The Rolling Stones performing at the Echoplex in Los Angeles on Saturday

(AP) – The legendary group Rolling Stones rocked a small club in Los Angeles on Saturday night for a minuscule crowd compared to the thousands set to see them
launch their "50 and Counting" anniversary tour a week later on May 3 at the
Staples Center.

The band kicked off Saturday’s hush-hush 90-minute concert at the Echoplex in the
hip Echo Park neighborhood with "You Got Me Rocking" before catapulting into a
mix of new and old material, as well as their bluesy covers of classics from Otis
Redding ("That’s How Strong My Love Is"), Chuck Berry ("Little Queenie") and
The Temptations ("Just My Imagination").

"Welcome to Echo Park, a neighborhood that’s always coming up — and I’m glad
you’re here to welcome an up-and-coming band," lead singer Mick Jagger joked
after the second song of the evening, "Respectable."

Despite clocking in several decades as a band, Jagger, drummer Charlie Watts
and guitarists Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood showed no signs of slowing down Saturday.

"[This is] the first show of the tour, probably the best one," Jagger said at the end
of the 90-minute set.

Jackie Gleason arrives at the Orange Bowl in Miami

The Rally for Decency held in the Orange Bowl in Miami attracted over 35,000 
people, including Jackie Gleason (above) and the Lettermen. The rally was in 
support of a teenage crusade for decency in entertainment. The event was
organized after Jim Morrison, the lead singer of The Doors, was charged with
indecent exposure during a concert in Miami held on March 1. 

Julie James, a member of the Rally For Decency crusade said…”this is not
a protest rally, we’re not against something, we’re for something, talks on
God and sex”. Teenage speakers gave three minute talks on God, parents,
patriotism, sexuality and brotherhood. The rally, which appeared to have an
even amount of teenagers and adults in attendance, was later commended
by then President Richard Nixon. 

FBI letter

Jim Morrison leaving a Miami courtroom

Buddy Holly steps off the bus

After terminating his partnership with The Crickets, Buddy Holly
assembled a new band consisting of Waylon Jennings,Tommy
Allsup, and Carl Bunch to play on the Winter Dance Party tour
along with Dion and the Belmonts, Ritchie Valens, and the Big
Bopper.The musicians set out on a twenty–four day tour of the
mid-western states by bus.

The first stop on the tour was a performance in Milwaukee, Wis. 
at Devines Million Dollar Ballroom (now the Eagles Ballroom).

From left: Waylon Jennings, Buddy Holly, and Tommy Allsup

 
Ritchie Valens
 

(L-R) The Big Bopper (J. P. Richardson) and Tommy Allsup

The Highwaymen Long Island concert in 1990

                  

                   WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28