4 May: The First Ever Grammys
Thirteen years before ever being broadcast, the Grammys took their first steps into rock n’ roll history on May 4, 1959 – when, curiously, they were held in two separate cities on the same night.
If you were a fan of rock n’roll, however, you’d have been sorely disappointed by the winners – ‘Tequila’ by The Champs, Perry Como’s ‘Catch A Falling Star’, and, bizarrely, David Seville & The Chipmunks’ ‘The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)’.
In this episode, Olly, Rebecca and Arion explain why The Chipmunks were so acclaimed, consider whether the Grammys have a problem with race, and reveal which noughties novelty pop song was inspired by The Sugarhill Gang…
Further reading:
• The 1958 Grammys – the winners in full:
https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/1st-annual-grammy-awards-1958
• The Dark, Angry Father of ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks’: https://www.vulture.com/2015/11/the-dark-angry-father-of-alvin-and-the-chipmunks.html
• The Beverly Hilton, one of the locations for the first ever Grammys: