January 1
Savannah Churchill appears at the Offbeat Club in Omaha. In
Detroit King Pleasure starts one week at the Flame Show Bar with
club regular LaVern Baker. Across town, Joe Morris and Laurie
Tate are at Uncle Tom' Cabin until the 4th.
Willie Mabon and Big Maybelle front the Gene Ammons Combo for a
week at the Earle Theater in Philadelphia. Mabon's current hit,
"I Don't Know," has recently been covered by Buddy
Morrow (pop) and Tennessee Ernie Ford (C&W).
January 2
Sarah Vaughn and the Four Tunes headline the revue at New York's
Paramount Theater for a week.
Little Richard makes his first New Orleans stop with a two-week appearance at the Dew Drop Inn. He is in the middle of his record breaking coast to coast tour with his combo, the Famous Six.
January 5
Joe Morris is at the Sportoree Club in Youngstown, Ohio.
Chuck Willis entertains in Detroit at Uncle Tom's Cabin for three
days.
January 7
The Royals are hit with a $10,000 lawsuit while on tour in
Columbus, Georgia, which alleges that advertisements for the
group show pictures of the "5" Royales. The Royals are
permanently enjoined against "compensating" the
"5" Royales.
January 8
Earl Bostic plays a benefit at Douglas High School in Thomasville
Georgia, to help raise funds to build an annex for the Archibald
Memorial Hospital, which admits only Black patients.
Early January
Charles Brown is currently on the West Coast for a series of
one-night stands. It is rumored that he will disband his trio at
the end of the month and start over with a full orchestra.
Aladdin Records announces it will reactivate the firm's R&B
label, Score
MGM Records is actively acquiring R&B talent. Signed recently
are Boots Randolph, Teddy Williams, the Crickets, Al King, Paula
Watson an Beluah Bryant.
January 9
Billy Kenny and His Ink Spots open in Brooklyn at the Country
Club.
The new Ink Spots backed by Johnny Otis's Orchestra open at the
Earle Theatre in Philadelphia.
Lavern Baker is held over at the Flame Show Bar in Detroit.
Willie Mabon starts a week engagement at Emerson's in
Philadelphia
January 11
Dinah Washington is the guest performer for the Sunday night
dance at the Elk's Ballroom in Los Angeles.
January 15
Fats Domino and the Clovers embark on a two-week tour of the
Virginia area with a show in Roanoke.
Mid-January
New York has a new night spot featuring r&b and jazz talent,
the Bandbox, located next door to the Birdland on the former site
of the Iceland Restaurant.
The Delta Rhythm Boys are currently on a successful tour of
Canada and the Midwest
January 16
The "5" Royales, Willie Mabon and Gene Ammon's start a
one-week engagement at New York's Apollo Theater.
The Griffen Brothers begin a southern tour in Miami. They will
then work their way up the East Coast.
Lavern Baker entertains at the Booker T. Washington Restaurant in
Washington for two weeks.
Rose Murphy plays a ten-day engagement in Rochester at William's
Club.
Louis Jordan's Combo is on hand for three days at Billy Berg's
5-4 Ballroom in Los Angeles.
The Five Keys open for a week at the Royal Theater in Baltimore,
After the engagement, they are of on a tour of the Southeast.
The new Ink Spots and the Johnny Otis Orchestra open for a week
at Washington's Howard Theater.
Big Maybelle shares the bill at Detroit's Flame Show Bar with
Varetta Dillard
January 17
"Hi Yo Silver," the original "B" side of the
Treniers Pong-Tang" has been withdrawn due to copyright
infringement claimed by the interests of the Masked Man.
The new "B" side will be "Moon Dog."
January 18
Shirley and Lee and the Four Blazes play the Elks Ballroom in Los
Angeles.
January 19
Ivory Joe Hunter starts at the Warren Grill in Worchester,
Massachusetts.
Earl Bostic opens at Pep's Musical Bar in Philadelphia
January 23
Following their successful week at the Apollo in New York, the
"5" Royales are off on an extended tour of the
South.Following the "5" Royales into the Apollo are
Ruth Brown and Tiny Bradshaw's Combo
Louis Jordan is back at the 5-4 Club in Hollywood for the next three days
Lionel Hampton graces the stage at the Howard heater in Washington for a week.
The Earle Theater in Philadelphia offers the patrons the talents of the "new" Ink Spots and Johnny Otis's Orchestra.
In Detroit, Uncle Tom's Cabin hosts Lynn Hope for an extended stay.
January 30
Willie Mabon, Illinois Jacquet and Bette Mc Laurin share the bill
at the Regal Theater in Chicago for this week. Jacquet's
recording of Port of Rico has gone over the 100, 000 mark in
sales.
January 31
Ivory Joe Hunter starts a one-nighter tour through Texas that
will run until March 1st.
February 1
The Fats Domino/Clover tour ends its Virginia circuit with a show
in Virginia Beach
Louis Jordan takes the "Biggest Show of 1953" to the
West Coast through January 10th.
February 6
The Earle Theater in Philadelphia plays host to the Clovers for
on week.
Billy Kenney and his Ink Spots start a week's club date at the
Stanley Theater in Pittsburgh. Sharing the headline is Ella
Fitzgerald.
The Howard Theater in Washington presents the Orioles, Ruth Brown and the Paul Williams Orchestra for a week.
In New York, the Apollo Theater offers the talents of Billy Ward and His Dominoes and Arnett Cobb's Orchestra for one week
At the Graystone in New Orleans, Bobby Marchan, "the Bronze Balladeer," performs as the supporting act for "Wiggles, the Acrobatic Dancer." Also in town, Joe Turner is at the Dew Drop Inn for the next two weeks.
February 7
Willie Mabon starts a week at the Riveria Club in St. Louis with
Bette McLaurin
Early February
United Records signs Billy Ford, the Dozier Boys and Debbie
Andrews. Ford was most recently with RCA Victor
The Biharis brothers, owners of RPM and Modern Records, have started a new label, Music Masters, which will specialize in extended-play releases with four songs instead of the usual two.
The Emitt Slay Trio is currently at the Plantation Room in Detroit. The group is a recent acquisition of Savoy Records, which released it's first record this week.
February 9
Varetta Dillard spends the week at the Cavakas Club in
Washington.
February 11
Little Walter and Eddie Boyd wrap up their tour in Texas. They
are scheduled for two week of one-night stands through the South
and then two weeks in Chicago.
February 12
Buddy Johnson, sister Ella, and his orchestra entertains at New
York's Savoy Ballroom.
February 13
The Ink Spots, featuring Bill Kenney, are at the Town Casino in
Cleveland.
The Clovers are the headliner for a week at the Howard Theater in Washington. Also on the bill are Red Sanders and Big Jay McNeeley.
Billy Ward and His Dominoes with Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson open at the Earle Theater in Philadelphia for a week.
Charles Brown is the featured attraction at the 5-4 Ballroom in Los Angeles for this weekend.
The Apollo offers the patrons the talents of the Orioles with Betty Carter and the Paul Williams Orchestra for the week's entertainment in New York.
February 14
Marie Adams, Arthur Prysock and Edgar Blanchard;s Orchestra start
a string of play dates.
In New Orleans, Lloyd Price is featured at the Palace Theater before embarking on a tour of the Mideast. Across town, Guitar Slim returns to the Club Desire for two days.
Billy Eckstine performs at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas for two weeks
Mid-February
Bill Doggett is playing Pep's Musical Bar in Philadelphia.
February 19
Bull Moose Jackson and his orchestra open at the Savoy Ballroom
in New York.
February 20
Big Maybelle is the headliner at the Royal Theater in Baltimore
Mabel Scott starts a week in Philadelphia at the Earle Theater. Also on the bill are George Kirby and the Tiny Bradshaw Combo.
Roy Milton opens the weekend at the 5-4 Club in Los Angeles.
Billy Ward and His Dominoes, boxer-turned-singer Sugar Ray Robinson and Louis Armstrong star at the "Blue Ribbon of Stage Shows" at the Detroit Fox Theater for a week.
Earl Bostic and Lloyd Price start a week's engagement at the Regal Theater in Chicago.
February 21
RCA Victor announces the signing of one of the premier acts in
the rhythm and blues field, the Robins, Also signed are Boots
Brown and Milt Trenier of the Treniers vocal group.
February 22
Linda Hayes and Amos Milburn share the bill at Los Angeles' Elks
Ballroom for the evening.
February 26
Savannah Churchill is at the Club Alabam in Los Angeles for two
weeks
February 27
Ruth Brown, Billy Eckstine and Count Basie, billed as the
"Biggest Show of 53," start a long tour in Greensboro,
North Carolina. The package will be on the road for six weeks.
In Los Angeles, Charles Brown plays a weekend date at the 5-4 Ballroom.
Billly Ward and His Dominoes headline the bill at the Howard Theater in Washington. Sharing the spotlight are Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson and Bette McLaurin
The week's entertainment at New York's Apollo Theater is headlined by Wynonie Harris. Also on the bill are Larry Darnell and the Red Saunders Orchestra.
Late February
Chance Records announces that they have signed the Flamingos and
several other rhythm and blues hopefuls.March 2
Ruth Brown and Billy Eckstine play Charleston, South Carolina. As they continue to tour during the week, they will be in Kingston, North Carolina, Roanoke, Virginia, Charlotte, North Carolina, Northfolk, Virginia, Charleston, West Virginia and Nashville, Tennessee.
March 4
Big
Jay McNeeley and Errol Garner are featured at Birdland in New
York for a month.
March 5
Savannah Churchill opens at the Club Alabam in Los Angeles
March 6
Bette McLaurin is scheduled for a week's engagement at the Royal
Theater in Baltimore.
In New Orleans Smiley Lewis shares the stage with Dave Bartholomew's band for the first two weeks at the Pelican Club.
Johnny Otis and his orchestra headline the weekend at the 5-4 Club in Los Angeles
Lloyd Rice plays Reynolds Hall in Philadelphia on his one-nighter tour
Big Maybelle is booked into New York's Apollo Theater for a week.
Early March
Johnny Ace and Willie Mae Thornton currently on tour as part of
the Duke/Peacock Records package.
March 8
T-Bone-Walker and Pee Wee Crayton entertain at the Elks Ballroom
in Los Angeles.March 9.
The Ruth Brown-Billy Eckstine tour continues with a performance in Atlanta this evening. Other shows this week include Greenville, South Carolina, Jacksonville, Florida, New Orleans, and Memphis. The show in Atlanta is so successful that over 2,000 are turned away at the door.
March 13
The
Clovers with Choker Campbell's Orchestra are off on a tour of the
Midwest. This will be followed by a southern tour, the dates in
Texas and California.
Linda Hayes joins the Swallows on stage at the Apollo Theater this week in New York. On opening night she is robbed of $5,000 jewels and musical arrangements from her dressing room. Later that night, thieves break into her car.
Floyd Dixon and Margie Day appear at the Northwest Casino in Washington, D.C., for two days. Also in Washington, Big Maybelle appears as part of the "Broadway Revels" revue at the Howard Theater this week.
Johnny Otis returns to the Los Angeles 5-4 Club for the weekend. The Palace Theater in New Orleans presents Johnny Ace and Willie Mae Thornton for four performances today.
March 15
Earl
Bostic plays for the Sunday night dance at the Elks Ballroom in
Los Angeles.
Mid-March
At
Detroit's Fox Theater, Billy Ward and His Dominoes rendition of
"The Bells," featuring Clyde McPhatter, steals the show
from such seasoned performers as Louis Armstrong and Sugar Ray
Robinson and leads to a TV appearance on Ed Sullivan's show.
Marie Adams and Arthur Prysock are booked through the South. She will son join the Johnny Otis Orchestra for more touring.
Little Richard, the Tempo Toppers and the Duce of Rhythm have signed with Peacock Records
The six largest Record companies (Capitol, Columbia, Decca, Mercury, M-G-M and RCA Victor) report their combined output of pop singles has decreased thirty-seven percent over a year ago, while the number of rhythm and blues singles has increased by fifteen percent.
March 16
The
Ruth Brown/Billy Eckstine picks up in Houston for the evening.
The one-nighters continue in Texas with shows in Galveston,
Beaumont and Austin during the week. The orioles start a
three-week tour through the Northeast and the South
March 20
Eddie Boyd and Little Walter open for four nights at Atlanta's
Royal Peacock Club.
Fats Domino Concludes his swing through Texas.
Buddy Johnson Brings his orchestra and his sister Ella to the Apollo Theater in New York for the week.
Charles Brown is the weekend's entertainment at the 5-4 Club in Los Angeles
Mable Scott plays the first of two weekend stands at the Pelican Club in New Orleans.
March 21
The
Orioles one-nighter at the Audubon Ballroom in New York is so
successful that they gross $1000 above their guaranteed
percentage.
Floyd Dixon and Margie Day headline the Carolina Ballroom at Huntspoint, New York.
March 23
Ruth
Brown and Billy Ecksine wrap up their tour of the Southwest this
week. with a performance tonight in Dallas. Other dates this week
are San Antonio (24th), Fort Worth (25th), Amarillo (26th),
Oklahoma City ( (27th), Tulsa (28th), Kansas City (29th) an
Wichita, Kansas (30th).
Amos Milburn opens at Pep's Musical Bar in Philadelphia following a successful eleven-state tour. of the West Coast, Midwest and Eastern Seaboard.
March 26
Charles
Brown entertains at the El Sombero Club in Los Angeles.
In Philadelphia, the Earle Theater closes its doors. Eventually it will be torn down
March 27
Dinah Washington fronts the Joe Morris Orchestra for the weekend
at the 5-4 Club in Los Angeles.
March 28
Winnie
Harris, Larry Darnel and Valetta Dillard stop in New Orleans for
a show at the Palace Theater while on Tour in the South.
March 29
Roy
Milton is the houseguest for the Sunday night dance at the Elks
Ballroom in Los Angeles.
March 30
Charles
Brown is of on a tour of the Southwest starting in Lubbock,
Texas. The tour is completely booked through the Closing date in
Tulsa, Oklahoma on April 25th.
Late March
Specialty Records buys out Champion records of Jackson,
Mississippi. Specialty sets up a Jackson office with Johnny
Vincent, previous owner of Champion, as the district manager.
The Marylanders are booked into the Royal Theater in Baltimore for a week.
April 3
Eddie Boyd
starts his first bookings in the Northeast with a show in Boston.
He is co-starring with Linda Hayes on a tour that will continue
through April 26th
Ruth Brown plays the Northwest Casino in Washington, D.D. this weekend
Errol Garner and Big Maybelle headline the Regal Theater revue in Chicago.
New York's Apollo Theater presents the Ravens for patrons this week
The Robins are featured performers at the 5-4 Ballroom in Los Angeles
Buddy and Ella Johnson with the Du-Droppers open for a week at Washington's Howard Theater
April 4
Louis Jordan joins
"The Biggest Show of 53" at Los Angeles' Olympia Arena
to kickoff a tour that will be on the road through mid-May.
April 5
Ruth Brown plays a
one-night stand in Newark, New Jersey
Eddie Boyd and Linda Hayes with the Lynn Hope Orchestra start three nights of play dates in the Washington-Baltimore area/
In Los Angeles, a day long Easter Sunday show in South Park features Little Caesar, the Robins, Bumps Blackwell and others.Also in Los Angeles that evening, T-Bone Walker and Lowell Fulson perform at the Elks Ballroom.
Billy Wright and Gatemouth Brown play for Sunday dancers at the Labor Union Hall in New Orleans.
April 6
Following her
show in Patterson, New Jersey, Ruth Brown takes a well deserved
three-week vacation.
LaVern Baker opens at the Palace Theater in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Bette McLaurin is at the Powelton's Club in Philadelphia.
April 8
Billy Eckstine starts
a two-week layover at the Bandbox In New York with the Count
Basie Band.
April 10
Savannah
Churchill starts a two-week engagement at the Flame Show Bar in
Detroit.
Boxing champ Joe Louis, the Five Keys and the Hal Singer Combo entertain ticket holders at the Apollo Theater in New York for a week.
In New Orleans, Annie Laurie opens with Professor Longhair for two weekends at the Pelican Club.
April 11
Amos Miburn,
Linda Hayes and the Orioles bring in $2500 for one show in
Newark, New Jersey.
April 12
"The Big
Show of 53" featuring Louis Jordan play a on-nighter in
Minneapolis, followed the next night by a show in North Bend,
Indiana.
Floyd Dixon and Margie Day stop for a show in New Orleans at the San Jacinto Club.
Steve Gibson and His Redcaps, with singer Damita Jo play a date at the Social Club in Erie, Pennsylvania. The next night they open at the Rendezvous in Philadelphia.
Mid-April
As the
current glut of "answer" songs continue unabated, the
copyright holders of the original songs are starting to question
the practice on legal grounds. Record companies, in a rush to
jump on the latest fad, have been neglecting to obtain license
from many of the original publishers that would allow them
release all of the parodies.
Revent Record company signings include the Blenders with M-G-M, southern blues singer James Allen with Brunswick, the Cincinnatians with Coral and Jubilee Records' signing of twelve-year-old blues singer Andrew Wideman, who was discovered on NBC-TV's "Star Time" show.
The Buccaneer's recording of "Fine Brown Frame" on Southern Records has been purchased by Rainbow Records.
April 16
Amos Mliborn, Linda
Hayes and the Orioles are on stage at the Laurel Gardens in
Newark, New Jersey.
April 17
Fats Domino
holds forth at the 5-4 Club in Los Angeles for the weekend before
leaving the West Coast to tour Louisiana, Georgia and Florida.
There is a "Battle of the Blues" show featuring Wynonie Harris, Larry Darnell and Varetta Dillard this week at the Howard Theater in Washington, D.C..
New York's Apollo Theater offers King Pleasure and Betty Carter fronting the Count Basie Orchestra.
April 19
Percy Mayfield and
Mercy Dee perform for the Sunday crowd at the Elks Ballroom in
Los Angeles.
Charles Brown brings his tour to New Orleans Labor Union Hall.
Joe Houston opens at the Rainbow Club in Denver.
April 20
Bette McLaurin
travels to Lawson's Place in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
April 23
Louis Jordan and
the "Big Show of 53" are in Buffalo for the evening,
followed by a performance on the 25th in Rochester.
April 24
Earl Bostic starts a
stint at the 5-4 Ballroom in Los Angeles.
Little Esther and the "5" Royales perform with Arnett Cobb's orchestra for a week at the Regal Theater in Chicago.
At the New York's Apollo Theater, the entertainment for this week includes Sarah Vaughn and the Erskine Hawkins Orchestra.
Charlie Fuqua and the "new" Ink Spots perform at the Moscombe Club in Hollywood.
Smiley Lewis and Dave Bartholomew's combo, both just returned from New Orleans from a tour of Mississippi, Texas and Louisiana, open for the weekend at the Pelican Club. They are held over for the next weekend.
April 25
Charles Brown, Amos
Milburn, Chuck Willis, Guitar Slim, Margie Day and Paul Williams
Combo bring in $5,7000 for a single performance in Kansas City.
April 26
Ruth Brown, along with
Billy Eckstine, Tommie Rogers and Johnny Hodges, open for a week
at the YMCA Circus in St. Louis. The proceeds go to
local underprivileged children.
Oscar McLollie, Effie Smith and Pee Wee Crayton are the evenings entertainment at the Elks Ballroom in Los Angeles.
April 27
The Emitt Slay
Trio is at the Farm Dell Club in Dayton, Ohio.
April 30
Lowell Fulson,
T-Bone Walker and Lloyd Glenn open a month long southwestern tour
with a show in Houston that takes in $5,600.
May 1
Floyd Dixon begins a
an engagement at the 5-4 Club in Los Angeles.
Lynn Hope plays her first date at the Hunts Point Palace in the Bronx/
Savannah Churchill opens at the Stagecoach Club in Hackensack, New Jersey.
Fats Domino has to cancel one-nighters in Louisiana, Alabama and Georgia due his sickness.
Pearl Bailey is this week's attraction at the Howard Theater in Washington, D.C..
The Apollo Theater presents Joe Louis and Al Hibbler this week in New York.
May 4
Varetta Dillard goes into
the Downbeat Club In Providence, Rhode Island.
Early May
The Orioles
are currently at Philadelphia's at Peps' Musical Bar.
Joe Liggen's Honeydrippers entertain at the Rainbow Ballroom in Denver.
B.B. King and Bill Harvey are currently on tour of northern Michigan and Ohio.
May 8
Arthur Prysock is
booked into the Orchid Room In Kansas City, Missouri.
Mabel Scott starts an eight-week run at the DeLisa Club in Chicago.
Little Walter appears at the 5-4 Club in Los Angeles for the weekend. New York's Apollo Theater presents Earl "Fatha" Hines and his combo with Etta James and the Diamonds for the week.
May 10
Roy Milton and
Earl Bostic are the night's attractions at the Elks Ballroom in
Los Angeles
May 11
The
"5" Royales, Little Esther, Jimmy Forest and Sonny
Stitt play a one-nighter at the Graystone Ballroom in Detroit.
May 15
Amos Milburn,
Tiny Grimes, Screamin' Jay Hawkins and comedienne Jackie
"Moms" Mabley open at the Howard Theater in Washington
for a week.
Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five make a week-long stopover at New York's Apollo Theater.
LaVern Baker opens at the Royal Theater in Baltimore for a week, followed by a week of one-nighters in Virginia.
Oscar McLollie shares the stage with the Four Plaid Throats for a weekend at the 5-4 Club in Los Angeles.
Mid-May
Savoy
Records has recently signed the Falcons from New York and the
Carols, both from Detroit.
Lou Krefitz, sales manager for Atlantic Records, is leaving the company to manage the Clovers. Meanwhile Ahmet Ertegun, owner of Atlantic is in Canada setting up distribution for the label. The label recently signed Hal Paige and Chuck Norris.
H-Bomb Ferguson is at the Whispering Pines Inn near Heightstown, New Jersey.
TNT Tribble is enjoying an indefinite run at the Flamingo Club in Washington
The Gale Agency is negotiating with the Joe Louis Band for a package tour in July that will include Ruth Brown, the Clovers, Wynonie Harris and the Erskine Hawkins Band.
The Five Keys ate the inaugural act at the El Sambo Club, Jacksonville, Florida's newest night spot.
May 16
Sax Kari and Gloria
Irving start a southern tour booked through June 7th
Sonny Boy Williamson and Wini Brown front Hal Singer's Orchestra for a one-night stand at the Palace Theater in New Orleans.
May 18
Ruth Brown entertains
at the Town Casino in New Orleans.
Big Maybelle starts at the Orchid Room in Kansas City.
May 20
Margie Day joins Paul
Williams Orchestra in Locklin, Ohio.
Ruth Brown opens for a week in New York at the Bandbox Club with Illinois Jacquet's Combo.
May 21
Billy Ward and His
Dominoes appear at the Fox Theater in Detroit for the third time
in as many months. During the week they again stop the show, and
headliner Lionel Hampton can not perform.
May 22
Varetta Dillard is
welcomed for a week of performances at Weeke's in Atlantic City.
The Ink Spots featuring Bill Kenney are playing a week's worth of one-night stands around Duluth, Minnesota.
May 23
Lowell Fulson, T-Bone
Walker and Lloyd Glenn close their tour of the Southwest with a
performance in Albuquerque.
May 24
Roy Brown is the
evening's entertainment at the Elks Ballroom in Los Angeles.
May 28
Ruth Brown, the
Orioles and Sunny Stitt start a series of personal appearances
with a performance at Glen Cove, Long Island.
Other shows for this week include the Armory in Troy, New York (29th), the St. Nicholas Arena in New York City ( 30th) and Turner's Arena in Washington (31st).
May 29
T-Bone Walker is
scheduled for three days at the 5-4 Ballroom in Los Angeles.
Louis Jordan and LaVern Baker start a week's engagement at the Howard Theater in Washington.
Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra entertain patrons at New York's Apollo this week.
Joe Louis and Hal Singer Make the Regal Theater in Chicago their home for the week.
May 30
Winnipeg's Don Carlos Club
plays host for the week to the Ink Spots featuring Bill Kenney.
May 31
Tiny Grimes plays for
the dance at the Met Ballroom in Philadelphia
Late May
Jerry Wexler, formerly
director of publicity with Big Three Publishers, joins Atlantic
Records as a partner to work with Ahmet Ertegun in all areas of
the business. Another Atlantic executive partner, Herb Abramson,
is currently serving in the U.S. Army as a dentist.
Herald records has signed the Embers to the label.
Sceamin' Jay Hawkins, formerly vocalist with Tiny Grimes, has joined Johnny Sparrow and his Bows and Arrows for an engagement at the Powelton Cafe in Philadelphia.
June 1
Wynonie Harris surrenders to
Richmond,Virginia authorities. He has bee sought since May 7th
when he was indicted as an accessory in an April 13th
robbery of $580 from singer Larry Darnell's vault. Harris is
released on $1000 bail and is finally cleared of all
charges in late June.
June 5
Willie Mabon headlines the
revue this week at New York's Apollo Theater.
In Cleveland, Billy Ward and His Dominoes, Joe Louis and Bill Haley and His Comets play a one-nighter promoted by Bill Randle.
The Lee Allen Combo is featured as the house band at the Dew Drop Inn for the next month in New Orleans.
June 6
Lynn Hope starts a
week of dates in Bermuda, coinciding with the ceremonies
surrounding the celebration of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth
II. He has signed an exclusive contract with Philadelphia's
Showboat Lounge for all of 1954.
Buddy Johnson is in the South for a month of one-nighters that will end in Texas.
The Four Tunes open in the Maroon Club in Montreal for the month of June.
Alan "Moondog" Freed is back at work as a deejay at WJW in Cleveland following recovery from an April auto accident.
Flair Records, another West Coast subsidiary of the R.P.M./Modern Company, enters the rhythm and blues field.
June 9
Ruth Brown returns to
New York's Bandbox, the site of her record breaking engagement
last month. Also on the bill are Woody Herman and the Jackie
Davis Trio.
June 12
Chance Records' Johnny
Sellers is at the New Era Club in Nashville.
The Clovers are involved in an auto accident while traveling from Houston to Midland, Texas. Only guitarist Harold Winley requires medical attention.
Floyd Davis is this week's entertainment at the 5-4 Ballroom in Los Angeles.
The Howard Theater in Washington hosts Joe Louis Revue featuring Hal "Cornbread" Singer and the Nicholas Brothers.
LaVern Baker fronts the Tito Puente Combo for a week at New York's Apollo Theater.
Lionel Hampton is the headliner at the Uptown Theater in Philadelphia for the week.
The Uptown is starting a policy of combining liver revues with movies to replace the Earle Theater, which closed March 26th and has since been demolished.
June 13
Shirley and Lee front Stomp
Gordon's Band for the evening at New Orlean's Palace Theater.
June14
Roy Brown plays a one-night
stand in Los Angeles at the Elks Ballroom.
The San Jacinto Cafe Club in New Orleans offers a blues battle between Guitar Slim and Smiley Lewis.
June 15
Ruth Brown performs at
the Hi Hat Club in Boston for a week. The Flamingos start an
engagement at Gleason's in Cleveland.
Mid-June
While on a talent search in
New Orleans, Lee Magid of Savoy Records records Huey Smith, Billy
Wright and Earl and Willie Johnson.The Treniers are currently
headlining at Philadelphia's Sciolla Cafe.
June 18
T-Bone Walker is at
the 5-4 Club in Los Angeles for the weekend.
Al Hibbler starts a two-week engagement at Detroit's Flame Show Bar.
Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five start a week at the Regal Theater in Chicago.
June 21
Edna McGriff and the
Crickets headline the dance at the Bedford YMCA in Brooklyn.
The Clovers and Marvin Phillips entertain at the Elks Ballroom in Los Angeles.
Dinah Washington opens at Carr's Beach Resort in Annapolis, Maryland.
June 22
Ruth Brown plays at
week at Pep's Musical Bar in Philadelphia.
June 26
Lloyd Price appears
for three days at the 5-4 Club in Los Angeles.
The Vocaleers are on stage at the Apollo Theater in New York for the week.
The Uptown Theater in Philadelphia plays host to the Joe Louis Revue.
July 1
The Four Tunes begin an
engagement at the Martinique Club in Wildwood, New Jersey.
June 3
Ruth Brown, Sonny Stitt and
the Crickets are currently at the Apollo.
The Orioles start a two-week tour with the Clovers and Paul Williams Band through the Midwest. The first night's show is in Louisville, Kentucky.
Tiny Bradshaw, Wini Brown and Sarah McLawler are on stage this week at the Howard Theater in Washington.
Sarah Vaughn plays the Three Rivers in in Three Rivers, New York.
Arthur Prysock starts a two-week run at the Midtown Hotel in St. Louis.
The Jackson Brothers and Pee Wee Crayton start a three-day engagement at the 5-4 club in Los Angeles.
July 4
Decca Records announces that it
is stepping up the number of rhythm and blues records it will be
releasing. Scheduled for immediate release are five,
including material by Little Donna Hightower and the
Shadows.
July 5
Johnny Otis and Marie Adams
entertain at the Elks Ballroom in Los Angeles for the regular
Sunday night dance.
July 6
Fats Domino brings his band
to the Showboat in Philadelphia.
Early July
The "5"
Royales with Charlie "Little Jazz" Ferguson and his
all-girl Orchestra are on a summer-long tour beginning with a
show In Parkesly, West Virginia. They will wind up on the West
Coast in September.
Alberta Adams signs with Chess Records.
Herald Records, a new label from New York, reports strong East Coast action for its new release by the Embers, "Paradise Hill."
July 9
"The Biggest Rhythm and Blues
Show" starts its record-breaking tour and dance in Revere,
Massachusetts at the Rollaway Ballroom. Featured performers are
Joe Louis, Ruth Brown, Wynonie Harris, Lester Brown and Buddy
Johnson's Orchestra.
Over 2,000 are turned away at the door. The next night a Newark, New Jersey the crowds remain overwhelming. The tour will run six weeks and will become the largest grossing r&b tour to date. In Cleveland almost 20,000 turn out and in Detroit the gate is $18,700.
July 10
Dinah Washington makes a
stopover at the Howard Theater in Washington for a week.
July 11
Bill Doggett is entertaining
at Pep's Club in Philadelphia.
July 12
Roy Brown is the
featured entertainer at the regular Sunday night dance at the
Elks Ballroom in Los Angeles.
July 13
The Graystone Ballroom in
Detroit hosts a rhythm and blues battle of the vocal groups
between the Orioles and Clovers.
July 14
The Orioles and Clovers wind up a
successful two weeks on the road with a performance in
Cincinnati. The Clovers immediately join "The Biggest Rhythm
and Blues Show" tour.
July 15
Billy Eckstine starts a
two-week run at the Birdland in New York.
Mid-July
A check of the summer season
at the Wildwood, New Jersey finds the Treniers at the Riptide,
the Four Tunes at the Martinique and Lionel Hampton at the Surf
Club, as well as a fine showing of jazz artists at several other
nightspots.
In Atlantic City, the vacation season has the Five Keys at the Weeke's Cocktail Lounge. Also in town are Billy Ford and His Thunderbirds at the Fort Pitt Club, Jimmy Tyler and Wild Bill Davis at the Club Harlem, the Charioteers at the Dude Ranch and a number of jazz artists booked into other after-hours clubs.
Vivian Carter, deejay on WGRY, Gary Indiana, starts a new label, Vee-Jay, in partnership with Jimmy Bracken. First artists to be signed are Mississippi blues singer Jimmy Reed and the Spaniels, a vocal group from Gary, Indiana.
July 17
Roy Brown opens for three
days at the 5-4 Club in Los Angeles.
The "Biggest Rhythm and Blues Show" continues its record breaking tour with a show in Boston tonight. Other dates include Baltimore (19), Cleveland (20) the Olympia Stadium in Detroit 9 (21), Flint, Michigan (22), Evansville, Indiana (24th) and St. Louis (25).
Jul 18
Charles Brown delights the patrons at
the San Jacinto Club in New Orleans for the evening.
July 19
The Orioles are this week's
entailment at the Orchid Club in Kansas City.
July 20
Willie Mabon opens at the
Celebrity Club in Providence, Rhode Island.
July 21
Little Walter begins a two
week engagement at the Royal Peacock in Atlanta.
July 24
Big Jay McNeeley begins
three-day stint at the 5-4 Club in Los Angeles.LeVern Baker
returns to the Flame Show Bar in Detroit as a headliner.
July 26
Percy Mayfield entertains at
the Elks Ballroom Sunday night dance in Los Angeles.
July 27
Amos Milburn opens in
Youngstown, Ohio at Sportoree's Club
Billie Holiday, Tiny Bradshaw and Roy Milton share the bill at the Graystone Ballroom in Detroit this evening.
The "Biggest Rhythm and Blues Show" continue rolling across the land with a show tonight in Kansas City. Other dates this week include Tulsa (28th) Oklahoma City (29th) and two Texas shows: Amarillo ( 30th) and Austin (31st).
July 30
Champion Jack Dupree starts a
two-day stand at New Orleans's Dew Drop Inn.
July 31
Fats Domino and the Orioles
start at tour of the Southwest with a performance in Oklahoma
City.
Chuck Willis and the Griffin Brothers set of on a package tour with a show in Mobile, Alabama.
Floyd Dixon appears at the 5-4 Club in Los Angeles for three nights.
T-Bone Walker is booked for a three-night engagement at Detroit's Flame Show Bar.
Late July
The Prisonaires, a
vocal group completely comprised of inmates of the Tennessee
State Penitentary in Nashville, record several sides for Sam
Phillips Sun Records in Memphis.
Joe Morris, formerly with Atlantic, has signed with Herald Records, His first release will be "Shake a Hand" featuring vocalist Faye Adams.
Buddy Lucas, a longtime orchestra leader with Jubilee, has gone over to RCA Victor where his initial release will be "Greedy Pig."
August 2
Louis Jordan stops at the Elks Ballroom in Los Angeles for the
evening.
In New Orleans Jack Dupree moves across town to play the San Jacinto Ballroom.
August 4
Following is engagement at the Royal Peacock in Atlanta, Little
Walker takes to the road for a series of shows in Florida and
along the Eastern Seaboard.
August 7
Chuck
Higgins and his six-piece combo take over the 5-4 Club in Los
Angeles for the weekend.
Jack Dupree returns to New Orleans' Dew Drop Inn for another three-week stay.
Early August
Recent acquisitions by record companies include the Charioteers
by Tuxedo; Lightin' Hopkins and Savannah Churchill by Decca; and
LaVern Baker, who had previously recorded with Todd Rhodes;
Orchestra on King, by Atlantic.
Billy Ward and His Dominoes bring in a full house at Wolhurst Club in Littleton, Colorado.
August 9
Willie Mae
Thornton and Johnny Ace play the Elks Ballroom in Los Angeles.
Ray Charles is featured at the San Jacinto Club in New Orleans for the evening.
The "Big Rhythm and Blues Show" featuring Joe Louis, Ruth Brown, Wynonie Harris, the Clovers, the Buddy Johnson Orchestra and Lester Young Combo are in town for one show at the Municipal Auditorium.
August 12
The Fats Domino/Orioles tour continues its two weeks of
one-nighters with a show in Amarillo, Texas.
August 13
Charlie Ferguson and his All-Girl Band are involved in an auto
accident in Cleveland that kills the nineteen-year-old bass
player. Ferguson is on the critical list. The band has been on
tour with the "5" Royales was in route to Tyler Texas
for another show. The "5" Royales, traveling in another
vehicle, are
are not injured. The tour is booked
solidly until December.
August 14
Alan
Freed celebrates the second anniversary of his
"Moondog"radio show over Cleveland's WJW with a dance
at the Armory in Cleveland in Akron, Ohio. Featured attractions
of the show are the Five Satins with Rene Hall's Band.
The Apollo Theater in New York presents Billie Holiday and the Duke Ellington Orchestra for the week.
August 15
The
Du Droppers with the Joe Morris Band start a series of one-night
stands.
Alan
Freed takes his Moondog radio showthe show to the Stambaugh
Auditorium in Youngstown, Ohio.
The Fourth Annual "World Series of Blues" tales place in the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The performers include Willie Mae Thornton, Johnny Ace, Roy Milton, Chuck Higgins, the Flairs, the Robins, Johnny Witherspoon and Helen Humes.
Mid-August
The
Dominoes start their second engagement at the Bandbox in New
York.
LaVern Baker sets sail for Europe, where she is booked for a
six-month tour.
August 16
Roy Milton entertains at the Saturday night dance at the Elks
Ballroom in Los Angeles.
August 17
T-Bone Walker, Margie Day and the Paul Williams Orchestra start a
week's engagement at the Celebrity Club in Providence, Rhode
Island.
Dinah Washington, Earl Bostic, the Royals, Arthur Prysock, Edna McGriff and Buddy Lucas's Orchestra play the Graystone Ballroom in Detroit.
August 18
Fats Domino and the Orioles wind up their tour of the Southwest.
Domino is off to the West Coast while the Orioles return to the
East.
August 21
The
Orioles are booked into the Apollo Theater in New York for a
week. Also on the bill are Leslie Uggams and the Lucky Millender
Combo.
Lynn Hope opens for two weeks at the Royal Peacock in Atlanta.
Willie Mae Thornton and Johnny Ace are at the 5-4 Ballroom in Los Angeles.
Ray Charles entertains at the Dew Drop Inn for the three-day weekend.
August 22
T-Bone Walker goes out on a tour of the East Coast.
August 29
Thurston Harris, the Lamplighters, Dootsie Williams's Combo
inaugurate the New Harlem Club in Los Angeles.
August 30
Fats Domino sets off on a three-week tour of California.
Johnny Otis and Marie dams are the evenings entertainment at the Elks Club in Los Angeles.
Late August
Late
summer talent scouts in the field include Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry
Wexler of Atlantic Records in New Orleans and Don Robey of Duke
Records in California.
The hot new radio show in Memphis is the "Cool Train" every Saturday over WDIA. Host is Rufus Jr., of Sun Records/
The Four Blazes are currently touring Michigan.
September 4
Percy Mayfield plays the Labor Day weekend dance at the 5-4 Club
in Los Angeles.
Willie Mabon, Bullmoose Jackson and Varetta Dillard open for a week at Washington's Howard Theater.
The Apollo Theater presents Arthur Prysock and and Bette McLaurin fronting Illinois Jacquet;s Combo for a week.
September 6
The Ravens and Joe Houston Combo perform at the Elks Ballroom in
Los Angeles.
Early September
RCA Victor's R&B chief, Danny Kessler, is in New Orleans on a
talent hunt.
September 8
Louis Jordan makes a stopover at the Stateline Country Club at
Lake Tahoe.
September 11
Ruth Brown and Billy Eckstine start a short eight day tour of the
West Coast.
The revue at New York's Apollo Theater features the talents of the Clovers, Edna McGriff and the Lucky Millender Combo.
Louis Jordan stops for the weekend at Los Angeles' 5-4 Club.
September 14
Duke Ellington, Billy Ward and His Dominoes and the Royals play a
one-night stand at Detroit's Graystone Ballroom.
Mid-September
Earl Bostic is holding down a spot at the Capitol Lounge in
Chicago. Also in the Windy City are the Four Blazes at the Club
Baghdad at the start of a national tour.
A new nightspot, The Toast of the Town. has opened and is scheduled the following entertainers for the rest of the year: Arthur T-Bone Walker, Wynonie Harris, B.B. King, Edie Boyd, Arthur Prysock and Ivory Joe Hunter.
September 16
The Orioles, Margerie Day, T-Bone Walker and Paul Williams
Orchestra open at the Howard Theater in Washington for the week.
Fats Domino and his six-piece band wind up a West Coast tour with a three-day weekend performance at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas.
Billy Ward and His Dominoes start a week's engagement at New York City Apollo Theater. Also on the bill are Mable Scott and the house band of Lucky Millender.
September 20
The Ink Spots and the Joe Liggins and His Honeydrippers play the
Saturday nigh dance at Los Angeles' Elks Ballroom, while across
town, Ruth Brown and Billy Eckstine entertain at the Shrine
Auditorium.
September 25
The following artists are part of the Pittsburgh Courier's
"Operation Music" held at the Philadelphia Academy of
Music: Ruth Brown, Billy Ward and His Dominoes, Dinah Washington,
Joe Louis, Billie Holiday, the Ray-O-Vacs and Buddy Johnson.
Proceeds of the show go to the NAACP legal fund.
Bessie Smith Award, given by the Pittsburgh Courier to Ruth Brown as top blues singer. Proceeds of the show go to the NAACP legal fund.
The Orioles with Margie Day and the Paul Williams Orchestra open for a week at the Royal Theater in Baltimore.
While on the West Coast, Fats Domino renews his recording contract with Imperial Records for another nine years.
Chuck Willis is the house guest at the Palace Theater in New Orleans for the evening.
September 27
The Elks Ballroom in Los Angeles hosts a "Battle of the
Blues Bands with Jimmy Witherspoon. Pee Wee Crayton, Charles
Brown and Jimmy Wilson ntertaining for the evening.
September 29
Billy Ward and His Dominoes start an engagement at the Bandbox in
New York.
September 30
Charles Brown and Johnny Moore's Three Blazers begin another tour
of Texas and Louisiana, which will run through October 22nd.
Louis Jordan embarks on a tour of the West Coast and Western Canada that will include stops in Los Angeles, Seattle, New York City and Montreal
October 1
The Clovers, Rosco Gordon, Little Esther and Chuck Willis set off
on a fifteen-day-tour of the South.
October 2
Louis opens at the 5-4 Ballroom in Los Angeles for a three-day
weekend.
Ruth Brown starts at the Howard Theater in Washington in a revue entitled "Atlantic City Follies."
Lloyd Price headlines the revue at New York's Apollo Theater for the week. Also on the bill is Annisteen Allen.
October 3
In a press conference in Washington, Ruth Brown announces she is
launching a movement to eliminate substandard housing and
restaurants regularly provided for Black entertainers who appear
on many one-nighters and theater circuits.
Lowell Fulson plays the Club Paradise in Biloxi, Mississippi, as part of a one-nighter tour.
October 4
Tiny Bradshaw entertains the dancers at the Elks Ballroom in Los
Angeles.
Early October
Danny Kessler, R&B chief for RCA Victor returns to New York
with recordings by the Robins and the Jackson Brothers. In
addition, during his trip to New Orleans he signed Sonny Terry,
Square Walton and Sam Butters to the label.
October 9
The 5-4 Ballroom in Los Angeles hosts Little Willie Littlefield
for three days.
Edna McGriff makes a three-day stop in New Orleans' Dew Drop Inn.
Savannah Churchill starts a two-week stand at the Flame Showbar in Detroit.
Ruth Brown opens for a week at the Royal Theater in Baltimore.
Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters, blind jazz pianist George Shearing and the Lucky Millender band are at the Apollo Theater for a week in New York.
October 10
Joe Turner starts a six-week string of one-nighters through
Texas. Following this tour, he will work the
Louisiana-Mississippi area into January.
October 11
Fats Domino makes his debut at the Audubon Ballroom.
Sonny Thompson and Lulu Reed entertain at the Elks Ballroom in Los Angeles.
October 12
The "5" Royales, Willie Mabon and the Flamingos join
the big band of Woody Herman at the Graystone Ballroom in Detroit
for a one-nighter.
October 13
Al Hibbler opens for three weeks at The Toast of the Town in
Chicago.
Mid-October
Recent record signings include Tommy Ridgely Professor Longhair,
both of New Orleans, with Atlantic and the Wanders and Babs
Gonzales with Savoy.
Atlantic Records and Herald Records are feuding over the talents of Faye Adams. Atlantic claims that Herald has no right to issue her records since she was signed to Atlantic using her given name, Fay Scruggs. Herald claims that Atlantic's' release of "Sweet Talk" was only meant to capitalize on Herald's success with "Shake a Hand."
October 16
Wynonie Harris and Varetta Dillard open at the Apollo in New York
for a week.
Mabel Scott and Arthur Prysock are at the Regal Theater in Chicago this week.
Marvin Phillips and the Flairs start a three-day engagement at the 5-4 Ballroom in Los Angeles.
The new show at the Howard Theater in Washington this week features Joe Morris and His Orchestra with Faye Adams and Al Savage.
In New Orleans, Ivory Joe Hunter spends the three-day weekend at the Dew Drop Inn.
October 17
For the first time in ten months, the are no answer records on
the R&B charts. This craze started with with answers to
"I Don't Know" by Willie Mabon, which was released in
November, 1952.
October 18
Amos, Milburn, Ruth Brown, Fats Domino, Margie Day and the Paul
Williams Band make a one-night stand at the Laurel Gardens in
Newark, New Jersey.
Charles Brown with Johnny Moore's' Three Blazers play for the evening's entertainment at the Labor Union Hall in New Orleans.
October 19
B.B. King, Bill Harvey and Gladys Hill appear at the Texas State
Fair in Dallas.
October 22
Billy Kenney and the Ink Spots are at the Saville Theater in
Montreal.
Savannah Hill plays the Farmdell Club in Cleveland.
October 23
Johnny Ace makes his New York debut on the stage of the Apollo
Theater for a week. Also on the bill are Willie Mae Thornton,
Little Junior Parker and the Tab Smith Combo.
Ruth Brown joins the Five Keys and the Woody Herman band on a ten-day tour of the Midwest.
Ray Charles is booked for three days in the New Orleans area.
Sugar Ray Robinson, Billy Ward and His Dominoes, T-Bone Walker and the Count Basie Orchestra play the Baltimore Coliseum. Other dates for this tour include the Mosque in Richmond (27th), the Vet in Philadelphia (28th), and the Uline Arena in Washington (November 1).
The Royal Theater in Baltimore plays host to Faye Adams and the Joe Morris Orchestra.
October 30
The Tempo Toppers featuring Little Richard are appearing for two
days in Oklahoma, City.
Jimmy Wilson and Linda Hayes play the weekend at the 5-4 Ballroom in Los Angeles.
October 31
Mabel Scott makes a stopover at Detroit's Flame Show Bar.
Late October
In another story on Chance, J.O.B., former subsidiary of Chance
has been taken over by Joe Brown.
Duke Records signs Joseph "Mr. Google Eyes" August, who bills himself as Seattle's only blues singer.
The Charms recording of "only Heaven Knows" is transferred from Rockin' Records to Deluxe Records. Both companies are owned by Cincinnati's major independent label, King Records.
Johnny Otis and his Orchestra with Marie Adams are currently on tour.
Lee Magdid leaves Savoy Records to start his own label, Central Records.First talent signed with the new company included Emmett Hobson. Georgia Lane and the Ray-O-Vacs.
Leonard Chess of Chess Records is presently on a trip to New Orleans, Atlantic and Nashville in search of new talent.
November 1
Closing out their short tour, Ruth Brown, the Five Keys and Woody
Herman appear in Indianapolis.
November 2
The Orioles are booked into Kansas City's Orchid Room for one
week.
Ruth Brown, Charles Brown and Buddy Johnson's Orchestra open for three days at the Flame Show Bar in Detroit.
November 3
The Royals are at the Trecaveria Club in Columbus, Ohio.
November 4
Chuck Willis joins Milt Buckner for a series of one-nighters.
November 6
Charles Brown and Johnny Moore's Three Blazers with the Lucky
Millender's Orchestra headline the week-long show at the Howard
Theater in Washington.
Tiny Bradshaw brings his orchestra to the 5-4 Ballroom in Los Angeles.
Arthur Prysock starts a week long engagement at Detroit's Flame Show Bar.
November 7
Louis Jordan is currently entertaining at the Cafe Society in New
York.
Early November
Sonny Wilson performing with Billy Ward and His Dominoes on tour
with Sugar Ray Robinson collapses during a show in Charlotte,
North Carolina.He is rushed back to his hometown of Detroit for
major surgery.
Amos Milburn disbands his combo, billed as the Aladdin Chickenshackers and will appear as a solo act performing with someone else's combo in theaters and on tour.
Roy Hamilton from Jersey City signs a recording contract with Okeh, a subsidiary of Columbia Records. However, he is switched to "pop" division of Columbia, Epic Records, prior to his first release.
Cozy Cole, jazz drummer, is putting together a new combo to be called the All Stars.
Otis Blackwell appears at the Northeast Ballroom in Washington.
Monte Bruce starts Bruce Records in New York.
The Treniers start a one month layover at the Club Society in New York.
November 13
Joe Morris' Combo with Faye Adams, the Orioles and Mr. Stringbean
appears in Little Rock. The group is booked through Christmas
week on tour of the South, Texas, Florida and East Coast.
In New York the Five Keys headline the revue at the Apollo Theater this week.
November 14
Guitar Slim is welcomed for one night at the New Orleans' Caffin
Theater. In nearby Kenner, Louisiana, Tommy Ridgely appears at
Ruby's Inn.
November 15
The "Rhapsodies of 54" Tour featuring Billy Ward and
His Dominoes and Count Basie play one show at the Booker T.
Auditorium in New Orleans.
Mid-November
The new Ink Spots featuring Charles Fuqua report that they are
booked solid for the next year. The group recently signed a
recording deal with King Records.
Lynn Hope is currently at Gleason's in Cleveland following a one-night stand at that city's Paradise Ballroom.
Tab Smith opens at Philadelphia's Pep's Musical Bar, where he will alternate with a nightly deejay show, Jocko Henderson's "Song Train" on WDAS.
Fats Domino is currently playing at the Showboat in Philadelphia.
Johnny Otis signs with Peacock Records as a recording artist. He has previously bee active with the label as arranger and songwriter. He has recorded under his own name most recently for Mercury..
Starmaker Records, affiliated with WDIA radio in Memphis, is another new label on the scene. Recent releases have been by Danny Day and Moohah.
Jules Bihari announces he is starting a new label, Crown Records, in Los Angeles. New artists will include saxophonist Joe Houston.
November 17
Louis Jordan holds forth at the Birdland in New York for two
weeks.
November 18
The Orioles, Faye Adams and Joe Morris' Combo play Atlanta.
November 20
Gene Ammons, the Ebonaires and the TNT Tribble Combo start a week
at the Howard Theater in Washington.
Al Hibbler opens his two-week stay at the Flame Show Bar in Detroit.
In New York, Lucky Millender's Combo, normally assigned duty as house band at the Apollo Theater, is this week's headline attraction, sharing the bill with Sugar Chile Robinson.
November 22
Roy Milton headlines a "Battle of the Blues" featuring
Pee Wee Crayton and Lil Greenwood at New Orleans' Labor Union
Hall.
November 23
Dinah Washington travels to the Cafe Society in New York for a
week.
November 24
The Five Keys and Chuck Willis joins Milt Bruckner for another
series of one-nighters along the Eastern seaboard.
Recovered after a three week hospital stay for exhaustion, Ruth Brown joins Margie Day and Paul Williams and His Orchestra for a week-long tour through the Midwest and the South. After the tour she plans to rest at home for six weeks.
November 25
Johnny Otis and Marie Adams play a five-day engagement at the 5-4
Ballroom in Los Angeles.
November 27
Louis Jordan opens at the Uptown Theater in Philadelphia for a
week.
Ella Fitzgerald and the Wanders headline the revue at New York's Apollo Theater this week.
November 28
Billy Ward and His Dominoes, Count Basie and Sugar Ray Robinson
are scheduled to perform for the benefit Thanksgiving Music
Festival in Quincy, Illinois. The two shows are scheduled for 8
P>M and 10 P,M. Ward is furious when the promoter withholds
their share and inexplicably pulls a gun on
Robinson. He calms down before events can lead to a tragedy.
B.B. King and Willie Mae Thornton play a Thanksgiving dance in Houston.
In Meridian, Mississippi, the Thanksgiving dance features Little Richard and the Tempo Toppers and Raymond Taylor's Duce of Rhythm.
Late November
The Griffin Brothers are booked on a tour of West Virginia.
Nellie Lutcher is appearing at the Crown Propeller Lounge in Chicago. where Muddy Waters and Rudy Green appear on alternate nights as her co-performers.
December 2
Johnny Ace, Willie Mae Thornton and Little Junior's Blue Flames
play Hattiesburg, Mississippi, as the first date on their current
one-nighter tour.
December 4
In Los Angeles, the Robins headline an extended engagement of the
"Sugar Hill Revue" at the Club Oasis.
Buddy Johnson and His Orchestra with Ella Johnson and Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters headline the show at New York's Apollo Theater.
Bull Moose Jackson starts a three-week engagement at the Flame Show Bar in Detroit.
The Orioles are booked into Washington's Howard Theater for a week.
December 7
The Clovers and Tiny Bradshaw's Combo play a one-night stand at
the Graystone Ballroom in Detroit.
Early December
Amos Milburn joins Charles Brown and Choker Campbell on a tour of
the South that is booked through January.
The Bandbox Club in New York switches from R&B to jazz to Latin music with a series of mambo orchestras and acts, giving into an increasing fad in music.
Fats Domino continues to play to full houses on his current tour of the South.
December 11
The Ravens start the first of four weekend dates at the 5-4
Ballroom in Los Angeles. Thurston Harris and the Lamplighters
join the Ravens for opening weekend.
December 14
Ruth Brown holds court during her week-long engagement at
Gleason's in Cleveland.
Mid-December
Alan "Moondog" Freed is currently being heard over WNJR
in Newark, New Jersey, via tap recording. The station recently
switch to eighteen hours of R&B and jazz airtime a day.
Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler of Atlantic Records are back in New York recording both new and established artists.
Gatemouth Brown and Al Grey Combo are currently touring Florida.
December 15
Percy Mayfield joins the Ravens at the 5-4 Ballroom in Los
Angeles for the weekend
December 21
Fats Domino starts a tour with the Clovers, who are just off a
two-week vacation.
December 24
PewWee Crayton, Little Willie Littlefield and Linda Hayes play
the Christmas Eve Dance at the Elks Ball room in Los Angeles.
December 25
T-Bone Walker works the Christmas Day dance at the Cosmopolitan
Hotel in Los Angeles.
The Flamingos share the bill with the Duke Ellington Orchestra for the week at Chicago's Regal Theater.
Sugar Chile Robinson, Annisteen Allen and Lucky Millender open at the Howard Theater in Washington.
December 26
Billboard Magazine reports that the R&B record sales account
for less than five percent of all disk business. Atlantic Records
is still the biggest label in the field followed by King Records.
December 27
T-Bone Walker opens at the Club Alimony in Los Angeles.
December 28
The Four Tunes begin a two-week engagement at the Brown Derby
Club in Toronto.
Dinah Washington plays the Graystone Ballroom in Detroit.
December 31
The Orioles, Dizzy Gillespie and Wild Bill Davis help bring the
New Year in New York with a Rockland Palace Show.
Billy Ward and His Dominoes are at Woolhurst Club in Denver.
Mel Walker and Mabel Scott play the Elks Ballroom's New Year's Eve Dance in Los Angeles.