Pick a Day

Music History Events: TV Appearances

May 27, 1960 Frank Sinatra performs on the Star Spangled Revue special, hosted by Bob Hope.

May 12, 1960 On Frank Sinatra's TV variety show, it's the Welcome Home Elvis special to honor The King, who was recently discharged from the US Army. The famous singers perform a medley of "Love Me Tender" and "Witchcraft" together.

May 4, 1960 Bobby Rydell takes American Bandstand viewers on a tour of his Philadelphia home.

April 18, 1960 Bobby Rydell appears as "The Singing Delinquent" on an episode of the TV series Make Room For Daddy.

February 27, 1960 The Miracles make their first TV appearance when they perform on American Bandstand.

February 24, 1960 Carl Dobkins, Jr. performs in full military dress live from Ft. Dixon, Ohio, where he is serving in the national guard, on NBC-TV's Perry Como Show.

November 30, 1959 Bobby Darin is quoted by a UPI reporter saying he hopes "to surpass Sinatra in everything he's done."

April 24, 1959 After running on Saturday nights on radio for 24 years and TV for the last nine, the final installment of the musical countdown show Your Hit Parade airs on NBC. The final Top Five: Elvis Presley, "I Need Your Love Tonight" (#5), Brook Benton, "It's Just A Matter Of Time" (#4), Ricky Nelson, "Never Be Anyone Else But You" (#3), Dodie Stevens, "Pink Shoe Laces" (#2), and the Fleetwoods at #1 with "Come Softly To Me."

April 11, 1959 Paul Anka guests on host Frankie Avalon's first network radio program, on ABC.

March 20, 1959 Bobby Rydell makes his first TV appearance when he shows up on American Bandstand. He soon becomes a teen idol.

October 28, 1958 Buddy Holly makes what will be his last major television appearance, lip-synching "It's So Easy" and "Heartbeat" on American Bandstand.

October 19, 1958 Jan & Arnie appear on CBS-TV's Jack Benny Show.

September 13, 1958 Cliff Richard makes his TV debut, performing "Move It" on the UK show Oh Boy!

September 4, 1958 Jerry Butler & the Impressions make their national TV debut on American Bandstand.

March 18, 1958 Jerry Lee Lewis becomes the first artist to sing three songs on an episode of American Bandstand (and he sings, not lip-synchs them).

February 10, 1958 ABC's Mickey Mouse Club begins its "Annette" serial, solidifying the rising popularity of its young star, Annette Funicello.

November 22, 1957 Simon & Garfunkel make their first appearance on ABC-TV's dance show American Bandstand -- in their earlier incarnation as Tom and Jerry, playing their minor hit "Hey Little Schoolgirl."

November 17, 1957 Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps make their US television debut, performing "Lotta Loving" and "Dance to the Bop" on The Ed Sullivan Show.

November 3, 1957 CBS-TV's Ed Sullivan Show accidentally cuts off Sam Cooke mid-song when "You Send Me" isn't given enough time at the end of tonight's show. Sullivan invites the singer back the next month to make up for it.

October 13, 1957 The Four Preps, Rosemary Clooney, Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby all appear on a CBS television special to introduce the brand new Edsel automobile.

October 3, 1957 ABC premieres The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom variety show, later featured in Michael Moore's documentary Roger and Me. The show features unobjectionable acts like The Four Lads, Ella Fitzgerald and Johnny Mathis; TV Guide says it's "about as exciting as a milkshake with two straws." It runs for three years and helps launch the career of Woody Allen, who is one of the writers.

September 18, 1957 The Big Record, CBS-TV's answer to American Bandstand, premieres with host Patti Page and guests Billy Ward & the Dominoes and Tony Bennett.

August 7, 1957 Paul Anka makes his US television debut, singing "Diana" on American Bandstand.

August 5, 1957 American Bandstand goes national when it airs for the first time on ABC. The show will run for five years on the Philadelphia TV station WFIL as Bandstand. Hosted by Dick Clark throughout its national run, the show remains on network TV until 1987. The first song the kids dance to this day is "That'll Be The Day" by Buddy Holly.

August 4, 1957 The Everly Brothers perform "Wake Up Little Susie" on the Ed Sullivan Show. It is one of the more controversial songs ever played on the show, as there are some questions as to what Susie and her date were doing before she fell asleep.

July 28, 1957 Jerry Lee Lewis makes his first national TV appearance, singing "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" on The Steve Allen Show.

April 10, 1957 Ricky Nelson, 16, performs his first single, a cover of Fats Domino's "I'm Walking," on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, the TV series he stars in alongside his real-life family. The song quickly climbs the charts and launches his music career.

February 2, 1957 Fats Domino makes an appearance on The Perry Como Show, singing his hits "Blue Monday" and "Blueberry Hill."

January 21, 1957 An unknown singer named Patsy Cline wins on CBS' Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts program with a rendition of the song "Walking After Midnight."

January 4, 1957 On NBC's Steve Allen Show, former heavyweight boxing champ Joe Louis introduces the world to singer Solomon Burke, who performs Louis' song "You Can Run, But You Can't Hide."