The day the music died.

This clip is uploaded from time to time by Facebookers, saluting two of the greatest stars of the 20th century, singing together at the height of their fame. But in 1960, it was viewed rather differently. This was Elvis’s first big TV appearance after coming out of the army. His millions of fans, who’d waited two years for this, were appalled at the sight of their hero – the great rock’n’roll rebel – duetting arm-in-arm with Frank Sinatra. He’d sold out – or rather, Colonel Tom had sold him out – and he was now a “family entertainer”. After this, it got even worse. His records were schmaltzy, his films dire and it took eight years and the ’68 Comeback Special for The King to regain his throne. What on earth possessed him to do this? I can only imagine there was a threat involving a horse’s head and a pillow.