Music History Today: March 17, 2021

March 17, 1958: A new artist with a twangy guitar first debuted on the chart on this date. Duane Eddy's first single was "Movin' N' Groovin'."

Duane Eddy will be forever revered as an original guitar hero who put a deep and resounding twang into rock ‘n’ roll.

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On a string of late 1950s and early ’60s instrumental hits, he used dramatic single-note melodies on the lower strings of his guitar, pronounced tremolo and vibrato, and liberal doses of echo to produce a signature sound that evoked souped-up cars on Saturday night one minute and the wide-open vistas of the Wild West the next. 

Read more: Gretsch Guitars

March 17, 1956: Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers moved to Number 1 on the R&B chart with "Why Do Fools Fall In Love."

Why Do Fools Fall In Love” made the top 10 in the pop Billboard charts and number 1 on the R & B charts in 1956. The song was written by Herman Santiago and was originally titled from a love letter that had been written to the group, then known as The Premiers, featuring the line, “why do birds sing so gay?”.

Read more: Dusty Old Thing

March 17, 1958: "Tequila" by The Champs will spend the next five weeks on top the charts.

The piece “Tequila” by The Champs was written  by saxophonist Chuck Rio, the stage name of Danny Flores, known as the “Godfather of Latino rock.” It’s mostly instrumental, except they say “Tequila” a few times.  It’s based on a Cuban mambo beat. 

Read more: Daily Doo Wop

March 17, 1972: Dr. Hook released the single "Sylvia's Mother."

Shel Silverstein did a little bit of everything in his amazing career. A cartoonist, author, screenwriter, and much more, Silverstein will always be beloved among music fans for his songwriting output.

 

Many of his songs were quasi-novelty numbers like “A Boy Named Sue,” recorded by Johnny Cash, and “The Cover Of The Rolling Stone,” which turned into a self-fulfilling prophecy for Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show. Those songs relied on Silverstein’s inventive, subversive sense of humor. 

Read more: American Songwriter

 

March 17, 2003: "Drift Away" by Uncle Kracker featuring Dobie Gray is released.

Dobie Gray’s classic rendering of Mentor Williams’ ‘Drift Away’ back in 1973 is pretty much the epitome of a hit song, top to bottom. 

Uncle Kracker

Thirty years later, the song got the cover treatment by adult-contemporary pop star Uncle Kracker, who had most notably been connected to Kid Rock. 

Read more: Ultimate Classic Rock

 Movin' N' Groovin'
Duane Eddy