DEATHS
1973 Allan Sherman, Hello Mudda, Hello Fadda
1985 Bill Scott, cartoon voice of Mr. Peabody, Bullwinkle and others, dies at 65

ENTERTAINMENT
1955 - RCA Victor buys Elvis Presley’s contract from Sun Records for $40,000. The deal was inked at New York’s Warwick Hotel and gives Elvis $13,500 for signing.

1955 - After telling Ed Sullivan that he would perform the song “Sixteen Tons”, Bo Diddley sings “Bo Diddley” live on CBS-TV’s Ed Sullivan Show. He would never be invited back.

1961 - Today’s issue of Billboard measures the extent of the Twist craze. Chubby Checker, Joey Dee & the Starlighters, and Dion have all signed to appear in Twist-related films. In France, more than 45 Twist records are competing for chart placings. And New York’s WOR-TV is airing Twist lessons with Checker every hour.

1961 - Clarence “Frogman” Henry performed “On Bended Knees” on “American Bandstand.”

1967 - The Beach Boys’ album, “Smiley Smile”, co-produced by Paul McCartney, is released in Britain and The United States. Unfortunately, the album fails to reach the top forty in either country and the single, “Vegetables”, will not chart at all. Facing the Beach Boys dwindling popularity sends leader Brian Wilson further into reclusiveness.

1968 - The 100th episode of “Green Acres” aired.

BILLBOARD NUMBER ONE SONG
1966 … “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” by The Supremes
1965 … “I Hear a Symphony” by The Supremes
1964 … “Baby Love” by The Supremes
1963 … “I’m Leaving It Up to You” by Dale & Grace
1962 … “Big Girls Don’t Cry” by The Four Seasons
1961 … “Big Bad John” by Jimmy Dean
1960 … “Stay” by Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs