 Bo Diddley's chart debut was in 1955 [edit] Events - January 1 - RCA victor announces a marketing plan called "Operation TNT." The label drops the list price on LPs from $5.95 to $3.98, EPs from $4.95 to $2.98, 45 EPs from $1.58 to $1.49 and 45's from $1.16 to $.89. Other record labels follow RCA's lead and begin to drop prices as well.
- January 7 - "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley & His Comets first appears on the British charts.
- January 8 - Elvis Presley's third Sun Records single, "Milk Cow Blue Boogie" / "You're a Heartbreaker" released.
- January 14 - In New York City, Alan Freed produces the first rock and roll concert.
- February 19 - Dot Records introduces a new singer, Pat Boone, with an advertisement in Billboard magazine calling him "a great new voice"
- February 26 - For the first time since they were introduced in 1949, 45 rpm discs begin to outsell the old standard 78s
- Kay Starr leaves Capitol to sign with RCA
- The Patti Page Show premieres on NBC
- The Frankie Laine Show premieres on CBS
- March 15 - Colonel Tom Parker becomes Elvis Presley's manager
- March 19 - The film Blackboard Jungle premieres in New York City. The film features Bill Haley & His Comets' "Rock Around the Clock" over the opening credits—the first use of a rock and roll song in a major film. This event causes a groundswell of sales for the recording and is credited with helping to launch in earnest the Rock and Roll Era.
- March 22 - Decca Records signs DJ Alan Freed as an A&R man.
- March 26 - Bill Hayes tops the US charts for five weeks with The Ballad of Davy Crockett and starts a (fake) coonskin cap craze.
- April 1 - Elvis Presley's fourth Sun Records single: "Baby Let's Play House" / "I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone" released.
- April 17 - Imperial Records releases "Ain't That a Shame" by Fats Domino
- May 13 - First riot at an Elvis Presley concert takes place in Jacksonville, FL
- May 14 - Bo Diddley makes his US R&B chart debut with his single "Bo Diddley".
- May 21 - Chuck Berry records his first single, "Maybelline" for Chess Records in Chicago.
- May 22 - Bridgeport, CT authorities cancel a rock concert to be headlined by Fats Domino for fear of a riot breaking out.
- June 4 - "Ain't That a Shame" by Fats Domino beings an 11 week stretch on top of the US R&B charts.
- July 6 - Bo Diddley's second single "Diddley Daddy" makes its US R&B chart debut.
- July 9 - "Rock Around the Clock" becomes the first Rock and roll single to reach Number One on the American charts
- July 23 - Chess Records release debut single by Chuck Berry, "Maybelline". Also that same day Chess releases Muddy Waters's "Mannish Boy"
- August 17 - Elvis Presley's last Sun Records single - "I Forgot to Remember to Forget" / "Mystery Train" - released.
- August 19 - WINS radio station in New York City adopts policy of not playing white cover versions of black R&B songs.
- August 20 - Chuck Berry's "Maybelline" reaches #1 on R&B charts, ending 11 week reign of "Ain't That a Shame" by Fats Domino.
- August 31 - Sidney Turner of London fined for "creating an abominable noise" for blasting "Shake, Rattle, and Roll" at top volume.
- September 3 - Little Richard records "Tutti Frutti" with significantly cleaned up lyrics (originally "Tutti Frutti, good booty" among other things.
- September 26 - "America's Sweethearts," Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds marry.
- October 15 - Elvis Presley plays concert in Lubbock, Texas. Opening act is local duo Buddy and Bob. Buddy is future rock star Buddy Holly.
- November 12 - Billboard magazine DJ poll names Elvis Presley as the most promising new country/western singer.
- November 20 - Bo Diddley makes his debut TV appearance on Ed Sullivan's "Toast Of The Town" show on CBS.
- November 22 - Colonel Tom Parker signs Elvis Presley to RCA Records.
- November 26 - "Sixteen Tons" by Tennessee Ernie Ford tops the Billboard pop charts.
- December 15 - Sun Records releases "Folsom Prison Blues" by Johnny Cash.
- Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel's musical careers begin as they copyright a song, "The Girl For Me," with the Library of Congress and begin singing together as a duo while still in high school in New York, New York.
- Mirella Freni makes her debut as Micaela in Carmen at Modena.
- Eddie Cochran's musical career begins.
- Al Green's musical career begins at the age of nine.
- Clyde McPhatter launches a solo career
- Renato Carosone and Nicola Salerno meet and start their songwriting partnership
- Italian singers Natalino Otto and Flo Sandon's wed.
- The Coasters are formed.
- Shivkumar Sharma gives his first public performance in Bombay.
[edit] Albums released [edit] Biggest hit singles The following singles achieved the highest chart positions in the set of charts available for 1955. | # | Artist | Title | Year | Country | Chart Entries | | 1 | Bill Haley & His Comets | Rock Around the Clock | 1955 |  | UK 1 - Oct 1955, US BB 1 - May 1955, US BB 1 of 1955, DDD 1 of 1954, POP 1 of 1955, Italy 3 of 1957, Global 4 (20 M sold) - 1954, Europe 5 of the 1950s, Scrobulate 8 of rock & roll, RIAA 12, Germany 17 - Jun 1968, Holland 27 - Jun 1968, 41 in 2FM list, Acclaimed 49, AFI 50, Rolling Stone 158, Party 180 of 1999 | | 2 | Tennessee Ernie Ford | Sixteen Tons | 1955 | | UK 1 - Jan 1956, US BB 1 - Nov 1955, Australia 1 for 6 weeks May 1955, RYM 13 of 1955, US BB 20 of 1955, POP 20 of 1955, DDD 49 of 1955, RIAA 83, Acclaimed 276 | | 3 | Four Aces | Love is a Many Splendoured Thing | 1955 | | US BB 1 - Aug 1955, Oscar in 1955, UK 2 - Nov 1955, Peel list 2 of 1955, Italy 3 of 1956, US BB 9 of 1955, POP 9 of 1955, RYM 29 of 1955 | | 4 | Chuck Berry | Maybellene | 1955 | | RYM 1 of 1955, DDD 2 of 1955, US BB 5 - Aug 1955, US BB 6 of 1955, POP 6 of 1955, Scrobulate 17 of rock & roll, Rolling Stone 18, Acclaimed 99 | | 5 | Frank Sinatra | Love & Marriage | 1955 | | US BB 2 of 1955, POP 2 of 1955, UK 3 - Jan 1956, US BB 5 - Nov 1955, Holland 9 - Apr 1991, RYM 16 of 1955, Scrobulate 47 of relaxing, Europe 83 of the 1950s | [edit] US No. 1 hit singles These singles reached the top of US Billboard magazine's charts in 1955. | First week | Number of weeks | Title | Artist | | January 22, 1955 | 2 | "Let Me Go, Lover" | Joan Weber | | February 5, 1955 | 1 | "Hearts of Stone" | Fontane Sisters | | February 12, 1955 | 6 | "Sincerely" | McGuire Sisters | | March 26, 1955 | 5 | "The Ballad Of Davy Crockett" | Bill Hayes | | April 30, 1955 | 8 | "Unchained Melody" | Les Baxter | | July 9, 1955 | 10 | "Rock Around The Clock" | Bill Haley & his Comets | | September 3, 1955 | 5 | "Yellow Rose Of Texas" | Mitch Miller | | October 8, 1955 | 1 | "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" | The Four Aces | | October 15, 1955 | 1 | "Yellow Rose Of Texas" | Mitch Miller | | October 22, 1955 | 1 | "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" | The Four Aces | | October 29, 1955 | 1 | "Autumn Leaves" | Roger Williams | | November 5, 1955 | 4 | "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" | The Four Aces | | November 26, 1955 | 7 | "Sixteen Tons" | Tennessee Ernie Ford | [edit] Top hits on record [edit] Top R&B and Country Hits on record [edit] Published popular music - "Adelaide" w.m. Frank Loesser
- "Ain't That A Shame" w.m. Antoine Domino & Dave Bartholomew
- "Ain't That Lovin' You Baby" w.m. Jimmy Reed
- "All At Once You Love Her" w. Oscar Hammerstein II m. Richard Rodgers
- "Arrivederci Roma" w. (Eng) Carl Sigman m. Renato Ranucci
- "Ballad Of Davy Crockett" w. Tom Blackburn m. George Bruns
- "Banana Boat (Day O)" trad West Indies arr. William Attaway and Irving Burgie (aka Lord Burgess)
- "Band Of Gold" w. Bob Musel m. Jack Taylor
- "The Bible Tells Me So" w.m. Dale Evans
- "Black Denim Trousers And Motorcycle Boots" w.m. Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller
- "Blue Monday" w.m. Antoine "Fats" Domino & Dave Bartholomew
- "Blue Star" w. Edward Heyman m. Victor Young
- "Blue Suede Shoes" w.m. Carl Perkins
- "Bo Diddley" w.m. Ellas McDaniel
- "Charlie Brown" w.m. Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller
- "Christmas Alphabet" Buddy Kaye, Jules Loman
- "Dance With Me, Henry" w.m. Johnny Otis, Hank Ballard & Etta James aka "Wallflower"
- "Domani" w. Tony Velona m. Ulpio Minucci
- "Don't Be Angry" w.m. Nappy Brown, Rose Marie McCoy & Fred Mendelsohn
- "Dreamboat" w.m. Jack Hoffman
- "Dungaree Doll" w. Ben Raleigh m. Sherman Edwards
- "Folsom Prison Blues" w.m. Johnny Cash
- "Forever Darling" w. Sammy Cahn m. Bronislau Kaper. Introduced by Desi Arnaz in the 1956 film Forever, Darling
- "The Great Pretender" w.m. Buck Ram
- "Hallelujah I Love Her So" w.m. Ray Charles
- "He" w. Jack Mullan m. Jack Richards
- "He's a Tramp" w.m. Peggy Lee and Sonny Burke. Introduced by Peggy Lee in the animated film Lady and the Tramp
- "Heart" w.m. Richard Adler & Jerry Ross
- "Hey, Mister Banjo" w.m. Freddy Morgan & Norman Malkin
- "I Hear You Knocking" w.m. Dave Bartholomew & Pearl King
- "I Never Has Seen Snow" w. Truman Capote & Harold Arlen m. Harold Arlen
- "I'll Never Stop Loving You" w. Sammy Cahn m. Nicholas Brodszky. Introduced by Doris Day in the film Love Me or Leave Me.
- "I'm In Love Again" w.m. Antoine Domino & Dave Bartholomew
- "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning" w. Bob Hilliard m. Dave Mann
- "Innamorata" w. Jack Brooks m. Harry Warren Introduced by Dean Martin in the film Artists And Models
- "It's Almost Tomorrow" w. Wade Buff m. Gene Adkinson
- "Jamaica Farewell" w.m. Lord Burgess
- "Jim Dandy" w.m. Lincoln Chase
- "Ko Ko Mo (I Love You So)" w.m. Forest Wilson, Jake Porter & Eunice Levy
- "Learnin' The Blues" w.m. Dolores Vicki Silvers
- "Life Could Not Better Be" w.m. Sylvia Fine & Sammy Cahn. Introduced by Danny Kaye in the film The Court Jester.
- "Little One" w.m. Cole Porter
- "Love and Marriage" w. Sammy Cahn m. James Van Heusen
- "Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing" w. Paul Francis Webster m. Sammy Fain
- "Maybelline" w.m. Chuck Berry, Russ Frato & Alan Freed
- "Memories Are Made Of This" w.m. Terry Gilkyson, Rich Dehr & Frank Miller
- "Mind If I Make Love To You" w.m. Cole Porter
- "Moments To Remember" w. Al Stillman m. Robert Allen
- "Mr. Wonderful" w.m. Jerry Bock, George David Weiss & Larry Holofcener
- "My Boy - Flat Top" w.m. Boyd Bennett & John Young Jr
- "No, Not Much" w. Al Stillman m. Robert Allen
- "Once-A-Year Day" w.m. Richard Adler & Jerry Ross from the musical The Pajama Game
- "An Occasional Man" w.m. Ralph Blane & Hugh Martin. Introduced by Gloria DeHaven in the film The Girl Rush
- "Paper Roses" w. Janice Torre m. Fred Spielman
- "Pet Me Poppa" w.m. Frank Loesser
- "Pete Kelly's Blues" w. Sammy Cahn m. Ray Heindorf
- "Relax-Ay-Voo" Sammy Cahn & Arthur Schwartz
- "Robin Hood" w.m. Carl Sigman. Theme song of the Television series starring Richard Greene.
- "The Rock And Roll Waltz" w. Dick Ware m. Shorty Allen
- "Rock-A-Beatin' Boogie" w.m. Bill Haley
- "Same Old Saturday Night" w. Sammy Cahn m. Frank Reardon
- "See You Later Alligator" w.m. Robert Guidry
- "Seven-And-A-Half Cents" w.m. Richard Adler & Jerry Ross
- "The Siamese Cat Song" w.m. Peggy Lee & Sonny Burke. Introduced by Peggy Lee in the animated film Lady and the Tramp.
- "A Sleepin' Bee" w. Truman Capote & Harold Arlen m. Harold Arlen. Introduced in the musical House of Flowers by Diahann Carroll, Ada Moore, Dolores Harper and Enid Mosier
- "Smokey Joe's Cafe" w.m. Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller
- "Softly, Softly" Pierre Dudan, Paddy Roberts & Mark Paul
- "Something's Gotta Give" w.m. Johnny Mercer. Introduced by Fred Astaire in the musical film Daddy Long Legs.
- "Speedoo" w.m. Esther Navarro
- "Stereophonic Sound" w.m. Cole Porter from the musical Silk Stockings
- "A Story Untold" Leroy Griffin
- "Suddenly There's A Valley" w.m. Chuck Meyer & Biff Jones
- "(Love Is) The Tender Trap" w. Sammy Cahn m. James Van Heusen. Introduced by Frank Sinatra in the film The Tender Trap.
- "Theme From "East Of Eden"" m. Leonard Rosenman
- "Tina Marie" w.m. Bob Merrill
- "Tutti Frutti" w.m. Richard Penniman, D. La Bostrie & Joe Lubin
- "Two Lost Souls" w.m. Richard Adler & Jerry Ross. Introduced by Gwen Verdon and Stephen Douglass in the musical Damn Yankees
- "Unchained Melody" w. Hy Zaret m. Alex North
- "Wake The Town And Tell The People" w. Sammy Gallop m. Jerry Livingston
- "The Wallflower" (aka "Dance With Me Henry") w.m. Johnny Otis, Hank Ballard & Etta James
- "Whatever Lola Wants" w.m. Richard Adler & Jerry Ross. Introduced by Gwen Verdon in the musical Damn Yankees. Gwen also performed the song in the 1958 film version.
- "Why Do Fools Fall In Love?" w.m. Frankie Lymon & George Goldner
- "A Woman in Love" w.m. Frank Loesser
- "You Are My Love" w.m. Jimmie Nabbie
- "You Don't Know Me" w.m. Cindy Walker & Eddy Arnold
- "You're Sensational" w.m. Cole Porter. Introduced by Frank Sinatra in the musical film High Society
[edit] Births - January 3 - Helen O'Hara, British musician
- January 8 - Mike Reno, Loverboy
- January 13 - Fred White, Earth Wind & Fire
- January 13 - Trevor Rabin, Yes
- January 17 - Steve Earle
- January 19 - Simon Rattle, conductor
- January 26 - Eddie Van Halen, musician
- January 27 - Richard Young, Kentucky Headhunters
- February 18 - Riff Regan, real name Miles Tredinnick, lead singer in London.
- February 23 - Howard Jones
- March 2 - Jay Osmond, The Osmonds
- March 4 - Boon Gould, real name Rowland Charles Gould, guitarist (Level 42)
- March 10 - Bunny DeBarge, DeBarge
- March 15 - Dee Snider, Twisted Sister
- March 28 - Reba McEntire
- March 31 - Angus Young, AC/DC
- April 13 - Louis Johnson, The Brothers Johnson
- April 17 - Pete Shelley, Buzzcocks
- May 9 - Anne Sofie von Otter
- May 12 - Kix Brooks, Country singer Brooks & Dunn
- May 20 - Steve George, Mr. Mister
- May 20 - Zbigniew Preisner, composer
- May 21 - Stan Lynch, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
- May 28 - John McGeoch, Magazine, PiL, and Siouxsie & the Banshees, (d. 2004)
- May 29 - Pascal Dusapin, French composer
- May 30 - Topper Headon, The Clash
- June 7 - Joey Scarbury
- June 23 - Glenn Danzig, lead singer for Danzig
- June 26 - Mick Jones, The Clash
- June 28 - Thomas Hampson, opera singer
- July 4 - John Waite
- July 10- Stan Munsey, Shenandoah
- July 18 - Terry Chambers, XTC
- July 21 - Howie Epstein, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
- July 25 - Jem Finer, The Pogues
- August 17 - Colin Moulding, XTC
- August 28 - Beres Hammond, reggae singer
- August 29 - Diamanda Galás
- September 3 - Steve Jones, The Sex Pistols
- September 9 - Ivan Smirnov
- September 13 - Andreas Staier, classical harpsichordist and fortepianist
- October 2 - Philip Oakey, The Human League
- October 7 - Yo-Yo Ma, cellist
- October 16 - Leonid Desyatnikov, composer
- October 21:
- October 25 - Matthias Jabs, Scorpions
- October 29 - Kevin Dubrow, Quiet Riot
- November 21 - Kyle Gann, composer, teacher and critic
- November 23 - Ludovico Einaudi, Italian composer and pianist
- November 30 - Billy Idol
- December 6 - Bright Sheng, composer
- December 15 - Paul Simonon, The Clash
- Date unknown -
[edit] Deaths - January 10 - Annette Mills, partner of "Muffin the Mule" (b. 1894)
- February 14 - Charles Cuvillier, composer of operettas
- March 12 - Charlie Parker, Jazz saxophonist, heart failure
- May 4 - George Enescu, composer
- June 19 - Willy Burkhard, composer (b. 1900)
- July 25 - Isaak Dunayevsky, conductor and composer
- August 5 - Carmen Miranda, singer
- October 14 - Harry Parr-Davies, composer and songwriter (b. 1914)
- November 11 - Jerry Ross, songwriter
- November 22 - Guy Ropartz, composer and conductor
- November 27 - Arthur Honegger, composer
- November 30 - Josip Štolcer-Slavenski, composer
- date unknown
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