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Origin of Rhythm and Blues (Part 6)
Rock and Roll: 1955 - 1963From 1954 through 1956, white artists such as Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Bill Haley, and Dale Hawkins were producing records for white audiences. Somewhat as a backlash against black music, the white establishment promoted rockabilly as a "respectable" alternative for white teenagers. During this timeframe, legendary Sun records founder Sam Phillips focused exclusively on rockabilly and abandoned R&B to other record labels. In 1954, Elvis Presley had the following songs issued on the Sun record label - Who Produced The First Rock & Roll Record / Artist?Often the question arises about which song, or artist, performed the first rock & roll record. Generally, rock and roll music evolved from the popular regional music that includes gospel, blues, rhythm and blues, country and western, and big band. Depending on whom you ask, the answer varies among Jackie Brenston & the Delta Cats - (Chess 1458 1951) "Rocket 88," which was perfomed by Ike Turner on piano, to Elvis Presley, Scotty & Bill - (Sun 209 1954) "That's All Right," and Chuck Berry - (Chess 1604 1955) "Maybelline," or Bill Haley and His Comets - (Decca 29124 1954) "Rock Around the Clock," Introduced in the 1955 movie, "Blackboard Jungle." Others say it was Bill Haley and His Comets - (Decca 29204 1954) "Shake, Rattle & Roll," that started it all. There is no single answer that will satisy all critics. But, without dispute, Elvis Presley was the first rock and roll artist to commercialize popular music to an extent never before seen in American history. Elvis Presley can be credited with indirectly causing the huge sale of guitars and record players in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s. Chuck Berry - (Chess 1626 1956) Roll Over Beethoven - still states "Dig these rhythm and blues..." with no acknowldgement to the new rock and roll genre! Who was the black artist who wrote and sang Rockabilly favorite "Linda Lu" (Jamie 1128 1959)?Ray Sharpe. Beginning in 1957, a television show named American Bandstand, hosted by Dick Clark, brought Rock & Roll, Rockabilly, and Doo Wop into the living rooms of American teenagers every weekday - Monday through Friday. This was likely the greatest promotional effort of its kind in history! Northern white teenagers were unfamiliar with Chicago Blues, Mississippi Delta blues, R&B, and influences from black artists. National television had an homogenizing effect on American popular music. Teenagers wanted to be part of the crowd, and the crowd wanted Rock & Roll. From 1957 to 1958, there were popular trends eroding the production of R&B music:
In New Orleans and the Delta, there were popular songs promoting the "new" Rock & Roll and foreshadowing the demise of R&B music:
Nationally, Ray Charles had a breakthrough hit (Atlantic vinyl LP 8006 1957 "Rock and Roll - Ray Charles")
Album later retitled "Hallelujah I Love Her So:"
tracks: Ain't That Love; Drown In My Own Tears; Come Back Baby;
Sinner's Prayer; Funny (But I Still Love You); Losing Hand; A Fool For You; Hallelujah I Love Her So;
Mess Around; This Little Girl of Mine; Mary Ann; Greenbacks; Don't You Know; I Got a Woman Ray Charles took the moniker "Soul Brother #1," a few years before the genre had taken foothold, and before James Brown's legendary Apollo performance in 1962. Another black artist, Sam Cooke, broke all racial barriers when he released a song named "You Send Me" in 1957. Sam Cooke's music had strong gospel roots. He had a squeaky clean sound and style. He became a bridge between blacks and whites who equally adored his music. Sam Cooke continued to be a force in the Soul genre. By 1959, major independent record labels began retreating from New Orleans due to economic hardship. The costs to promote a record became exhorbitant. Another force on the national scene was a producer named Phil Spector. He developed the so-called "Wall of Sound." Further research may be done on Phil Spector and his influence on rock and roll from 1958 through 1964. After the so-called British Invasion in 1964 by the Beattles, American rock and roll declined as quickly as a penny thrown into a wishing well. In addition to these forces eroding American Rock & Roll, other popular genres called "novelty" and "bubblegum" gained popularity. Examples:
Next page ..... Origin of Rhythm and Blues (Part 7) Previous page ..... Origin of Rhythm and Blues (Part 5) Return to top of page |
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