Did you know... Bill Haley and the Comets was originally Bill Haley's Saddlemen, indicating their leaning toward a more Western style. The rename was inspired by the supposedly official pronunciation of Halley's Comet! Listen to them on the Memory Tracks app: That'll Be The Day

Did you know... Pat Boone, as a conservative Christian, declined certain songs and movie roles that he felt might compromise his beliefs—including a film role with sex symbol Marilyn Monroe! Listen to him on the Memory Tracks app: I'll Be Home

Did you know... Fats Waller played piano at the age of six, and became a professional organist at 15. By the 18, he was a recording artist with, "Muscle Shoals Blues" and "Birmingham Blues", made in October 1922! Listen to him on the Memory Tracks app: It's A Sin To Tell A Lie

Did you know... Lonnie Donegan had 31 UK top 30 hit singles, 24 being successive and 3 at number one. He was also the first British male singer with two US top 10 hits! He was awarded an Ivor Novello and was made an MBE. Listen to him on the Memory Tracks app: Cumberland Gap

Did you know... Margaret Whiting's father, Richard, was a successful composer of popular songs, including the classics "Hooray for Hollywood", "Ain't We Got Fun?", and the very popular "On the Good Ship Lollipop"! Listen to her on the Memory Tracks app: A Tree In A Meadow

Did you know... Red Foley, the County music 'giant', has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: one for his recording career at, 6225 Hollywood Blvd. and one for his television career, at 6300 Hollywood Blvd. Listen to him on the Memory Tracks app: Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Bo

Did you know... Eddie Calvert co-wrote the song "My Son, My Son" a hit for Vera Lynn in 1954. However, his theme for the film The Man with the Golden Arm was banned by the BBC "due to its connection with a film about drugs"! Listen to him on the Memory Tracks app: Oh, Mein Papa

Did you know... Lionel Hampton started a riot at the Cavalcade of Jazz in 1950 when playing ‘Flying High’. The crowd went berserk, tossed cushions, coats, hats, programs, and more, and swarmed on the field! Listen to him on the Memory Tracks app: On The Sunny Side Of The Street

Did you know... Hoagy Carmichael is among the most successful of the 'Tin Pan Alley' songwriters of the 1930s, and exploited new technologies, such as television, and the use of electronic microphones and sound recordings. Listen to him on the Memory Tracks app: Stardust

Did you know... Tab Hunter was named Most Promising New Personality in a nationwide poll sponsored by the Council of Motion Picture Organisations in 1955, and in 1956 he received a staggering 62,000 valentines! Listen to him on the Memory Tracks app: Young Love

Did you know... Lou Preager the band leader hosted Housewives' Choice on the BBC during the 1950s and also 'Write a Tune for £1000', a song contest in 1945, '47 and '50, producing the hit "Cruising Down the River" Listen to him on the Memory Tracks app: Cruising Down The River

Did you know... Johnny Tillotson wrote, "It Keeps Right on A-Hurtin'" in 1962 inspired by his father's terminal illness. It got him a Grammy nomination, and was covered by over 100 performers including Elvis Presley. Listen to him on the Memory Tracks app: Poetry In Motion

Did you know... Johnny Mercer founded Capitol Records in Hollywood in 1942 with producer Buddy DeSylva and Glen Wallichs. During the 1940s, he signed many of its recording artists, including Nat "King" Cole! Listen to him on the Memory Tracks app: Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive

Did you know... Gracie Fields was renowned for charity work, and in the 1930s she donated her house in The Bishops Avenue, North London to be an Orphanage and also opened the Children's Home and Orphanage in Sussex. Listen to her on the Memory Tracks app Red Sails In The Sunset

Did you know... Larry Clinton and his band appeared in six short musical films in 1941, designed for the then-popular "movie jukeboxes". The films were ultimately released as 'Soundies' in 1943. Listen to him on the Memory Tracks app: Deep Purple

Did you know... Les Brown & Band were regulars on The Steve Allen Show (1959–1961) and the Dean Martin Show (1965–1972) and performed with every major artist, including Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King Cole. Listen to him on the Memory Tracks app: Sentimental Journey

Did you know... John Leyton's first major acting role was playing Ginger in a 1960 Granada TV adaptation of Biggles, which earned him a large following of young female fans and the formation of a John Leyton fan club! Listen to him on the Memory Tracks app: Johnny Remember Me

Did you know... Guy Mitchell the American pop singer and actor whose career began at the age of 11, was successful in the US, the UK, and Australia and sold 44 million records, including six million-selling singles! Listen to him on the Memory Tracks app: She Wears Red Feathers

Did you know... Harry Richman was one of the highest‐paid performers in show business during his peak years. He claimed to be making $25,000 a week in 1931 ($415,000 a week in todays dollars)! Listen to him on the Memory Tracks app: Puttin' On The Ritz