January 27, 2012

80 years ago
1932

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Richard Gordon and Leigh Lovell, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Hound of the Baskervilles, Part 1

50 years ago
1962

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: Nata per me--Adriano Celentano (10th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): The Young Ones--Cliff Richard (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): The Young Ones--Cliff Richard (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Peppermint Twist--Part 1--Joey Dee and the Starliters

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 The Twist--Chubby Checker (8th week at #1)
2 Peppermint Twist - Part I--Joey Dee & the Starliters
3 I Know (You Don't Love Me No More)--Barbara George
4 The Lion Sleeps Tonight--The Tokens
5 Can't Help Falling in Love--Elvis Presley
6 Norman--Sue Thompson
7 The Wanderer--Dion
8 Duke of Earl--Gene Chandler
9 A Little Bitty Tear--Burl Ives
--Wanda Jackson
10 Baby It's You--The Shirelles

Singles entering the chart included She's Got You by Patsy Cline (#78); Jamie by Eddie Holland (#79); Afrikaan Beat by Bert Kaempfert and his Orchestra (#92); It's Good to Have You Back with Me by Adam Wade (#96); Teen Queen of the Week by Freddy Cannon (#98); The Battle by Duane Eddy and the Rebels (#100); Twistin' Postman by the Marvelettes (also #100) and Lizzie Borden by the Chad Mitchell Trio (also #100).

Space
U.S. astronaut John Glenn was aboard his Friendship 7 spacecraft, awaiting the beginning of the Mercury-Atlas 6 mission, when the liftoff from Cape Canaveral, Florida was postponed because of heavy cloud cover. Flight director Chris Kraft called off the launch with the countdown at T minus 20 minutes. The mission finally took place on February 20, and Mr. Glenn became a national hero as the first human American to orbit Earth.

40 years ago
1972

Died on this date
Mahalia Jackson, 60. U.S. singer. The "Queen of Gospel Song" was one of the most famous gospel singers in history, selling more than 22 million records in a career spanning more than 40 years, first achieving commercial success in 1947 with Move On Up a Little Higher. She virtually defined gospel blues and influenced several genres of music, but refused to sing anything but gospel. Miss Jackson performed internationally, and supported the Negro civil rights movement in the United States. She suffered from health problems for many years, and died while recovering from surgery to remove a bowel obstruction.

20 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Justified & Ancient--The KLF (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Bill Walker, 95. U.S. actor. Mr. Walker appeared in more than 180 movies and television programs, often uncredited, from 1946-1987. His best-known role was that of Reverend Sykes in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962).

10 years ago
2002

Football
NFL
AFC Championship
New England 24 @ Pittsburgh 17

NFC Championship
Philadelphia 24 @ St. Louis 29