The first week of the new year had a lot of Rock N Roll history.
Some major releases and accolades occurred:
Elvis Presley’s “Don’t Be Cruel/Hound Dog” would go to #1 in 1956
In 1964 The Beatles’ first album in the United States, “Introducing the Beatles,” was released.
The Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour album hits #1 and stays atop the charts for the next eight weeks in 1968.
In 1973, Carly Simon’s, You’re So Vain would hit #1
A now famous dance was invented:
The Village People appeared on American Bandstand, where the crowd does the soon-to-be famous arm movements spelling out “Y.M.C.A.” in 1979. Host Dick Clark makes sure they learn those moves, and they do.
Some major recognition:
James Brown earning his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1997
The U.S. Post Office issued the first official Elvis stamp in 1993.
The Godfather of Soul, James Brown, got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1997
It was a bad week for breakups:
Bill Wyman announces he will leave The Rolling Stones in 1993.
In 1985, Singer and actress Janet Jackson divorced R&B singer James DeBarge
Madonna and Sean Penn announced they were getting a divorced in 1989.
In 1999, Rod Stewart and the supermodel Rachel Hunter announced the end of their eight-year marriage.
And we lost some greats as well:
David Bowie (Image credit: Heilemann / Camera Press / Redux)
Steve Clark, a guitarist with Def Leppard, was found dead at his home by his girlfriend, after a night of heavy alcohol consumption combined with prescription drugs in 1991
Soul singer Lou Rawls died at age 72 in 2006. He had been battling lung cancer.
In 2016, David Bowie died after an 18 month battle with liver cancer that he had not made public.
Rush drummer/lyricist Neil Peart died of brain cancer at 67. The illness was a closely guarded secret in his inner circle until after his death.
In 2023, rocker Jeff Beck died from a bacterial meningitis infection at the age of 78.
