RocknRoll Across the 1950s
The story of rock’n’roll from the early 1950 to the tragic death of Buddy Holly in a plane crash in 1959 – rocknroll across the 1950s.
Derek Shelmerdine, author of Rock’n’Roll Unravelled
is one of the guests on Tony Higginson’s Book Club.
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…7.30 to 10.30 pm (UK) Monday 14 February
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Rocknroll Across the 1950s
RocknRoll Across the 1950s
Elvis based his version of his second Sun single, Good Rockin’ Tonight on Wynonie Harris’s 1948 release. Good Rockin’ Tonight is a contender for the title of the first rock’n’roll record. However, that honour is generally considered to go to Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats with their 1951 single, Rocket 88.
Alan Freed was one of the influential DJs bringing R&B music to new white teenage audiences in the early 1950s. During this time country and rockabilly artists such as Carl Perkins and Bill Haley and His Saddlemen were covering R&B songs. Alan Freed coined the term “rock’n’roll” to describe this new music.
In March 1955 the movie Blackboard Jungle opened in New York. Bill Haley and His Comets’ song (We’re Gonna) Rock Around the Clock played in the background of the film’s opening credits. The result was immediate. Rock’n’Roll exploded onto an unsuspecting world.
Elvis had his first hit single Heartbreak Hotel in March 1956. At the end of December he had a staggering ten singles on the Billboard Hot-100.
As well as Elvis and Bill Haley, a host of new rock’n’roll stars emerged in 1956 and 1957. Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Everly Brothers, Gene Vincent and Buddy Holly all found international rock’n’roll fame.
In addition to these new rock’n’roll stars, established R&B artists started having crossover hits. No longer confined to the R&B charts, artists such as Fats Domino and Ray Charles found there songs appealing to teenage white audiences. Consequently, their R&B hits also charted on the mainstream Hot-100 charts
Golden age of rock’n’roll was passing…
Sadly, the golden age of rock’n’roll was passing. One of rock’n’roll’s biggest stars, Little Richard was on tour in Australia in October 1957. He suddenly discovered religion and denounced rock’n’roll.
Two more rock’n’roll giants left the stage in 1958. In March the King of Rock’n’Roll, Elvis Presley was conscripted into the US Army. The other major loss to rock’n’roll followed in May, when Jerry Lewis arrived in the UK for his first British tour. His fans discovered that the lady accompanying him, his wife, was his cousin’s thirteen-year-old daughter. Fans on both sides of the Atlantic deserted him in their droves. For Jerry Lee the rock’n’roll dream was over.
The final tragedy came on 3 February 1959, “the day the music died”. Buddy Holly was killed in a plane crash during his Winter Garden Party tout of America’s mid-West.
The golden age of rock’n’roll might have passed but the legacy will live on – forever…
Derek Shelmerdine presents the outline of the story, with Tony and his other guests adding their own comments and memories. Plus, live music, poetry readings and some very lively conversation.
Tony Higginson’s Beyond Books Book Club
Every week Tony Higginson hosts his Beyond Books Book Club, which goes out live on Zoom and Facebook at 7.30 to 10.30 pm (UK) on Monday Evenings.
If you are watching the show live on Facebook – join in the conversation.
Author of Rock’n’Roll Unravelled, Derek Shelmerdine is a regular monthly guest on the Beyond Books Book Club.
The Book Club has a regular panel of writers, poets, musicians and book-lovers in general. The discussion is wide ranging with readings, poetry recitals and live performances from the musicians.
A signed copy of Derek Shelmerdine‘s book Rock’n’Roll Unravelled
is available from Tony Higginson’s online bookshop.
RocknRoll Across the 1950s – Beyond Books Book Club
Recorded live on Facebook and Zoom on 14 February 2022.
