Also, Jimmy Beaumont of The Skyliners died today.
#35. I met Jimmy Beaumont (apparently at my Junior High School) in 1959. Found his autograph on one of our school papers.
His/Skyliners three big hits:
*Since I Don’t Have You” - 1959 #12 Billboard Top 40
* “This I Swear” - 1959 - #26 BB
* Pennies From Heaven” - 1960 - #24
I have a single of his entitled “ Everybody’s Crying” from about 1961 but it is not listed in the Billboard Top 40 hits from 1955-2000. Still a good song.
I have 1,000 45’s starting with my first one, JailHouse Rock (and color sleeve/jacket) and just inherited my sister’s 45 collection of about another 300-500 records, most in near mint/mint condition, including the Beatles (where I had a gap that is now filled).
You can’t just pick out a few singers/groups/songs from the 50’s & 60’s because the scope of the variation of the music was an explosion of sound and beat that I don’t think has ever been duplicated in American Rock & Roll Music.
Just start with Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Brook Benton, George Benson, Beach Boys, Marvelettes, Sara Vaugh, Jean & Dean, The Drifters, Platters, 4 Tops, 5th Dimension, Everly Brothers, Brenda Lee, Roy Orbison, Ricky Nelson, the Beatles, and keep on going to musical heaven with additional singers.
What a great ride it was in the 50s and 60’s. Don’t get me wrong, the 70’s had some great groups too and DISCO (there was nothing cooler than to watch John Travolta and Donna Pesco or Cynthia Rhodes dancing, and Donna Summers singing).
As long as there a record and tape players, there will be Rock and Roll. “Long Live Rock and Rock, It Will Never Die”.