Music History - March 25

In 1955, "Blackboard Jungle," starring Glenn Ford, Anne Francis, Louis Calhern, Richard Kiley, Margaret Hayes, Sidney Portier, and Vic Morrow, opened in U.S. and Canadian movie theaters. While it is a solid drama, the movie is mostly remembered for prominently featuring Bill Haley and His Comets' recording of "Rock Around The Clock." With its new soundtrack exposure, the single, which had been released a full year earlier to little fanfare, rocketed back onto the charts and straight to #1, kicking off the rock 'n' roll era in earnest.

In 1958, Elvis Presley's ducktail hairstyle and famous sideburns are removed as he received the regulation short haircut from US Army barber James Peterson. The King would never go back to wearing a DA.

In 1959, in New Orleans, Lloyd Price recorded "Personality." The single reached #2 for three weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of Lloyd Price's most popular crossover hits. The song was also a #1 US R&B hit, maintaining the top spot for four weeks. The song reached #9 in the UK

In 1960, in Nashville, Roy Orbison recorded "Only the Lonely." When released in May of 1960, the single went to #2 on the US Billboard pop music charts on July 25, 1960 (blocked by Brenda Lee's "I'm Sorry") & #14 on the Billboard R&B charts. It reached #1 in the UK, a position it achieved on October 20, 1960, staying there for two weeks (out of a total of 24 weeks spent on the UK singles chart from July 28, 1960).

In 1960, Ray Charles updates Hoagy Carmichael's "Georgia On My Mind," a song that first became a #10 hit for Frankie Trumbauer in 1931. Charles' version will become his fifth Billboard Pop chart hit and his first #1 next November.

In 1961, at the Bloch Arena in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Elvis Presley performed his last live show for eight years. His friend Minnie Pearl was the opening act. Prior to his purchase of the airplane he named the "Lisa Marie," Elvis was flown to his engagements by Henry Cannon, Minnie Pearl's husband. The concert raised $62,000 for the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, dedicated to the 1,177 U.S. servicemen killed when the ship went down on December 7, 1941.

In 1963, Johnny Cash records one of his biggest hits, "Ring Of Fire," which will climb to #17 on the Hot 100 and #1 on the Billboard Country Chart. The song was written by June Carter and Merle Kilgore and was originally recorded by June's sister, Anita Carter. When her version failed to become a hit, Johnny added the mariachi-style horns and changed a few of the words. Four years later, Johnny and June were married.  The song became the biggest hit of Johnny Cash's career, and  was certified Gold on January 21, 2010 by the R.I.A.A. and has also sold over 1.2 million digital downloads.  Social Distortion released a punk rock version of this song on their self-titled album in 1990. The single reached #25 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks.
 
On March 25, 1963, the Beach Boys released the album 'Surfin' U.S.A.' The LP reached #2 in the US, lasting 78 weeks on the albums chart. It reached #17 in the UK in late 1965.

In 1964, The Beatles made their debut on UK TV show 'Top Of The Pops' singing "Can't Buy Me Love" and "You Can’t Do That." The show had been recorded on March 19th.

In 1964, in Chicago, Chuck Berry recorded his composition "No Particular Place To Go."

In 1964, "Muscle Beach Party," starring Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, Luciana Paluzzi, and Don Rickles, opened in U.S. and Canadian movie theaters.

In 1965, Jeff Beck joined the Yardbirds and would later help record the hits, "Heart Full of Soul" and "Shapes of Things" before leaving in the Fall of 1966. Jimmy Page had also joined the band, but The Yardbirds would split up in 1968. Page then re-shaped the group to form The New Yardbirds, later renaming them Led Zeppelin.

In 1966, Bob Dylan performed at the Seattle Center Arena.

In 1966, in New York City, Buck Owens and the Buckaroos played a sold-out show at Carnegie Hall

On March 25th, 1966, at Bob Whitaker's photo studio in London, the Beatles posed for the cover of their 'Yesterday and Today' album. For one part of the shoot, Whitaker took a series of pictures of the group dressed in butcher smocks and draped with pieces of bloody meat and body parts from plastic baby dolls. There were cigarette burns on the dolls along with toy eyeballs and even a pair of false teeth lying around. The group played along, as they were tired of the usual photo shoots and the concept was compatible with their own sort of dark humor. In fact, Beatles publicist Tony Barrow recalls that John Lennon was very enthusiastic about the session, as it’s bizarre appeal made it interestingly different than what they were used to. It wasn’t originally intended for use as an album cover, however the Beatles were happy enough with the session’s photos that they submitted some for their promotional materials. After public outcry following its release, the album was quickly withdrawn in favor of one with a cover that was less provocative. 

In 1967, the Doors debut album, featuring "Light My Fire", enters the Billboard Hot 200 chart. The LP had been released during the first week of January and would end up leading Billboard for three weeks and Cashbox for a week.

In 1967, at the RKO 58th Street Theatre in New York City, the Who and Cream made their American debuts at Murray the K's Easter Show.

Also in 1967, although they had cracked the Top 40 on three previous occasions, the Turtles enjoyed their first and only Billboard #1 hit with "Happy Together." It made #12 in the UK.

In 1967, the Rolling Stones kicked off a three-week European tour in Orebro, Sweden. Arriving in Copenhagen for the tour the group were delayed after customs officers search all their luggage for drugs.

In 1967, Pink Floyd played three gigs in 24 hours. The appeared at the Ricky Tick Club in Windsor, England, then the New Yorker Discotheque in Swindon and then played at the Shoreline Club in Bognor Regis (in the early hours 26 March).

In 1968, the Monkees 58th and final TV episode was broadcast, ending a two year run. The Fabricated Four would soon start to dissolve as Peter Tork left the group later that year, leaving just Mike Nesmith, Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones on the cover of the group's next album, 'Instant Replay.'

In 1970, Jackie DeShannon, Waylon Jennings and Michael Parks were the guest performers on Johnny Cash's ABC-TV show.

In 1971, New York radio station WNBC banned the song "One Toke Over the Line" by Brewer and Shipley because of its alleged drug references. Other stations around the country follow suit, but the record still makes it to Billboard's #10.

In 1972, the trio of Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell and Dan Peek, collectively known as America, reached the top spot on The Hot 100 and The Cashbox Best Sellers chart with "A Horse With No Name". The tune, which reached #3 in the UK, was originally titled "Desert Song".

In 1975, at the War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Aerosmith began their 63-date Toys In The Attic Tour of North America.

In 1976, Jackson Browne's wife, Phyllis Major, committed suicide. Much of the music on Browne's album, "The Pretender" displays the sense of despair at her death. The recording became the first of Browne's LP's to sell a million copies.

In 1977, after a decade of having only local success in the Michigan area, 33 year old Bob Seger gets his big break. His 7th album, 'Night Moves' goes Platinum on the strength of three Top Forty hits: "Night Moves,""Mainstreet" and "Rock and Roll Never Forgets."

The first single by Elvis Costello, "Less Than Zero," was released in 1977.

In 1978, a Philadelphia R&B / Disco group called The Trammps enter the Billboard Top 40 for the third and final time with "Disco Inferno," which will climb to #11 during its thirteen week stay.

In 1979, Van Halen released the album 'Van Halen II.'

In 1983, in Pasadena, California, Motown taped an all-star concert at the Civic Auditorium to celebrate the label's 25th anniversary. Performers included Smokey Robinson, the Four Tops, the Temptations, Stevie Wonder, the Commodores, Martha Reeves, Jr. Walker and, in what turned out to be his last network television appearance, Marvin Gaye. A brief Supremes reunion and a Jackson 5 performance seemed to top off the night, but when the show was broadcast on May 16, 1983, it was Michael Jackson's solo performance of his new single "Billie Jean" and his "moonwalk" that stole the show, turning him from superstar to megastar overnight.

In 1985, at the 57th annual Academy Awards, Prince wins the Best Original Song Score Oscar for "Purple Rain" and Stevie Wonder is awarded Best Original Song for "I Just Called To Say I Love You".

In 1986, Guns N' Roses signed a world-wide deal with Geffen Records. The band has now sold more than 100 million albums worldwide, their 1987 debut album, 'Appetite for Destruction,' has sold in excess of 28 million copies worldwide.

In 1989, fire destroyed a recording studio on Chuck Berry's farm at Wentzville, Missouri. Among the items lost was a tape containing 13 unreleased Berry songs.

In 1989, Mike And The Mechanics went to #1 on the US singles chart with "The Living Years," a #2 hit in the UK.

In 1990, Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee was arrested for allegedly exposing his buttocks during a concert in Augusta, Georgia.

In 1999, Elton John appeared on CBS-TV's "The Late Show with David Letterman."

In 2000, *NSYNC set a new world record by selling a million tickets in one day for their next tour.

In 2002, Bono from U2 made a appearance at the air rage trial of R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck, telling the court 'I came to court because Peter is actually famously known for being a peaceable person. I once had to twist his arm to get him to a boxing match'. Buck was later cleared of all charges. He had been accused of attacking two cabin staff and covering them in yoghurt, knocking over a trolley and trying to steal a knife.

In 2006, country music songwriter/singer and TV show host (Hee Haw) Buck Owens died of a heart attack at age 76.

In 2007, the Notorious B.I.G. was at #1 on the US album charts with 'Greatest Hits.' It was the rapper's fourth album release after being killed by an unknown assailant in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles, California on March 9, 1997.

In 2009, Dan Seals, of the 1970s duo England Dan And John Ford Coley, died of cancer at the age of 61. After scoring several Billboard Pop chart hits, including "I'd Really Love To See You Tonight", "Nights are Forever" and "Love Is The Answer", Seals went on to have a solid career in Country music during the 1980s and early '90s.

In 2013, Dionne Warwick's attorney confirmed that the singer had filed for bankruptcy over a tax debt dating back almost 20 years. In 2012 she appeared on a list of the top 500 people owing the most in unpaid taxes in the state of California. Her legal team insisted that Ms. Warwick was the "innocent victim of terrible mismanagement."

birthdays today include (among others): Aretha Franklin (72) and Elton John (67)