The Raucous Rabbit Hole: 21 September

Today’s trip down the Rabbit Hole takes us from the golden age of R&B to the birth of rock ’n’ roll and eventually into the wild world of Texas rockabilly and psychobilly.

On this day in 1955, The Platters’ magnificent “Only You (And You Alone)” entered the US charts. The record would go on to reach No. 1 on the R&B chart and become one of the defining vocal-group records of the 1950s.

Two years later, 21 September 1957 was a rather important day in the Elvis story, as Elvis Presley’s bandmates Scotty Moore and Bill Black’s resignations from Elvis Presley’s band took effect following a dispute over money.

The same day, Alan Freed’s legendary Biggest Show of Stars tour was rolling into Charlotte, with a line-up that seems almost too good to be true: Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly & The Crickets, Eddie Cochran, The Everly Brothers, LaVern Baker, Clyde McPhatter, The Drifters, Buddy Knox, Frankie Lymon and plenty more.

Imagine being in that audience!

In 1959, Santo & Johnny’s dreamy, haunting instrumental “Sleep Walk” reached No. 1 in America, its steel guitar becoming one of the most recognisable sounds of the entire 1950s.

Also born on this day in 1936 was Memphis-born singer and songwriter Dickey Lee, who began his recording career with rockabilly-flavoured sides before finding wider success with songs including “Patches” and “I Saw Linda Yesterday”.

And remembering those we’ve lost, songwriter John D. Loudermilk, who wrote Eddie Cochran’s “Sittin’ in the Balcony” and The Everly Brothers’ “Ebony Eyes” among many others, died on this date in 2016.

The great Texas rock ’n’ roller Roy Head died on 21 September 2020. Roy, of course, gave us the gloriously frantic “Treat Her Right”.

Much later down the Rabbit Hole, The Meteors were flying the psychobilly flag at the Baroeg Open Air festival in Rotterdam on this date in 2013.

From The Platters to The Meteors... quite a journey for one September day. 🐇🎶