1963: "Sugar Shack" by Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs hit the top of the Billboard singles chart. It would go on to be the best selling record of the year with sales of over one million copies. In the UK, the song climbed to #45 on the Record Retailer chart. Gilmer's distinctive organ sound was played on a Hammond Solovox, Model J.
Courtesy of classicbands.com, YouTube, and Spirit of Resistance Radio!
1997: Elton John went to #1 on the Billboard singles chart with his world-wide hit "Candle In The Wind" (Princess Diana version), his eighth US chart topping single. The record would go on to become the largest selling single in history, replacing Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" for that honor.
Courtesy of classicbands.com, YouTube, and Spirit of Resistance Radio!
1964: The Shangri-Las' "Leader Of The Pack" is released. Of their six US Top 40 hits, this will be their only number one. It reached #11 in the UK.
Courtesy of classicbands.com, YouTube, and Spirit of Resistance Radio!
1959: 21 year old Bobby Darin becomes the youngest performer to headline at the Sands Hotel's Copa Room in Las Vegas. The previous record-holder, Johnny Mathis, appeared at 23. Darin was touring in support of his mega-hit, "Mack The Knife", which was number one in the US this week.
Courtesy of classicbands.com, YouTube, and Spirit of Resistance Radio!
1977: David Soul, star of the hit American TV show Starsky and Hutch, reaches the top of the UK charts for the second time this year with "Silver Lady". The previous April, "Don't Give Up On Us" went to #1.
Courtesy of classicbands.com, YouTube, and Spirit of Resistance Radio!