Music History Today: October 6, 2021

October 6, 1973: Todd Rundgren debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart with "Hello, It's Me." 

Todd Rundgren wrote his first song, “Hello It’s Me,” in 1967, one year after a painful high-school breakup. 

Todd Rundgren

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The song was first recorded in 1968 as a slow ballad by Nazz, a band Mr. Rundgren co-founded. In late 1971, while recording the solo album “Something/Anything?” he updated the song with a bouncier arrangement. It climbed to No. 5 on Billboard’s pop chart in 1973 and became his biggest-selling solo hit, remaining on the chart for 20 weeks. 

Read more: Wall Street Journal

October 6, 1958: "Rockin' Robin" by Bobby Day was Number 1 on the R&B chart.

Bobby Day, which was the professional name of Robert James Byrd, was a very influential part of the music business during this doo wop era — and a big part of 1950s music and 1960s music.

Bobby Day

Originally from Fort Worth, Texas, Day was an R&B, soul singer, songwriter, record producer, and musician. He was a member of the group The Hollywood Flames as well as the original Bob in the duo Bob & Earl.  

Read more: Daily Doo-Woop

October 6, 1962: "Let's Dance" by Chris Montez broke into the Top 5, peaking at Number 4 on the US single's chart.

"Let's Dance" was written and produced by Jim Lee. The personnel on the original 1962 recording included Joel Hill on guitar, Ray Johnson on organ, Ray Pohlman on bass guitar and Jesse Sailes on drums. When initially released, the song shot to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the U.S., and to No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart. 

Read more: Wikipedia

October 6, 1965: Gary Lewis & The Playboys enter the studio to record two of their biggest hits, "She's Just My Style" and "Sure Gonna Miss Her." 

"She's Just My Style" was the fifth of seven US Top 10 hits for Gary Lewis & the Playboys, and one of two that Lewis wrote along with Al Capps.

Gary Lewis & the Playboys

While appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show, Gary screwed up while lip-synching this song. Gary was up front, on guitar, singing the vocals; when he thought the song was about to end cold, he stepped back, away from the microphone. However, the song had another bar to go and he had to rush back up to the mike to finish up. 

Read more: Songfacts

October 6,  1979: Robert John took the top spot on the Billboard single's chart with "Sad Eyes."

The first time Robert John appeared on the Billboard Hot 100, he was 12 years old. It was 1958. At this point, John was known as Bobby Pedrick, Jr. He got as high as #79 with “White Bucks And Saddle Shoes.” Twenty-one years later, Robert John had his first and only #1 hit with "Sad Eyes." At the time, it was the longest span of time between the moment an artist first debuted on the charts and that artist’s first #1 hit. 

Read more: Stereogum

Hello It's Me 

Todd Rundgren