There are just two birthdays relative to The Porch this week:

A. June 25th, 1935 – Eddie Floyd member of “The Falcons” along with Wilson Pickett who recorded “You’re So Fine” in 1959 was #20 Pop, #2 R&B, had a #1 Soul, #28 Pop hit with “Knock On Wood” turned 89.

B. June 27th, 1925/1999 – Jerome Felder, better known as Doc Pomus was a songwriter. He had polio as a boy and had to use crutches and was in an accident and was confined to a wheelchair. You’ll see the significance of this in a minute. In the early 1950s he began writing magazine articles and songs. He got his first big break when Leiber & Stoller rearranged the melody of one of his songs and had a hit. That record was “Youngblood” by “The Coasters“. He earned $2,500 and decided to concentrate on song writing. He partnered with Mort Shuman and among their catalog is “A Teenager In Love”, “Hush A Bye”, “This Magic Moment”, “Turn Me Loose”, “Sweets For My Sweet”, “Go Jimmy Go”, “Suspicion”, “Can’t Get Used To Losing You”, “Little Sister”, “Marie’s The Name Of His Latest Flame” and “Save The Last Dance For Me”. Doc Pomus is in the Songwriters HOF,
Blues HOF and Rock & Roll Hof as a non-performer. Quite a resume!

Significant events in music history this week:

A. June 23rd, 1954 – “Sh-Boom” by “The Chords” entered the National Record Charts. The cover recording by “The Crew Cuts” went to #1 Pop but “The Chords” made it to #2 R&B & #5 Pop and showing the world that a recording by a small independent record label could cross over to the main stream and paving the way for Rock & Roll/Rhythm & Blues/Doo Wop. What ever you want to call it, it became a nationally accepted musical style. “Sh-Boom” by “The Chords” has become a classic. It is in the Grammy HOF and is one of the very few R&B releases to surpass it’s white cover in all-time sales.

B. June 23rd, 1965 – Tracks Of “My Tears” is released by “The Miracles“. It reaches #16 Pop and #2 R&B and has become a classic covered by such diverse artists as Aretha Franklin, Linda Ronstadt & Dean Martin.

C. June 26th, 1977 – Elvis made his last ever stage appearance at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, IN. The last two songs he performed were “Hurt” & “Bridge Over Troubled Water”. Clyde McPhatter was replaced as the lead singer in “The Dominoes” as Clyde moved on to “The Drifters”. Jackie Wilson was with “The Dominoes” for four years before beginning his solo career.

D. June 27th, 1953 – Jackie Wilson

E. June 27th, 1968 – NBC-TV aired what has become known as “The Elvis Presley Come Back Special“.