Raw, rebellious, and revolutionary, rock ‘n’ roll has shaped American history with its transformative moments. Here are some highlights from June 11.
1957: Elvis Presley and RCA Victor released “(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear,” a hit from his movie, Loving You. The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks and led the R&B and country charts.
1966: The Rolling Stones hit No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 with “Paint It, Black,” staying there for two weeks. It also topped the UK charts and was included in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s list of “The Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll” in 2011.
1969: The Beatles reached No. 1 on the UK singles chart with “The Ballad of John and Yoko.” This was their 17th chart-topper and the last until 2023’s “Now and Then.”
1991: Lynyrd Skynyrd released Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991, their first album since the tragic 1977 plane crash. It peaked at No. 64 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart.
Cultural moments on this day include the birth of ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard in 1949 and the formation of the supergroup Cream in 1966, when Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, and Ginger Baker joined forces.
Notable performances include Led Zeppelin at the Civic Center in Baltimore in 1972, featuring classics like “Stairway to Heaven.” In 1988, a tribute concert for Nelson Mandela at Wembley Stadium featured stars like Whitney Houston and Stevie Wonder, broadcast to over 60 countries. Finally, Skid Row released their second album, Slave to the Grind, in 1991.
