1960s British Rock & Pop Chronology

1962

	January JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC
1	West Hampstead, London: Brian Poole & the Tremeloes and the Beatles audition for Decca
3	US: Army expanded to 16 divisions
5	Tony Sheridan with the Beat Brothers: "My Bonnie"/"The Saints" [Polydor NH 66833; UK release; no chart]
6	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with
11	Cliff Richard and the Shadows: "The Young Ones" [Columbia DB 4761, charts; RR #1, 6 weeks]
	Joe Brown and the Bruvvers: "What a Crazy World We're Living In" [Piccadilly 7N 35024, charts, RR #37]
13	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with Chris Barber's Jazz Band, Lonnie Donegan, The Kaye Sisters, and Ruby Murray.
14	Bradford: Musicians supporting the colour bar in dance halls form a rival union, the British Federation of Musicians
15	Britain: weather service begins issuing centigrade temperature measurements with Fahrenheit equivalents
18	Eden Kane: "Forget Me Not" [Decca F 11418, charts, RR #3] Lonnie Donegan: "The Commancheros" [Pye 7N 15410, charts, RR #8] /"Ramblin' Round" Adam Faith: "Lonesome" [Parlophone R 4864, charts, RR #12] Danny Williams: "Jeannie" [HMV POP 968, charts, RR #14]
20	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with Sam Costa, Peter Elliott, The King Brothers, Gary Miller, The Allisons, and Danny Williams.
24	Liverpool: The Beatles sign a management contract with Brian Epstein
25	Karl Denver: "Wimoweh" [Decca F 11420, charts, RR #4]
27	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with Carole Carr, The Mike Cotton Jazzmen, Johnny Kidd, Des O'connor, Sylvia Sands, Eden Kane, Dorothy Squires, and Ricky Stevens.
30	Bradford: Mecca Locarno drops its colour ban
	Other January Events
	London, South Grove Youth Club: The Dave Clark Five give a concert to raise fund for a trip to Holland by the Tottenham Hotspurs F.C.
	February JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC
1	Miki and Griff: "Little Bitty Tear" [ Pye 7N 15412, charts, RR #16]
2	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with Tommy Bruce, Ronnie Carroll, Alan Dell, Valerie Masters, Susan Maughan, and Bobby Vee.
4	Sunday Times: First colour supplement
5	Liverpool: Pete Best calls in sick and the Beatles recruit Ringo Starr to sub that night.
6	London: Brian Epstein meets with Dick Rowe and Sidney Arthur Beecher-Stevens at Decca's Embankment offices to try to convince them to change minds about the Beatles.
7	London: Brian Epstein meets with Tony Meehan to discuss the possibility of him producing a recording by the Beatles. The discussions come to naught.
8	Matt Monro: "Softly as I Leave You" [Parlophone R 4868, charts, RR #10]
	London: Brian Epstein visits Bob Boast at HMV at Oxford and Bond Streets, has engineer Jim Foy copy the Beatles' Decca demos to discs who puts him in touch with publisher Sid Colman, who makes an appointment for Epstein with George Martin (Lewisohn 1992: 53).
9	London: George Martin and Sid Colman meet to discuss, among other things, the Beatles.
10	Liverpool: Brian Epstein writes to Dick Rowe that he has received an offer of a recording contract with a different company.
	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with The Karl Denver Trio, Barbara Kay, Tony Orlando, Gene Pitney, Jimmy Savile, and The Viscounts.
12	BBC Manchester: Beatles audition for the program Teenagers Turn.
13	London: Brian Epstein meets with George Martin to discuss recording the Beatles.
15	Helen Shapiro: "Tell Me What He Said" [Columbia DB 4782, charts, RR #2] Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen: "March of the Siamese Children" [Pye Jazz 7NJ 2051, charts, RR #4]
17	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with Barry Alldis, Phil Fernando, Clinton Ford, Clarence "Frogman" Henry, Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen, Miki & Griff, The Mudlarks, and Anne Shelton.
20	Cape Canaveral, Florida: John Glenn in Friendship 7 orbits the earth 3 times
22	Elvis Presley: "Rock-a-Hula Baby"/"Can't Help Falling in Love" [RR #1; 4 weeks]
	Karl Denver: "Never Goodbye" [Decca F 11431, charts, RR #9] Don Charles: "Walk with Me My Angel" [Decca F 11424, charts, RR #39]
24	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with Russ Conway, Russ Hamilton, The Shadows, Bob Wallis & His Storyville Jazzmen, Danny Williams, and Jimmy Young.
27	London: Commonwealth Immigrants Bill passed establishing a quota system
	Other February Artifacts
	Howie Casey and the Seniors (Liverpool): "Double Twist"/"True Fine Mama"
	March JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC
1	The Shadows: "Wonderful Land" [Columbia DB 4790, charts, RR #1] Johnny Keating: "Theme from 'Z Cars'" [Piccadilly 7N 35032, charts, RR #8]
3	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with Billy Fury, Ronnie Hilton, The King Brothers, Ted King, tony Osborne, and Bobby Rydell
8	Manchester, BBC: Debut radio broadcast of a taped Beatles performance for the BBC Light's Teenager's Turn—Here We Go. They also wear matching suits for the first time (Lewisohn 1992: 52).
10	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with Ronnie Carroll, Donna Douglas, Frank Ifield, Terry Lightfoot & His New Orleans Jazz Band, Tony Orlando, Helen Shapiro, and Muriel Young.
11	London: Joe Arbiter (Drum City) dies
15	Billy Fury: "Letter Full of Tears" [Decca F 11437, charts, RR #32] John Leyton: "Lone Rider" [HMV POP 992, charts, RR #40]
17	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with Mr. Acker Bilk and His Paramount Jazz Band, Sam Costa, Billy Daniels, The Karl Denver Trio, Emile Ford, and Shane Fenton.
	Ealing, London: Alexis Korner and Cyril Davies open The Ealing Rhythm and Blues Club below the ABC tea-rooms. Blues Incorporated is the house band.
20	Howie Casey and the Seniors: Twist At the Top [probable release date]
22	The Shadows: "Wonderful Land" [RR #1 for 8 weeks]
	Craig Douglas: "When My Little Girl Is Smiling" [Top Rank JAR 610, charts, RR #9] Bruce Channel: "Hey! Baby" [Mercury AMT 1171, charts, RR #2]
24	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with Patti Brooks, Ken Dodd, Jimmy Justice, Humphrey Lyttleton and His Band, Steve Race, Bert Weedon, and Peter Wynne.
29	Jimmy Justice: "When My Little Girl Is Smiling" [Pye 7N 15421, charts, RR #9] Joe Loss: "The Maigret Theme" [HMV POP 995, charts, RR #20]
31	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with Chubby Checker, Danny Davis, Lonnie Donegan, Paul Hollingdale, Gary Miller, Tony Rocco, The Springfields, Susan Terry, The Gary Edwards Combo.
	April JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC
4	Finchley, London: Two London gangs, the Mussies from Muswell Hill and the Finchley Boys, battle resulting in several stabbings. Mussie, Peter Quaife (later of the Kinks) escapes by clinging to the bottom of a parked car.
5	Lonnie Donegan: "The Party's Over" [Pye 7N 15424, charts, RR #9] /"Over the Rainbow"
7	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with Mike Berry & The Outlaws, The Eric Delaney Band, The Four Freshmen, Brenda Lee, Jimmy Savile, and Danny Williams.
	Ealing, London: Elmo Lewis (Brian Jones) guests with Blues Incorporated
10	Hamburg, West Germany: Stuart Sutcliffe dies of a brain Hemorrhage
11	Hamburg, West Germany: The Beatles arrive for a residence at the Star Club and learn of Sutcliffe's death at the airport from Astrid Kirchherr
12	Danny Williams: "Wonderful World of the Young" [HMV POP 1035, charts, RR #8]
14	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with The Brook Brothers, Shirley Douglas, Jimmy Henney, The John Barry Seven, Susan Maughan, Chas McDevitt, Gene Vincent, and Johnny Worth.
15	Wembly, London: NME Winners Concert
21	Rome: Law passed banning films "offensive to good custom, by the inclusion of elements contrary to common feelings of modesty and decency, tending towards disturbing morality and the institution of the family..." (Marwick 1998: 187).
	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with Johnny Burnette, Jim Dale, Billy Fury, Julie Grant, Joe "Mr. Piano" Henderson, Terry Lightfoot & His New Orleans Jazz Band, The Viscounts, and Jimmy Young.
22	Blackpool: Brian "Licorice" Locking replaces Jet Harris in the Shadows
23	Tony Sheridan and the Beat Brothers: "My Bonnie" / "The Saints" [Decca US release]
	Cape Canaveral, Florida: US Ranger launched for lunar landing
26	Cape Canaveral, Florida: UK's first satellite, Ariele, launched
	Moon: US Ranger lunar landing
28	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with The Avons, Chris Barber's Jazz Band with Ottilie Patterson, Carole Carr, Craig Douglas, Donna Douglas, Iain Gregory, and John Leyton
	Other April Events
	The Tornados: "Love and Fury" [no significant chart action]
	May JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC
3	Billy Fury: "Last Night Was Made for Love" [enters UK charts; RR #4] Adam Faith: "As You Like It" [Parlophone R 4896, charts, RR #5] Billy Fury: "Last Night Was Made for Love" [Decca F 11458, charts, RR #4] John Leyton: "Lonely City" [HMV POP 1014, charts, RR #14] Helen Shapiro: "Let's Talk about Love" " [Columbia DB 4782, charts, RR #23] The Countrymen: "I Know Where I'm Going" [Piccadilly 7N 35029, charts, RR #45] Terry Lightfoot and His New Orleans Jazzmen: "Tavern in the Town" [Columbia DB 4822; charts; RR #49]
	London: Blues Incorporated begin playing Thursday nights at the Marquee Club, 165 Oxford St
5	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with Joe Brown, Pete Murray, Cliff Richard & The Shadows, Eden Kane, and The Vernons Girls.
9	EMI, Abbey Road, St. John's Wood, London: Brian Epstein and George Martin meet. Martin proffers a recording contract for the Beatles. Epstein telegraphs the Beatles to begin preparing new material.
10	Mike Sarne and Wendy Richard: "Come Outside" [Parlophone R 4902, charts, UK #1] Cliff Richard and the Shadows: "I'm Looking Out the Window" [Columbia DB 4828, charts, RR #2] / "Do You Wanna Dance" Eden Kane: "I Don't Know Why" [Decca F 11460, charts, RR #7]
12	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with Eddie Calvert, Adam Faith, Kenny Lynch, Don Moss, The Springfields, and Marty Wilde
17	B. Bumble and the Stingers: "Nut Rock" [RR #1, 1 week]
	Joe Brown and the Bruvvers: "A Picture of You" [Piccadilly 7N 35047, charts, RR #2] Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen: "The Green Leaves of Summer" [Pye Jazz 7NJ 2054, charts, RR #7] Vernon's Girls: "Lover Please" [Decca F 11450, charts, RR #16]
19	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with The Brook Brothers, Petula Clark, Russ Conway, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes (Alan Blakley, Alan Howard, Dave Munden, & Rick West), Michael Holliday, the Mike Cotton Jazzmen, Keith Fordyce, and Mike Sarne
24	Elvis Presley: "Good Luck Charm" [RR #1, 5 weeks]
	Marty Wilde: "Jezebel" [Philips PB 1240, charts, RR #19] Jet Harris: "Besame Mucho" [Decca F 11466, charts, RR #22]
26	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with Lyn Cornell, John Leyton, Mrs. Mills, The Temperance Seven, Kent Walton, and Mark Wynter.
	Other May Artifacts
	Howie Casey and the Seniors: "I Ain't Mad at You"/"Twist at the Top"
	June JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC
2	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with Winifred Atwell, Sam Costa, The Alberts (Dougie Gray, Tony Gray, and Bruce Lacey), Jimmy Justice, Matt Munro, and Joan Regan.
4	Bruce Channel arrives in UK
5	Maidstone: Bruce Channel begins British tour
	London: George Martin sends a "Contract for the above artists duly signed."
6	EMI, Abbey Road, St. John's Wood, London: The Beatles perform "Love Me Do" and other songs in a recording test. George Martin, Ron Richards, and Norman Smith tell them what they think the Beatles need to do to improve. George Harrison doesn't like Martin's tie.
7	Karl Denver: "A Little Love, A Little Kiss" [Decca F 11470, charts, RR #19]
9	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with The Karl Denver Trio, Billy Fury, Vince Hill, Ted King, and Bert Weedon.
14	Jimmy Justice: "Ain't that Funny" [Pye 7N 15443, charts, RR #8]
16	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with Carole Deene, Craig Douglas, Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen, The Polka Dots, and Douglas Sheldon.
18	London: George Martin sends a signed contract to Brian Epstein.
21	Tower Ballroom, New Brighton: The Beatles appear with Bruce Channel and Delbert McClinton
23	Liverpool: Brian Epstein forms NEMS Enterprises to handle Beatles business
	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with Joyce Blair, Bernard Cribbins, Ray Ellington, Adam Faith, Susan Maughan, Pete Murray, Tommy Steele, Danny Williams.
25	Wembley Town Hall: Screaming Lord Sutch and the Savages headline. Keith Moon asks drummer, Carlo Little for lessons.
26	London: EMI marketing manager Ron White sends apologetic letter to Brian Epstein for EMI's original rejection of the Beatles.
28	Mike Sarne and Wendy Richard: "Come Outside" [RR #1, 2 weeks]
	Craig Douglas: "Our Favourite Melodies" [Columbia Db 4854, charts, RR #9]
	Other June Artifacts
	Blues Incorporated performs on BBC's Band Beat (e.g., "Everything She Needs")
	July JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC
5	Frank Ifield: "I Remember You" [Columbia DB 4856, charts, RR #1] Danny Williams: "Tears" [HMV POP 1035, charts, RR #22]
10	Cape Canaveral, Florida: US launches Telstar I
11	Jazz News: "Mick Jagger, R&B vocalist, is taking a rhythm and blues group into the Marquee tomorrow while Blues Inc. is doing its Jazz Club gig. Called 'The Rolling Stones' ('I hope they don't think we're a rock 'n' roll outfit,' says Mick), the line-up is Jagger (vocal), Keith Richards, Elmo Lewis (guitars), Dick Taylor (bass), 'Stu' (piano), Mike Avery (drums)."
12	Ray Charles: "I Can't Stop Loving You" [RR #1, 2 weeks]
	Helen Shapiro: "Little Miss Lonely" [Columbia DB 4869, charts, RR #8]
	Soho, London: The Rolling Stones make their first appearance at the Marquee Club
19	Billy Fury: "Once Upon a Dream" [Decca F 11485, charts, RR #7]
26	Frank Ifield: "I Remember You" [RR #1, 7 weeks]
28	Richmond, London: Second National Jazz Festival opens with Chris Barber, Humphrey Lyttleton, Alex Welsh, Bruce Turner, Bob Wallis, Wally Fawkes, and Gerry Brown
29	Richmond, London: Second National Jazz Festival concludes with Kenny Ball, Johnny Dankworth, Terry Lightfoot, Tubby Hayes, Dick Charlesworth, Joe Harriott, Forrie Cairns, Don Rendell Quintet
	Other July Artifacts
	London: The Detours play 3 dates at the Paradise Club, Peckham
	Commonwealth Immigration Act
	August JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC
2	The Shadows: "Guitar Tango" [Columbia DB 4870, charts, RR #4]
5	Hollywood: Marilyn Monroe found dead
6	Jamaica: Becomes an independent dominion within the British Commonwealth
9	Clyde Valley Stompers: "Peter and the Wolf" [Parlophone R 4928, charts, RR #25]
11	Kazaksthan: Soviet cosmonaut, Andrian Nikolayev begins a 94-hour flight
14	Liverpool: John Lennon calls Ringo Starr and asks him to join the Beatles
16	Lonnie Donegan: "Pick a Bale of Cotton" [Pye 7N 15455, charts, RR #11] /"Steal Away" Jet Harris: "Main Title Theme from 'Man with the Golden Arm'" [Decca F 11488, charts, RR #12]
	Liverpool: Brian Epstein informs Pete Best that John, Paul, and George want him out of the band.
17	Berlin: East German border guards shoot and mortally wounded 18-year-old Peter Fechter, who is attempting to cross the Berlin Wall
	Tornados: "Telstar" [release]
18	Hulme Hall, Port Sunlight, Birkenhead: Ringo Starr officially debuts with the Beatles at the Port Sunlight Horticultural Society's "After Show Dance."
19	Cavern Club, Liverpool: Ringo Starr debuts with the Beatles in their home club. A disgruntled Best fan head butts George Harrison giving him a black eye.
21	London: British Fascist leader, Colin Jordan is jailed for nine months after inciting a riot during a speech in Trafalgar Square the previous month.
22	Cavern Club, Liverpool: Granada Television tapes a performance by the Beatles for later broadcast.
23	Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen: "So Do I" [Pye Jazz 7NJ 2056, charts, RR #14] Jimmy Justice: "Spanish Harlem" [Pye 7N 15457, charts, RR #20] John Leyton: "Down the River Nile" [HMV POP 1175, charts, RR #42]
	Liverpool: John Lennon and Cynthia Powell wed in a private ceremony
27	Florida: US launches Mariner II to Venus
28	BBC: The BBC's Third Program begins regular FM broadcasts in stereo
	Paris: Assassination attempt on deGaulle
30	Tornados: "Telstar" [Decca F 11494, charts, RR #1] Shirley Bassey: "What Now My Love" [Columbia DB 4882, charts, RR #5] Adam Faith: "Don't That Beat All" [Parlophone R 4930, charts, RR #8] Mike Sarne and Billie Davis: "Will I What?" [Parlophone R 4632, charts, RR #18]
	September JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC
1	Acton Town Hall, Acton, London: The Detours play the intervals for the Ron Cavendish Orchestra
4	EMI Studios, Abbey Road, London: The Beatles fly to London to record "Love Me Do" and "How Do You Do It" with Ringo Starr on drums. They introduce "Please Please Me" to George Martin.
6	Cliff Richard and the Shadows: "It'll Be Me" [Columbia DB 4886, charts, RR #2] Vernon's Girls: "Loco-Motion" [Decca F 11495, charts, RR #47]
8	Melody Maker: The British Federation of Musicians disbands
11	EMI Studios, Abbey Road, London: The Beatles return to re-record "Love Me Do" and "P.S., I Love You." Andy White drums while Ringo Starr provides percussion. They make another attempt at "Please Please Me."
13	Elvis Presley: "She's Not You" [RR #1, 3 weeks]
	Joe Brown and the Bruvvers: "Your Tender Look" [Piccadilly 7N 35058, charts, RR #31]
20	Karl Denver: "Blue Weekend" [Decca F 11505, charts, RR #33]
27	Mr. Acker Bilk with the Leon Young String Chorale: "Lonely" [Columbia DB 4897, charts, RR #14]
	New York: Houghton Mifflin publishes Rachel Carson's Silent Spring
29	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with Chris Barber's Jazz Band, Petula Clark, Billie Davis, The Karl Denver Trio, Dion DiMucci, Alan Freeman, Billy Fury, and Mike Sarne.
31	Trinidad and Tobago: Independence within the British Commonwealth
	Other September Artifacts
	USSR agrees to deliver arms to Cuba for protection
	October JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC
1	Liverpool: The Beatles sign a revised management contract with Brian Epstein that gives NEMS 25% of the gross over the next 5 years. Lennon and McCartney sign a songwriting contract with NEMS promising them 50% ownership split with whatever publishing company they engaged.
3	Cape Canaveral, Florida: Astronaut Wally Schirra takes a nine-hour flight aboard the Sigma 7
4	Tornados: "Telstar" [RR #1, 5 weeks]
5	The Beatles: "Love Me Do" / "PS, I Love You" [Parlophone R 4949, UK release] EMI House, Manchester Square, London: Beatles record interview for Friday Spectacular (12 October)
	London: The first Bond movie, Dr. No, premiers at the London Pavilion
6	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with Freddie Cannon, Craid Douglas, Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen, Eden Kane, The Spotnicks, The Vernons Girls, and Kent Walton.
8	Little Richard begins UK tour
	London: Tony Richardson releases his film Alan Sillitoe's The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner
11	Susan Maughan: "Bobby's Girl" [Philips 326544 BF, charts, RR #3] The Beatles: "Love Me Do" [Parlophone R 4949; charts, RR #17]
	Rome: Pope John XXIII convenes the Roman Catholic Church's 21st Ecumenical Council (Vatican II)
12	Radio Luxembourg: The Beatles appear on the program The Friday Spectacular.
13	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with Dion DiMucci, Clinton Ford, John Leyton, Terry Lightfoot & His New Orleans Jazz Band, Little Richard, Marion Ryan, and Jimmy Savile.
14	Stokholm: Martin Luther King Jr. named winner of the Nobel Peace Prize
15	Cuba: American reconnaissance flights reveal USSR missile installations
17	Granada Television, Manchester. The Beatles appear on People and Places, their first television appearance.
18	Craig Douglas: "Oh Lonesome Me" [Decca F 11523, charts, RR #15] Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen: "The Pay Off" [Pye Jazz 7NJ 2061, charts, RR #23] Helen Shapiro: "Keep Away from Other Girls" [Columbia DB 4908, charts, RR #40]
20	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with Lionel Blair, The Brook Brothers, Johnny DeLittle, The Karl Denver Trio, The Eric Delaney Band, Susan Maughan, Don Moss, Marty Wilde, and Danny Williams.
21	Manchester: Melody Maker's Blues and Folk Festival at the Free Trade Hall opens with Helen Humes, Jump Jackson, Memphis Slim, Willie Dixon, Shakey Jake, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, T-bone Walker, and John Lee Hooker
	CBS: Cliff Richard debuts on the Ed Sullivan Show in an elaborate production number
22	Washington: John F. Kennedy announces discovery of USSR missile installation in Cuba and imposes a naval quarantine on Cuba
24	Apollo Theater, Harlem: James Brown records Live at the Apollo
25	Frank Ifield: "Lovesick Blues" [Columbia DB 4913, charts, RR #1] Billy Fury: "Because of Love" [Decca F 11508, charts, RR #18] Marty Wilde: "Ever Since You Said Goodbye" [Philips 326546, charts, RR #31; last charting single]
	Manchester: The Beatles appear in a taped performance on Here We Go (BBC Light)
26	Curly Clayton's Studio, Highbury, North London: The Rolling Stones (Jagger, Jones, Richards and Tony Chapman) record three tunes to encourage EMI and Decca to consider them. The studios reject them.
27	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with The Avons, Jess Conrad, Frank Ifield, Ketty Lester, Pete Murray, and The Temperance Seven.
	Washington, D.C.: The Joint Chiefs of Staff recommend an air attack to President Kennedy to take out Soviet missiles in Cuba
28	CBS: Acker Bilk & Helen Shapiro debut on the Ed Sullivan Show Moscow: Khrushchev agrees to withdraw missiles from Cuba
	Other October Artifacts
	November JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC
1	John Barry Orchestra: "James Bond Theme" [Columbia DB 4898, charts, RR #13] Joe Loss: "Must Be Madison" [HMV POP 1075, charts, RR #20]
	Hamburg: The Beatles begin a two-week residence at the Star-Club with Little Richard
2	Granada Television, Manchester. The Beatles make second appearance on People and Places in a taped performance of "Love Me Do" and "A Taste of Honey"
3	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with Eve Boswell, Ronnie Carroll, The Crickets, Jimmy Henney, Bobby Vee, and Mark Wynter.
8	Frank Ifield: "Lovesick Blues" [RR #1, 5 weeks]
10	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with Sam Cooke, The Mike Cotton Jazzmen, Carol Deene, The Everley Brothers, Shane Fenton and The Fentones, Matt Monro, The Viscounts, and Kent Walton.
15	Joe Brown and the Bruvvers: "It Only Took a Minute" [Piccadilly 7N35082, charts, RR #6]
16	London, EMI Headquarters, Manchester Square. The Beatles appear for a mimed performance for EMI's The Friday Spectacular (23 November). Publicist Tony Barrow notes that the audience shrieked at Muriel Young's introduction of the band, the first London evidence of a growing fan base.
17	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with Pat Boone, Joe Brown, Max Bygraves, The Kaye Sisters, Jonny Kidd & The Pirates, and Ted King.
20	Moscow/Washington: Khrushchev announces removal of bombers from Cuba; Kennedy announces end of quarantine
23	Kent: The Detours play at the Grand Ballroom, Broadstairs
	Radio Luxembourg. The Beatles appear on EMI's radio program, The Friday Spectacular.
	St. James Church Hall, Gloucester Terrace, London. The Beatles audition for BBC television arranged through fan. The audition fails. (See Lewisohn 1992: 83-84)
24	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with Adam Faith, Rolf Harris, Humphrey Lyttelton & His Band, Gary Miller, Sheila Southern, The Springfields, and Jack Train.
26	EMI, St. John's Wood, London. The Beatles record "Please Please Me," "Ask Me Why," & "Tip of My Tongue"
27	Soho, London. Brian Epstein and Dick James discuss the idea of forming a publishing company for John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
29	Maureen Evans: "Like I Do" [Oriole CB 1760, charts, RR #3]
30	New York City: U Thant of Burma elected Secretary-General of the United Nations
	December JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC
1	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with Eddie Calvert, Bernard Cribbins, The Crickets, Billy Fury, Nicky Henson, Dick Kallman, Bobby Vee, The Vernons Girls, and Muriel Young
4	Associated-Rediffusion, Wembly (London). Beatles make live London television debut on the children's show, Tuesday Rendezvous.
	London. Beatles make taped London radio debut on BBC Light's The Talent Spot.
6	Cliff Richard and the Shadows: "The Next Time" [Columbia DB 4950, charts, RR #1] Kenny Lynch: "Up on the Roof" [HMV POP 1090, charts, RR #10]
7	London: Bill Wyman joins the Rolling Stones
8	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with Freddy Cannon, The Karl Denver Trio, The Eric Delaney Band, Keith Fordyce, Julie Grant, The Mudlarks, and Johnny Tilotson.
9	Cavern Club, Liverpool. George Martin hears The Beatles perform for their home fans.
13	Elvis Presley: "Return to Sender" [RR #1, 3 weeks]
	The Shadows: "Dance On" [Columbia DB 4948, charts, RR #1] Adam Faith: "Baby Take a Bow" [Parlophone, charts, RR #22]
15	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with The Tornados (George Bellamy, Heinz Burt, Alan Caddy, Clem Cattini, & Roger Lavern), Joyce Blair, Lionel Blair, Neil Christian, Cliff Richard, Terry Scott, and Mark Wynter.
	Hornsey College of Art and Crafts, Crouch End Hill, London: Ray Davies introduces himself to Alexis Korner after Blues Incorporated performs at the Christmas dance.
18	Hamburg. Beatles begin last residency in Germany at the Star-Club. (Return on 31 December.)
21	Piccadilly Jazz Club, Great Windmill Street, London: Ray Davies sits in with Dave Hunt's Rhythm & Blues Band. The supporting act, "The Rollin' Stones"impresses him.
22	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with Winifred Atwell, Reg Bennett, The Beverley Sisters, Craig Douglas, Denis Goodwin, Bob Monkhouse, Mike Sarne, The Shadows, Rosemary Squires, and Norman Vaughan.
	The Tornados: "Telstar" [BB #1]
27	Record Retailer and Music Industry News. The Beatles' "Love Me Do" peaks at #17.
28	London: Heinz Burt announces he will leave the Tornados to pursue a solo career
29	ABC-TV. Thank Your Lucky Stars: Brian Matthew (host) with Ronnie Carroll, Petula Clark, The Karl Denver Trio, Craig Douglas, Frank Ifield, Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen, Cliff Richard & The Shadows, and Helen Shapiro.
30	Soho, London: Top Ten Club opens in Carnaby Street

Other 1962 Events

Vox introduces its Continental electronic organ Hohner introduces the Pianet Marshall McLuhan's The Gutenberg Galaxy

Ian Fleming, The Spy Who Loved Me John Schlesinger's film, A Kind of Loving Carry On Cruising British and French agree to develop the Concorde supersonic airliner

Return to 1960s British Rock Chronology

1961 1963

Copyright © 1995 — 31 May, 2018; Gordon Thompson.