1960s Timeline

Jan. 19, 1962 - President Kennedy entertained composer Igor Stravinsky (right) at a small White House dinner last night. Mr. Stravinsky, Russian-born, is now a citizen of the United States. He is in Washington this week to conduct the Washington Opera Society in three performances of his opera “Oedipus Rex.” The guests, in addition to Mr. and Mrs. Stravinsky, included Leonard Bernstein, conductor of the New York Philharmonic, and Mrs. Bernstein; Princess Stanislas Radziwill,

Jan. 13, 1962 - Taking the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and setting a new record today is “The Twist” by Chubby Checker. Last year, the song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on September 19 and stayed there for one week. This is the first time a song has reached No. 1 again on a separate chart run. In July 1960, Checker performed "The Twist" for the first time in front of a live audience at the Rainbow Club in Wildwood, N.J., and just weeks later, on Aug. 6, 1960,

Jan. 9, 1962 - The White House rose garden rang with clear alto and soprano voices today as the Vienna Boys Choir serenaded President Kennedy. The President stepped out to greet the well-disciplined Austrian youngsters, who are on a three-month tour of the United States. He expressed his “great pleasure and satisfaction in having this distinguished chorus here,” and bade them a “very warm welcome to the President’s house.” When the serenade was over, Mr. Kennedy led the appla

Jan. 8, 1962 - Leonard Bernstein (pictured left), conductor of the New York Philharmonic, played an original composition on the piano this evening at the birthday party of his father Samuel Bernstein (third from left). The elder Mr. Bernstein, head of a cosmetics supply firm, observed his 70th birthday at the Sheraton-Plaza Hotel in Boston. The party was attended by 800 guests. The conductor dedicated his composition to a “great gentleman whose greatest gift to me was the lov

Dec. 18, 1961 - Reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 today is “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” by the Tokens. The doo-wop-style group was formed in 1955 at Brooklyn’s Abraham Lincoln High School, and was known first as The Linc-Tones. The song was adapted and covered internationally by many pop and folk revival artists after it was published by Folkways Music Publishers in December 1951. Now it is a hit. #music #musician #musica #musically #musicvideo #musical #musicislife #musi

Dec. 11, 1961 - Reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 today is “Please Mr. Postman,” by the Marvelettes. The recording features lead singer Gladys Horton hoping that the postman has brought her a letter from her boyfriend. The drummer on the song is 22-year-old Marvin Gaye. #music #musician #musica #musically #musicvideo #musical #musicislife #musicians #musicproducer #musiclife #MusicLover #musicfestival #musicismylife #musicphotography #musicindustry #musiclovers #musicia

Nov. 24, 1961 - Here are some of the things that happened in almost total darkness at Carnegie Recital Hall today, all in the name of music: Against a taped background of mumbled words and wild laughter a girl spoke earnestly about peeling a grapefruit, squeezing lemons, and counting the hairs on a dead child. Musicians in the corner made their instruments go squeep and squawk. Two dancers stood up and sat down alternately for 10 minutes of silence. Then they sat down at a ta

Nov. 14, 1961 - Ray Charles, one of the country’s leading popular singers and pianists, was arrested on a narcotics charge today in his Indianapolis hotel room. Detective Sgts. William Owen and Robert Keithley reported the seizure of heroin and marijuana and a hypodermic needle. The blind singer was taken to police headquarters for questioning. Mr. Owen said Mr. Charles, 31, reported that he had been a narcotics addict since the age of 16. The detective described Mr. Charles’

Nov. 6, 1961 - “Big Bad John," a recording by Jimmy Dean (pictured), hit the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart today. The song is about a quiet miner who “stood 6 foot 6 and weighed 245.” One day, a support timber cracks at the mine where John works. The situation looks hopeless until John “grabbed a saggin' timber…and like a giant oak tree just stood there alone,” then “gave a mighty shove,” opening a passage and allowing the 20 other miners to escape. Just as men are about

Oct. 29, 1961 - The Limeliters, a trio that sells cigarettes on television and records to its fans, gave a concert at New York’s Town Hall Saturday night. The group was led by Dr. Lou Gottlieb, a musicologist who is spending an extended sabbatical as a singer, bass player, and comedian. He was assisted by Glenn Yarbrough and Alex Hassilev. Their act was a blend of folk songs with cabaret comedy. The audience seemed enraptured all evening. #music #FolkMusic #folkmusician #folk

Oct. 24, 1961 - The new dance called the Twist has been banned at New York’s Roseland Dance City, 239 West 52nd Street. “It is not a ballroom dance,” according to Lou Brecker, who founded the theatre district ballroom in 1919. “It is lacking in true grace and, since we have previously outlawed rock ’n’ roll as a feature at Roseland, we likewise will not permit the Twist to be danced,” he said. #music #musician #musica #musically #musicvideo #musical #musicislife #musicians #m

Oct. 23, 1961 - Reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 today is “Runaround Sue,” a rock and roll song in a modified doo-wop style, performed by Dion (pictured). The lyrics are sung from the point of view of a man whose former girlfriend, Sue, was unfaithful. He warns all potential lovers to avoid her at all costs, as Sue "runs around" with every guy she meets and never settles down with anyone. Dion split with his original group, the Belmonts, last year to pursue a solo care

Oct. 19, 1961 - Café society, having ignored rock ’n’ roll for years, has suddenly embraced the teenage craze. The elite of the social set and celebrities of show business have discovered the Twist, performed to rock ’n’ roll, and are wallowing in it like converts to a new brand of voodoo. The Twist, stemming from a dance called the Madison that erupted a number of years ago in Philadelphia, is a shoulder-shaking, hip-swiveling step in which the partners synchronize their mov

Oct. 17, 1961 - President and Mrs. Kennedy tonight attended half the opening performance of the National Symphony Orchestra’s concert season. After a small private dinner at the White House for Presidential aides, Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy drove to Constitution Hall at intermission time. Sitting in the Presidential box, they listened to the orchestra perform Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony, one of Mr. Kennedy’s favorite classics. The director of the National Symphony, Howard Mitchell

Oct. 16, 1961 - A monument to ragtime music and its pioneer, Scott Joplin, was erected today in a parking lot in Sedalia, Mo., where the old Maple Leaf Club once stood. The composer’s most famous tune, “Maple Leaf Rag,” was written at the club in 1899. Born in Texas in 1868, Mr. Joplin began his career in St. Louis at 17 as a honky-tonk piano player. In 1907, Joplin moved to New York City to find a producer for a new opera. His attempts to go beyond the limitations of the mus

Oct. 9, 1961 - "Hit the Road Jack," a recording by Ray Charles, has hit the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song, written by Percy Mayfield, is Mr. Charles's second number-one hit. The first was his recording of "Georgia on My Mind," which reached number one last year. Mr. Charles was blinded during childhood due to glaucoma. #music #musician #musica #musically #musicvideo #musical #musicislife #musicians #musicproducer #musiclife #MusicLover #musicfestival #musicismy

Oct. 3, 1961 - Keely Smith (right), the singer, today divorced Louis Prima (left) in the breakup of one of the best-known teams of nightclub and recording performers. Miss Smith filed suit in Las Vegas this morning, charging the bandleader and trumpet player with mental cruelty. The couple were married in 1952 and have 2 daughters. #music #musician #musica #musically #musicvideo #musical #musicislife #musicians #musicproducer #musiclife #MusicLover #musicallyapp #musicfestiva

Sept. 30, 1961 - Ravi Shankar, an Indian virtuoso of the sitar, a gourd-and-teakwood stringed instrument that has evolved over many centuries, will open a coast-to-coast concert tour tomorrow at New York's Town Hall. Mr. Shankar has performed in this country before, but in limited areas. He also has toured Europe and the Far East. He explained today that almost no formal compositions existed for the sitar, and that much of his music is improvised. #music #india #sitar #indian

Sept. 28, 1961 - A bright new face in folk music is appearing at New York's Gerde's Folk City. Although only 20 years old, Bob Dylan is one of the most distinctive stylists to play in a Manhattan cabaret in months. Resembling a cross between a choir boy and a beatnik, Mr. Dylan composes new songs faster than he can remember, and there is no doubt that he is bursting at the seams with talent. He is vague about his background, but it matters less where he has been than where he

Sept. 18, 1961 - Reaching the top spot of the Billboard Hot 100 today is "Take Good Care of My Baby, performed by Bobby Vee (pictured). The song was written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin. While searching for material for Bobby Vee to record, Vee's producer, Snuff Garrett, heard a demo of Miss King singing "Take Good Care of My Baby." Garrett immediately wanted the song for Vee, but he believed the song needed an introductory verse. Garrett met with Carole King, who wrote an