Rock 'n' Roll History for
September 24


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1957 - ClassicBands.com



September 24
The Elvis Presley classic, "Jailhouse Rock" is released by RCA Victor. It would become his ninth US number one single and stay on the Billboard Top 100 chart for nineteen weeks. The film clip from the movie where he sang the song is considered by many historians to be the first Rock video.

1961 - ClassicBands.com

September 24
Dick And Dee Dee, comprised of Dick St. John and Dee Dee Sperling, enjoy their biggest hit when "The Mountain's High" peaks at #2 on the Billboard Pop chart. They would go on to place four more songs in the Top 40 over the next three years, including "Thou Shalt Not Steal" (#13) in early 1965.

1962 - ClassicBands.com

September 24
Elvis Presley receives an invitation to appear at the Royal Variety Performance, a gala evening held annually in the United Kingdom which is attended by senior members of the British Royal Family. Presley's manager, Colonel Tom Parker graciously declines, citing motion picture commitments. The real reason was that Parker was an illegal Dutch immigrant living in the United States who feared he may not be allowed to return if he left the country.

1966 - ClassicBands.com

September 24
The Association had their first number one single with "Cherish". The song had been released in August and within two months would be a million seller, remaining at the top of the US Pop charts for nearly a month. Oddly, it did not do well overseas, perhaps because of poor distribution. Only when the song was re-recorded by David Cassidy in 1971, did "Cherish" become an international hit.

September 24
The Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby" peaks at #11 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart. It was the first Beatles' release that none of the group played instruments on, although John and George did contribute harmony vocals. A string section of studio musicians, composed of four violins, two cellos and two violas, performed a score composed by producer George Martin. Paul wrote most of the song, but it was Ringo who came up with "Writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear."

September 24
Jimi Hendrix moved from the United States to the UK, where he would spend the next nine months touring and recording before returning home to play the Monterey International Pop Festival in California. One of the first things he does after arriving in England is to legally change his name from James to Jimi.

1968 - ClassicBands.com

September 24
The Vogues received a Gold record for their rendition of "Turn Around Look at Me", which reached #7 on the Billboard Pop chart. Glen Campbell, who co-wrote the song but was not credited, released his version in 1961, and took it to #62 on the Hot 100 and #15 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

1969 - ClassicBands.com

September 24
At the end of a six-day shoot at RAF West Malling, a Royal Air Force base in Kent, The Beatles film the dance scene to their song "Your Mother Should Know" for their upcoming movie Magical Mystery Tour. John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr are wearing red carnations, while Paul McCartney's flower is black, which will later contribute to the "Paul is dead" myth.

1970 - ClassicBands.com

September 24
After it topped the UK chart two weeks earlier, Tamla Records issues "Tears Of A Clown" by Smokey Robinson And The Miracles in America. The song would go on to top the Billboard Hot 100 and the R&B chart. It would be inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame in 2002 and was listed at #313 on Rolling Stone's Top 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2021.

1971 - ClassicBands.com

September 24
The Jackson 5 appear on the cover of Life magazine, with the headline "Rock Stars At Home With Their Parents."

1977 - ClassicBands.com

September 24
A little over five weeks after he passed away, the first Elvis Presley convention is held in Memphis, Tennessee.

September 24
Fleetwood Mac's "Don't Stop" peaks at #3 on the US singles chart while ELO's "Telephone Line" reaches #7. "Best Of My Love" by The Emotions held down the top spot.

1979 - ClassicBands.com

September 24
The Eagles release their sixth studio album, "The Long Run", which would top the Billboard 200 and reach #4 in the UK. The title track was written in part as a response to some members of the Rock press who described the band as "passe", as Disco had taken over the airwaves and Punk music was on the horizon. The song's lyrics said, "Who is gonna make it? We'll find out in the long run".

1983 - ClassicBands.com

September 24
Billy Joel's "Tell Her About It" hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and would be certified Gold by the RIAA for US sales of over 500,000 copies. It reached #4 in the UK and was awarded a Silver Disc for selling 250,000 records.

September 24
Culture Club's "Karma Chameleon" leads the UK chart in the first of a six week stay. The song would also reach the top of the Billboard chart next February and would be number one in sixteen countries worldwide.

September 24
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certifies ZZ Top's seventh album, "Eliminator" as Platinum. The LP reached #9 on the Billboard album chart and #3 in the UK.

1988 - ClassicBands.com

September 24
While brandishing a shotgun, James Brown bursts into an insurance office next to his and demands to know which of the forty-odd salesmen used his personal washroom. Police were called and a two-state car chase ensued, during which nearly two dozen shots were fired into Brown's pick-up. He was eventually arrested in Georgia without further incident. Although he was offered a deal to plead guilty and spend ninety days in jail, he refused and was sentenced instead to two concurrent six-year terms. He was paroled on February 27th, 1991.

September 24
Bobby McFerrin's a cappella tune, "Don't Worry, Be Happy" hit the top of the record charts, not only in the US but in almost every country in the world. The song would go on to win Grammy Awards for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year. It made #2 in the UK. During his career, McFerrin became ten-time Grammy Award winner.

September 24
The Hollies went to the top of the UK singles chart with "He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother" after the song was used in a UK TV beer commercial. The record was originally a #3 hit for them in 1969.

1993 - ClassicBands.com

September 24
John Denver agreed to give a benefit concert as punishment for driving while impaired. It was his second such conviction and he could have spent a year in jail.

1994 - ClassicBands.com

September 24
Steve Martin welcomed Eric Clapton on the season premiere of Saturday Night Live where he performs "Tore Down" and "Five Long Years".

2003 - ClassicBands.com

September 24
Gordon Lightfoot was inducted into the Canadian Songwriter Hall of Fame. Gord placed twenty-one songs on the Canadian Top 40 and six on the Billboard Top 40, including "If You Could Read My Mind" (#5 in 1970), "Sundown" (#1 in 1974) and "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" (#2 in 1976).

2015 - ClassicBands.com

September 24
Kenny Rogers announced that he was planning on retiring after his next world tour. Speaking on NBC's Today show, Rogers said "I've done this long enough. There's a fine line between being driven and being selfish, and I think I crossed that line when I was younger. I really want to be there with my kids and my wife. I don't see enough of them. And I have some things on my bucket list."



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