Peggy Sue

I have definitely talked about Buddy Holly before, but he was a pioneer of rock and roll, so I'll talk about him again.

Unfortunately, the “King of Rock and Roll” to me, did not last long enough in the music industry to obtain that title. Buddy Holly (despite dying so early into his life and career) did make a difference in the world of rock and roll. He wrote his own music and was the first to use advanced techniques in the studio. He, along with Berry, Lewis, and Domino, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.

He learned how to play the guitar, piano, and the fiddle at a young age, and after high school, he formed the Western and Bop Band, a country group. Holly was soon signed by Decca and released singles with the band name, Buddy Holly and the Three Tunes. Then, in 1957, he got a new band that he called the Crickets. Their song “That’ll Be the Day” immediately got them a contract with Coral and Brunswick labels.

When he split from the band in 1958, he did some solo work, which is sometimes easy to distinguish from his work with the Crickets because his solo work sometimes involved an orchestra – the Crickets only used their instruments. His songs with the Crickets became Number Ones quickly because of their upbeat rock and roll sound.

[Source:  YouTube]

"Peggy Sue" was released in 1957 by Buddy Holly - The Crickets weren't acknowledged on the single.  Joe B. Mauldin and Jerry Allison, however, were known to be on the track.  Even though Buddy Holly had so many successful songs, people think this one is his best.  

Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On

Here's to another rock and roll pioneer.  Jerry Lee Lewis was probably the first reckless rock and roller.  Inducted in 1986, he at that point had sold millions upon millions of singles and records.  Known for his scandalous lyrics, Lewis also developed a reputation after marrying his 13-year-old cousin in 1958.  That was the point where his career faltered a little bit.

But aside from his troubled past, Jerry Lee Lewis began loving music at a young age.  At eight he started to play the piano based on the music he heard around him.  Boogie-woogie, R&B and Delta blues were his influences in music.  In 1956, he traveled to Memphis, Tennessee to audition for Sun Records.  Rock and roll greats Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Roy Orbison were all a part of the record-breaking label.

[Source:  YouTube]

Lewis recorded "Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On" with Sun Records in 1957.  The song was originally written by Dave "Curlee" Williams and James Faye "Roll" Hall.  The song was first recorded in 1955 by Big Maybelle for Okeh Records.  It was Lewis' idea to add the "boogie piano" with complements by J.M. Van Eaton playing the drums with a lot of energy.

Rock Around the Clock

Rock and Roll was a major turning point in the music industry. New artists like Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Gene Vincent helped pave the road to the biggest genre of music ever known to this point. The genre was created with influences of blues and country, along with technological advances such as the electric guitar, amplifier, microphone, and the 45 rpm record. This was also around the time the transistor radio was invented, and car radios became more popular, as well. This meant listening to music anywhere became a lot easier and more practical. It was also the first time teenagers could have music of their own, so rock and roll immediately became the coolest genre, thanks to the younger generation.

The year was 1955 when rock and roll really took off. “Rock Around the Clock” by Bill Haley & His Comets is said to be the starting point of rock and roll.

[Source:  YouTube]

With this post, the next few days will be all about the first pioneers of rock and roll, so all of the artists will be from 1955-1958.  Bill Haley & His Comets weren't really considered to be pioneers of rock music.  The hit song (which went on to be the theme song of the television show Happy Days) was more of a starting point for the new genre about to take over America.