By the spring of 1965, Bob Dylan’s presence in the world of
music was beginning to be felt well outside the boundaries
of his nominal genre. Within the world of folk music, he had
been hailed as a hero for several years already, but now his
music was capturing the attention and influencing the
direction of artists like the Byrds, the Beatles and even a
young Stevie Wonder.

With Dylan as a direct inspiration, popular music was about
to change its direction, but so was Dylan himself. On June
16, 1965, on their second day of recording at Columbia
Records’ Studio A in Manhattan, he and a band featuring
electric guitars and an organ laid down the master take of
the song that would announce that change: “Like A Rolling
Stone.” It would prove to be “folksinger” Bob Dylan’s
magnum opus and, arguably, the greatest rock and roll
record of all time.

Bob Dylan had his 83rd birthday in May.

 
     SANDY KOZEL                                    

   
On July 9, 1955 "Rock Around the Clock" became the first rock
and roll recording to hit the top of Billboard‘s Pop charts.

The song is ranked No. 159 on the Rolling Stone magazine’s
list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

The Pythian condominium building,
formerly the Pythian Temple where
the recording session for “Rock
Around the Clock” took place.  

Johnny Cash, backed by an all-star ensemble of talent, stepped
on stage at California State Prison in Folsom on this day in
history, Jan. 13, 1968. 

The concert and the subsequent live album launched him back
into the charts and re-defined his career.

The Man in Black recorded a landmark album that included
a song written by inmate Glen Sherley (right).

SANDY KOZEL

Elvis Presley sang "That’s Alright Mama" during a recording session at Sun Studio on July 5, 1954. He was on acoustic rhythm guitar, Scotty Moore was on electric lead guitar, and
Bill Black was on string bass¹. The song was originally
written by Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup.  

From left, Elvis Presley, Bill Black, Scotty Moore and Sam Phillips at Memphis Recording Service, 706 Union Avenue,
in 1954. On the night of July 5 that year, Phillips would
record the threesome doing “That’s All Right.”