chart hits and that included fourteen songs in the Top 20, seven in the Top 10 and four that peaked at #1.

This is an appropriate post, here on Christmas Day, and you will know why when you hear the tune. To be taken back in time to remember 1956, and to hear original members of the group perform their hit (all be it a few years later), simply click on the 1950's TV. Make that test pattern go away and participate in the sound of music history.

Posted by

Steven L. Smith

If you enjoy nostalgia and music of yesteryear, click on Elvis' gold record to visit This Day In History. To explore The Stories Behind The Music blog posts click on the electric guitar. 

 

        

 

 

 

 

Comments (12)

TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

Good morning, Steven.

     Who could forget the platters. One of the classic groups of the 50's...

Merry Christmas...

Dec 25, 2011 04:52 AM
James Loftis
RealEstate911.com - West Palm Beach, FL
RealEstate911.com

Hello Steven,

 One of my favorite Christmas songs, "Rock around the clock" One of the best Christmas songs ever.

Thanks for sharing this information with us.

Dec 25, 2011 04:58 AM
Maria Morton
Platinum Realty - Kansas City, MO
Kansas City Real Estate 816-560-3758

Every song the Platters sang was golden in my book! Merry Christmas, Steven!

 

Dec 25, 2011 05:16 AM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Michael,

Those of us who were around remember them. I think lots of younger people never heard of them

James,

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree is a classic.

 

Maria,

True enough.

Dec 25, 2011 06:26 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

An oldie but a real goodie.  And a good one for Christmas.  I hope that despite the weather you had a wonderful Christmas and look forward to another year!

Dec 25, 2011 10:43 PM
Kathy Clulow
Uxbridge, ON
Trusted For Experience - Respected For Results

Steven - While not all that old in the 50's I do remember the music of that time very well.

From Our House To Yours - Happy New Year

 

Happy New Year

 

In 2012 I would Challenge each and everyone to reach out and touch someone be it as close as a neighbour going through a hard time to some one half way around the world. It does not matter if you donate to a local food bank, or travel halfway around the world to offer aid or assistance. If we all did Just One Thing To Make Someones New Year A Little Better A Little Brighter the world would be better for it and so would we. In today's global world with its instant communication of disaster and distress how can we not reach out.

Make This A Happy New Year For Someone Else.

Dec 31, 2011 05:51 AM
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