Wanda Nominated
Rockabilly pioneer Wanda Jackson is one of nine nominees announced Monday (Sept. 22) for
potential induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This year's other nominees are
Jeff Beck, Chic, Little Anthony & the Imperials, Metallica, Run-D.M.C., the Stooges, War
and Bobby Womack. The final five inductees for 2009 will be announced in January. The 24th
annual induction ceremony will take place April 4 in Cleveland. Beginning with her 1958
hit, "Fujiyama Mama," Jackson scored a series of rockabilly and country hits, including
"Let's Have a Party," "Right or Wrong" and "In the Middle of a Heartache.
Jerry Reed R.I.P.
September 2, 2008 - Jerry Reed, the singer, songwriter, guitarist and actor whose No. 1 country hits
include "When You're Hot, You're Hot," "Lord, Mr. Ford" and "She Got the Goldmine
(I Got the Shaft)," died. He had been diagnosed with emphysema and
was in hospice care. Although he was nicknamed "The Guitar Man,"
Reed was also known for his comedic roles in the films Smokey and the
Bandit and The Waterboy. Elvis Presley recorded two of Reed's songs, "U.S.
Male" and "Guitar Man," and was invited by Presley's producer to play his
distinctive "claw-style" guitar licks on the studio recordings as well.
Reed's other hits as a performer include "East Bound and Down" (from Smokey
and the Bandit) and "The Bird" (which included impressions of Willie Nelson
and George Jones). The Tennessean Obit.
Kay Wheeler Instructs "All Shook Up" Musical Cast
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA - August 7, 2008 - At 68 years old, it is the bop that won't stop for
Kay Wheeler who founded the Nation's First and Largest Elvis Presley Fan club back in 1956
and starred in one of the first rock and roll movies, Rock Baby Rock It. The Mountain View
Center for Performing Arts invited Wheeler, who is now a real estate broker in the San
Francisco Bay area, to share with the All Shook Up cast a historical perspective of teens
in the 50s to help them get into their roles and to recreate for them some of the original
dance steps that she showed to Elvis when she first met him in San Antonio, Texas on April
15, 1956.
The 21 year old Presley was appearing at the Municipal Auditorium there and was
billed as the "Atomic Powered Singer." Wheeler met with Elvis on 6 more occasions in her
teenage years and headed up a fan club of over 65,000 members worldwide. Kay Wheeler was
inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame and was also a girlfriend of Elvis. She also
appeared in the teen mania flick Hot Rod Gang in 1958.
Kay lives a normal life now in the
Bay Area and she says, "My teen times with Elvis and the birth of rock and roll in the 50s
have left a smile on my face that just won't go away!" Wheeler has a published
autobiography called Growing Up With the Memphis Flash. When she was interviewed on Brian
Williams NBC Nightly News, she further explained Elvis' phenomenal popularity, "He's what
every girl wants; what every man wants to be - and on stage, he's a hunk, a hunk of
burning love!" (For more information and jpeg photos, call 408-504-1468 - www.kaywheeler.com)
Charlie Feathers New Releases Out Now
Norton is very proud to present three full volumes of Charlie Feathers
with rare and unissued performances spanning his entire career. This
series has been much anticipated by rockabilly fans worldwide and the
wait is over! Each set features liner notes by Mike Hurtt including
interviews with Charlie's family, friends and fellow musicians as well
as unbelievable photos. Many rare titles are offered from master tapes
for the first time since their initial release. TWENTY FIVE
PERFORMANCES HAVE NEVER BEEN ISSUED ANYWHERE!!
"Charlie Feathers is the main reason there is and was Sun Records.
I will always be a Charlie Feathers fan." - Johnny Cash
CHARLIE FEATHERS - WILD SIDE OF LIFE (Norton 332) Wild Side Of
Life*/One More Time*/We're Getting Closer To Being Apart*/Am I That
Easy To Forget*/Pardon Me Mister*/Cockroach/I Want To Love You*/Wedding
Gown Of White (1973 version)/Dig Myself A Hole*/'Cause I Love
You*/Frankie And Johnny*/Mound Of Clay/Why Pretend*/I Forgot To
Remember To Forget/Man In Love/Folsom Prison Blues CD adds... Release Me
(with Junior Kimbrough)/Charlie Feathers Interview Part One
CHARLIE FEATHERS - HONKY TONK KIND (Norton 333) One Good Gal/Give Back
All The Love You Gave*/Honky Tonk Kind*/I Can't Seem To Remember To
Forget*/If You Were Mine To Lose/I Lose My Mind*/Folsom Prison
Blues*/We're Getting Closer To Being Apart*/You Believe Everyone But
Me/I Want To Love You*/Send Me The Pillow You Dream On/Cold Cold
Heart*/Dinky John/Two To Choose/Dig Myself A Hole CD adds Feel Good
Again (with Junior Kimbrough)/Charlie Feathers Interview Part Two
CHARLIE FEATHERS - LONG TIME AGO (Norton 334) Jungle Fever/Frankie And
Johnny*/She's Gone*/That's All Right/It's Just That Song/Why Don't
You/Knoxville Girl/I Lose My Mind*/Jungle Fever/Long Time Ago*/I Want
To Love You*/Will You Be Satisfied That Way*/Folsom Prison Blues/We're
Getting Closer To Being Apart*/South Of Chicago/Mound Of Clay CD adds
Lonesome Whistle/Charlie Feathers Interview Part Three
*=previously unissued
Ellas McDaniel a/k/a Bo Diddley, 1928-2008
June 2, 2008 - It is with profound regret that we announce that Bo Diddley died of
heart failure today
(Monday) at his home in Archer, FL. He was 79.
He had suffered a heart attack in August, three months after suffering a stroke while
touring in Iowa. He had returned to Florida to continue rehabilitation.
One of the founding fathers of rock & roll, a truly unique talent and an influence upon
generations of musicians, Ellas' commitment to issues close to his heart, including human
rights, the state of the Nation, homelessness, unemployment and the importance of
education, touched many people across America and beyond.
Born to entertain, he was a man of great innovation and energy. The Bo Diddley beat, his
trademark square guitars, his pioneering use of female musicians and his exciting and
highly idiosyncratic performances over five decades, form part of his lasting legacy.
Ellas leaves behind his devoted family, their fine families and fans and admirers around
the world that join them in honoring a good life of kindness and musical vision. Visit the RHOF Bo Diddley Archives
Ronnie Hawkins' 1959-63 Roulette Sessions Twofer CD combines Mojo Man and Arkansas Rock Pile albums, featuring The Hawks (later The
Band): Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Richard Manuel, Garth Hudson and Rick Danko
Ronnie Hawkins, born in 1935, was the rock 'n' roll pride of
Arkansas in the '50s when, at the suggestion of fellow Arkansan Conway Twitty, he moved
to Canada, where there was a thriving rockabilly scene. From Hamilton, Ontario, Hawkins
successfully toured and recorded in both his adoptive country and his native USA. "There
were three guys in those days who would really knock you out," recalls Sun rockabilly
artist Sonny Burgess, "Elvis, Jerry Lee and Ronnie Hawkins." Two of Hawkins' classic
albums, Mojo Man and Arkansas Rock Pile, both culled from 1959-63 sessions in Nashville
and New York, will be reissued on Collectors' Choice Music on April 29, 2008. Pop
historian Gene Sculatti, author of The Catalog of Cool, wrote the liner notes.
Hawkins was equally known for his band, The Hawks, which started back home in Arkansas
with drummer Levon Helm but gained its core membership in Canada with Robbie Robertson,
Richard Manuel, Rick Danko and Garth Hudson. (In later years, The Hawks went on to become
Bob Dylan's band and later The Band.)
The Collectors' Choice twofer contains two long-out-of-print albums, featuring 23 tracks
from the early sessions. While information on the Roulette label is always a bit spotty,
the label appears to have released Mojo Man in 1967 in Canada only, and released Arkansas
Rock Pile in 1970 in the U.K. only.
Mojo Man culls most of its material from other artists and writers, but Hawkins leaves his
own mark on each song. Teaming The Hawks with saxophone legend King Curtis, Hawkins turns
"Suzy Q," originated in 1957 by his cousin Dale Hawkins, into a rave-up. Carl
Perkins' "Matchbox" is re-imagined with an R&B bar-band feel and a scorching Robbie
Robertson guitar solo. Other highlights include Bobby "Blue" Bland's "Farther Up
The Road" and "What a Party," a re-titled cover of Muddy Waters' "She's 19
Years Old." Two other covers, Hank Williams' "Your Cheating Heart" and George
Gershwin's "Summertime," hail from two different Nashville sessions in 1960 and
feature, instead of The Hawks, Floyd Cramer, piano; Harold Bradley, guitar; and Bob Moore,
bass.
In Arkansas Rock Pile, Hawkins pays further homage to his fellow originators of rock
'n' roll. The album contains wild treatments of Bo Diddley's "Who Do You Love"
(featuring furious guitar work by Robbie Robertson and Richard Manuel's pumpin' piano)
plus Bo's eponymous "Bo Diddley"; Chuck Berry's "Thirty Days," re-cast as
"Forty Days"; Billy Lee Riley's wild rockabilly anthem "My Gal is Red Hot"; and
Larry Williams' "Dizzy Miss Lizzy." Also included are the mid-tempo blues "Come
Love" (with Helm, Danko and Robertson and a chorus likely containing Dionne and DeeDee
Warwick) and Hawkins' own Lieber & Stoller-produced "Arkansas," which name checks
"Mary Lou, Odessa and Runaround Sue." On "Arkansas," Helm, Robertson and Manuel
are joined by blues harmonica giant Sonny Terry.
Fresh from his Roulette years (1959-67), Hawkins went to Atlantic's Cotillion label,
where he had a hit with "Down in the Alley," featuring Duane Allman and the Muscle
Shoals Rhythm Section. He continues to gig, as he puts it, "wherever there are rock
'n' rollers. That's what we've been doing for more than 40 years. It's made me
everything from an honorary mayor to an honorary member of a motorcycle gang."
For more information on Collectors' Choice Music, please contact conqueroo:
Cary Baker (323) 656-1600 - cary@conqueroo.com
Glenn Barber R.I.P.
Sunday, March 30, 2008 - Country and rockabilly singer Glenn Barber, 73, died Friday.
Barber was born in Hollis, Okla. on Feb. 2 1935 and later moved to Pasadena, Texas.
He died at his home in Madison, Tennessee. He was in his music room with his guitar
when his wife, Betty found him slumped in his chair.
Barber first took up guitar and later bass, drums, Dobro and mandolin. His first single was in
1952 on Stampede with "You Took the Twinkle Out of My Stars. Two years later, he had a
deal with Starday.
He released country-flavored rockabilly singles on Starday with the last out in 1956. He
later released four singles on the D label.
In the 1960s, Barber became a disc jockey and featured performer on Houston's KIKK. Along
with his band, the Western Swingmasters, Barber appeared on the station five nights a week
until 1968. He went top 30 in 1964 with "Stronger Than Dirt." He signed with the Nashville
label Hickory in 1968. He made a full-length debut in 1970 with "A New Star." "Kissed By
the Rain, Warmed By the Sun" (1969) and "Unexpected Goodbye" (1972) hit the top 30. "She
Cheats on Me" was later recorded by Roy Orbison. Barber switched to MMI in 1979 and penned
"Everyone Wants to Disco." It was his last charting single. Barber turned to painting and
screenwriting in the 1980s and 1990s He had a total of 21 songs hit the charts with "First
Love Feelings" being his last one, reaching number 74 in 1980.
Glenn Barber Tribute site
Sam Phillips U.S. Postage Stamp Campaign
Liz Scott says that U.S. Stamp Campaign has expanded worldwide.
Thousands of music lovers around the world continue to weigh in their support for the
ultimate accolade for a man who was the driving force behind the Rock'n'Roll movement
of the 1950s. Sam Phillips discovered the talents, of international stars such as Elvis
Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, B. B. King, Ike Turner and Roy Orbison, to name a
few. Phillips, who was a poor sharecropper's son, was born in Florence, AL. He moved to
Memphis, TN and opened a small recording studio which opened the doors for both black and
white, and also women. Elvis Presley biographer, Peter Guralnick said, "Sam Phillips
could be said to be the man who invented Rock and Roll. He was a man of vision and
principal- both social and aesthetic - who by dint of personality sought to overcome the
ingrained prejudice of his time and place. His life and work, the music that he recorded
stand, as a tribute to the individuality and freedom, a rebuke to conformity and
convention. And that difference changed the world."
A Sun Records fan from Ontario, Canada said: "If there could be only one definitive book
about the origins of Rock'n'Roll, then Sam Phillips would be the author. An Elvis
fan from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio said: "Sam sure knew talent when he saw it. Nobody else
had this insight on to what people could become. He was so kind to regular people and he
had this way to make you feel like you mattered."
According to Liz Scott, Coordinator of the official Sam Phillips U.S. Commemorative
Postage Stamp Campaign, she is determined to push this campaign forward. Sam broke racial
and social barriers and made his mark in the Civil Rights Movement in his own right -
music had no color to him. His music, 50 years later, continues to stand the test of time.
"Sam Phillips deserves this high honor from our United States Postal Service," said
Scott, "because he brought people together, when this country was still recovering from
the prejudices and insurmountable differences that wounded us from the Civil War of the
1860s. Alabama Governor Bob Riley said, "This is a wonderful opportunity to honor the
legacy of Alabama native Sam Phillips and his profound influence on the world of music.
Sam Phillips' legacy and musical contributions will undoubtedly continue to inspire
performers and music lovers for generations to come."
The motivation behind Ms. Scott's drive to make this stamp happen for Sam is because she
has an enormous passion and respect for Phillips and his family. "He and I were born in
the same Alabama town and he never forgot his hometown roots, said Scott. Florence
Mayor Bobby Irons said, "Sam Phillips was our native son who gave his life to creating and
producing wonderful music. We are very proud of his talents and his great accomplishments
which have influenced and inspired millions of people around the world."
Ms. Scott is a full-time owner of her own house-cleaning business. She is also founder of
the Sam Phillips Music Celebration and President of the Alabama Fans TCB for Elvis Fan
Club.
If you would like more information about the Sam Phillips U.S. Postage Stamp Campaign, or
to schedule an interview with Liz Scott, please call her at 256-766-2913 or
email Liz.
Visit her
MySpace website.
Festival Airings, TV Premiere Set for Wanda Jackson Documentary
A documentary on Oklahoma's "Queen of Rockabilly’" will play at the South by
Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas, and other film festivals and make
its television premiere this spring.
"The Sweet Lady With the Nasty Voice," about rock 'n' roll pioneer Wanda Jackson, will
play at 11:30 a.m. Sunday and 11 a.m. March 14 at the Austin festival. The screenings will
be at the Dobie Theatre, 2025 Guadalupe St. For more information, go online to
www.sxsw.com. In conjunction with those showings, Jackson will perform at 11:45 p.m.
Saturday at the Continental Club, 1315 S Congress Ave. For more information, go online to
www.continentalclub.com.
Other festival circuit stops for the movie include March 24-28 at the Buffalo Niagara Film
Festival in New York, March 27-30 at the Memphis International Film Festival, and April
17-24 at the Nashville Film Festival, both in Tennessee.
The documentary won the Founder's Award last summer when it premiered at deadCenter Film
Festival in Oklahoma City. It will make its worldwide broadcast premiere May 18 on the
Smithsonian Channel. For more information, go online to www.smithsonianchannel.com.
Co-produced and directed by Vincent Kralyevich and Joanne Fish, the film chronicles
Jackson's childhood years in Oklahoma City and her music career that has spanned
rockabilly, early-day rock 'n' roll, country and gospel. The independent filmmakers
followed the Maud native for two years gathering footage.
In the 1950s, Jackson, now 70, was the first female rock 'n' roll singer, belting out
rambunctious songs and paving the way for women to sing rock music, write their songs and
have a sexy look and attitude.
The documentary includes interviews with musical luminaries Elvis Costello, Patti Scialfa,
Bruce Springsteen, Lemmy Kilmister (Motorhead) and Slim Jim Phantom (The Stray Cats). - Brandy McDonnell
Billy Lee Riley Health Update Posted March 7, 2008 -
Larry Donn just let us know that Billy is walking around some.
They are hoping that they get to go home Saturday.
Posted March 3, 2008 -
"I just wanted to give a update on Billy Lee. It was a rough week for us.
Billy went through hip replacement on the 20th and did great,
but on Thursday he developed chest pains, on Sunday he was taken in
for emergency bypass surgery (5 bypasses) he did fine
on that but on Tues he developed a bleed with a clot in the chest
wall that required another emergency surgery. We got out of
ICU on Friday afternoon. Billy is now doing great, he is in good spirits
and knows that a lot of people were praying for him.
He is a very strong and positive person and is planning a full recovery
and being in better form than he ever was. Just
keep us in your prayers and thoughts and Billy will soon be back rocking.
We love all of you." - Joyce (& Billy Lee) Riley.
Bobby Lee Trammell R.I.P. by Curt Hodges JONESBORO, AR - "Mr. Arkansas Twist" has died. Bobby Lee Trammell, the
iconic rock 'n' roller of the 1950s and '60s, was found dead at his
home Wednesday evening when a nephew went over to check on him.
Trammell, well known throughout most of the Mid-South for his music,
politics and personality, was probably best known for his "Arkansas
Twist" of 1962. It was recorded on Alley Records, another Jonesboro
landmark.
Trammell continued to pursue his music with performances mostly in
Europe during recent years.
When you do an Internet search on Bobby Lee Trammell, you find site
after site with information about him. His music was widely accepted
around the world, and his original recordings have had a collector
following for many years.
While the rockabilly style of music was what he recorded and what
made him famous around the world, Trammell's music was not limited to
that type. He loved gospel music and hymns and sang in many churches
throughout the area.
A lot of people recall Trammell as an energetic person who was always
friendly and willing to do what he could for anyone. Not only was he
known for music, but he was a public servant as a member of the the
Arkansas House of Representatives and the Craighead County Quorum
Court. He was on the Quorum Court when he died.
Trammell, as a musician was always a wild man on stage, but off the
stage he was one of the nicest people you could ever want to meet,
said Larry Don Gillihan of Bono, himself a musician who recorded in
the 1950s and '60s and is still at it. "I never ever heard Bobby Lee
say a bad word about anyone, nor even say a bad word. I never knew
him to drink alcohol or smoke tobacco."
Joe Lee, who owned Alley Records in Jonesboro and recorded a couple
of 45s for Trammell, including "Arkansas Twist" and "It's All Your
Fault," had the same thing to say about Trammell.
Lee recalled booking Trammell for a gig at Tupelo, Miss., in the
1960s. When he suggested that they rent a limousine and roll out a
red carpet for Trammell's arrival, complete with a tuxedo and top
hat, Trammell refused, Lee said.
"He just looked at me and said, `I'm not going to do that.'"
He was a humble person, always kind and soft-spoken, Lee said of
Trammell.
But Trammell was persistent. Lee said the performer kept on at him
until he agreed to record "Arkansas Twist." It was done at Alley's
Small digs at 213 East Monroe. It's a parking lot today.
Bobby Lord Passes On
We have lost another great person, Christian family man, super entertainer, songwriter,
and singer.
Grand Ole Opry Star, Bobby Lord passed away February 16, 2008 approximately 10AM.
Bobby had been in ailing health for some time.
Bobby Lord was a native of Sanford, Florida, which was known then as the "celery center of
the world". He was a singer, songwriter, and guitarist and television star. He had his own
long-running syndicated television show in the 1960s, produced by WSM in Nashville.
His musical career began as teenager in Tampa, FL. There, he had his own television show
in Tampa while still in high school-The Bobby Lord Homefolks Show. He got this show when
he was asked to be a guest on a local show, so he did this for two weeks. Then he got a
call from the program director and was asked to take over the show - he was told at the
time that the star of the show had suddenly 'taken ill' and wouldn't be able to host the
show anymore. They asked Bobby if he could get a show together by the next night. He
managed to find a pickup band for the show. Since he had no backup band of his own, he had
to call around and find musicians, which he did - he found an accordion player, a couple
of guitar players for the then 30-minute show. They then gave him an hour show for
Saturday nights. They reported that he did up to 27 numbers in that one hour's time!
His first big break was an appearance on Paul Whiteman's TV show in New York as the result
of winning an amateur talent contest. In 1953, the legendary songwriter, Boudleaux Bryant
had a tape Bobby had cut in Nashville and had it played for Don Law at Columbia records,
who then signed Bobby with Columbia Records. He recorded several "Rockabilly" hits (many
of which have been re-released several times), as well as several country chart records
for Columbia. At the same time, he became a regular on The Ozark Jubilee (an ABC
television show hosted by Red Foley based out of Springfield, Missouri), where he stayed
for five and a half years.
When The Ozark Jubilee went off the air in 1960, that meant Bobby could make the move to
Nashville. Bobby joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1960, where he was a featured performer
(i.e., hosting multiple segments each night he was in attendance) through the 1960s into
the mid-1970s.
In 1961 he began recording for the Hickory label. In 1967, he moved to the Decca label,
where had several additional top 10 and 20 country hits.
He was perhaps best known for The Bobby Lord Show, a nationally syndicated TV show
produced at WSM in Nashville. In a 1967 article, Bobby noted proudly that his syndicated
show was being seen in 40 markets in the USA and in 34 countries around the world. In May
of either 1966 or 1967, he made his first European tour, another career highlight and he
got a great reception by the audiences as they were familiar with his show.
The syndicated show featured The Jerry Byrd Band, which included:
A) Jerry Byrd, the legendary steel guitar player
B) Jerry Whitehurst, piano
C) Spider Wilson, guitar
All three were among the finest musicians Nashville had to offer and each of them played
on countless hit records recorded in Nashville studios. If you went to an Opry performance
during the 60's into the 70's, these guys were the Opry "house" band that backed up
everybody who didn't bring or have their own band, which many performers on the Opry did
not.
Bobby also had a late afternoon LIVE country TV show on WSM during this same time frame.
That show began as a popular daily afternoon show on Channel 4 on September 9, 1963. That
show was the idea of Elmer Ally, Brad Crandall and Bayron Binkley and others who wanted an
afternoon show that featured country music. The concept had been tried before, but not
succeeded, even with different artists each week. This time they tried it with an emcee, a
regular band and to have guests. Jerry Byrd and the band also did the live show, which was
one hour.
While video of the syndicated shows is still available, it's too bad there are no tapes of
those daily WSM shows that Bobby hosted, because lots of interesting stuff happened. The
first time Mel Tillis ever spoke on TV was on this show when they had time to fill at the
end and Bobby asked Mel to tell a funny story he had told off the air. It was funny, but
the switch board at WSM lit up with angry callers about how Bobby had embarrassed Mel. But
as we know, Mel went on to great things in his singing and songwriting career and fans
came to understand the stuttering that became part of his act.
In the early '70s he grew tired of the road, and wanted to spend more time with his
family. He semi-retired from music, returned to his home state of Florida, and developed
very successful real estate and insurance businesses. However, he wasn't through with show
business.
Bobby was well known as an avid outdoorsman, camper, fisherman, hunter, etc. and had a
reputation as an excellent interviewer from his TV shows. With that background, TNN asked
him to host one of it's original shows, Country Sportsman, which was later called
Celebrity Outdoors after ABC got a little upset about the show's original name name being
too similar to its show, American Sportsman. The show had a very long and successful run
and Bobby got paid to travel the world, fish, and visit with old friends.
After several years, he retired from the show in 1989 because he was about to have two new
grandchildren within a month of each other, and he wanted to be home to enjoy them. The
show continued on for another season with another host, but the ratings were not what they
once were when Bobby hosted the show and was subsequently cancelled.
A practicing Christian, Bobby wrote a book entitled Hit The Glory Road, published in 1969
by Broadman Press (Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 73-83309). It's an interesting
book on the grassroots gospel behind country music. It includes interviews with Roy Acuff,
Bill Anderson, Bobby Bare, Jim Ed Brown, songwriters Boudleaux and Felice Bryant, Skeeter
Davis, Ralph Emery, Jeanie C. Riley and Tex Ritter among others.
He lived in Jensen Beach, Florida, with Mozelle, his wife of over 40 years, and was
near all three of his children and seven grandchildren. His house was on a lake in
central Florida, where he regularly host many of his old buddies for bass fishing trips
(Bobby Bare, Jerry Reed, Mel Tillis, and Jimmy Dickens are all "regulars" at the lake
house).
Coming: Chuck Berry
Four Volume Directory
Fans may be interested to know that the UK-based publisher and distributor Music Mentor
Books will shortly be publishing the first volume of "The Chuck Berry International
Directory", compiled by world-renowned Chuck Berry collector and authority Morten Reff.
Volume 1 of the projected 4-volume directory, each around 500 pages, is due for
publication on Tuesday April 15th and contains Chuck Berry discographies from the US, the
UK and more than 40 countries around the world complete with dozens of label and sleeve
illustrations.
Volume 2 is due later in the year and focuses on Chuck's songs, his roots, his influence
on other artists, movies, TV shows, videos, DVDs, bootlegs, radio albums, tours, awards,
tributes, books, fan clubs and websites plus a comprehensive Johnnie Johnson (post-Chuck
Berry) discography and a complete discography of the ultimate Chuck Berry copyist, Eddy
Clearwater.
Volume 3 and Volume 4 are to be published in 2009 and will list more than 4,000 Chuck
Berry cover versions and 800 soundalike records plus songs from movies and TV etc.
Chuck Berry and B Diddley have enjoyed several joint releases around the world over the
years, including 1964's "Two Great Guitars" album and "Chuck's Beat"/"Bo's Beat" single;
the popular 3-volume "Chuck & Bo" series of UK extended-play (EP) discs; the 1972 UK
"Chuck Berry & Bo Diddley - Big Daddies" maxi-single; 1997's "Chuck Berry & Bo Diddley -
Guitar Legends" CD and "Chuck Berry & Bo Diddley's Rock 'n' Roll All-Star Jam" concert
DVD.
Comprehensively annotated with dozens of illustrations of rare record labels and sleeves
and containing previously unpublished photos etc, this 4-volume publication will contain
everything you ever wanted to know about Chuck Berry and is a must for the heavyweight
Chuck fan.
Further details and pre-orders etc are available by visiting the Music Mentor Books
website, located at http://musicmentor0.tripod.com/book_cbid_volume1.html
Music Mentor Books is an independent UK publisher and distributor of quality books for the
music researcher, record collector and dedicated fan.
Music Mentor Books website: http://musicmentor0.tripod.com/
Chuck Berry official website: http://www.chuckberry.com/
Freddie Bell R.I.P.
Rock'n'roll singer who inspired Elvis Presley's version of Hound Dog
Freddie Bell was a 1950s rock'n'roll pioneer whose version of Hound Dog inspired Elvis
Presley to cover the song. He also had a hit with Giddy up a Ding
Dong which he performed with his band the Bellboys in the seminal 1956 teen film Rock
Around The Clock.
Born Freddie Belo to Italian-American parents in Philadelphia in 1931, he joined Ernie
Ventura's band while still in his teens. In 1951 he formed his own
group, the Bellboys, as one of the first white combos to play black music, specialising in
covers of the r&b hits of the day. By 1953 Bell and his five-strong
backing group landed a booking at the Sands Casino, Las Vegas, where they performed
regularly over the next few years.
In 1955 Bell made his first recording back in Philadelphia, a reworking of Big Mama
Thornton's Hound Dog, with toned-down lyrics as the original words were
judged too raunchy for a white audience. In April the following year Elvis Presley, who
was in Las Vegas, heard Bell singing Hound Dog. As they chatted
afterwards, Presley asked if he might cover the song. Bell agreed, but while his record
company buried his version as an album cut on the LP Rock & Roll
All Flavors, Presley's version was released as a single and soared to the top of the
charts.
Bell had better luck with the novelty rocker Giddy up a Ding Dong, which he recorded for
the Wing label in 1956. Once again Las Vegas proved the key when
the film producer Sam Katzman saw him perform the song and invited Bell and the Bellboys
to appear in the first rock'n'roll movie, Rock Around the Clock.
Bell sang Giddy up a Ding Dong and Teach You to Rock in the film, and the former rose to
No4 in the British charts - although, oddly, it was not a hit
in the US.
A second film appearance followed in Rumble on the Docks (1956), but there were no more
hits. Bell continued to work steadily as a nightclub performer and
was still appearing at Las Vegas well past retirement age, billed as the Freddie Bell
Show. Rockin' is Our Business, a CD reissue of his 1950s recordings,
helped to revive interest in his work on its release in 1996.
Freddie Bell, singer and songwriter, was born on September 29, 1931. He died of cancer on
February 10, 2008, aged 76.
Tickets on Sale Now for the April 28 & 29, 2008 Ponderosa Stomp #7
The countdown to the 7th Annual Ponderosa Stomp is on. Tickets are available now for a
mind-melting, hip-shaking double header of sweet soul, funk, rockabilly, garage and rhythm
and blues from the unsung heroes of rock 'n' roll.
Returning to the House of Blues for another year, we're doubling your pleasure with a
comprehensive two-night stand of musical mayhem from the true architects of the sound -
like Rock n'Roll Hall of Fame inductee Ronnie Spector, teen tragedy queen Mary Weiss (of
the Shangri-La's) and blistering soul provider Syl Johnson. Genius bandleader and R&B
mastermind Wardell Quezergue returns to show how it's done New Orleans-style; so does Roky
Erickson's blues-damaged psychedelic assault. From soul-soothing R&B to mind-shattering
garage rock, the Stomp is gonna take you from the dirt-floor jukejoint to where the
pyramid meets the eye.
So twist, monkey, run, walk or crawl - it's time to fire up your mojo and head on
downriver to New Orleans for Ponderosa Stomp 2008.
FULL LINEUP: Ronnie Spector, Roky Erickson, Mary Weiss, Question Mark and The
Mysterians, The Collins Kids, The Green Fuz, Syl Johnson, The Hi Rhythm Section, William
Bell, The Bo Keys, Bobby Parker, The Mighty Hannibal, Nathaniel Mayer, Eddie Bo, Zigaboo
Modeliste, Lazy Lester, Barbara Lynn, Travis Wammack, Tammy Lynn, Al Johnson, Lil Buck
Sinegal and The Top Cats Featuring Stanley "Buckwheat" Dural, Warren Storm, Hayden
Thompson, Sonny Burgess, Joe Clay, Jay Chevalier, Deke Dickerson and The Eccofonics,
Little Freddie King, Henry Gray, Louisiana Red, James Blood Ulmer, Wardell Quezergue and
His Rhythm and Blues Revue, Roscoe Robinson, Ralph "Soul" Jackson, Herman Hitson, Wiley
and The Checkmates, and Rockie Charles.
TICKETS: Tickets $45 per night. Available at Ticketmaster outlets,
www.ticketmaster.com and through the House of Blues box office at 504-310-4999.
DIRECT LINKS TO BUY TICKETS:night one - http://www.ticketmaster.com/ -
night two - http://www.ticketmaster.com/ HOTEL INFORMATION:
Rooms are available for the nights of April 28th, 29th, 30th and May 1st, 2008 at the
historic
French Market
Inn,
501 Decatur St, New Orleans in the French Quarter 3 blocks from the House of Blues. The
special rate is $79 per night plus tax. To make reservations one needs to call
1-888-211-3447 and request the Ponderosa Stomp rate. Guests will not be able to get the
special rate without mentioning the Ponderosa Stomp. www.ponderosastomp.com.
Ken Nelson R.I.P. Ken Nelson, former head of country A&R for Capitol Records
and a member of the Country
Music Hall of Fame, died Sunday, January 6, 2008 at his home in Somis, Calif.,
13 days short of his 97th birthday. He had not been ill prior to his death, his daughter
Claudia Nelson told CMT.com.
In his prime during the '50s and '60s, Nelson produced such artistically pivotal acts as
Hank Thompson, Buck Owens, Merle Haggard and Wanda Jackson and
is credited with helping define the distinctive Bakersfield Sound through his low-key
studio guidance.
According to The Encyclopedia of Country Music, a publication of the Country Music Hall of
Fame and Museum, Kenneth F. Nelson was born Jan. 19, 1911 in
Caledonia, Minn. Raised in a Chicago orphanage, Nelson developed a early interest in music
and even worked briefly as a singer before turning to radio.
He joined the staff of Chicago's giant WJJD in the late 1930s and eventually ascended to
the post of music director. Although his interest at the time
was in classical music, his job also required him to oversee WJJD's massively popular live
country show, Suppertime Frolic.
Nelson's experience in working with WJJD's country roster led to a job in 1948 with
Capitol Records in Hollywood, where he was initially put in charge
of the transcription department. In 1951, he was named head of the label's country artist
and repertoire division. His big break came when he produced
Thompson's 1952 hit, "Wild Side of Life," which topped the country charts for 15 weeks.
In the ensuing years, Nelson also produced hits for Gene Vincent, Tommy Sands,
Ferlin Husky, Wynn Stewart, Tommy
Collins and Jean Shepard, among others. He was also one of the co-founders
of the powerful West Coast music publishing company, Central Songs, and a prime mover in
the creation and growth of the Country Music Association.
Gene Vincent's band members, the Blue Caps, remained close friends of Ken.
They (Dickie, Johnny and Tommy) last spent time together with him in October of 2005 at the Rockabilly
Hall of Fame's
Gene Vincent Tribute Show in Van Nuys, Calif.
Nelson retired from Capitol in 1976 and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame
in 2001. At his request, his daughter said, he will be cremated
and there will be no memorial service.
Ike Turner Dead at 76
December 12, 2007 -
There was no immediate cause of death, and his manager declined to comment on Turner's health
of late, saying only that "he was as sick as any 76-year-old man would be."
Turner, a native of Clarksdale, Miss., was as important figure in rhythm and blues as
anyone of his era, particularly in infusing his sound with what would later be known as
rock and roll. In fact, he is credited by many rock historians with making the first
rock-and-roll record, "Rocket 88," in 1951. Produced by the legendary Sam Phillips, it was
groundbreaking for its use of distorted electric guitar.
In 1959, Turner met Anna Mae Bullock, then 18, and proceeded to help turn the singer into
a star. The couple married and the husky-voiced singer changed her name to Tina Turner,
sporting short skirts and stiletto heels and turning into a dazzling diva onstage.
The pair recorded a string of big hits, including "A Fool In Love," "I Idolize You," "It's
Gonna Work Out Fine," and "River Deep, Mountain High." Their cover of Creedence Clearwater
Revival's "Proud Mary" landed them a Grammy for best R&B vocal performance by a group.
But while Ike and Tina made for a potent musical duo, their marriage was widely reported
to be a mess, with Ike Turner alleged to have beaten and brutalized Tina over several
years. Tina Turner wrote about the abuse in her 1986 autobiography, I, Tina, which was
used as the basis for the film What's Love Got to Do With It. In the movie, Laurence
Fishburne portrayed Ike Turner as a ruthless demon.
Ike Turner denied his ex-wife's claims of abuse and expressed frustration at his
reputation and lack of recognition for his music. In 1991, when he and Tina were inducted
into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, he was serving a lengthy prison term on drug and
weapons charges and was forced to miss the ceremony.
Ike Turner managed to rehabilitate his image somewhat in his later years, touring around
the globe with his band the Kings of Rhythm and drawing critical acclaim for his work. He
won a Grammy in February 2007 in the traditional blues album category for Risin' With the
Blues.
September 3, 1925 - November 6, 2007 Hank Thompson R.I.P.
Country singer Hank Thompson, who had 29 hits reach the top 10 between 1948 and 1974, has
died of lung cancer just days after canceling his tour, his spokesman said Wednesday.
Thompson, 82, died late Tuesday November 6th at his home in the Fort Worth suburb of Keller, said Tracy
Pitcox, who also is president of Heart of Texas Records.
Just last week, Thompson canceled the rest of his tour after being hospitalized.
"He was battling aggressive lung cancer," Pitcox said in a statement. "He remained
conscious until the last couple of hours and passed away peacefully at about 10:45 p.m. on
Tuesday night surrounded by his friends and family."
In 1952, his album "The Wild Side of Life" reached No. 1. Some of his most famous songs
include "Humpty Dumpty Heart" and "A Six Pack to Go."
The last show Thompson played was Oct. 8 in his native Waco. That day was declared "Hank
Thompson Day" by Gov. Rick Perry and Waco Mayor Virginia DuPuy.
There will be a celebration of Hank's life and all of his fans are invited. The event will
be held on November 14, 2007 at Billy Bob's Texas, 2520 Rodeo Plaza, Ft Worth, Texas.
Time: 2:00PM.
Artist Proves His Influence and Staying Power with Public Radio
International Feature, Country Music Hall of Fame Gig and U.K. Concerts Billy Adams Celebrates 50th
Anniversary as Recording Artist
NASHVILLE, TN. (October 9, 2007) - Rockabilly pioneer, and gospel music artist, Billy Adams, is celebrating his 50th anniversary as a recording artist. His signature song, "Rock, Pretty Mama," was released on Quincy Records, in November 1957.
In the month of October, Adams will be featured in the Public Radio International (PRI) series, Whole Lotta Shakin'. The series comprises ten one-hour documentaries that explore the artists and artistry of rockabilly - the foundation of rock and roll. Adams is the first voice heard in the "teaser" at the beginning of every show, along with Barbara Pittman, Carl Perkins, Janis Martin and Eddie Cochran. He is quoted in the series opener, "Good Rockin' Tonight," and his story is told in the fourth installment, "Rebels with Guitars."
Also in October, Adams will fulfill a lifelong dream when he and his band, The Rock-A-Teers, will perform in the Rotunda of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, at "Rhythm of the Road," the 12th Annual International Adopt-A-Highway Association Conference, on October 25. The concert will also feature the reunion of Mountain Harmony, a vocal trio comprised of his three daughters, Tina, Janetta Darlene, and Teresa.
Adams has already gotten a good jump start on his anniversary festivities. He recently returned to England for a third time where he performed two successful shows at the Americana International Festival, in Newark, Europe's largest "American lifestyle" music and cultural event. Adams delivered the goods to his rockabilly and rock 'n' roll fans during the first show, and it was a proud moment for him he introduced daughter, Janetta Darlene to his European fans, who welcomed her with open arms. For his gospel show, Adams had the crowd singing along with him when he and his group performed as special guests on George Hamilton IV's annual Sunday morning concert.
In the late-50's, Adams released a series of rockabilly and rock 'n' roll recordings on Quincy, Dot and Nau-Voo Records. Including "Rock, Pretty Mama," his best-known recordings from that era include, "You Heard Me Knocking," "You Gotta Have A Duck Tail," and "Return Of The All American Boy." In the early 60's, Adams received his calling into the ministry, where he concentrated his efforts on writing and recording gospel music. In addition to dozens of single and album releases of his own, Adams' material has been recorded by numerous artists, including The Happy Goodman Family, who took his song, "I Saw The Man" to the top of the gospel charts in 1974.
Until recently, Adams' contributions to early rockabilly and rock 'n' roll had been overlooked - and due to a mix-up with another artist by the same name, he was believed to be deceased. Adams put those rumors to rest when he released his 2000 rockabilly "comeback" record, Legacy. With that, music scholars and fans from Europe and the U.S. began to rediscover his early music. In 2002, he was the focus of a career retrospective, Rockin' Thru The Years, issued on Sanctuary Records. Since then, he has been featured on several major label compilations, alongside legendary figures such as Elvis, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis and others. Musicologist Colin Escott summed Adams up best in the liner notes of Rockabilly Riot: "He is now one of the great exponents of rockabilly from the golden era."
Adams also continues to spread his ministry; he currently pastors The Word Church of God in Lewisburg, TN, and he was recently ordained as a Bishop.
For more information about Billy Adams please visit his
Rockabilly Hall of Fame web page.
For more information about the PRI series "Whole Lotta Shakin'":
http://www2.pri.org/infosite/programs/_specials/limited/wholels/index.cfm?fa=PRprogdesc
*Photo credit: Patti Doyal - CDA Promotions
Lou Hobbs Dies After Parkinson's Battle
September 2O, 2007 -
For decades, Rockabilly Hall of Fame® inductee Lou Hobbs was a musical representative
of Cape Girardeau and Southeast
Missouri.
His recordings hit the national country charts, and Hobbs gained widespread media
attention for his song about the area's constant earthquake threat in the context of Iben
Browning's 1990 prediction of an increased risk of a major earthquake on the New Madrid
fault line.
Now the Southeast Missouri fixture that was Lou Hobbs is gone. The musician died Thursday
at Southeast Missouri Hospital following a battle with Parkinson's disease that lasted
more than a decade.
Hobbs was born Oct. 11, 1941, into a poor family. He learned to play guitar as a teenager,
following in the footsteps of his musical mother, Ruby. By the late 1950s he had joined
fellow Southeast Missouri native Narvel Felts of Malden, touring the country performing a
new style of music called rockabilly. He would later be inducted into the Rockabilly Hall
of Fame.
Hobbs split from Felts and start his own band, continuing to play the rockabilly style he
latched onto as a teenager. Several of his recordings hit the U.S. country charts in the
1980s, and the late 1990s and early 2000s saw Hobbs' music hit the Top 40 of the European
independent music charts. In 1986, Hobbs started his own TV show, aired on KFVS12, on
which he performed and interviewed famous artists like Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson,
George Jones and Randy Travis. The show was aired in other markets, as well, and stayed on
for years, making Hobbs a familiar face to locals.
Even after Parkinson's began taking its toll on his motor skills, Hobbs never stopped
doing what he loved, said KFVS marketing director Paul Keener.
In 1990, Hobbs gained widespread attention for his song "Living on the New Madrid Fault
Line," inspired by Browning's prediction.
Most people familiar with Hobbs knew him through his music, but those with a closer
relationship said his personality was largely defined by a philanthropic spirit. Every
Christmas Hobbs would anonymously "adopt" a family to provide with food and gifts, said
daughter Ruby Voshage.
In that spirit of generosity Hobbs' family is asking that memorial donations be made to
the food pantry at the Red Star Baptist Church, one of Hobbs' favorite charities.
- Matt Sanders, Southeast Missourian
Janis Martin R.I.P.
She passed away at 4pm Monday, September 3, 2007.
Rockabilly artist,
Janis Martin had been diagnosed with terminal
cancer and it had spread all over her body.
Her husband Wayne Whitt has said that she was napping most of the
day in a hospital bed at her home in Danville, VA.
Janis had been suffering from severe headaches over
the past several months so she found it necessary to cancel her
recent booking at the Americana Festival in England. The headaches
turned out to be stress related from all the grief she had to
endure from losing her son Kevin who passed away in January of this
year. Recently when a large tumor appeared on her shoulder, Janis and
Wayne headed back to the doctors for tests. The tests revealed that
she has a very aggressive type of cancer and spreaded all over
her body.
She
gave so much to the world of music and to her fans both here in
the US and in Europe and the rest of the world. To read further about
her career, you can google her name or click on this link: http://www.myspace.com/femaleelvis or http://www.history-of-rock.com/janis_martin.htm Cards can be sent to her home at this address:
Janis Martin and Wayne Whitt
2217 Mount View Rd.
Danville, VA 24540
"Tex" Davis Dies at 93
HENDERSONVILLE, TN, August 30, 2007 -
Sheriff Tex Davis, whose efforts as a songwriter, manager and promoter altered rock 'n' roll and country music history has died.
He was 93, and had recently been released from the hospital after a long period of declining health.
Davis managed Vincent to popularity, and later he took a job as promotion man at Monument Records in Nashville, where he pitched
now-classics from Kris Kristofferson, Dolly Parton, Jeannie Seely and many others to radio stations.
All of this from a man born in Connecticut as William Douchette.
Douchette became "Sheriff Tex Davis" quite suddenly one day, after WLOW radio in Norfolk, Va. gave him a job as disc jockey for
a country music show. "Douchette" didn't sound terribly country, and the station ran an introduction with the sound effect of a
horse galloping. When the horse sounds stopped, the nervous disc jockey improvised, "This is Sheriff Tex Davis here," and the name stuck.
In 1954, Mr. Davis opened Norfolk station WCMS, where he did disc jockey work and also booked Grand Ole Opry acts into
the Norfolk Arena.
Capitol Records producer Ken Nelson instructed Davis to bring Vincent and his band, The Blue Caps, to Nashville to record
at Owen Bradley's studio. The result was an enduring classic that is now part of rock 'n' roll's DNA. It has been covered by John Lennon, the
Everly Brothers, Jerry Lee Lewis and hundreds of others.
Davis' contributions weren't limited to music. He also served his country in World War II.
He is survived by his wife, Betty, daughter Bobbi and son Michael (an in-demand Nashville
steel player and harmonica player).
ED NOTE: I attended the visitation for Sheriff Tex Davis on Saturday,
September 1, 2007 at the Our Lady of Lake Catholic church in
Hendersonville, Tennessee.
Many of Bill's family and friends gathered to say good-bye. Leave to Bill
to be a "character" until the end. He seemed comfortable in his casket,
wearing a gray sweatshirt with "Over the Hill" across the front along
with a pair of dark blue sweat pants. He was at peace. His son Michael
played steel guitar while a group of Bill's favorite musicians backed him up. -
Bob Timmers
Kicking Off the Elvis Week in Memphis as the
RHOF Inducts
Elvis Presley
The Rockabilly Hall of Fame® waited for the right time to induct and show appreciation for
rockabilly pioneer Elvis Presley, as they wanted the award to go directly to the Elvis Presley estate.
Bob Timmers, founder of the Rockabilly Hall
of Fame® (in 1997) presented a special "Lifetime Achievement/Induction" Plaque to long time friend of
Elvis and his family, Patsy Andersen, who worked at Graceland for 22 years. Elvis' cousin, Jerry Presley,
was also at the RHOF presentation.
The award will be passed on to Priscilla Presley.
In turn, Patsy presented the Rockabilly Hall of Fame® with a beautiful recognition plaque from the
"Elvis' Favorite Gospel Music Show".
This event took place Sunday night August 12th 8pm at the New Daisy Theater on Beale Street in Memphis.
The show's theme, The King's Favorite: GOSPEL Music,
featured: The Stamps Quartet, The Blackwood Brothers," Elvis' cousin Jerry Presley,
and many other surprise guests.
Elvis fans know how much gospel music was a part of The King's life. See event photos
Gene Vincent:
The Outtakes
(6x CD boxset & 76 page booklet - this set comes in the small 5"
x 5" box like the Janis Martin & Everly Brothers from the same series. 226 trax - Hardcore
Gene Vincent fans ... and there are thousands of them out there ... have waited all their
lives for this collection.
Gene died in 1971, and this is the closest his diehard fans
will ever get to finding six new CDs of their man in his prime ... and the closest they'll
ever get to attending a Gene Vincent session. Yes, it's outtakes, but it gives us a chance
to hear Gene Vincent's artistry in-the-making. You're there, up in the control room
listening to him try a song one way, then another. You can second-guess the producers and
listen to the musicians talk it through. If you know every note of the finished song, you
can hear how Gene and the Blue Caps got there and share in the decisions along the way.
This is truly it. The SCREAMING END. There are no more Gene Vincent recordings to be
released in any way, shape, or form. Diehard fans, musicologists, musicians, and old time
rock 'n' rollers looking for something new have waited too long for this.
The sessions
date from October 1958 to March 1967. All known Gene Vincent outtakes are included. Only a
tiny fraction of this material has ever been issued before. The highlights include eleven
songs from his final sessions with the legendary Blue Caps spread over CDs 1 & 2,
including favourites like You Are The One For Me, Rip It Up, Maybelline and Gone, Gone,
Gone. Multiple takes of eight songs from his Capitol Studios sessions of January 1961 are
included on CDs 2-4, while CDs 4-5 feature Gene Vincent recording in London 1961-63 (six
titles from Abbey Road Studios, two from Olympic Sound Studios, and one from a JOE MEEK
session for the 'Live It Up' movie soundtrack). The final CD contains material from his
1966-67 sessions in Hollywood for Challenge Records. More information here.
SHIPPING DATE: AUGUST 13, 2007 (estimated)
STREET DATE: SEPTEMBER 03, 2007
ARTIST GENE VINCENT
TITLE The Outtakes LABEL Bear
Family Records CATALOG # BCD 16842
ISBN-CODE 978-3-89916-330-8
FORMAT 6-CD digibox with 76-page booklet
TRACKS 226 PLAYING TIME 451:32
New Scotty Moore CD Scotty Moore presents the Mighty Handful's debut
CD, "Volume 1". It will be available online sometime in late August but if you are fortunate
enough to be going to either of the bands performances in August '07 at the Last Man
Standing show in Memphis you'll have a chance to pick up one of the first 1000 copies
(while they last) that will be pre autographed by all members (except for Boots, may he Rest In Peace).
In the meantime check out their new myspace page by click in Scotty's myspace top
freinds list or just going here
http://www.myspace.com/themightyhandfull.
You can also sample all the tracks at
http://scottymoore.net/mightyhandful.html
Dedication at the birthplace of Rock & Roll + FREE CONCERT
Rock This Joint
Historical Plaque
Gloucester City, NJ. The birthplace of Rock & Roll! Sounds good, doesn't it?
Well it's also very true. A historic marker will be dedicated saying so.
It's been a long time coming, but thanks to longtime Haley Fan and Rock & Roll
enthusiast Wayne Young, it's finally coming to pass.
Wayne has been blowing this horn for many years, and finally he's getting the
support from the City, State and many Rock & Roll historians to make it a reality.
On Saturday July, 14th from 2pm to 7pm at the corner of Market & Broadway in Gloucester City,
Rockabilly favorites Tommy Conwell and Full Blown Cherry along with Rock & Roll Legends
Charlie Gracie and Bill Haley's Original Comets will hit the stage to perform
their favorite tunes in memory of Bill Haley's early days performing at The Twin Bar
creating what we know now as Rock & Roll.
The entire concert will be broadcast live on WNJC Radio 1360 AM by radio
personality King Arthur. It was back in 1951, in an 18 month stint at The
Twin Bar on Broadway & Market Streets in Gloucester City, NJ, that Bill
Haley & The Comets (then known as The Saddlemen) architected the style
of music known as Rock & Roll. Coming out of the experience with a little tune
titled, ROCK THE JOINT (the precursor to Rock Around The Clock), and with the opening
line "WE'RE GONNA TEAR DOWN THE MAILBOX, RIP UP THE FLOOR, SMASH OUT THE WINDOWS AND
KNOCK DOWN THE DOOR", it's obvious who the pied pipers of Rock & Roll were
and still are.
The Rock & Roll heroes to be honored on the mural and historic marker are as
follows: BILL HALEY, BILLY WILLIAMSON, JOHNNY GRANDE, MARSHALL LYTLE AND DANNY
CEDRONE (although Cedrone was never an official member of the band, he was a
very important part of The Saddlemen / Comets sound. Playing both guitar solos
in Rock The Joint and Rock Around The Clock.
Cedrone also performed at The Twin
Bar many times with his band The Esquire Boys and with his three little girls
The Cedrone Sisters before his untimely death in 1954. Danny Cedrone's guitar is
on display at The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland since 1998.
The Cedrone Sisters, Marie, Theresa and Janet will be present to represent
their daddy). Long Live Rock & Roll!
FREE CONCERT
Date: Saturday July, 14th 2007
Time: 2pm to 7pm
Place: Jack's Twin Bar
200 S. Broadway (@ Market St)
Gloucester City, NJ 08030
Danny Vanore (215) 336-5101 Cell (215) 847-2883
Janet Cedrone (215) 925-5795
Bo Diddley Update
June 20, 2007 - We are delighted to be able to report that BO DIDDLEY has now been discharged from
Shands Rehab Hospital in his home town of Gainesville, FL, where he had been undergoing
speech and occupational therapy since suffering a stroke after a show in Council Bluffs,
IA, May 13th.
Fans can continue to send their well wishes to him at postmaster@tciartists.com or
to TCI (Talent Consultants International, Ltd.), 105 Shad Row, 2nd Floor, Piermont,
NY 10968 or via the BO DIDDLEY-The Originator website at surfsinkorswim@yahoo.com
or via the website's Guestbook,
located at http://members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/guestbook.html
Johnny Cash.Com Radio
Bill Miller of the Official Johnny Cash Web Site,
www.johnnycash.com
announced that
Johnny Cash.Com Radio, a streaming weekly
broadcast featuring interviews with Cash family members, associates, friends and fans
began Wednesday, June 13th.
In addition to the intimate interviews, each one hour broadcast will feature discussions
of Johnny Cash's nearly five-decade long career, music, sound bites from the Man In Black
himself, interactive contests and more.
"We've operated JohnnyCash.Com for nearly eleven years and decided that it was time to
take the already technically cutting-edge site and bring it to the next level," said
Miller. "The site attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each month and we want to
keep the experience fresh and relevant despite the fact that Johnny passed away four years
ago this coming September."
The debut program features Johnny and June Carter Cash's son, John Carter Cash, who
discusses his new book Anchored in Love: An Intimate Portrait of June Carter Cash,
which chronicles the struggles and triumphs his parents experienced during their careers
and marriage. "It's a revealing story of two people who loved each other deeply,
overcoming the adversities and pain among triumphs and stellar careers along the way,"
Miller said.
The programs will stream from the Cash web site and will be archived for later listening
as well, according to Miller.
Listeners will be able to participate in contests for free Johnny Cash merchandise and
memorabilia in each program.
New Danny Gatton CD
Look for a new addition this summer to the growing catalog of Danny Gatton live CDs in
LIVE 1977: THE HUMBLER STAKES HIS CLAIM, which is due on July 10, on Tom Principato's
Powerhouse Records label
www.powerhouserecords.com.
For those who want tibdits, excerpts have been posted on
www.myspace.com/powerhouserecords2, while the CD packaging also comes with liner notes
written by Ralph Heibutzki, author of UNFINISHED BUSINESS: THE LIFE & TIMES OF DANNY
GATTON (Backbeat Books).
Instead of a slick soundboard recording, LIVE 1977 allows you to hear Danny in the
Washington, D.C. and Maryland-area clubs where he laid down the markers for his
underground legend.
The sources come from recordings by sound engineer Chris Murphy, "made with microphones
placed in the audience," Powerhouse's press release notes, in part, "so there is a feeling
of being right there in the club with glasses clanking and audience responses."
Highlights include "Sweet Georgia Brown," as well as mood pieces like "Canadian Sunset,"
blues shuffles ("Walkin' With Danny"), white-knuckled showcases ("Fingers On Fire," "Nit
Pickin'"), and two versions of "Harlem Nocturne," the '40s standard that remained one of
Danny's showpieces to the end.
For more details, visit www.powerhouserecords.com/, http://bigmo.com/, or
chairmanralph.com (official site for the UNFINISHED BUSINESS biography).
Never Before Seen Elvis Footage with Sound
Tudelo's Own Elvis Presley
CONTAINS: Recently discovered UNRELEASED FILM with sound of Elvis performing 6 songs live
in Tupelo Mississippi 1956. Further unseen footage contains backstage, evening
show, parade and many more. PLUS: Interview with Elvis at the 1957 Tupelo show, NEVER BEFORE HEARD!
and includes footage from the show.
The DVD Audio section contains 21 tracks of the two shows from Tupelo
1956 concerts.
SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION BONUS: A 200 page detailed book with hundreds of
unpublished photographs, rare materials and artifacts from the Tupelo Events. http://www.memphisrecordingservice.com/tupeloLE.htm.
State of Rockabilly Hall of Fame® Report as the ...
Rockabilly Hall of Fame®
Celebrated Its 10th
Created on March 21, 1997 by Bob Timmers, The RHOF
has a seen a steady growth in content and popularity.
Never showing a profit makes it difficult at times, but we
continue to push forward each day to expose and to expand this
"Free Internet Rockabilly Public Library" to the world.
The actual Celebration Show was at
Viva Las Vegas, Friday, April 6, 3-7 pm in the Gold Coast Hotel's
main floor Showcase Room.
What drives us is to observe dozens of rockabilly
legends re-assume their careers because they have been re-discovered
through the pages of the RHOF. That, along with the fans being able
to communicate with their favorite artists on line and at shows,
is simply a wonderful experience for everyone. One of our favorite
stories is about a legend we inducted a few years back. When his 6-year-old grandson
learned that grandpa was an early "rock star", he just had to
start taking guitar lessons!
Oh, about that International Rock-A-Billy Hall of Fame in Jackson, TN
that recently issued a press release with statements that were out dated and taken out of context ...
For the record, we do not support that organization while it continues to use our U.S.
Government Registered (non-profit) Trademarked name. We initially thought we had some common ground,
but soon realized their goals and direction were much different than we were
led to believe. We sincerely apologize for any confusion this matter has caused
artists, fans and loyal readers.
Stick with us and you'll get to feel the "pluse
of rockabilly" then and now. You'll enjoy our daily news updates, features, current show
information, artists profiles, photo pages, special columns and much more.
20,000 page viewers a day indicates we may be doing something right.
Many thanks to everyone who visits and supports the http://www.rockabillyhall.com
God Bless,
Bob Timmers
Jerry Lee Live DVD
Following the tremendously successful release of his #1 Independent charted album Last Man Standing
last fall ... on March 6, 2007, Artists First and Shangri-La Entertainment released a very special
Jerry Lee Lewis Live DVD. Jerry Lee Lewis Last Man Standing LIVE is history in the making featuring
a Rolling Stone, a couple of Jones, an Eagle and a man on a throne.
Lewis proves yet again that he doesn't get older; The Killer keeps getting bolder. For the filming
of this unique, live DVD, he gathered with friends, family and rock 'n' roll icons to perform at a
series of private shows in New York and Los Angeles. Rock 'n' roll, soul and country music legends
gathered from the world 'round to show their admiration for one of the great original song stylists
of all time. Last Man Standing LIVE is an intimate and unprecedented event in music history, which
includes interviews, as well as documentary and archival footage.
The DVD's roster of music all-stars includes 11 Grammy winners with 36 awards among them, six
members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, one member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, and three
members of the Country Music Hall of Fame. The guest artists are Willie Nelson, Tom Jones, Chris
Isaak, Norah Jones, Buddy Guy, Solomon Burke, Merle Haggard, Kid Rock, Kris Kristofferson, Ron Wood,
Don Henley, and John Fogerty.
Lewis and his peers were backed by an all-star band throughout the filming of these performances
including Jim Keltner on drums, Rick Rosas on bass, Nils Lofgren on guitar and pedal steel, Ken
Lovelace and Jimmy Rip on guitar, Ivan Neville on organ and piano, and Maxayn Lewis, Stacie Plunk,
and Charlotte Gibson singing backup. Keltner is a legendary drummer who has worked with Rock 'n'
Roll's all time greats including John Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Joe
Cocker, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Neil Young and more. Lofgren is a well respected solo artist
in his own right who has worked with some of rock's most celebrated acts including as a member of
Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. Neville, who is part of New Orleans' most famous musical family,
is an accomplished solo artist and full time member of the Neville Brothers with his father Aaron.
Rip, who produced Lewis's Last Man Standing, is one of the most sought after session guitarists and
producers who can be heard on albums by Mick Jagger, Rod Stewart, and Debbie Harry. Last, but not
least, Lovelace is a highly regarded Nashville session guitarist who will mark his 40th year as
Jerry Lee's bandleader this May.
Lewis' critically acclaimed album Last Man Standing debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top Independent
Album Chart, at #4 on the Billboard Top Country Album Chart and at #26 on the Billboard Top 200
Album Chart in the first week of its release. Last Man Standing, which has sold over 325, 000 to
date worldwide, ended 2006 on Billboard's Top 25 Independent Albums Of The Year. The star-studded
album, which features 15 members of the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame including Lewis himself, has
shipped nearly 400, 000 thousand units and hit #6 on the Americana Radio Charts. The Killer has made
his comeback.
Superstar artists performing duets with Jerry Lee Lewis on Last Man Standing are: Jimmy Page ("Rock
and Roll"), B.B. King ("Before The Night Is Over"), Bruce Springsteen ("Pink Cadillac"), Mick Jagger
on vocals and Ronnie Wood on pedal steel guitar ("Evening Gown"), Neil Young ("You Don't Have To
Go"), Robbie Robertson ("Twilight"), John Fogerty ("Travelin' Band"), Keith Richards ("That Kind of
Fool"), Ringo Starr on vocals ("Sweet Little Sixteen"), Merle Haggard ("Just a Bummin' Around"), Kid
Rock ("Honky Tonk Woman"), Rod Stewart ("What's Made Milwaukee Famous"), George Jones ("Don't Be
Ashamed of Your Age"), Willie Nelson ("Couple More Years"), Toby Keith ("Ol' Glory"), Eric Clapton
("Trouble In Mind"), Little Richard ("I Saw Her Standing There"), Delaney Bramlett ("Lost Highway"),
Buddy Guy ("Hadacol Boogie"), Don Henley ("What Makes The Irish Heart Beat"), Kris Kristofferson
("The Pilgrim").
An Open Letter From Billy Lee Riley
February 10, 2007 - I don't know if you have heard this or not because I have had calls from fans
who think I just recently had an accident. So, I'd like to let them know the whole story.
I was injured two years ago by a fall in a major department store. It happened on September 11th,
2004. I was operated on and had a complete hip replacement. It was fine for about 6 months, but then
it just fell apart. So, in December, 2005 I had to have another complete hip replacement. Since
then, I have been in constant pain. I have been to every kind of doctor there is, but no one can
stop the pain. I think it may be because two years prior to the fall, I had two botched back
surgeries, and there is some nerve damage from them.
Anyway, I took The Big Department Store to federal court in January, 2007, and, as expected, I
lost. They walked off with no liability, even though it was a case of 100% negligence on their
part. This is a legal battle I have been fighting for over two and a half years, but you just can't
win against the big, billion dollar Companies. Now I am stuck with thousands of dollars in doctor
and hospital bills. I was only able to do four local gigs last year and can't pay my doctor bills
on that kind of money.
I had booked a show in England with Jerry Chatterbox for next June. He has known about my medical
problem for a long time and wanted to do a benefit for me. The benefit in England will be held next
May. Later, a friend of his told a friend in California, and then Jerome asked me if he
could do a benefit in California. That one will be held in Los Angeles on Sunday, the 18th of
February. So, if you have seen anything on the Internet about benefit concerts, this is why.
There has been a donation bank account set up in England with the HSBC BANK.
This a treasure account in which there is no charge, no check book and money can't be drawn out.
It stays there until after the benefit, and then only,
Jerry Chatterbox is the only one who can draw
it out and make the wire transfer. I want to thank in advance all of my fans who contribute.
Please be so kind as to pass this message on so that all of my fans and
friends will know just why these
benefits are happening.
Also, I will be in Green Bay this year. I might be there with my cane, but I will be there. I want
to thank my fans and friends from the bottom of my heart for everything they do - I love each and
every one of them. I will be booking more shows.
God Bless you all,
Billy Lee Riley
mygal68@yahoo.com
RELATED: Billy Lee Riley Benefit From Jerry Chatabox February 07 ... As you may be aware Billy Lee Riley recently suffered a bad fall and broke
his hip. He went to court to try to get compensation for his accident but
some slick corporate lawyers made sure that Billy will not receive a cent
towards his operation, and he is now facing huge legal and medical bills, as well
as a painful recovery.
I was appalled to hear about this. So I rang Billy and suggested a Benefit
Gig. The Rockabilly Rave has already sent immediate financial help to Billy
and Joyce and has set up a Billy Lee Riley Benefit Account in the UK, with the
HSBC Bank, but there is much more to be done. Anyone wishing to make a
donation however big or small, can do so by internet or phone banking or pay
directly into the following account at any branch of HSBC. Name: Billy Lee Riley Benefit Account
Sort Code: 40-37-35 Bank Account No: 81390120
There are no bank charges for this account, so you know that every single
penny donated goes to Billy and Joyce Riley. The amount raised will be
displayed at the Rockabilly Rave in June.
The Benefit Gig in the UK, will be held at the Boston Arms, Junction Road,
Tuffnell Park, London, NW5, on Saturday 19th May. A night to celebrate Billy
Lee's Sun sound with live music provided by The Infernos and guest singers
Paul Ansel (Number 9), Gary Allen (The Sureshots), John Lewis (The Rimshots),
Bob Butfoy (Jack Rabbit Slim), Miss Mary Ann (Ranch Girls), Clive Osborne
(Surfin Gorillas), Kav Kavanagh (Kav and the Cavemen), Lynette Morgan (Blackwater
Valley Boys), Darrel Higham (The Enforcers), Dave (Radio Ramblers) plus more
to be announced, all performing for no fee all profit to go into the Billy
Lee Riley account.
Billy is a proud and decent man and in typical hard as nails fashion never
asked for help. His music has been part of the soundtrack of our lives. He
saved us from listening to modern rubbish we refer to his rockin tracks as
'our' music now lets pay him what he's been owed since the 50's.
Use this Rockabilly Hall of Fame form to donate to Billy Lee Riley
All dollars go
directly to Billy Lee
These donations are processed through the
Rockabilly Hall of Fame via Visa or MasterCard and are
considered tax deductible (to US residents).
Bill Haley Museum Opens
In Munich, Germany
For many years now, Hydra Records of Munich, Germany, has been in the forefront of promoting the
rockin'
music and influence of Bill Haley and his Comets. To take this a logical step forward, they
are proud to
announce the establishment of a museum devoted to all matters relating to Bill Haley.
With the song 'Rock Around The Clock', Bill and his Comets not only launched a musical revolution
but changed youth culture forever. All in all, the outfit has sold in excess of 135 million
records
and are still rock 'n' roll leaders. It is not exaggerating to state that they are one of the most
important bands in musical history.
In their Bill Haley museum, Hydra Records has on display a never before seen
quantity of their records, original documents, music instruments, gold records,
awards, movie posters, pictures and much more relating to the genius that was Haley.
There are also additional exhibits concerning Bill's musical contemporaries and the musical styles
involved. In short, this is a breath taking in-depth overview of one of the leading figures
of rock 'n' roll. It has all been carefully set up to entertain and be of interest to anyone
who has an interest in music, both past and present.
The legend and importance of Bill Haley and his Comets cannot be over estimated and should
be preserved in our memories forever.
Museum concept:
Dr. Winfried GrŸndel
Klaus Kettner
Elvis: The Ed
Sullivan Shows
Image Entertainment, Inc. celebrates the
legend of ELVIS PRESLEY with the first-ever DVD release of the undisputed king of
rock 'n' roll's historic earth-shattering performances in
ELVIS PRESLEY: THE ED SULLIVAN SHOWS.
This 3-disc special edition DVD set is availble now.
Produced by Grammy and Emmy-award winning producer Andrew Solt (Imagine: John Lennon, his Is Elvis,
The History of Rock 'n' Roll, Heroes of Rock 'n' Roll), the DVD consists of the three complete Ed
Sullivan Shows on which Elvis made rock 'n' roll and TV history. Elvis first appeared on the show
September 9, 1956 and sent shockwaves through a repressed post-war America -- effectively opening a
generational rift between parents and their children -- with his soulful singing, sexual hip
gyrations and raw rock 'n' roll energy. Elvis attracted a record-breaking audience of over 72
million people -- more than 80% of the television-viewing audience -- which equaled one of every
third man, woman and child in the U.S. at that time. Viewing Elvis Presley's three appearances on
the Ed Sullivan Show in their entirety frames the context of the country's appetite for
entertainment in 1956. By glimpsing this time capsule Elvis's raw, confident and casual performances
illustrates why he was so charismatic and how he captured the imagination of the world.
On his first Sullivan appearance, Elvis performed from CBS Television City in Hollywood while he was
on the West Coast shooting his first feature film Love Me Tender. Although the movie was two months
away from release and the single was not available in stores, Elvis debuted the song "Love Me
Tender" that night on the show; he followed it up with "Don't Be Cruel" (with the Jordanaires),
"Ready Teddy" and "Hound Dog." Elvis returned on October 28, 1956 this time in New York , triggering
ecstatic screams from the largely teen audience while performing his current hits "Don't Be Cruel,"
"Love Me Tender" and "Hound Dog." This time around, he added Lieber & Stoller's "Love Me" to his
playlist. Elvis's inspired performances as well as his growing reputation for hip shaking and
sensual gyrations convinced CBS's censors that the Ed Sullivan Show should film him only above the
waist during his third and final appearance on January 6, 1957. On this final Sullivan show, Elvis
performed "Hound Dog," "Heartbreak Hotel," "Love Me Tender," "Don't Be Cruel," "Too Much," "When My
Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again" and "Peace In The Valley." After the show went off without incident,
Ed Sullivan proclaimed him, "A real decent fine boy." Sullivan, in his inimitable style, further
thanked Elvis by adding, "We've never had a pleasanter experience on our show with a big name than
we've had with you ... You're thoroughly all right." This was the last time Elvis would appear live
on American television.
Since the DVD features the three Sullivan shows in their entirety, there are other historic variety
show appearances by guests such as Carol Burnett, novelty artist Senor Wences, various Broadway
stars, athletes such as boxer Sugar Ray Robinson, tennis great Don Budge, baseball legend Jackie
Robinson and numerous comedians. Each of the three shows run about one hour and all include the
original commercials, which aired as part of the show's live broadcast. The 3-disc special edition
DVD features re-mastered Dolby Digital 5.1 audio as well as the original mono soundtrack. The
Kinescope video has been enhanced by a breakthrough technical process -- created by a company called
Live Feed -- resulting in an optimal sound and visual experience.
Special bonus features include: a rare color 8mm home movie shot in 1955 which is the first-ever
recorded footage of a very young Elvis (age 20) who was not yet managed by Col. Tom Parker; special
Elvis moments including an appearance by comedian John Byner; and home movies of Elvis and Priscilla
with some of the earliest shots of their daughter Lisa Marie. In addition, the package includes
insightful interviews and reminiscing with legendary producer Sam Phillips of Sun Records, Gordon
Stoker of the Jordanaires, Marlo Lewis, producer of these three historic Ed Sullivan Shows, renowned
television host Wink Martindale; High School buddy and Memphis DJ George Klein and Elvis's close
friend and Memphis Mafia member Jerry Schilling, author of Me And A Guy Named Elvis. The impressive
package also includes a collectible booklet about Elvis on Sullivan featuring liner-notes written by
pre-eminent rock scribe, Greil Marcus.
2nd Sam Phillips B-D Show
in Florence, AL, Jan 2-6
FLORENCE, AL - Jerry Phillips could celebrate his late father's birthday and the musical
legacy he left behind anywhere in the country.
Memphis, Tenn., springs to mind since that is
where Sam Phillips founded Sun Records, which gave birth to the music of rock 'n' roll
pioneers such as Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee
Lewis, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Charlie Rich and blues artists B.B. King and Howlin'
Wolf.
But Phillips chose Florence and the Shoals.
"Sam was always proud of his hometown of " Phillips said.
"He always spoke of his upbringing here."
The second Sam Phillips Music Festival will feature a variety of musical entertainment and other
events
honoring "The Father of Rock 'N' Roll."
"Sam Phillips meant so much to our community and city," Florence Mayor Bobby Irons said. "Sam
Phillips brought so
much to the music industry and our heritage here. It's something we're so proud of."
Jerry Phillips said last year's musical events, which culminated with a concert by Phillips protégé,
Jerry
Lee Lewis, sold out. Phillips expects more sellouts for the 2007 festival which includes
performances by Waynesboro, Tenn.,
native and country music artist Mark Collie and Jason D. Williams, a rock 'n' roll pianist who has
been compared to a young Jerry Lee Lewis. Phillips said wherever the Muzik Mafia play, other
entertainers such as Kid Rock and Hank Williams Jr. have been known to make surprise appearances.
Muzik Mafia will headline the event. "You never know who will show up," he said.
This year's festival will also feature the "Rock Shop," a room in the Marriott Convention Center
where
patrons can purchase event and entertainer memorabilia. Tickets for the festival go on sale
today at Big River Broadcasting's office on Sam Phillips Street or online at
WQLT.com, WSBM.com and WXFL.com.
SAM PHILLIPS CELEBRATION SCHEDULE Jan. 2: 5 p.m., Proclamation by the Florence City Council Jan. 3: 11 a.m., Florence-Lauderdale Public Library, Sam Phillips Birthday Party
11-11:30 a.m., piano concert featuring Christine Lovelace Gentry
11:30 a.m.-noon, birthday cake and fellowship
Noon-1 p.m. conversations on Sam hosted by Terry Pace
8 p.m. Marriott Shoals Hotel & Conference Center, music by Eric Heatherly Jan. 4: 8 p.m., "Muscle Shoals to Music Row Live," live radio simulcast/
Internet Webcast, Holiday Inn, Sheffield Jan. 5: 8 p.m., The Official "Sam Jam" featuring legendary blues artist Jimmy Hall, the
former
vocalist for Wet Willie, The Keynote Room, Florence
Jan. 6: "The Sam Phillips Music Celebration," Marriott Shoals Resort and
Conference Center, Florence
6-8 p.m. acoustic music rooms
8-8:45 p.m., Mark Collie
9-9:45 p.m., Jason D. Williams
10 p.m.-until: The Muzik Mafia, featuring special guests
Two Haley Movies to DVD The two films Bill Haley & His Comets made in 1956 are finally coming to
DVD in North America.
Sony Pictures has announced that it will be releasing Rock Around the
Clock and Don't Knock the Rock to Region 1 (North America) DVD on January 23, 2007. The
films were produced by Columbia Pictures, which Sony purchased some years ago, and will be released
together on one disc.
This release marks the first official home video release of these films, as
Columbia/Sony never issued an official release of the films in the VHS tape or laserdisc format,
although unofficial releases in these and DVD formats have been circulating for years. Rock Around the Clock is considered the first true rock and roll
film. When it was released it was a major hit and was banned in some jurisdictions due to the fact
it sparked rowdy behavior (such as dancing) in theaters. In the UK Queen Elizabeth II reportedly
requested a private showing of the film. Its follow-up, Don't Knock the Rock was produced
almost immediately but was not as successful and is chiefly remembered as the film that introduced
many to the music of Little Richard.
Co-starring with Haley and the Comets in Rock Around the Clock are
the Platters and Freddie Bell and the Bellboys, while Alan Dale, the Treniers and the aforementioned
Little Richard appear with Haley in the sequel. DJ Alan Freed appears as himself in both motion
pictures.
In both films, Haley and the Comets lip-synch to numerous Decca recordings,
including "See You Later Alligator", "Rip it Up", "Hot Dog Buddy Buddy", "Rock-a-Beatin' Boogie",
"Calling All Comets" and, of course, "Rock Around the Clock" and "Don't Knock the Rock" (although
the latter is heard only over the opening credits of the film; Alan Dale sings the song during the
movie itself). Of note to Haley completeists is the fact that the performances of the instrumentals
"Rudy's Rock" (in Rock Around the Clock) and "Goofin' Around" (in Don't Knock the
Rock) are unique to these films and were never released on record by Decca or anyone else. Hydra
Records of Germany included off-air recordings of the two film tracks on its CD On Screen in
the late 1990s, but no in-studio recordings have ever been released. Haley also gets to do a little
bit of acting in the two films.
The listing for the release on Amazon.com does not indicate if there will be
any extra features on the DVD.
-Alex Frazer-Harrison
Ruth Brown, 78, R.I.P.
November 18, 2006 - Ruth Brown, the gutsy rhythm and blues singer whose career extended to
acting and crusading for musicians' rights, died on yesterday in Las Vegas. She
was 78 and lived in Las Vegas.
The cause was complications following a heart attack and a stroke she
suffered after surgery, and Ms. Brown had been on life support since Oct.
29, said her friend, lawyer and executor, Howell Begle.
Ms. Brown sustained a career for six decades: first as a bright, bluesy
singer who was called "the girl with a tear in her voice" and then, after
some lean years, as the embodiment of an earthy, indomitable black woman.
She had a life of hard work, hard luck, determination, audacity and style.
Sometimes it was said that R&B stood as much for Ruth Brown as it did for
rhythm and blues.
As the 1950s began, Ms. Brown's singles for the fledgling Atlantic Records -
like "(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean" and "5-10-15 Hours" - became both
the label's bankroll and templates for all of rock 'n' roll. She could sound
as if she were hurting, or joyfully lusty, or both at once. Her voice was
forthright, feisty and ready for anything.
After Ms. Brown's string of hits ended, she kept singing but also went on to
a career in television, radio and movies ( including a memorable role as the
disc jockey Motormouth Maybelle in John Waters's "Hairspray") and on
Broadway, where she won a Tony Award for her part in "Black and Blue." She
worked clubs, concerts and festivals into the 21st century.
Ms. Brown was born Ruth Weston on Jan. 12, 1928, in Portsmouth, Va., the
oldest of seven children. She made her debut when she was 4, and her father,
the choir director at the local Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church,
lifted her onto the church piano. In summers, she and her siblings picked
cotton at her grandmother's farm in North Carolina. "That made me the strong
woman I am," she said in 1995.
As a teenager, she would tell her family she was going to choir practice and
perform instead at U.S.O. clubs at nearby naval stations. She ran away from
home at 17, working with a trumpeter named Jimmy Brown and using his last
name onstage. She married him, or thought she did; he was already married.
But she was making a reputation as Ruth Brown, and the name stuck.
The big-band leader Lucky Millinder heard her in Detroit late in 1946, hired
her for his band and fired her in Washington, D.C. . Stranded, she managed
to find a club engagement at the Crystal Caverns. There, the disc jockey
Willis Conover, who broadcast jazz internationally on Voice of America
radio, heard Ms. Brown and recommended her to friends at Atlantic Records.
On the way to New York City, however, she was seriously injured in an
automobile accident and hospitalized for most of a year; her legs, which
were smashed, would be painful for the rest of her life. She stood on
crutches in 1949 to record her first session for Atlantic, and the bluesy
ballad "So Long" became a hit.
She wanted to keep singing ballads, but Atlantic pushed her to try upbeat
songs, and she tore into them. During the sessions for "Teardrops From My
Eyes," her voice cracked upward to a squeal. Herb Abramson of Atlantic
Records liked it, called it a "tear," and after "Teardrops" reached No. 1 on
the rhythm and blues chart, the sound became her trademark for a string of
hits.
Ms. Brown was the best-selling black female performer of the early 1950s,
even though, in that segregated era, many of her songs were picked up and
redone by white singers, like Patti Page and Georgia Gibbs, in tamer
versions that became pop hits. The pop singer Frankie Laine gave her a
lasting nickname: Miss Rhythm.
Working the rhythm and blues circuit in the 1950s, when dozens of her
singles reached the R&B Top 10, Ms. Brown drove a Cadillac and had romances
with stars like the saxophonist Willis (Gator Tail) Jackson and the singer
Clyde McPhatter of the Drifters. (Her first son, Ronald, was given the last
name Jackson; decades later, she told him he was actually Mr. McPhatter's
son, and he now sings with a latter-day lineup of the Drifters.)
In 1955 Ms. Brown married Earl Swanson, a saxophonist, and had a second son,
Earl; the marriage ended in divorce. Her two sons survive her: Mr. Jackson,
who has three children, of Los Angeles, and Mr. Swanson of Las Vegas. She is
also survived by four siblings: Delia Weston of Las Vegas, Leonard Weston of
Long Island and Alvin and Benjamin Weston of Portsmouth.
Her streak of hits ended soon after the 1960s began. She lived on Long
Island, raised her sons, worked as a teacher's aide and a maid and was
married for three years to a police officer, Bill Blunt. On weekends she
sang club dates in the New York area, and she recorded an album in 1968 with
the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Big Band. Although her hits had supported Atlantic
Records - sometimes called the House That Ruth Built - she was unable at one
point to afford a home telephone.
The comedian Redd Foxx, whom she had once helped out of a financial jam,
invited her to Los Angeles in 1975 to play the gospel singer Mahalia Jackson
in "Selma," a musical about civil rights he was producing.
She went on to sing in Las Vegas and continued a comeback that never ended.
The television producer Norman Lear gave her a role in the sitcom "Hello,
Larry." She returned to New York City in 1982, appearing in Off Broadway
productions including "Stagger Lee," and in 1985 she went to Paris to
perform in the revue "Black and Blue," rejoining it later for its Broadway
run.
Ms. Brown began to speak out, onstage and in interviews, about the
exploitative contracts musicians of her generation had signed. Many
hit-making musicians had not recouped debts to their labels, according to
record company accounting, and so were not receiving royalties at all.
Shortly before Atlantic held a 40th-birthday concert at Madison Square
Garden in 1988, the label agreed to waive unrecouped debts for Ms. Brown and
35 other musicians of her era and to pay 20 years of retroactive royalties.
Atlantic also contributed nearly $2 million to start the Rhythm and Blues
Foundation, which pushed other labels toward royalty reform and distributed
millions of dollars directly to musicians in need, although it has struggled
to sustain itself in recent years.
"Black and Blue" revitalized Ms. Brown's recording career, on labels
including Fantasy and Bullseye Blues. Her 1989 album "Blues on Broadway" won
a Grammy Award for best jazz vocal performance, female. She was a radio host
on the public radio shows "Harlem Hit Parade" and "BluesStage." In 1995 she
released her autobiography, "Miss Rhythm" (Dutton), written with Andrew
Yule; it won the Gleason Award for music journalism. She was inducted into
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.
She toured steadily, working concert halls, festivals and cabarets. This
year she recorded songs for the coming movie by John Sayles, "Honeydripper,"
and was about to fly to Alabama to act in it when she became ill. By JON PARELES
"Chuck Berry at 80" Broadcast
Fans may be interested to know that to celebrate Chuck Berry's 80th birthday on October
18th, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Radio 4 network is to air a special
30-minute tribute program recorded last month in his home town of St. Louis, MO.
"Chuck Berry at 80", to be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Saturday (October 14th)
from 10.30am-11.00am BST (9.30am-10.00am GMT/UTC), looks back over Chuck Berry's
life and work and reflects on his ongoing popularity in the UK, where he remains a
firm favorite amongst his loyal British following and where he recorded his
international chart-topping novelty hit "My Ding-A-Ling" in concert for the
best-selling "The London Chuck Berry Sessions" album of 1972.
Listeners around the world can listen on-line to this special "Chuck Berry
at 80" program streamed in RealMedia format by visiting the BBC Radio 4 webpage
located at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/
and clicking the "Listen Live" link or, for an additional 7 days after the program
has aired, by clicking the "Listen Again" link.
Rockabilly Hall of Fame - Volume 1
Ronnie Hawkins, born in 1935, was the rock 'n' roll pride of
Arkansas in the '50s when, at the suggestion of fellow Arkansan Conway Twitty, he moved
to Canada, where there was a thriving rockabilly scene. From Hamilton, Ontario, Hawkins
successfully toured and recorded in both his adoptive country and his native USA. "There
were three guys in those days who would really knock you out," recalls Sun rockabilly
artist Sonny Burgess, "Elvis, Jerry Lee and Ronnie Hawkins." Two of Hawkins' classic
albums, Mojo Man and Arkansas Rock Pile, both culled from 1959-63 sessions in Nashville
and New York, will be reissued on Collectors' Choice Music on April 29, 2008. Pop
historian Gene Sculatti, author of The Catalog of Cool, wrote the liner notes.
We have lost another great person, Christian family man, super entertainer, songwriter,
and singer.
Grand Ole Opry Star, Bobby Lord passed away February 16, 2008 approximately 10AM.
Bobby had been in ailing health for some time.
Bobby also had a late afternoon LIVE country TV show on WSM during this same time frame.
That show began as a popular daily afternoon show on Channel 4 on September 9, 1963. That
show was the idea of Elmer Ally, Brad Crandall and Bayron Binkley and others who wanted an
afternoon show that featured country music. The concept had been tried before, but not
succeeded, even with different artists each week. This time they tried it with an emcee, a
regular band and to have guests. Jerry Byrd and the band also did the live show, which was
one hour.
While video of the syndicated shows is still available, it's too bad there are no tapes of
those daily WSM shows that Bobby hosted, because lots of interesting stuff happened. The
first time Mel Tillis ever spoke on TV was on this show when they had time to fill at the
end and Bobby asked Mel to tell a funny story he had told off the air. It was funny, but
the switch board at WSM lit up with angry callers about how Bobby had embarrassed Mel. But
as we know, Mel went on to great things in his singing and songwriting career and fans
came to understand the stuttering that became part of his act.
NASHVILLE, TN. (October 9, 2007) - Rockabilly pioneer, and gospel music artist, Billy Adams, is celebrating his 50th anniversary as a recording artist. His signature song, "Rock, Pretty Mama," was released on Quincy Records, in November 1957.
September 2O, 2007 -
For decades, Rockabilly Hall of Fame® inductee Lou Hobbs was a musical representative
of Cape Girardeau and Southeast
Missouri.
She passed away at 4pm Monday, September 3, 2007.
Rockabilly artist,
HENDERSONVILLE, TN, August 30, 2007 -
Sheriff Tex Davis, whose efforts as a songwriter, manager and promoter altered rock 'n' roll and country music history has died.
He was 93, and had recently been released from the hospital after a long period of declining health.
Bill Miller of the Official Johnny Cash Web Site,
Image Entertainment, Inc. celebrates the
legend of ELVIS PRESLEY with the first-ever DVD release of the undisputed king of
rock 'n' roll's historic earth-shattering performances in
November 18, 2006 - Ruth Brown, the gutsy rhythm and blues singer whose career extended to
acting and crusading for musicians' rights, died on yesterday in Las Vegas. She
was 78 and lived in Las Vegas.
