Music Events and News of 1960

And bubbling under in the Hot 100 was "Bye Bye Baby" (originally intended for Jackie Wilson), the first Motown single to enter the charts, a self-written rocker.....by Mary Wells.

Etta James (real name: Jamesetta Hawkins)who formerly worked with Johnny Otis, had her first Top 40 hit, "All I Could Was Cry."

James Brown had his first top 40 hit with "Think" (It reached no. 33).

Johnny Tillotson made his top 40 debut with "Poetry In Motion", a no. 2 smash.

Lloyd Price had three top 40 hits: "Lady Luck"( no. 14), "No If's-No And's" ( no. 40), and "Question", ( no. 19).

The Fleetwoods (Gary Troxel, Barbara Ellis, and Gretchen Christopher) had two top 40 hits: "Outside My Window" (no. 28), and "Runaround" (no. 23).

Anita Bryant ( I think a Miss America runner-up) had three top 40 hits: "Paper Roses", a no. 5 smash, "In My Little Corner Of The World", a no. 10 smash, and "Wonderland By Night", no. 18.

Teresa Brewer had her last top 40 hit, "Anymore" (no. 31).

Annette (Funicello) had three hits: "O Dio Mio" (no. 10), "Train Of Love" (no. 36), and "Pineapple Princess" (no. 11).

Brook Benton had a no. 7 smash with "Kiddio"/backed by "The Same One", a no. 16 hit.

Donnie Brooks also had a no. 7 smash with "Mission Bells".

"Georgia On My Mind" was a no. 1 smash for Ray Charles.
Don Costa and His Orchestra had a no. 19 hit with "Never On Sunday".
Dion and The Belmonts had a no. 3 smash with "Where Or When".
"Because They're Young" was a no. 4 smash for Duane Eddy.
"The Theme From 'A Summer Place' " was a no. 1 smash (for nine weeks!) for PercyFaith and His Orchestra.
(Arthur) Ferrante and (Louis) Teicher had two top ten smashes this year: "Theme From 'The Apartment' " was a no. 10, and "Exodus" was a no. 2.
"Down By The Station" was a no. 13 hit for The Four Preps.
Johnny Horton took "Sink The Bismarck" to a no. 3 smash and "North To Alaska" to a no. 4 smash.
"Sleep" was a no. 13 hit for Little Willie John.
Marv Johnson's "I Love The Way You Love" was a no. 9 smash. "(You've Got To) Move Two Mountains" was a no. 20 hit.
"Young Emotions" was a no. 12 hit for Ricky Nelson.
The Platters had a no. 8 smash with "Harbor Lights".
Johnny Preston, a protege of The Big Bopper, took "Cradle Of Love" to a no. 7 smash. "Feel So Fine" was a no. 14 hit.
Jim Reeves had a no. 2 smash with "He'll Have To Go".
Conway Twitty (real name: Harold Jenkins) had a no. 6 smash with "Lonely Blue Boy".
For Bobby Vee, 6 was a lucky number: "Devil Or Angel" was a no. 6 smash, as was "Rubber Ball".
"Walk--Don't Run" was a no. 2 smash for The Ventures. "Perfidia" was a no. 15 hit for the group.
Brook Benton and Dinah Washington had two top ten smashes: "Baby (You've Got What It Takes)" made no. 5, and "A Rockin' Good Way (To Mess Around And Fall In Love)" made no. 7.
Mark Dinning's big hit "Teen Angel" inspired and brought about a rush of teen death songs. (Dinning's baby sitter was Patti Page!)

"Tonight's The Night", released in October and written by group member Shirley Owens, was the first Top 40 hit (no.39).....for The Shirelles. (Carole King played the kettle drums on this!)

Tina Turner debuted as a lead singer with "A Fool In Love", a Top 30 hit (No.27) and no.2 R + B smash. Her first recording appearance was on the song "Box Top" (1958).

Comedians (Bob Newhart's debut, for example)were hot on record.

Besides the Twist, other popular dances were the Madison and the Hully Gully.

Folk music was rediscovered and revived on college campuses (and hootenannies, coined by Woody Guthrie, became cool) as a more revelant alternative to rock and roll.

The Hollywood Argyles ("Alley-Oop") were never an actual group; One was assembled for personal appearances and tours. The song was actually recorded by Gary Paxton and composed by Dallas Frazier, who Paxton met at a gas station.

Paxton's better known as the Flip half of "Skip and Flip" ("It Was I" and "Cherry Pie"). He later produced "Monster Mash" and discovered Paul Revere and The Raiders.

Bob Crane , a successful DJ, (Yes, the Bob Crane of "Hogan's Heroes") was largely responsible for making "Mr. Custer" by Larry Verne, a No. 1 smash by playing it regularly on his highly-rated program.

The late Big Bopper (J.P.Richardson) wrote and did background vocals on JohnnyPreston's "Running Bear."

"Theme From A Summer Place" won a Grammy for Best Record of 1960.

Bobby Darin and Sandra Dee got married. (Wasn't she only sixteen at the time?)

Lead singer Tony Williams left the Platters.

Across the ocean, The Silver Beetles (Beatles) toured Scotland as backup band to Johnny Gentle, and appeared with Gerry and The Pacemakers.

Johnny Horton died in a car wreck after playing the Austin, Texas Skyline Club, the last place Hank Williams played. Horton's widow had also been married to Williams.

"Only The Lonely" was originally intended for Elvis Presley.

Rock and roll may have ruled the singles charts, but with a few exceptions, the year's top albums were practically all MOR (middle-of-the-road) or "grown-up music", with some folk, Broadway, and comedy thrown in: "Here We Go Again", "Sold Out", and "String Along"- Kingston Trio "Faithfully", "Johnny's Moods", and "Heavenly"- Johnny Mathis The Original Cast albums of "The Sound Of Music", "South Pacific", and "My Fair Lady" ""Inside Shelly Berman" and "Edge of Shelly Berman"- Shelly Berman "Fabulous Fabian"- Fabian"Italian Favorites"- Connie Francis "Elvis Is Back" and "G.I. Blues"- Elvis Presley "Button-Down Mind Of Bob Newhart" and "Button-Down Mind Strikes Back"- Bob Newhart "Nice and Easy"- Frank Sinatra "Paul Anka Sings His Big 15"- Paul Anka "Brenda Lee"- Brenda Lee

Jane Fonda made her movie debut in "Tall Story" with Anthony Perkins.

A young up-and-coming boxer named Cassius Clay made an impact at the Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy.

On Feb. 1st, sit-ins began in Greensboro, North Carolina, and quickly spread nationwide.

"Bye Bye Birdie" was the first Broadway musical to feature rock music in its score.("Put On A Happy Face", "A Lot Of Livin' To Do", and "Ed Sullivan" came from this show.)

Ken , Barbie's boyfriend, made his debut. (The dolls!)

The Pill was approved by the FDA.

The Pepsi campaign "For those who think young" debuted.