Sam Phillips's credo was: 'If you're not doing something different, you're not doing anything.' If he had done no more than discover Elvis Presley and produce his first five singles he would still be the godfather of rock 'n' roll. This is the definitive account of how it happened! Rock 'n' roll was born in Memphis in the tiny storefront recording studio of Sun Records. Good Rockin' Tonight: Sun Records and the Birth of Rock 'n' Roll by Colin Escott with Martin Hawkins. So grab some pomade, fix your hair, and get ready to have a blast! History Here we have gathered a list of titles that explore the history and history-makers of rockabilly. So why not take some time today to delve into the past and revisit some of your favorite music-makers and discover some new ones? It also introduced a new audience to the incomparable Johnny Cash and other classic rock artists. The cover was so successful it even drew praise from the song’s original creator and Ninch Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor. In 2002, Johnny Cash came back into the spotlight when he released his stripped-down cover of Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt”. Rock and roll is constantly evolving and continuously pulling influences from other genres. On top of these annual conventions, modern music streaming services have made past artists more accessible than ever before. Ritchie Valens was only 17 at the time of his death and was a crossover success between both Spanish and English-speaking audiences with his hits 'La Bamba' and 'Donna'. The Winter Dance Party was the venue that hosted their last performance before their deaths. All three artists managed to release major hits within their short life span. The event was referenced in Don McLean’s “American Pie” as “The Day the Music Died”. 'The Big Bopper' Richardson (28), and Ritchie Valens (17) three rock and roll legends who were killed in a plane crash while on their way to a performance on February 3, 1959. The event is held in honor of Buddy Holly (22), J.P. New rockabilly bands are still releasing records, and you can often see them perform at vintage car shows or retro-themed conventions such as the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend, which has been an annual convention since 1998.Įvery year since 1979, the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa has hosted an annual Winter Dance Party, a three-day event celebrating classic 1950s and 1960s rock and roll. The genre may have faded from the mainstream, but it never truly died. The women will either embody Donna Reid or Bettie Page with classic retro glamour looks. Their cars will usually be vintage or vintage-inspired. The men will often sport blue jeans, white t-shirts, and “greased” up pompadours. Rockabilly enthusiasts can easily be spotted thanks to their signature style. Musicians and films of the time, such as James Dean’s Rebel Without a Cause, inspired the look and overall feel of the rock and roll scene. As the years passed, rockabilly eventually developed into its own unique style that was different from mainstream rock and country. Most of them then went on to perform at the Grand Ole Opry alongside other country legends of the time. Many of these musicians and bands got their start down in Memphis, Tennessee at the famous Sun Records Company where they recorded their first tracks. Black musicians such as Chuck Berry, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and Fats Domino were instrumental in the early development of the genre that would later become dominated by white musicians.Ĭharacterized by a strong rhythm, vocal twangs, and an inescapable need to bop along, rockabilly saw its heyday in the 1950s when it was brought to the mainstream through musicians such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Buddy Holly and the Crickets, Bill Haley and the Comets, Wanda Jackson, and Jerry Lee Lewis. The name itself comes from its primary sources: rock and country, or “hillbilly” music as it was referred to at the time. Most early rockabilly musicians came from primarily poor, rural areas of the American south and were thus heavily influenced by the genres that were popular in their hometowns, such as blues and jazz. Rockabilly is a subgenre of rock and roll the perfect blend of rock, country, and rhythm and blues. Well get your glad rags on and join us as we take our old records off the shelf to give them a spin! Hey all you cool cats! Are you ready to rock?

Hillbilly rock genre