1963 in Music

The Beatles begin their domination of the U.K. In response, The Daily Mirror coined the term "Beatlemania." They would launch the British Invasion in 1964. In the states, Bob Dylan releases The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan. The Kingsmen's "Louie Louie" is deemed indecent because no one can understand it. The Beach Boys had a big year with several notable recordings. On a sad note, Patsy Cline perished in a plane crash.

The #1 song of 1963:
Sugar Shack by Jimmy Gilmer and The Fireballs.

Important tracks:
Louie Louie by The Kingsmen
Be My Baby by The Ronettes
Blowin' In The Wind by Peter, Paul, and Mary
Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash
Surfin' USA by The Beach Boys

Other notable songs:
It's My Party by Leslie GoreLs
Another Saturday Night by Sam Cooke
Da Doo Ron Ron by The Crystals
Little Deuce Coup by The Beach Boys
Heat Wave by Martha and the Vandellas
My Boyfriend's Back by The Angels
Puff the Magic Dragon by Peter, Paul, and Mary
Surf City by The Beach Boys
Little Surfer Girl by The Beach Boys
Walk Like a Man by The Four Seasons
Wipeout by The Safaris

Darlene Love: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2011

Rock Hall Bio: http://rockhall.com/inductees/darlene-love/bio/

Official Site: http://darleneloveworld.com/

Darlene Love began her career in the church choir. She joined a girl group, The Blossoms, which worked with Phil Spector.

She sang lead on...

He's A Rebel by The Crystals (1962): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_SXJ18EkNw


She sang backup on many major hits including:

Be My Baby by The Ronettes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-bcn6Rwn44

The Monster Mash by Boris Pickett: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOFCQ2bfmHw

That's Life by Frank Sinatra: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NCN6tl_DY0


Solo:

Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah (1962): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bWyhj7siEY

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) (1963): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV8x7H3DD8Y

Wait Til My Bobby Comes Home (1963): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWSlWvheoNg

Basketball Jones (1973): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cu0-j-4TjWg

All Alone on Christmas (1992): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmHbNMCDJyU


She also starred as Trish Murtaugh in the Lethal Weapon movies.

Ellie Greewich and Jeff Barry: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2010

Rock Hall Bio: http://rockhall.com/inductees/greenwich-and-barry/bio/



Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry were songwriting partners as well as husband and wife. The pair teamed with Phil Spector for many classic hits.

Da Doo Ron Ron by The Crystals: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-qqi7-Q19k

Then He KIssed Me by The Crystals: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r17KaC7C5D4

Be My Baby by The Ronettes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzhbGaCwBzs

Baby I Love You by The Ronettes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBaa-cAJRyI

Christmas (Please Come Home) by Darlene Love: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV8x7H3DD8Y

Gene Pitney: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2002

Rock Hall Bio: http://rockhall.com/inductees/gene-pitney/bio/

Pitney scored hits in the early 60s and survived the British Invasion.

(I Wanna) Love My Life Away (1961): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sD52iAFILOc

Town Without Pity (1961): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vAyitZPcMo

He also wrote for other artists:

He’s a Rebel by the Crystals: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF7V2dSvxpo

Hello Mary Lou by Ricky Nelson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSoKUm8WsKs

In 1964, he worked with the Rolling Stones:

Little by Little by the Rolling Stones : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRTZd8g7l-Q

He continued to be popular…one of the few American acts to survive the British Invasion.

It Hurts to be in Love (1964): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GbFyKYyMb0

I’m Gonna Be Strong (1964): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGfvSPLqYFs

Backstage (1966): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds3a840PyK0

His career went south after 1966. He did score occasionally on the British charts until 1989. He died in 2006.

Phil Spector: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1989

Rock Hall Bio:
http://rockhall.com/inductees/phil-spector/bio/

Official Site:
http://philspector.com/

Spector was a producer and songwriter. He is best known for his “Wall of Sound”

Examples of Spector’s work:

To Know Him Is To Love Him by The Teddy Bears (1958):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW2Bi9J2hQE

He’s a Rebel by The Crystals (1962):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xu3bKBIEypE

Be My Baby by the Ronettes (1963):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzhbGaCwBzs

You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling by the Righteous Brothers (1965):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTvU3BELZEo

Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers (1965):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrK5u5W8afc&feature=related

The Long and Winding Road by the Beatles (1970):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cUaO1P2mfo

What is Life by George Harrison (1971):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XFfUt7HQWM

Imagine by John Lennon (1971):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-b7qaSxuZUg

Rock n Roll High School by the Ramones (1979):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQb9sWuWFqU

Silence is Easy by Starsailor (2003):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDyrpYQ_1p8

He was convicted in 2009 for the murder of Lana Clarkson and sentenced 19 years to life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zC9N6kd7EUU

He's a Rebel by The Crystals (1962)

Darlene Love performed on some of music's best known hits. However, her name rarely appeared on her work. This is probably her best known (non-Xmas) work...

2011 Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Inductee...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xu3bKBIEypE