1960s Timeline

June 18, 1962 - On sale today is Tony Bennett’s latest album, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” released by Columbia Records. The title song was released as the B-side to “Once Upon a Time” in February. Mr. Bennett’s version of “Tender is the Night,” which also appears on the album, was featured in the 20th Century-Fox film of the same name starring Jennifer Jones and Jason Robards Jr. The new album from the 35-year-old Mr. Bennett is his fifteenth. His first, “Because of Y

June 17, 1962 - Frank Sinatra Airport in New York today from London after a benefit tour of two and a half months for handicapped and orphaned children. The singer said he hoped to make a similar tour within the next 18 months. He said he had raised about $1.2 million for the children in performances in Mexico, Japan, Hong Kong, Israel, Greece, Italy, Monaco, France, Japan, and England. #music #1960s #OTD #anniversary #billboard #sinatra

June 6, 1962 - Frank Sinatra sang last night for the first time in Paris. He appeared at the Lido nightclub, where an audience of 600 persons who had paid $100 each sat enthralled through his repertoire of “standard” songs. The American singer is on a world tour to raise money for underprivileged children. “I’ve been on the road for two months now and have sung in everything from drafty concert halls to broken-down Greek amphitheaters,” Mr. Sinatra said. “It’s a pleasure to b

June 4, 1962 - On sale today is Johnny Cash’s latest album, “The Sound of Johnny Cash.” Among other songs, it contains “In the Jailhouse Now,” a Jimmie Rodgers cover, and "Delia's Gone.” During the recording sessions for the album, Cash re-recorded his Sun Records hits “Folsom Prison Blues,” "Hey Porter,” and “I Walk the Line,” but none of these versions were ultimately used on Mr. Cash’s twelfth album release. His first album, “Johnny Cash with His Hot and Blue Guitar,” was

June 2, 1962 - Hitting No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 today was "I Can't Stop Loving You,” a recording by Ray Charles. Mr. Charles recorded the song in February, and it is included on his album “Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music.” Choral backing was provided by The Randy Van Horne Singers. “I Can’t Stop Loving You” was written and composed by country musician Don Gibson, who first recorded it on December 30, 1957, for RCA Victor Records. #music #1960s #OTD #anniversa

May 31, 1962 - On sale in record stores now is “Peter, Paul and Mary,” the debut long-playing album by the eponymous folk music trio. The two singles from the album, which was released by Warner Brothers Records, are “If I Had a Hammer” and “Lemon Tree.” The cover photograph was taken at The Bitter End in New York City. The trio is composed of Peter Yarrow, Paul Stookey, and Mary Travers. Manager Albert Grossman created Peter, Paulm and Mary in 1961, after auditioning several

May 26, 1962 - Hitting the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 today is “Stranger on the Shore,” a piece for clarinet written by Acker Bilk for his young daughter, Jenny. The tune was written on a single scrap of paper by Bilk and handed over to Leon Young, who crafted the string arrangement. “Stranger on the Shore” is the first British recording to reach No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. #music #musician #1960s #OTD #anniversary #billboard

May 5, 1962 - Hitting No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 today is “Soldier Boy,” by The Shirelles. The song’s lyrics are a profession of love for a soldier in which the singer promises to remain true to him while he is away. “Soldier Boy” was written by Luther Dixon and Florence Greenberg. #music #musician #1960s #OTD #anniversary #billboard

Apr. 30, 1962 - On sale in local record stores today is “Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music,” by pianist and singer Ray Charles. The album, recorded two months ago at Capitol Studios in New York City and United Western Recorders in Hollywood, was released by ABC-Paramount Records. It features country, folk, and Western music standards reworked by Mr. Charles in his own personal style. #music #musician #1960s #OTD #anniversary #musicvideo #musicvideos

Apr. 21, 1962 - Hitting No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 today is “Good Luck Charm” by Elvis Presley. The song was written by Aaron Schroeder and Wally Gold and recorded at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee by Mr. Presley on October 15, 1961. Mr. Presley is joined on the chorus by Jordanaires first tenor Gordon Stoker. #music #musician #1960s #OTD #anniversary #musicvideo #musicvideos #elvis #billboard

Apr. 16, 1962 - President Kennedy and his wife entertained nearly 600 young people today at a musicale on the south lawn of the White House. The sun was shining as the 104-piece Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra opened the concert with Aaron Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man.” Within a few minutes, as an ensemble of the Breckenridge Boys Choir of Breckenridge, Tex., performed “The First Swallow,” the sun went behind a cloud and stayed there. However, the orchestra,

Apr. 7, 1962 - Hitting the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 today is “Johnny Angel,” by Shelley Fabares (right). Miss Fabares appears on ABC-TV’s “The Donna Reed Show” as Mary Stone. The song “Johnny Angel” premiered on an episode of that situation comedy, called "Donna's Prima Donna,” which aired on February 1 of this year. The song is an expression of a teenage girl’s longing for a boy who does not know she exists. #music #musician #1960s #OTD #anniversary #musicvideo #mus

Apr. 1, 1962 - RCA Victor today released Sam Cooke’s latest album, “Twistin’ the Night Away,” the 31-year-old singer’s eighth studio album. The record aims to capitalize on the Twist phenomenon that has been sweeping the nation. The title song was released as a single in January and charted in the top ten of both the Billboard Hot 100 (#9) and Billboard’s R&B chart (#1). #music #musician #1960s #OTD #anniversary #musicvideo #musicvideos

Mar. 31, 1962 - Taking the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 today is “Don’t Break the Heart That Loves You” by Connie Francis. Miss Francis recorded the song in a November 2, 1961 session that produced five other songs as well. The ballad, recorded in two-part harmony with a spoken bridge, is a plea from a heartbroken lover who is trying to understand why her lover is going out of his way to treat her unkindly. The song ends with her begging him not to break her heart. #musi

Mar. 26, 1962 - For sale in your local record store today is “Moon River and Other Great Movie Themes” by Andy Williams, the singer’s ninth studio album. Mr. Williams will be performing “Moon River,” which was heard in the film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” last year, at this year’s Academy Awards on April 9th in Santa Monica, Calif. #music #movies #OTD #albums #1960s #moviethemes

Mar. 19, 1962 - For sale in local record stores today is “Bob Dylan,” the debut album by the folk singer-songwriter. The album was produced by Columbia’s John H. Hammond, who signed 20-year-old Mr. Dylan to the label. “Bob Dylan” primarily features folk standards but also includes two original compositions, “Talkin’ New York” and “Song to Woody.” The latter is an ode to Woody Guthrie, a major influence on Mr. Dylan’s music. During the recording sessions in November, Mr. Dylan

Mar. 10, 1962 - Hitting the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 today is “Hey! Baby” by Bruce Channel. The song features well-known harmonica player Delbert McClinton. Channel wrote “Hey! Baby” with Margaret Cobb in 1959 and performed the song for two years before recording it for Fort Worth record producer Bill Smith. Now it is a hit. #music #musician #musica #1960s #musically #musicvideo #musicislife #musicians #musicproducer #musiclife #MusicLover #musicfestival #musicismyli

Mar. 6, 1962 - Andy Williams will have his own show on NBC-TV next season. The singer will be host and star of a series that will appear Thursdays from 10 to 11 p.m., starting Sept. 27. Mr. Williams has been a popular recording star and nightclub singer and has had his own shows on television in years past. The show will be co-produced by the singer’s production company and a company headed by Alan Yorkin and Norman Lear, who will be executive producers of the show. #tv #clas

Check out our podcast on Aretha's electrifying debut album and other high points of 1961. #podcast #1960s #music

Feb. 20, 1962 - A funeral service was held in Beverly Hills, Calif., today for Bruno Walter (pictured in 1935), the noted conductor who died Saturday at the age of 85. Among the two dozen wreaths that flanked the rose-covered coffin were floral tributes from Chancellor Adenauer of West Germany and Willy Brandt, Mayor of West Berlin. Mr. Walter, a native of Berlin who was born Jewish but later converted to Christianity, went into exile after Hitler’s rise to power. The service