April 10th in pop/rock 'n' roll history

[NightTrain]

1921: Martin Denny is born in New York City. In the '50s, and well into the '60s, he records a series of best-selling "Exotica" albums, as well as the hit single, "Quiet Village."

1921: Sheb Wooley, whose "Purple People Eater" hits #1 in 1958, is born in Erick, Oklahoma.

1928: Blues shouter Rosco Gordon is born in Memphis.

1932: Nate Nelson, lead singer of the doo-wop group the Flamingos ("I Only have Eyes For You," "Lovers Never Say Goodbye"), is born in Chicago.

1954: In one of the most famous cases of a "crossover" R&B hit, the Crows make their historic appearance this day on the Billboard pop chart with "Gee."

1957: Ricky Nelson makes his singing TV debut on his parents TV show ("The Adventures Of Ozzie & Harriet"), singing Fats Domino's "I'm Walkin'."

1958: "King of the Stroll" Chuck Willis, whose hits included "C.C. Rider" and "What Am I Living For," dies on the operating table in Atlanta. He is 30.

1958: Bobby Darin records his first two million-sellers, "Splish Splash" and "Queen of the Hop."

1962: Stu Sutcliffe, one of the original Beatles, dies in Hamburg, Germany.

1994: Jimmy Lyons, founder of the Monterey Jazz Festival, dies in San Luis Obispo, California.

2003: "Loco-Motion" singer Little Eva dies in Kingston, North Carolina.