1950’S POPULAR MUSIC

1950’S OVERVIEW

The music of the 1950’s flourished as a result of the previous decade.

The 50’s saw the emergence and rise of what would come to be known as ROCK ‘N’ ROLL.

The 50’s also witnessed the popularity of COUNTRY and WESTERN MUSIC.

LITTLE RICHARD The screaming vocals, rattling keyboard style and

outrageous showmanship of Little Richard set the standard for the flamboyant excess rock 'n' roll has come to symbolize.

Richard Wayne Penniman was born December 5, 1932 one of twelve children. His father Charles "Bud" Penniman was a Seventh Day Adventist preacher who sold moonshine on the side. Richard grew up on a dirt street in an impoverished section of Macon, Georgia. Music was everywhere. Street vendors and evangelist who paraded down his block would sing as loud as they could, whether selling vegetables or religion, to get attention of folks inside. All the neighborhood sang freely as well, improvising on spiritual songs to keep them company as they worked. Some gospel singers, particularly Marion Williams of the Clara Ward singers, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and Mahalia Jackson had a profound influence on Richard.

As a youngster he sang gospel with the Penniman Singers and Tiny Tots Quartet. Richard had an infectious, hyperactive personality that was contagious and made him popular, but also got him into trouble.By age fifteen he was a regular with Sugarfoot Sam's Minstrel Show.

In 1951 at 18 he won a talent contest in Atlanta that led to a recording contract with RCA Victor. Four records were recorded that went nowhere.

A local musician Esquerita took an interest in Richard and taught him some piano techniques. In the winter of 1952 his father was murdered and he returned to Macon to perform the blues at the Tick Tock Club in the evening while washing dishes at the cafeteria of a Greyhound bus station during the day.

Bill Wright, a local blues singer from New Orleans, might have been the person who had the greatest influence on Richard. When Richard  met Wright in 1952 he was immediately taken with Wright's  appearance. Wright wore pomade in hair that was piled high on his head and flashy clothes.  It was Wright's stage make up of eyeliner and face powder that really caught Richard's attention.

While in Houston, his contract with RCA Victor expired, he recorded two singles for Peacock Records. One of the records "Rice, Red Beans and Turnip Greens" sounded like a precursor to "She's Got It".  In early 1955 he recorded his last two singles for Peacock backed by the Johnny Otis Trio. One of the songs "Little Richard's Boogie" offer a glimmer of his style.

Back in Macon in early 1955 Richard was again working as a dishwasher when he cut a demo tape. Lloyd Price, whom he knew, suggested that the demo be sent to Specialty Records  with whom Price recorded.  Art Rupe, the owner of Speciality, was hardly impressed and it would be six months before he got a call.  A recording  session was arranged in New Orleans' J&M Studios, owned by Cosimo Matassa and the home studio of Fats Domino. Bumps Blackwell  was given the responsibility of meeting Richard and recording the session.

Initially Blackwell, was no more successful then his predecessors. Richard choose to record  generally slow blues and he felt that none were particularly good. During a break he and Richard went to the Dew Drop Inn. With few people there and an old upright piano, Richard started playing like crazy, singing loud, lewd and hamming it up. Blackwell was stunned why couldn't he record this? Local lyricist was Dorothy LaBostrie was called to clean up the lyric. They went back to J&M and with only fifteen minutes left in the session. "Tutti Fruiti, good booty" became "Tutti Fruiti, aw-rootie" and the rest is history.

From the time he began with Specialty on September 13, 1955 until he left in October, 1957 Richard  would record fifty songs, including alternate takes. From this wealth of material Specialty would release 9 singles and two albums.

For eighteen months between early 1956 to the middle of 1957 everything he recorded was a hit and club dates were sellouts. He appeared in several movies including "The Girl Can't Help It' for which he recorded the title track. On October 12, 1957 he began a tour of Australia with Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent. In 1957, in the midst of a sold-out tour,  Richard quit rock 'n' roll, after  a plane scare, to become a preacher in the Seventh Day Adventist Church.  Specialty wouldn't let him out of his contract without one last session.

He entered Oakwood Seminary in Huntsville, Alabama where he began studies to become a Seventh Day Adventist Preacher. In the meantime Specialty had enough material to keep releasing singles and albums for another year. Sensing he was being cheated Richard hired a lawyer to collect back royalties from Specialty Records that he estimated at $25,000.

In January 1959 he signed with an Los Angeles agency to set up a gospel tour and in June signed a recording contract with Gone Records.

After three years of little success as a gospel performer Richard went back to Rock and Roll..  October, 1962 he began a tour of England and year later toured Europe with the Rolling Stones as his opening act.

A number of record companies took notice and invited him back to the studio, but they were only interested in repackaging his old hits. Specialty, in five sessions attempted to rekindle the 1957 magic.

During this period Jimi Hendrix was briefly Richard's guitarists.

Little Richard enjoyed a renewed popularity with the rock and roll revivals in the late '60s. In 1970 he signed with Reprise Records and had a minor hit with "Freedom Blues." For The Second Coming he was reunited with Bumps Blackwell, Lee Allen, and Earl Palmer.

In 1976 Little Richard returned to the ministry, and by 1979 had recorded God's Beautiful City for World Records, and had become a full-time evangelist. In October 1985 he was seriously injured in an accident in West Hollywood.

In 1986 he appeared in the hit movie Down and Out in Beverly Hills, which included his first hit in sixteen years, "Great Gosh a 'Mighty," and recorded Lifetime Friend for Warner Brothers. He dueted with Phillip Bailey on the title song to the 1988 film Twins and sang background vocals on the minor U2-B.b. King hit "when Love Comes to town" in 1989. In 1993 Little Richard performed at Bill Clinton's presidential inaugural.

Little Richard was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.

Listen to: “Good Golly Miss Molly” Listen to: “Tutti Frutti”

THE YEAR 1950

COOL JAZZ Cool Jazz is a style of jazz music that arose

during the second world war. With an influx of jazz musicians to New York,

these musicians mixed with the bebop musicians.

This mixture became known as Cool Jazz. Cool Jazz avoided the aggressive tempos,

and included intricate arrangements, innovative forms, and songs having a thoroughly composed sound.

The Cool Jazz influence stretches into such later developments as bossa nova, modal jazz, and even free jazz.

Listen to: Miles Davis “ Moon Dreams.”

THE WEAVERS

In 1948, Pete Seeger, Lee Hays, and two other singers formed The Weavers, whose harmonized group vocals were a new experience for many American audiences.

The group quickly achieved national fame for their energetic and entertaining performances of folk songs such as “Goodnight Irene”, “Kisses Sweeter Than Wine”, and “On Top of Old Smokey.”

The Weavers also sang political songs, and their commitment to the left-wing causes resulted in their losing some of their following in the early fifties, when members of the group were investigated by the House of Un-American Activities Committee.

The group temporarily broke up in 1953, unable to find any place to perform.

They regrouped two years later, and they continues to perform regularly for another ten years, with periodic reunion concerts afterwards.

Listen to “Goodnight Irene” Listen to “Kisses Sweeter Than Wine” Listen to “On Top of Old Smokey”

THE YEAR 1951

BILL HALEY & THE COMETS Founded in 1952, the band initially

formed as Bill haley & the Saddlemen.

They performed mostly country and western songs with a bluesy feel. The original members of the group were Bill

Haley, Johnny Grande (pianist & accordion player), and Billy Williamson (steel guitarist).

Bill Haley’s Rock and Roll career began with the remake of the rhythm and blues song, “Rocket 88.”

Bill Haley mixed the country western style with the rhythm and blues style and created the familiar sound of the early Rock and Roll music.

THE YEAR 1952

In the fall of 1952, Bill Haley changed the bands name from Saddlemen to Bill Haley & the Comets.

Soon after renaming the band, Haley hired drummer Charlie Higler.

In live performances Haley would play lead guitar himself.

Listen to “Rocket 88” Listen to “Shake Rattle, and Roll” Listen to “Rock Around the Clock”

THE YEAR 1953

THE YEAR 1954

THE YEAR 1955

THE YEAR 1956Historical Events Happenings in Rock

Music

Martin Luther King becomes recognized leader of Civil Rights Movement.

Ska begins to develop in Jamaica.

Supreme Court overturns Alabama Intrastate Bus Segregation Law.

Presley’s first RCA sessions and movie, Love Me Tender.

First transatlantic telephone cable put into operation.

Carl Perkins is injured in auto accident.

Buddy Holly and the Crickets first record contract.

Dick Clark becomes host of American Bandstand.

Many bans on rock concerts sought after brawls and riots at previous concerts.

BUDDY HOLLY & THE CRICKETS

Charles Hardin Holly, known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll.

In 1949 Buddy Holly met Bob Montgomery in high school. They teamed up together to sing duets at local clubs and school talent shows.

In 1955, Holly saw Elvis Presley sing and began to incorporate a rockabilly style into his music, which evolved into rock music.

In 1956, Holly formed his own band which he called The Crickets.

Holly’s music included the use of instruments considered novel for rock and roll. Two Guitars, bass, and drums.

Holly’s music also featured complex harmonies and melodies than had previously appeared in the genre. Holly was also noted for his use of glottal stops (vocal hickups) to emphasize certain words in his songs.

Holly managed to bridge the racial divide that marked rock’n’roll.

Holly’s singles “Peggy Sue” and “Oh Boy!” reached the top ten on both the U.S. and United Kingdom charts.

Although his success lasted only a year and a half before his death, Holly was a very influential and creative force in early rock and roll.

Holly’s works and innovations inspired and influenced The Beetles, The Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan.

Listen to: “”Oh Boy!” Listen to: “Peggy Sue”

THE YEAR 1957Historical Events Happenings in Rock

Music

U.S.S.R. launches first satellites (Sputniks I & II).

American Bandstand broadcast on national TV.

Eisenhower Doctrine seeks to keep Communism out of the Middle East.

Little Richard quits performing to enter the ministry.

International Atomic Energy Agency is founded.

Jerry Lee Lewis marries 13-yr.-old cousin.

Federal troops sent to Arkansas to protect African American students at formerly all-white high school.

Boston bans Everlys’ “Wake Up Susie.”

McCartney joins Lennon’s Quarry Men in Liverpool England.

Last 78s are released.

JERRY LEE LEWIS

Born September 29, 1935 in Ferriday Louisiana, Jerry grew up listening to a variety of music; "The Louisiana Hayride" and "Grand Ol' Opry" broadcasts, 78rpm recordings of country singers and blues men, and the inspired gospel music of the Assembly of God Church. He also spent hours hiding behind the bar at Haney's Big House soaking up the sounds of blues men like, then, 18 year old B.B. King.

Jerry Lee took these different forms of music and combined them to create a style completely his own. A creator in a world of imitators, Jerry Lee Lewis, will be remembered with Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and Elvis Presley, as one of the true fathers of Rock & Roll.

Jerry Lee began to play piano at age eight on a Stark Upright that his parents, Elmo and Mamie Lewis, mortgaged their farm to buy.

"My mother and dad...got me a piano and I loved it and worked at it real hard, and they backed me all the way, all their lives.....They were great people.“

"I'll tell ya, I started playing piano--I learned to play in two weeks."

In late 1956, the 21 year old Jerry Lee took his talent to Memphis to 'Eyeball' Sam Phillips at Sun Records after reading a story about Elvis in "Country Roundup" magazine. His family gathered 33 dozen eggs and sold them to Nelson's Supermarket in Ferriday to finance the trip north. Once there, his life would never be the same.

On Sunday, July 28th, 1957, The Killer performed to a national television audience on the Steve Allen show. "Whole Lotta Shakin'" started moving up the charts and didn't stop until it held the number one spot in all field of music--Pop, Country and Western, and R&B. Only two other people have accomplished this--Elvis and Carl Perkins. However, with his next release, The Killer would leave them all behind.

"Great Balls of Fire" as well, would stand atop the Pop, Country, and R&B charts. No one before or since has duplicated this feat.

The summer of 1958 found Jerry Lee on top of the world. His twelve day engagement at the Paramount Theater in New York broke all attendance records, and his third hit "Breathless" was moving up the charts--until it all came crashing down during a tour of England in the fall of '58.

As the story has been told many, many, times. The British press, discovering his new bride to be only 13 years old and his second cousin (twice removed), attacked him mercilessly. Returning to the states, Jerry faced an equally hostile reaction.

In 1961 things began to look better when his re-make of Ray Charles' "What'd I Say" began to receive airplay, but it wasn't until the late 1960's when Jerry Lee began to release a string of number one and top-ten country singles, that his career regained momentum.

Listen to: “Great Balls of Fire” Listen to: “Breathless” Listen to: “Whole Lotta

Shakin”

THE YEAR 1958

Historical Events Happenings in Rock Music

Congressional Committee investigates unethical practices in broadcasting industry (payola scandal).

Violence causes cancellations of Alan Freed shows.

U.S. launches Explorer I satellite.

NBC bans rock music.

First recordings made in stereo.

Army drafts Elvis Presley

St. Louis DJs break rock records on radio.

Aldon Music and Brill Building centers for New York pop songwriting.

First Newport Folk Festival.

Transistor radios are marketed.

First LPs are released.

THE YEAR 1959

Historical Events Happenings in Rock Music

Alaska and Hawaii join U.S. as states.

Buddy Holly records first rock record using a string section.

First Ballistic-missile submarine and first atomic-powered merchant ship is launched.

Alan Freed is fired because of payola scandal.

Castro takes power in Cuba. Motown Record Co. starts in Detroit.

Soviet Premier Khrushchev visits U.S.

Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper die.

TRAGIC ENDS

In the early morning hours of Feb. 3, 1959, a small airplane carrying rock stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. Richardson crashed only minutes after take-off in a snowstorm.

The three had just played the “Winter Dance Party” and were heading to the next stop in Fargo, North Dakota.  Richardson was 28, Valens was 17, and Holly was only 22 years old.

The day was later called The Day the Music Died by Don McLean, in his song, “American Pie”