Rockabilly

ROCKABILLY

Listen To Bill Hayley

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

Hear About
Rockabilly On
RM Radio

To Hear About Rockabilly Click Below

Base 'Slapping' was a major part of the Rockabilly sound.

As one of the earliest styles of Rock n Roll, and originating from the deep US South in

the 1950s , Rockabilly in combining Country & Western and Rhythm & Blues has also

been defined as "popular music combining features of Rock 'n' Roll and Bluegrass."

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.

Bill Monroe

Go To Bluegrass

Bluegrass

The origins of Rockabilly as a hybrid fusion of Blues with Country go back a long way

before the 1950s, even back to the 1920s, and also had Western Swing influences.

Boogie played a role, and the slapped bass became prominent, as you 'got to have

somethin' they can tap their foot, or dance to, or to make 'em feel it.' But it really

kicked off after the Second World War. As a band The Maddoxes & Rose for example,

were considered as trailblazers of the newly emerging Rockabilly sound.

'They played hillbilly music but it sounded real hot. They played real loud for that time,

too..."The Maddoxes were also known for their lively "antics and stuff." "We

always put on a show... I mean it just wasn't us up there pickin' and singing. There was

something going on all the time...the demonstrative Maddoxes, helped release

white bodies from traditional motions of decorum... more and more younger white

artists began to behave on stage like the lively Maddoxes." Others believe that they

were not only at the leading edge, but were one of the first Rockabilly groups, if not the

first.' [Sources]

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

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

The Blackboard Jungle

The classic instruments associated with

Rockabilly include - a hollow-body guitar, and

upright bass, and a pared-down drum kit. Some

drummers even left out the bass drum.

Rockabilly Mix

Rockabilly - Boogie & Honky Tonk = Rock n Roll

Rockabilly was considerably influenced by both Boogie and Honky Tonk. Honky

Tonk tended to deal with life themes of lost love, loneliness and other troubles, but also

included uptempo Hillbilly Boogie sounds. Some of the better known musicians who

recorded and performed these songs were the Delmore Brothers, the Maddox Brothers

and Rose, Merle Travis, Hank Williams, Hank Snow, and Tennessee Ernie Ford.

Curtis Gordon's 1953 "Rompin' and Stompin' ", an uptempo hillbilly-boogie included

the lyrics, "Way down south where I was born, They rocked all night 'til early morn',

They start rockin', They start rockin' an rollin'."

Curtis Gordon - Rompin & Stompin

Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison Blues

Some Of The Giants Of Rockabilly

Johnny Cash

Carl Perkins

Elvis Presley
- The King Of Rockabilly

Wanda Jackson
- The Queen Of Rockabilly

Buddy Holly

In 1956 Rockabilly Swept The U.S.

In January 1956, Cash, Perkins and Elvis Presley all released classic new songs.

Cash released: "Folsom Prison Blues", Perkins "Blue Suede Shoes", and Presley

"Heartbreak Hotel". Other rockabilly tunes also released this month included 'See You

Later Alligator' by Roy Hall and 'Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On by the Commodores.

Perkins's "Blue Suede Shoes" sold 20,000 records a day at one point, and it was the

first million-selling country song to cross over to both rhythm and blues and pop charts.

Elvis Presley then also did numerous TV appearances singing "Blue Suede Shoes" and

“Heartbreak Hotel.” Both songs soon topped the Billboard charts. Soon other artists

began to get national attention such as Brenda Lee,Wanda Jackson, Gene Vincent and

other rockabilly artists. Rockabilly was on a national roll in popularity.

Wanda Jackson - Let's Have A Party

Roy Hall - See You Later Alligator

Rockabilly Invades Britain

As one observer noted: 'The first wave of rockabilly fans in Britain were called 'Teddy

Boys' because they wore long, Edwardian-style frock coats, along with tight black

drainpipe trousers and brothel creeper shoes. By the early 1960s, they had

metamorphosed into the rockers, and had adopted the classic greaser look of T-shirts,

jeans, and leather jackets to go with their heavily slicked pompadour haircuts. The

rockers loved 1950s rock and roll artists such as Gene Vincent, and some British

rockabilly fans formed bands and played their own version of the music.'

The Beatles were the most notable of these bands was The Beatles. John Lennon's

particular favourite was Eddie Cochran's 'Twenty Flight Rock'. As the Beatles became

more professional, they played in Hamburg, and took on the "Beatle" name (inspired by

Buddy Holly’s Crickets ) and adopted Gene Vincent's black leather look. In their music

they combined Holly’s melodic pop sensibility with the rough and rocking sounds of

Carl Perkins and Gene Vincent. Once having achieved global success, the Beatles

released versions of three different Carl Perkins songs, more than any other songwriter

outside the band. Long after the Beatles broke up, as individuals they continued to

show their interest in rockabilly. In 1975, Lennon recorded an album called Rock 'n'

Roll, featuring versions of rockabilly hits and a cover photo showing him in full Gene

Vincent leather. Ringo Starr also had a hit with a version of Johnny Burnette’s "You’re

Sixteen". In the 1980s, Paul McCartney actually recorded a duet with Carl Perkins, and

George Harrison played with Roy Orbison in the Traveling Wilburys. In 1999,

McCartney released Run Devil Run, his own record of Rockabilly covers.

Eddie Cochran - Twenty Flight Rock

Early Beatles

Paul McCartney & Carl Perkins

Rockabilly ensured an enduring appeal to teenagers through its combination of

rebellion, sexuality, and freedom. As some experts argue, it embraced a sneering

expression of disdain for the 'workaday' world of parents and authority figures. It was

the first rock ‘n’ roll style to be performed primarily by white musicians, thus setting

off a cultural revolution that is still reverberating today. "Rockabilly" deviance from

social norms, however, was more symbolic than real; and eventual public professions of

social conservatism and faith in the status quo by aging rockabillies has become quite

common.

The List Of US Rockabilly Artists In The US Over The years, Is

Endless. See Below For Some Of The Early Performers.

1950s Rockabilly Dance With Bill Hayley & The Comets
- Rip It Up

Buddy Holly -
Rave On

Elvis Presley -
Heartbreak Hotel

Everly Brothers -
Bye Bye Love

Brenda Lee - Rock The Bop

Eddie Cochran - C'mon Everybody

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

Decline:

While Rockabilly enjoyed enormous popularity in the United States during 1956 and

1957, its grip on radio play was in decline after 1960. Many factors contributed to this

decline including the death of Buddy Holly (along with Ritchie Valens and the Big

Bopper) in 1959, the induction of Elvis Presley into the army in 1958, and a general

change in American musical tastes. However the style remained popular longer in

England, where it attracted a fanatical following right up through the mid-1960s, and

some of still exists today. As late as 1980, Rockabilly still made it to the top of the

charts with Queen's single "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", the song considered as an

expression of Freddie Mercury's admiration of Rockabilly.

While the influence and popularity of the style waned in the 1960s, during the late

1970s and early 1980s-notably with the Stray Cats and Shakin Stevens, Rockabilly

enjoyed a major revival of popularity. An interest in rockabilly endures even in the 21st

century, often within a Rockabilly subculture, and with a myriad of modern Rockabilly

artists.