#1 Song 1958: “Yakety Yak,” the Coasters
Born: Blues muscian Floyd Jones, 1917; jazz musician Billy Taylor, 1921
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1955 The Cadets charted with their rock ‘n’ roll novelty, “Stranded in the Jungle” (#4 R&B, #15 pop). A year earlier their balladeer alter egos the Jacks had a hit with “Why Don’t You Write Me,” which reached #3 R&B and #82 pop. This Jekyll-Hyde persona would continue for several years, with the group being balladeers as the Jacks and purveyors of rock ‘n’ roll as the Cadets.
1958 The Dell-Vikings’ cover of “You Cheated” was released, along with the Miracles’ “Money” and the Videos’ classic “Trickle, Trickle.”
1961 The Supremes’ second single, “Buttered Popcorn,” was released, with Florence Ballard singing lead. The group was still more than a year from its first chart 45, “Your Heart Belongs to Me.”
1962 John Lee Hooker’s “Boom Boom” reached #60 pop (#16 R&B), becoming his only 45 in the pop Top 100. It was also his last of nine R&B hits starting in 1949.
1988 James Brown received a two-year suspended sentence and a $1,200 fine for resisting arrest, carrying a gun, and drug possession. (See May 18).
1990 En Vogue reached #2 pop with “Hold On,” their debut disc. Former Commodores member Thomas McElroy and partner Denzil Foster, who wanted to invent a funky, contemporary version of the Supremes, put the female quartet together.
Ann
