Vintage Radio Station Photo

April and May 2025 British POP Months 

British pop of the 1960s, often called the "British Invasion," was a groundbreaking musical era that introduced the world to iconic bands and artists. This period was characterized by the fusion of rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and skiffle, creating a unique and influential sound. Bands like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, The Who, and The Hollies became global sensations and redefined popular music.

This era wasn't just about the music—it was a cultural revolution. British pop of the '60s played a huge role in influencing fashion, art, and social attitudes. From the catchy harmonies of The Beatles' early songs to the rebellious edge of The Rolling Stones, this movement captured the spirit of the time.

Billy J. Kramer, born William Howard Ashton, is an English pop singer who rose to fame during the 1960s as part of the British Invasion. Managed by Brian Epstein, who also managed The Beatles, Kramer achieved success with his backing band, The Dakotas. He is known for performing several Lennon-McCartney compositions, such as "Bad to Me" and "Do You Want to Know a Secret," which were not recorded by The Beatles2.

Kramer and The Dakotas had multiple chart-topping hits, including "Little Children," and they gained popularity in both the UK and the US. His career continued beyond the beat boom, and he remains active in music, performing and recording to this day2.

The Story Behind the Song 

MacArthur Park

‘MacArthur Park’ was written by American singer-songwriter Jimmy Webb in the summer and fall of 1967. The inspiration for the song was his relationship and breakup with Susie Horton. MacArthur Park, in Los Angeles, was where the couple would occasionally meet for lunch and spent their most enjoyable times together. Webb presented the song to American sunshine pop band The Association, but the group rejected it. The song was later recorded first by Irish actor and singer Richard Harris in 1968. Harris’s version peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number four on the UK Singles Chart. ‘MacArthur Park’ was subsequently covered by numerous artists, including a 1970 Grammy-winning version by country music singer Waylon Jennings and a number one Billboard Hot 100 disco arrangement by Donna Summer in 1978. Webb won the 1969 Grammy Award for Best Arrangement for the Richard Harris version.

I Will Always Love You

Dolly Parton famously wrote ‘I Will Always Love You’ within the same day as one of her other biggest hits ‘Jolene.’ Originally written in 1973 by Parton as a farewell to her former mentor and business partner throughout the ’60 and ’70s, the late Porter Wagoner. When the 1974 recording of the song reached number one on the country charts, Elvis Presley indicated that he wanted to record the song. Parton was interested until Presley’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker, told her that it was standard procedure for the songwriter to sign over half of the publishing rights to any song Elvis recorded. Parton refused. Nearly 20 years later Whitney Houston transformed it into the staple of one of the top-selling film soundtracks of all time for the 1992 film The Bodyguard, starring Houston and Kevin Costner. To date, Houston’s rendition of ‘I Will Always Love You’ has surpassed 1.1 billion views on YouTube.

I Shot the Sheriff

The song was first released in 1973 on The Wailers’ album Burnin’. Bob Marley explained his intention: “I want to say ‘I shot the police’ but the government would have made a fuss so I said ‘I shot the sheriff’ instead… Eric Clapton recorded a cover version that was included on his 1974 album 461 Ocean Boulevard. His performance of the song adds soft rock to the reggae sound. It peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, his only US number one to date. In 2003, Clapton’s version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

What was the first real Rock N Roll record.

The origin of rock 'n' roll is a hotly debated topic, but many historians credit "Rocket 88", recorded by Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats in 1951, as the first rock 'n' roll record. The song was produced by the legendary Sam Phillips—the founder of Sun Records—and featured Ike Turner’s band.

It blended rhythm and blues with the driving energy that would come to define rock 'n' roll. While earlier records contributed to the genre's formation, "Rocket 88" is often seen as the one that solidified the sound.

Yes, Jackie Brenston's "Rocket 88," recorded in 1951, predates DJ Alan Freed's coining of the term "rock 'n' roll." Freed, a Cleveland-based radio personality, is credited with popularizing the phrase in the early 1950s to describe the music he was playing on his radio show, blending rhythm and blues with a new, youthful energy.

While Freed gave the genre its name and helped bring it into mainstream culture, the roots of rock 'n' roll, as shown by songs like "Rocket 88," were already forming in the rhythm and blues scene. This makes the history of rock 'n' roll a fascinating mix of cultural influences and innovations!