Firsts

The term 'hillbilly' appears in print for the first time in The NY Journal, and is defined thus - "A Hill-Billie is a free and untrammeled white citizen of Alabama, who lives in the hills, has no means to speak of, dresses as he can, talks as he pleases, drinks whiskey when he gets it, and fires of his revolver as the fancy takes him." In due course, the term will also used as a generic descriptor for the country music played by such people.

Lillian McMurry, founder of influential early blues label Trumpet Records, is born in Purvis, Mississippi, USA. Her label will be the first to record both Elmore James and Sonny Boy Williamson II.

Fiddlin' John Carson becomes the first country music performer to play live on WSB Radio in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Lew Stone And His Band, with vocal by trumpeter Nat Gonella, record Isle Of Capri, in London, England, UK, for Decca Records. This is the first known recording of Isle Of Capri, which will go on to become a standard.

The Gumm Sisters play the first of seven nights at Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Hollywood, California, USA. One of the sisters, Frances Gumm, will find stardom after a name change to Judy Garland.

The board game Monopoly goes on sale for the first time. The game, based on property trading in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA, will inspire numerous songs, including The Monopoly Song by Frank Sidebottom; I Want It All [Monopoly Song] by Levar Allen; Monopoly by Urge Overkill and Monopoly Town by Pat Orchard.

Ray Charles makes his first appearance at The Apollo, Harlem, New York City, USA, as pianist for the Lowell Fulson Band. Topping the bill are The Orioles.

Hank Williams, hoping to restore some credibility to his drink and drugs damaged career, begins the first of a weekly series of Saturday night tv appearances on the Louisiana Hayride, recorded at the Municipal Auditorium, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA, earning $250 a show.

An article in Billboard magazine in the USA announces that Special Products, Inc., is about to launch its first line of Elvis Presley-endorsed merchandise, including a t-shirt and a line of rock'n'roll costume jewelry. These and future products — blue jeans, charm bracelets, soft drinks, etc. are to be aimed at the teenage market. The company also claims that Elvis will make personal appearances in department stores to plug the merchandise.

As part of Operation Deep Freeze II, the first aircraft to land on the South Pole is a US Navy C-47 Skytrain, which has been given the name Que Sera Sera, after the popular Doris Day song of that title.

The compilation album Johnny's Greatest Hits by Johnny Mathis, becomes the first greatest hits LP to enter the Billboard Albums Chart in the USA, where it will remain for almost nine and a half years. This record will not be broken until 1982 when it is overtaken by Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon.

Tony Bennett spends the first of three days recording songs for the Columbia Records album Hometown, My Hometown, in New York City, USA.

The Isley Brothers play the first of ten nights at the Baby Grand Club, New York City, USA. On the same day, Ricky Nelson plays the first of two nights at the Mid-South Fair in Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

El Gran Combo is heard for the first time on Puerto Rican radio. The ensemble will become one of the most famous salsa orchestra in the world.

The very first Motor Town Revue, starring The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, The Miracles, Mary Wells, The Marvelettes, Little Stevie Wonder, The Contours, Martha And The Vandellas and plays the ninth of ten nights at The Apollo Theater, Harlem, New York City, USA.

The Benny Goodman Quartet spends the first of two days recording tracks for its reunion LP, Together Again, in RCA Recording Studios, Studio A, New York City, USA.

Trini Lopez releases his debut album, Trini Lopez At PJs, in the USA on Reprise Records.

Bo Diddley plays the first of two nights at The Beach Club, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA. The live album Bo Diddley's Beach Party is recorded during these shows, despite the shows being broken up by local police because black members of Bo's band are seen to be dancing with white teenagers.

Shirley Horn spends the second of two days recording tracks, including I'm In The Mood For Love, for the album Shirley Horn With Horns with Quincy Jones as producer, at A+R Studios, New York City, USA, for Mercury Records.

A new BBC radio show, Top Gear, has its first transmission in London, UK. The show is intended to reflect the changing tastes of the more mature rock fan, and the first edition features The Beatles.

The Teardrops record Tonight I'm Gonna Fall In Love Again and That's Why I'll Get By, during their first recording session for Saxony Records at King Recording Studio, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.

Beginning a tradition that will endure for over twenty years, Merle Kilgore opens for Hank Williams Jr. for the first time.

Singer-songwriter Jackie De Shannon issues an LP of a dozen demo tracks for Metric Music in the USA. The songs include Don't Doubt Yourself, Babe (later covered by The Byrds on their debut album), With You In Mind (later covered by Marianne Faithfull), and Splendor In The Grass.

Yesterday Man by Chris Andrews reaches No1 in in the Kvällstoppen (Evening top list) popular singles chart in Sweden, Europe, for the first of three weeks.

The first Montreux Jazz Festival, a three-day event, begins in The Casino, Montreux, Switzerland, Europe. Acts appearing on the first day are The Jazz Ensemble De La Radio Et Television Hongroise, The Bjorn Johansens Sextet, The Old School Band, The Esa Pethman Quintet, The Santucci-Scoppa Quintet and Studio De Jazz.

Wild Flower and US Male play the first of five nights at The Ambassador Theatre, Washington DC, USA.

Siouxsie and the Banshees play their first real gig [not counting their appearance at The 100 Club Festival] at The Red Deer, Croydon, UK, supporting The Heartbreakers.

Sultans Of Swing, the debut single by Dire Straits, enters the Billboard Singles Chart in the USA, where it will peak at No4 during a run of twelve weeks.

Madness release a new single, One Step Beyond, in the UK on Stiff Records. On the same day, The first 2-Tone Tour, featuring The Specials, Madness and The Selecter, plays at the University of East Anglia, Norwich.

On his Slow Train Coming Tour, Bob Dylan plays the first of two nights at the Gammage Theatre, Tempe, Arizona.

The Jam make their last live TV appearance together on the first edition of a new tv show, The Tube, broadcast live from Newcastle, UK, on Channel 4.

Brighton-based band Live Sex release their debut LP, An Expression Of Faith, on Hopewell Records in the UK.

Jesus Jones, including Devizes-born drummer and founder member Simon Matthews, enter the singles chart for the first time with Info-Freako. It will peak at No42, and they will follow it with twelve more chart hits.

The Rolling Stones play the fourth of ten concerts at Tokyo Dome, Japan, Asia. These are the group's first-ever performances in Japan.

On their first tour together in over twenty years, the surviving members of The Beach Boys play at The Bethel Woods Center For The Arts, Bethel, New York State, USA.

New Order begin their first American tour for seven years with a show at The Fox Theatre, Oakland, California, USA.

Radiohead play the first of two nights at Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Europe.

Singer Janet Jackson, aged 50, gives birth to her first child, a baby boy named Eissa Al Mana. Jackson is married to Qatari businessman husband, Wissam Al Mana.