JimBob1952
Senior Member
I think some (not all) white rockers recognized the talent they were drawing upon and the merits of equal treatment under law. Sports figures like Jackie Robinson and Jim Brown played an important role as well.
Who was the Father of Rock and Roll?
- Thread starter Gaer
- Start date
I think some (not all) white rockers recognized the talent they were drawing upon and the merits of equal treatment under law. Sports figures like Jackie Robinson and Jim Brown played an important role as well.
JimBob1952
Senior Member
Art Tatum and Big Joe Turner. This may not be rock and roll, but it's pretty close.
oldiebutgoody
Senior Member
Bro', you sure know your stuff. We fans of Big Joe call him the "Grandfather of Rock & Roll":
Big Joe Turner, Grandfather of Rock 'n' Roll - Legacy.com
Many people believe Bill Haley & the Comets invented Rock & Roll when they sang "Shake, Rattle, and Roll" in 1956. But Big Joe sang it two years earlier. Haley imitated Big Joe's singing and rhythm style.
tbeltrans
Senior Member
All those named also stand on the shoulders of those who came before them such as the old Delta Blues players who drew from those before them. Gospel, field hollers, all of that and more fueled the blues, rock and roll, folk, etc. Music always has been a continually evolving art form, drawing from a variety of influences..
Tony
JimBob1952
Senior Member
So true. And country musicians like Hank Williams and Jimmie Rogers were also huge influences on early rockers.
JimBob1952
Senior Member
Bro', you sure know your stuff. We fans of Big Joe call him the "Grandfather of Rock & Roll":
Big Joe Turner, Grandfather of Rock 'n' Roll - Legacy.com
That's great, thank you!
Many people believe Bill Haley & the Comets invented Rock & Roll when they sang "Shake, Rattle, and Roll" in 1956. But Big Joe sang it two years earlier. Haley imitated Big Joe's singing and rhythm style.
I like the following list .... They put Chuck Berry at No. 1, and Elvis at No. 2, and the rest were all fabulous!
Top Ten Fathers of Rock n Roll .....https://www.thetoptens.com/father-of-rock-and-rill/
Top Ten Fathers of Rock n Roll .....https://www.thetoptens.com/father-of-rock-and-rill/
JimBob1952
Senior Member
What's amazing to me is how the Beatles and some of the other British Invasion bands absorbed all of this, added some English music hall and pop, and came over in 1964 to get the whole thing started again.
The Everly Brothers were huge. And there was also the whole Brill Building thing going on with people like Goffin and King and Lieber and Stoller. When you think about it, it's all pretty amazing.
The Everly Brothers were huge. And there was also the whole Brill Building thing going on with people like Goffin and King and Lieber and Stoller. When you think about it, it's all pretty amazing.
digifoss
Member
- Location
- New Mexico
Big Joe Turner, Shake Rattle and Roll 1954
Gaer
"Angel whisperer"
- Location
- New Mexico U.S.A.
Wow! LOVE THAT LIST!!!
Buddy Holly and Little Richard were the first 45 records I ever bought. I played them over and over and over! ( I was just a kid) Saw Little Richard in San Diego at a club. Boy! Those were the days! Anyway, Guess we can all agree Rock and Roll was born in Mo town!
digifoss
Member
- Location
- New Mexico
Big Joe Turner, Corrine Corrina 1956
And the term ... Rock and Roll ... give this man the credit ...
Alan Freed
Alan Freed coined the term "Rock"N"Roll and people who say it's chuck berry is not correct. Chuck berry started his career after the first rock"n"roll song was released in 1951 by Jackie Brendston named "Rocket 88" And Chuck Berrys first hit was first released in 1955 which was called "Maybellene" Bill Haley and his comets made rock n roll popular with rock around the clock, Elvis was the king, but not the first one that sang rock"n"roll. Buddy Holly was one of the world's most talented artist, but his career started in 1956. Buddy Holly was the father of "Rock Music" and not "Rock"N"Roll music" So if my opinion is right Jackie Brendston was the first to to sing Rock"N"Roll but he didn't get good hits. The first rock"N"Roll hit was "Rock Around the Clock" By Bill Haley and his comets. But I wrote for Alan Freed, because that he was the one that had the power to create a whole new music term, and none of the rock n roll singers we know today would have known rock n roll if it was not ...more ....
https://www.thetoptens.com/father-of-rock-and-rill/
Alan Freed
Alan Freed coined the term "Rock"N"Roll and people who say it's chuck berry is not correct. Chuck berry started his career after the first rock"n"roll song was released in 1951 by Jackie Brendston named "Rocket 88" And Chuck Berrys first hit was first released in 1955 which was called "Maybellene" Bill Haley and his comets made rock n roll popular with rock around the clock, Elvis was the king, but not the first one that sang rock"n"roll. Buddy Holly was one of the world's most talented artist, but his career started in 1956. Buddy Holly was the father of "Rock Music" and not "Rock"N"Roll music" So if my opinion is right Jackie Brendston was the first to to sing Rock"N"Roll but he didn't get good hits. The first rock"N"Roll hit was "Rock Around the Clock" By Bill Haley and his comets. But I wrote for Alan Freed, because that he was the one that had the power to create a whole new music term, and none of the rock n roll singers we know today would have known rock n roll if it was not ...more ....
https://www.thetoptens.com/father-of-rock-and-rill/
tbeltrans
Senior Member
What is interesting to me is that the British musicians absorbed the music of the Black musicians that we were not privy to yet at the time, and then presented it to us in their own way with covers of many Black blues tunes. The Rolling Stones, for example, were heavily influenced by American Black blues musicians, especially in their earliest albums. John Mayall, and many others really helped to break down the color barrier in this country as they stirred demand for this music by American white audiences.
Tony
SetWave
Well-known Member
- Location
- Monterey Bay
God gave rock 'n' roll to you.
tbeltrans
Senior Member
...and to think that at that time, the Evangelicals called it the "music of the devil". I do remember when they put pressure on Ed Sullivan to not show Elvis' hips during his performance. But many years later, when my wife wanted me to go to church with her (we went to an Evangelical for a while), I played lead guitar in their band and these people could not get enough rock and roll. So ultimately, I suppose they finally understood your post.
The funny thing to me was that the bandleader who was a classically trained pianist, couldn't seem to understand that rock was not about reading notes from a page, but instead all ear and heart. She would send us home with the sheet music to a tune along with a cassette recording of it and I would come back with corrections to the chords on the sheet, telling her to forget the sheet and just play it. I can read music, but some styles simply don't use that.
Tony
digifoss
Member
- Location
- New Mexico
Chuck Willis is another truly great, often forgotten about, died way too young. Known in 1952 as the King of Rock and Stroll
tbeltrans
Senior Member
Here is what some of the white boys did to that tune.
While each rendition is good in its own way, every time I hear a Black artist do the same cover, it seems to have a kind of depth, as if they really take the time to get inside and really feel the tune, that the other covers seem to lack. I am sure it is just me, rather than the recordings themselves, but that is a very common reaction for me. All of these recordings are covers, since CC Rider is a very old blues tune.
Tony
...and to think that at that time, the Evangelicals called it the "music of the devil". I do remember when they put pressure on Ed Sullivan to not show Elvis' hips during his performance. But many years later, when my wife wanted me to go to church with her (we went to an Evangelical for a while), I played lead guitar in their band and these people could not get enough rock and roll. So ultimately, I suppose they finally understood your post.
The funny thing to me was that the bandleader who was a classically trained pianist, couldn't seem to understand that rock was not about reading notes from a page, but instead all ear and heart. She would send us home with the sheet music to a tune along with a cassette recording of it and I would come back with corrections to the chords on the sheet, telling her to forget the sheet and just play it. I can read music, but some styles simply don't use that.
Tony
Your post reminds me!
I remember being so obsessed with Elvis in the 50's.. he was just bigger than life to me, and all my crazy teen friends. ....everything was Elvis!
I had an Aunt at the time, that was so worried about my future and my terrible tastes in music. She tried to steer me into liking her classical stuff, etc. ...lol
Didn't work!
Many years later, when she was getting up in years, and wanted soothing music to comfort herself, she called and told me that she bought the most beautiful religious album she had ever heard!
.... it was Elvis
We had a wonderful long conversation that day.
saltydog
New Member
- Location
- Northern California
I agree that no one person started rock 'n' roll and that it was a black and white blend of many.
My older sisters were fans of Elvis Presley from the mid 1950’s and his was the first rock and roll music I remember being played at our house. Elvis never claimed to have invented rock and roll, that he was influenced by black gospel and blues.
My older sisters were fans of Elvis Presley from the mid 1950’s and his was the first rock and roll music I remember being played at our house. Elvis never claimed to have invented rock and roll, that he was influenced by black gospel and blues.
SetWave
Well-known Member
- Location
- Monterey Bay
I know I've mentioned this before but, hey I'm old. In the early 50s when I was around seven and my sister was about 13. She used drag me into her room, throw a record on the machine and make me dance with her. Good Times!
tbeltrans
Senior Member
OK, we have had many answers and ensuing discussion as to who is the father of rock and roll.
However, as is often the case in these kinds of issues where there are several potential candidates for that distinction of "who is the father...", we need a DNA test. So, somebody needs to collect DNA samples from all the potential fathers.
Go on, off you go! Come back when these have been collected and submitted for testing.
Edit: In all seriousness, we can trace the "DNA" of the various musicians because that is the influence of those who came before. For somebody so inclined, it may be interesting to construct a sort of "family tree" of the influences musicians had on each other, tracing back to one or more common sources which would then reveal the true father(s) of rock and roll.
Tony
However, as is often the case in these kinds of issues where there are several potential candidates for that distinction of "who is the father...", we need a DNA test. So, somebody needs to collect DNA samples from all the potential fathers.
Go on, off you go! Come back when these have been collected and submitted for testing.
Edit: In all seriousness, we can trace the "DNA" of the various musicians because that is the influence of those who came before. For somebody so inclined, it may be interesting to construct a sort of "family tree" of the influences musicians had on each other, tracing back to one or more common sources which would then reveal the true father(s) of rock and roll.
Tony
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Furryanimal
Y gath o Gymru
- Location
- Wales
Bill Haley