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Bo Diddley's chart debut was in 1955

Contents

Events

List of years in music (Table)
… 1945 • 1946 • 1947 • 1948 • 1949 • 1950 • 1951 •   
1952 • 1953 • 1954 – 1955 – 1956 • 1957 • 1958 •
   1959 • 1960 • 1961 • 1962 • 1963 • 1964 • 1965 …
Related time period or subjects
… 1952 • 1953 • 1954 – 1955 – 1956 • 1957 • 1958 …
… 1920s • 1930s • 1940s – 1950s – 1960s • 1970s • 1980s …
… 19th century – 20th century – 21st century …
Art Archaeology Architecture Literature Music Science more
  • January 1 - RCA victor announces a marketing plan called "Operation TNT." The label drops the list price on LPs from $5.95 to $3.98, EPs from $4.95 to $2.98, 45 EPs from $1.58 to $1.49 and 45's from $1.16 to $.89. Other record labels follow RCA's lead and begin to drop prices as well.
  • January 7 - "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley & His Comets first appears on the British charts.
  • January 8 - Elvis Presley's third Sun Records single, "Milk Cow Blue Boogie" / "You're a Heartbreaker" released.
  • January 14 - In New York City, Alan Freed produces the first rock and roll concert.
  • February 19 - Dot Records introduces a new singer, Pat Boone, with an advertisement in Billboard magazine calling him "a great new voice"
  • February 26 - For the first time since they were introduced in 1949, 45 rpm discs begin to outsell the old standard 78s
  • Kay Starr leaves Capitol to sign with RCA
  • The Patti Page Show premieres on NBC
  • The Frankie Laine Show premieres on CBS
  • March 15 - Colonel Tom Parker becomes Elvis Presley's manager
  • March 19 - The film Blackboard Jungle premieres in New York City. The film features Bill Haley & His Comets' "Rock Around the Clock" over the opening credits—the first use of a rock and roll song in a major film. This event causes a groundswell of sales for the recording and is credited with helping to launch in earnest the Rock and Roll Era.
  • March 22 - Decca Records signs DJ Alan Freed as an A&R man.
  • March 26 - Bill Hayes tops the US charts for five weeks with The Ballad of Davy Crockett and starts a (fake) coonskin cap craze.
  • April 1 - Elvis Presley's fourth Sun Records single: "Baby Let's Play House" / "I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone" released.
  • April 17 - Imperial Records releases "Ain't That a Shame" by Fats Domino
  • May 13 - First riot at an Elvis Presley concert takes place in Jacksonville, FL
  • May 14 - Bo Diddley makes his US R&B chart debut with his single "Bo Diddley".
  • May 21 - Chuck Berry records his first single, "Maybelline" for Chess Records in Chicago.
  • May 22 - Bridgeport, CT authorities cancel a rock concert to be headlined by Fats Domino for fear of a riot breaking out.
  • June 4 - "Ain't That a Shame" by Fats Domino beings an 11 week stretch on top of the US R&B charts.
  • July 6 - Bo Diddley's second single "Diddley Daddy" makes its US R&B chart debut.
  • July 9 - "Rock Around the Clock" becomes the first Rock and roll single to reach Number One on the American charts
  • July 23 - Chess Records release debut single by Chuck Berry, "Maybelline". Also that same day Chess releases Muddy Waters's "Mannish Boy"
  • August 17 - Elvis Presley's last Sun Records single - "I Forgot to Remember to Forget" / "Mystery Train" - released.
  • August 19 - WINS radio station in New York City adopts policy of not playing white cover versions of black R&B songs.
  • August 20 - Chuck Berry's "Maybelline" reaches #1 on R&B charts, ending 11 week reign of "Ain't That a Shame" by Fats Domino.
  • August 31 - Sidney Turner of London fined for "creating an abominable noise" for blasting "Shake, Rattle, and Roll" at top volume.
  • September 3 - Little Richard records "Tutti Frutti" with significantly cleaned up lyrics (originally "Tutti Frutti, good booty" among other things.
  • September 26 - "America's Sweethearts," Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds marry.
  • October 15 - Elvis Presley plays concert in Lubbock, Texas. Opening act is local duo Buddy and Bob. Buddy is future rock star Buddy Holly.
  • November 12 - Billboard magazine DJ poll names Elvis Presley as the most promising new country/western singer.
  • November 20 - Bo Diddley makes his debut TV appearance on Ed Sullivan's "Toast Of The Town" show on CBS.
  • November 22 - Colonel Tom Parker signs Elvis Presley to RCA Records.
  • November 26 - "Sixteen Tons" by Tennessee Ernie Ford tops the Billboard pop charts.
  • December 15 - Sun Records releases "Folsom Prison Blues" by Johnny Cash.
  • Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel's musical careers begin as they copyright a song, "The Girl For Me," with the Library of Congress and begin singing together as a duo while still in high school in New York, New York.
  • Mirella Freni makes her debut as Micaela in Carmen at Modena.
  • Eddie Cochran's musical career begins.
  • Al Green's musical career begins at the age of nine.
  • Clyde McPhatter launches a solo career
  • Renato Carosone and Nicola Salerno meet and start their songwriting partnership
  • Italian singers Natalino Otto and Flo Sandon's wed.
  • The Coasters are formed.
  • Shivkumar Sharma gives his first public performance in Bombay.

Albums released

Biggest hit singles

The following singles achieved the highest chart positions in the set of charts available for 1955.

# Artist Title Year Country Chart Entries
1 Bill Haley & His Comets Rock Around the Clock 1955 United States UK 1 - Oct 1955, US BB 1 - May 1955, US BB 1 of 1955, DDD 1 of 1954, POP 1 of 1955, Italy 3 of 1957, Global 4 (20 M sold) - 1954, Europe 5 of the 1950s, Scrobulate 8 of rock & roll, RIAA 12, Germany 17 - Jun 1968, Holland 27 - Jun 1968, 41 in 2FM list, Acclaimed 49, AFI 50, Rolling Stone 158, Party 180 of 1999
2 Tennessee Ernie Ford Sixteen Tons 1955 United States UK 1 - Jan 1956, US BB 1 - Nov 1955, Australia 1 for 6 weeks May 1955, RYM 13 of 1955, US BB 20 of 1955, POP 20 of 1955, DDD 49 of 1955, RIAA 83, Acclaimed 276
3 Four Aces Love is a Many Splendoured Thing 1955 United States US BB 1 - Aug 1955, Oscar in 1955, UK 2 - Nov 1955, Peel list 2 of 1955, Italy 3 of 1956, US BB 9 of 1955, POP 9 of 1955, RYM 29 of 1955
4 Chuck Berry Maybellene 1955 United States RYM 1 of 1955, DDD 2 of 1955, US BB 5 - Aug 1955, US BB 6 of 1955, POP 6 of 1955, Scrobulate 17 of rock & roll, Rolling Stone 18, Acclaimed 99
5 Frank Sinatra Love & Marriage 1955 United States US BB 2 of 1955, POP 2 of 1955, UK 3 - Jan 1956, US BB 5 - Nov 1955, Holland 9 - Apr 1991, RYM 16 of 1955, Scrobulate 47 of relaxing, Europe 83 of the 1950s

US No. 1 hit singles

These singles reached the top of US Billboard magazine's charts in 1955.

First week Number of weeks Title Artist
January 22, 1955 2 "Let Me Go, Lover" Joan Weber
February 5, 1955 1 "Hearts of Stone" Fontane Sisters
February 12, 1955 6 "Sincerely" McGuire Sisters
March 26, 1955 5 "The Ballad Of Davy Crockett" Bill Hayes
April 30, 1955 8 "Unchained Melody" Les Baxter
July 9, 1955 10 "Rock Around The Clock" Bill Haley & his Comets
September 3, 1955 5 "Yellow Rose Of Texas" Mitch Miller
October 8, 1955 1 "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" The Four Aces
October 15, 1955 1 "Yellow Rose Of Texas" Mitch Miller
October 22, 1955 1 "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" The Four Aces
October 29, 1955 1 "Autumn Leaves" Roger Williams
November 5, 1955 4 "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" The Four Aces
November 26, 1955 7 "Sixteen Tons" Tennessee Ernie Ford

Top hits on record

Top R&B and Country Hits on record

Published popular music

Classical music

Opera

Musical theater

Musical films

Musical television

  • Heidi     television production
  • Our Town     television production
  • Together With Music     CBS television production by Noel Coward

Births

Deaths








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