Listen To Bill Hayley
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Carl Perkins - Blue Suede Shoes
Rockabilly, in essence, was at the heart of the emergence of Rock n Roll. It was its raging southern belly. 'In the 1950s, white teenagers from poor southen backgrounds, growing up in the border states where black and white cultures stood face tro face over a seemingly impassable chasm, concoted the pulsating misture of African American-inspired Rhythm & Blues and Country & Western known as Rockabilly. There were teenagers such as Jerry Lee Lewis, who leapt on his piano, banged the keys with his feet, and heaved his jacket, and sometimes his shredded shirt, to the audience; the more subdued Carl Perkins, writer of 'Blue Suede Shoes', 'Boppin The Blues'... and many other classics, Johnny Cash, who launched his career with 'Ballad of a Teenage Queen ... Johnny Burnette, the co- founder of the crazed Rock and Roll Trio with brother Dorsey and Paul Burlinson; the quite bespectacled Texan, Charles ('Buddy') Holly; and, of course, Elvis Presley, the pacesetter of the new music, whose raw edge drove the crowds to a frenzy. Despite the warnings of many horrified adults, these poor southern whites spread the message of Rock-and-Roll to millions of clamouring teenage fans and vaulted to the top-of-the national charts.' (Szatmary, Sources) Jerry Lee Lewis - Whole Lotta Shakin Going On
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Hear About
Rockabilly On RM Radio |
As one observer noted: the term 'Rockabilly' is a portmanteau of 'Rock' (from 'Rock 'n' Roll') and 'Hillbilly', the latter a reference to the country music (often called 'Hillbilly music' in the 1940s and 1950s) that contributed strongly to the development of the style. |
Bill Monroe is known as the Father of Bluegrass, a specific style of country music. Many of his songs were in blues form, while others took the form of folk ballads, parlor songs, or waltzes. Bluegrass was a staple of country music in the early 1950s, and is often mentioned as an influence in the development of Rockabilly. |
One of the first written uses of the term "Rockabilly" was in a June 23, 1956, Billboard review of Ruckus Tyler's "Rock Town Rock". Three weeks earlier, "Rockabilly" was used in a press release describing Gene Vincent's "Be-Bop-A- Lula". The first record to contain the word "Rockabilly" in a song title was issued in November 1956 — "Rock a Billy Gal". |
Maddox Bros & Rose
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In 1951, Bill Hayley as a western swing
bandleader recorded a version of "Rocket 88" with his group, the Saddlemen. This song has long been considered one of the earliest recognized rockabilly recordings. Along with the Saddlemen, Haley followed up with other great hits and thus crafted this early Rockabilly sound sparking a genre which still resonates today. On April 12, 1954, Haley with his new band known as the 'Comets' recorded "Rock Around the Clock", which soon became a massive hit worldwide after it featured in the film Blackboard Jungle. Rockabilly was borne and grew into a massive form of 'Rock n Roll' (the catchall term coined by DJ Alan Freed) in its own right. And now at the top of the mountain top it has largely stayed |
Bill Hayley & The Saddlemen - Rocket 88
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The Blackboard Jungle
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Curtis Gordon - Rompin & Stompin
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Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison Blues
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Wanda Jackson - Let's Have A Party
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Roy Hall - See You Later Alligator
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Buddy Holly -
Rave On Elvis Presley -
Heartbreak Hotel Everly Brothers -
Bye Bye Love Brenda Lee - Rock The Bop
Eddie Cochran - C'mon Everybody
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Art Adams, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Carroll, The Collins Kids, Buddy Holly, Charlie Feathers, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, Brenda Lee, Sonny Burgess, Ray Smith Warren Smith, Crash Craddock, Johnny Burnette, Carl Perkins, Rick Nelson, Jack Scott, Gene Summers, Jumpin Gene Simmons, Conway Twitty, Margaret Lewis, Marty Robbins, Billy Fury, Billy Lee Riley, Ronnie Dawson, Wanda Jackson, Ronnie Hawkins, Dale Hawkins, Johnny Horton, Buddy Knox, Jimmy Bowen, Link Wray, Roy Orbison, Bob Luma, Mac Curtis, Everly Brothers, Bobby Fuller Four, Del Shannon, Johnny Cash, Lonnie Mack, Duane Eddy, Werly Fairburn, Carl Mann, Grady Martin, Bob Moore, Sanford Clark, Bobby Sowell, Buddy Harman, Sonny Curtis, Mickey Hawks, Roddy Jackson, Joe Poovey. |
Wanda Jackson -
Hard Headed Woman Gene Vincent -
Hard Headed Woman Elvis Presley -
That's Alright Mama Crash Craddock -
Boom Boom Baby Rockabilly 514 History
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Stray Cats - Stray Cats Strut
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Shakin Stevens - This Ole House
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Queen - This Crazy Thing Called Love
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Tenpole Tudor - Swords of a 1000 men
Rockabilly/Punk |
Tenpole Tudor - 3 Bells In A Row
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Carl Perkins & Friends
- Rockabilly Session |
Go To Major Bands & Artists |