Site Navigation

What happened in The year 1962 ?

• The West Side Story soundtrack album went to number one on the Billboard’s album charts and was the top selling album of the year.

• In America Elvis had a number one single with “ Good Luck Charm”. In Britain Elvis had number one’s with three singles “Can’t Help Falling In Love With You”, “Good Luck Charm” and “She’s Not You”. He had his third U.K. Number one album with “Blue Hawaii”.

• The BBC banned Bobby Boris & the Crypt Kickers single “Monster Mash” on the grounds it was too morbid.

January 1962

• The Beatles auditioned for Decca Records, Mike Smith said they would not be commercial enough so the head of the A&R department Dick Rowe signed Brian Poole and the Tremeloes instead.
• Peter, Paul and Mary signed with Warner Brothers.
• Chubby Checker, Jan and Dean, Bobby Freeman, Dick and Dee Dee and the Untouchables appeared at the Cow Palace in San Francisco.  

February 1962

• Brian Epstein met with George Martin to discuss recording the Beatles.
• Bobby Vee, Clarence "Frogrman" Henry, The Springfields, Tony Orlando, and  Jimmy Crawford began a U.K. Tour.

March 1962

• "The Big Star Show of 1962" included Billy Fury, Joe Brown, John Leyton, Eden Kane, Shane Fenton and Karl Denver.
• The Beatles made their first U.K. Radio broadcast on the Light programme show “Teenagers Turn”.
• Alexis Korner and Cyril Davies opened their blues club in London.

April 1962

•  Stuart Sutcliffe the ex Beatle Bass player died of a brain haemorrhage.
• The N M E Poll Winners Concert some of the artists included Helen Shapiro, Billy Fury, Joe Brown, John Leyton, Adam Faith, the Shadows and the Springfields.
• The Beatles returned to Hamburg to play at the Star Club.
• Brenda Lee, Gene Vincent, Sounds Incorporated, Rory Blackwell & His Blackjacks and Nero & The Gladiators appeared at the City Hall,Sheffield.

May 1962

• Chris Blackwell moved Island Records from Jamaica to a new location in the U.K.
• Jerry Lee Lewis toured the U.K. With Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, Vince Eager, The Viscounts, The Echoes, The Bachelors and Mark Eden.
• Louis Armstrong appeared at the Colston Hall, Bristol.

June 1962

• The Beatles returned from Hamburg and auditioned for EMI Records.

July  1962

• The Rolling Stones made their first appearance at the Marquee Club in  London
• The Beach Boys signed with Capitol Records.
• Second National Jazz Festival opened in Richmond, London among the artists were Chris Barber, Humphrey Lyttleton, Bruce Turner and Alex Welsh.
• Joe Brown & the Bruvvers appeared at the Tower Ballroom, New Brighton also on the show were The Beatles, The Four Jays. The Statesmen and the Big Three.
• The Beatles signed a contract with EMI Parlophone Records.

August  1962

• John Lennon Married Cynthia Powell at the Mount Pleasant Registry Office in Liverpool.
• Aretha Franklin made her television debut on ABC's American Bandstand.
• The Beatles and Brian Epstein sacked Pete Best their drummer.
• Ringo Starr (Richard Starkey) replaced Pete Best.

September 1962

• The first recording sessions at EMI for the Beatles.
• Dion, Del Shannon, Joe Brown, The Allisons, New York Twisters, Wallace & Duval, Suzy Cope, Peppi and Buzz Clifford began their U.K. Tour.

October  1962

• The Beatles released “Love Me Do” their first single on the EMI Parlophone Record label, it reached number seventeen in theU.K. charts. The “B” side was “P.S. I Love You” both songs were written by McCartney & Lennon.
• The  Motown Revue tour began in Washington DC, it featured Mary Wells, the Contours, Marvin Gaye, Martha and the Vandellas,  Stevie Wonder, and the Marvelettes.
• The Beatles supported Little Richard at the Liverpool Empire Theatre also on the bill were Craig Douglas, Jet Harris, Kenny Lynch and Sounds Incorporated.
• The Beach Boys released their first album “Surfin’ Safari”.

November 1962

• The Beatles first T.V. studio appearance was  on a Granada regional programme called “People and Places”. They appeared on U.K. television on three separate occasions in late 1962.
• B Bumble & The Stingers, The Tornados, Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, Vince Eager, Chris Wayne & The Echoes, Bobby Shafto and Joe Brown & His Bruvvers appeared at the Granada, East Ham, London.
• The Beatles returned to the Star Club in Hamburg where Little Richard was appearing on the same Bill.

December 1962

• The Osmond brothers made their first television performance on the Andy Williams Show.
• Bob Dylan arrived in London to record a BBC drama play called “Madhouse on Castle Street”.
• The Mammoth Jazz 'n' Pop Show held at the Queens Hall, Leeds included The Tornadoes, Joe Brown, Kenny Ball, Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, Heinz, The Ryles Brothers, Ray Peters and Jimmy Justice.
• Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass released their debut album The Lonely Bull,
• The Supremes released their first album “Meet The Supremes”.

Formed  1962

The Fourtones, The Deltas and finally The Hollies

Unit Four + 2.

The Del-Phis changed to The Vels and in 1962  changed their name to Martha & the Vandellas.

The Scaffold.

Bobby Hatfield met Bill Medley and formed the Righteous Brothers.

Paul Revere and the Nightriders changed their name to Paul Revere and the Raiders.

The Surfaris formed in Glendora, California.

The Koobas.

The Spectres formed later changed to Traffic Jam then to Status Quo.

Downliners Sect.

The Alan Price Combo renamed the Animals formed in Newcastle - upon -Tyne.

The Nomads became The Mojos.

The Darling Sisters then Ronnie and the Relatives changed to The Ronettes.

Mann - Hugg Blues Brothers then Manfred Mann and the Manfreds later changed to Manfred Mann.

The Rolling Stones.

Dave Berry & the Cruisers.

Paramounts later Procol Harum.

Cyril Davies R&B All Stars.

The New Christy Minstrels.

Del-rons later changed to Reparata and the Delrons.

The Bystanders formed in Wales.

Formed in New Jersey the Ad - Libs.

The Dillards.

Nashville Teens.

The Beatstalkers formed in Scotland.

The Harmonichords changed their name to The Bachelors.

The Chantays.

Freddie Starr & the Midnighters.

The Nightriders then The Crossfires later The Turtles.

(Question Mark) ? & the Mysterians.

Girl group the Breakaways formed in London.

The Canadian group Chad Allan & the Reflections changed to Chad Allan and

the Expressions  then The Guess Who.

Music History 1962

 Essential Artists

GREAT DEALS

TOP DEALS

1962

Sixties Albums