2nd January

The Noel Coward-composed musical Sail Away is presented at The Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway, New York City, USA, during a run of 167 performances.

The musical Milk And Honey, with music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, is playing at The Martin Beck Theater on Broadway, New York City, USA, during a run of 543 performances.

The stage musical How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, starring Rudy Vallee, is playing at the 46th Street Theater on Broadway, New York City, USA, during a run of 1,417 performances.

The musical Kean, based on the life of 18th Century Shakespearean actor Edmund Kean, is playing at The Broadway Theater, New York City, USA, during a run of 92 performances.

Musical comedy The Gay Life is presented at The Shubert Theater, Broadway, New York City, USA, during a run of 113 performances.

Roy Acuff is undertaking a one-month tour of Spain, Europe, and Morocco, Africa, where he is performing for American troops, sponsored by the United Service Organizations.

Sarah Vaughan is playing during a three-week engagement at the My Fair Lady club in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Louis Jordan plays during a lengthy engagement at Danny's Lounge, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.

Paul Anka is playing throughout Christmas and New Year at The Caribe Room, Caribe Hilton Hotel, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Caribbean.

The Willis Brothers are playing during a week of shows at The Showboat, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

Elvis Presley is holidaying at the Sahara Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

Dusty Springfield of popular UK folk trio The Springfields goes into hospital in London for a minor operation.

Horace Silver, Chris Connor, Blue Mitchell, Junior Cook, Ronnie Ball, Dave Bailey and Ben Tucker begin a tour of Japan, Asia, with a gig in Tokyo.

Tony Sheridan and the Beat Brothers play at the Top Ten Club, Hamburg, Germany, Europe. Liverpudlian drummer Richard Starkey has now joined the group. Starkey will find greater fame as Ringo Starr of The Beatles.

Flatt And Scruggs are playing in Earle, Arkansas, USA.

The Top Ten singles being played on WABC Radio in New York City, USA, for the week beginning on this date are as follows :1. The Lion Sleeps Tonight - The Tokens (RCA)2. Peppermint Twist, Part 1 - Joey Dee And the Starliters (Roulette)3. The Twist - Chubby Checker (Parkway)4. I Know (You Don't Love Me No More) - Barbara George (AFO)5. The Wanderer - Dion (Laurie)6. Run to Him - Bobby Vee [Liberty]7. Please Mr. Postman - The Marvelettes (Tamla)8. Goodbye Cruel World - James Darren (Colpix) 9. There's No Other (Like My Baby) - The Crystals (Philles)10. Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen - Neil Sedaka (RCA)

Tony Sheridan and The Beat Brothers play at the Top Ten Club, Hamburg, Germany, Europe. Liverpudlian drummer Richard Starkey has now joined the group. Starkey will find greater fame as Ringo Starr of The Beatles.

Joey Dee And The Starliters play the first night of a three-week engagement at the Crescendo Club, Los Angeles, California, USA.

The Stanley Turrentine Quartet records the album That's Where It's At, for Blue Note Records in Van Gelder Studios, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, USA.

Ray Stevens begins a staff job with Mercury Records in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, where he will work on more than 300 sessions as a pianist, arranger and vocalist in his first year, before carving out a successful career as a solo hitmaker.

Chris Boltendahl, vocalist of internationally successful German heavy rock band Grave Digger, is born in Gladbeck, Germany.

The Coleman Hawkins Quartet records the album Good Old Broadway in Van Gelder Studios, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, USA.

Frankie Avalon plays the the first night of a week at the Latin Casino, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, USA.