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SALEM HISTORY: Fats Domino, other stars drew teen crowd in Salem

A star-studded lineup performed at South Salem High School on March 8, 1957 (Show poster, Willamette Heritage Center collections 2017.099.0009)

As part of Salem Reporter’s local history series, Willamette Heritage Center curator Kylie Pine finds historic photos or documents from around Salem and asks readers to share what they may know.

Friday night March 8, 1957, some pretty big names in music history took to the stage at South Salem High School. 

Fats Domino, LaVern Baker, Chuck Berry and Clyde McPhatter were just a few of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame level acts in this star-studded line up. 

Although newspapers reported that the show didn’t garner the crowds they were hoping for, the 80%-teenager crowd was enthusiastic.  Especially, one paper reported, “one young gal in the back of the auditorium [who] drew more attention from crowd around her at times than the musicians as she enthusiastically screamed her approval of a new selection or entertainer.” 

With that line-up, I think I would be right there with her! 

Were you there?  We’d love to hear your memories!  Contact Kylie Pine, 503-585-7012 [email protected]

Editor’s note: This column is part of an effort from Salem Reporter to highlight local history in collaboration with area historians and historical organizations. If you have any feedback or would like to participate in Salem Reporter’s local history series, please contact managing editor Rachel Alexander at [email protected].

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