A Rock and Roll Revolution

Although "rock and roll" was a phrase commonly used in the black community to describe a sex act, it was Alan Freed, a Cleveland radio Disc Jockey in the early 50's who began regularly using the phrase in reference to the rhythm and blues tunes he played on his late night radio show. Freed played songs originated by black artists rather than the cover versions by white artists that were most often heard on popular radio stations.  Freed's audience preferred Fats Domino's 'Ain't That a Shame' to the the cover made famous by Pat Boone.  And they liked the raw sound of 'Wallflower' (Roll with Me Henry) by Etta James instead of the "whitewashed" version 'Dance with me Henry' popularized by Georgia Gibbs. 

With the help of Freed and others, a generation of teenagers found an identity through the music of rock and roll. They listened to those wild, controversial sounds as they cruised around town in their automobiles.  And they bought the 45rpm records and danced the jitterbug to a frenzy at ballrooms and hops.  Adolescents were infatuated with the music of Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Bill Haley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley and 1955 was the year Rock and Roll became a national phenomena.  

In January, Freed put on the first "Rock N Roll Ball" at St. Nicholas Arena in Harlem.  The two night event featured Joe Turner, Fats Domino, The Moonglows and a number of other R&B and doo-wop groups. It made a lot of money and caught the attention of promoters and media executives.  It was a sign of the changes to come to mainstream music.   

In March, Bo Diddley released his first single, self titled, 'Bo Diddley.'  The song had a certain rhythm that became known as the Bo Diddley beat. It became an R &B hit and in November Bo performed it on The Ed Sullivan Show, one of television's most popular and influential programs. 'Bo Diddley' was the first rock and roll song to play on network television and made a huge impact on Ed Sullivan's thirteen million viewers. 

Also, in March, the movie Blackboard Jungle premiered in theaters nationwide.  The film starring Glenn Ford as a teacher at an inner city public school is a social commentary, a story of youth rebellion.  It's  highly emotional, raw, and angry and gives warning to the dangers of juvenile delinquency and was banned by some communities.  The film opens with the song 'Rock Around The Clock' performed by Bill Haley and the Comets. The upbeat music plays though the beginning credits and makes for a memorable opening scene.  Blackboard Jungle introduced rock and roll music to the American public and advanced the genre's reputation as anti establishment and fashionable.  Rock around the Clock became a huge hit.  It was the first rock and roll single to reach number one on the billboard charts and held the top spot for eight weeks in the summer of 1955.

"The colored folks been singing it and playing it just like I’m doin' now....nobody paid it no mind 'til I goosed it up. I got it from them," said a young Elvis Presley.

The day I was born, 20 year old Elvis played a concert on the first stop on his 1955 east Texas tour.  He was near Hawkins, Texas, in the middle of oil fields at the Humble Oil Camp.  By all accounts a couple hundred people packed like sardines into the Humble Recreation Hall.  Elvis, a regular performer on the Louisiana Hayride was known for his rockabilly style, mostly by folks in the south.  That night the Presley's play list included his regional hit 'That's Alright' and it certainly was.  By May, the hard working, charismatic Elvis was causing great commotion.  His hip-shaking and high energy performances helped his popularity soar to the point of causing a near riot in Jacksonville, Florida when he told the girls in the audience of 14,000 that he would see them back stage after the show. His clothes were literally ripped from his body as he fled to a  police paddy wagon for protection.   By the close of 1955 Elvis had a signed a contract with RCA Records and recorded "Heartbreak Hotel" which would be his first national hit.   He was ready for prime time and on the road to becoming the King of Rock and Roll.

 

 

 

Listen to the different versions of three hit songs from 1955;

 'Sincerely', 'Ain't That a Shame' and 'Dance with Me Henry.' 

 

Watch closely at :49.    Best viewed Full Screen.