HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ELVIS!

I did not know the King and I were born only a few months apart, though not in the same year.  Actually, there were earlier royalty in rock 'n' roll, but the musicians were black. 

Often very overlooked, African-Americans contributed greatly to the advent and success of rock and roll music. Little Richard was telling the truth when he said he is the real King of Rock and Roll, and if it wasn’t him then it was Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, or Bo Didley.

Rock and roll music and many of its’ artists were heavily influenced by the sounds of black blues artists, people like Muddy Walters, Howlin Wolf, and Junior Parker to name a few.

In fact, one of the first true rock and roll songs mentioned came from Joe Turner, black blues artists, who sang, “Shake, Rattle, and Roll.” If one listens to this song by Joe Turner it should be very clear that this is the, or one of the, first true rock and roll songs. It sounds like a rock and roll song, not a blues song. The beat is up tempo and the words and rhythm of the song depict the sounds and feelings of a true rock and roll song.

Another first rock and roll song was “Rocket 88, which was a number one R&B song in 1951. This song was first recorded by the Ike Turner band not Bill Haley and the Comets. “Rocket 88” and “Shake, Rattle, and Roll” were all remade by Bill Haley and the Comets. However, it is obvious why black artists and their songs were overlooked in the development and contribution of rock and roll music.

That's not to mention lesser known musicians like The Dominoes, The Midnighters, Lloyd Price, The Five Keys, and The Clovers, and others whose names I've left out.  But I digress.  

Elvis had his long list of hits, and he learned his lessons well from the African-American musicians.  Presley's career flew to the heights after his third appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.  The cameramen went to close-ups of his upper body during the wildest of his gyrations in the third show, but the audience could see, and viewers could hear the squeals and screams.

Rockin'



And a ballad



Photo from Wikipedia.