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1961
- In 1961 Elvis Presley’s album “Blue Hawaii” was on the Billboard Album Charts for seventy nine weeks and was at number one for twenty weeks.
- In the U.S.A. Elvis had two number one singles “Are You Lonesome Tonight” and “Surrender”.
- In the U.K. charts throughout 1961 Elvis had four number one’s :-
His Latest Flame. - Jimmy Dean’s “Big Bad John” album was the first Country Music’s one million dollar seller.
January
- Motown Tamla Records signed the Supremes who were called the Primettes at the time.
- EMI signed 14 year old school girl Helen Shapiro.
February
- Jackie Wilson was shot in the stomach in by a fan.
- The Platters filed a lawsuit against Mercury Records.
- Cliff Richard and the Shadows appeared at The Colston Hall, Bristol.
- Frank Sinatra formed his own record label Reprise Records which would later release records by the Beach Boys.
- Ike and Tina Turner, The Coasters, Chuck Jackson and the Capris appear at Washington's Howard Theater.
- The Beatles made their first appearance at the Cavern club.
March
- Bobby Rydell, Jess Conrad, The Brook Brothers, The Four Jays The Hunters and The Three Belles appeared at The Empire, Liverpool.
- Some of the artists who appeared at the Empire Pool (now the Wembley Arena) were Billy Fury, Emile Ford And The Checkmates, Adam Faith with The John Barry Seven and Cliff Richard & The Shadows.
- Nero and the Gladiators with guitarist, Joe Moretti was banned by the BBC for performing classics, in this case, In the Hall of the Mountain King.
- Chubby Checker, the Drifters, Maxine Brown, Chuck Jackson appeared at Chicago's Regal theatre.
- Elvis began filming his ninth movie, Blue Hawaii.
April
- The television show Thank Your Lucky Stars premiered in the U.K. featuring 1960’s pop music.
- American folk singer Cisco Houston died of stomach cancer.
- The Allisons singing “Are You Sure” were voted into second place in the Eurovision song contest.
- The BBC banned Gene McDaniels song “100 Pounds of Clay”.
- In April the Beatles returned to Hamburg to play at the the Top Ten club.
May
- Chuck Berry’s amusement park opened in St Louis it was called (Berryland).
- Johnny Preston began a 30 day tour in Philadelphia.
- Sam Cooke appeared at the Keil Auditorium St. Louis, Missouri. The show also featured Hank Ballard and the Midnighters, Clyde McPhatter and Aretha Franklin and the Olympics.
June
- “Wild in the Country”.the film starring Elvis was released.
- Bert Kaempfert recorded some songs with Tony Sheridan and the Beatles for Polydor Records.
- Frankie Avalon began a 12-
day tour of South America.
July
- Bob Dylan was injured in a car crash.
- The Beatles signed their first recording contract with the German producer Bert Kaempfert.
- The first Caravan of Stars revue presented by Dick Clark at the Steel Pier in Atlantic City, NJ, featured The Shirelles, The Jive Five, and Clarence "Frogman" Henry.
August
- The Marvelettes released “Please Mr. Postman” this was Motown’s first number one.
September
- The New Musical Express gala show at Wembley in September: some of the artists who appeared were The Allisons, Eden Kane, Adam Faith, Billy Fury, Cliff Richard, The Shadows,Temperance Seven and The Brook Brothers.
October
- The biggest show of stars appeared at the Wichita Forum, Kansas included The Platters, Del Shannon, U.S. Bonds, The Drifters, Brook Benton, Dee Clark, The Clefftones, The Jarmels and Curtis Lee.
- The Pendletones recorded “Surfin” after having the records pressed the name Beach Boys was on the labels.
- The Multi-
Platinum number one album Blue Hawaii was released by Elvis Presley. - Bob Dylan signed with Columbia Records.
November
- In November the Everly Brothers both Phil and Don joined the Marine Corps Reserves.
- Temperance Seven, The Mudlarks, Joan Small, Michael Cox, Bert Weedon, and Tommy Sanderson & The Sandmen began a U.K tour.
- Bob Dylan appeared at Carnegie Chapter Hall it was his first New York concert.
- Operation Big Beat at the Tower Ballroom in New Brighton on the show were the Beatles, The Remo Four, Rory Storm & the Hurricanes and Gerry & the Pacemakers.
December
- Motown had their first number one “With Please Mr Postman” by the Marvelettes.
- The Young Ones film was released starring Cliff Richard.
- The Beatles first met their future manager Brian Epstein and later signed a formal agreement.
Formed in 1961
Tornados.
Peter, Paul and Mary began performing.
The Undertakers formed in Merseyside.
The Crystals.
Booker T & the M.G.s (Memphis Group).
The Angels.
Sounds Incorporated.
The Big Three formed in Liverpool they were formerly the Casanovas.
The Spotnicks an instrumental group formed in Sweden.
Formed in 1961 with earlier names Kenny & the Cadets, Carl and the Passions, the Pendletones and finally the Beach Boys.
The Velvelettes.
The Chambers Brothers began performing.
The Remo Quartet changed to The Remo Four.
The Zombies.
The Valadiers were the first white group.signed to Motown.
Jett Powers changed his stage name to P.J. Proby.
Poets formed in Scotland.
Golden Earring.
The Allisons.
The Crestas, The Jaguars and later The Applejacks.
Dave Dee and the Bostons later changed their name to Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich.
The Casinyets changed their name to the Marvelettes and signed with Motown.
The Paramounts.
The Four Lovers changed their name to the Four Seasons.
Dean Ford and The Gaylords later changed their name to The Marmalade.
The Casuals.
Cliff Bennett formed the Rebel Rousers taking the name from the Duane Eddy hit, they later signed for Brian Epstein’s NEMs management.
The Blue Jays changed to the The Four Jays, The Fourmosts then shortened to The Fourmost.
Freddie & the Dreamers.
Sixties Music History 1961
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