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 Carl Perkins 1956 |
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Rockabilly
Rockabilly burst onto the national scene in 1956 and quickly filled the pop music void that existed in the early 1950s.
This new sound seemed to come out of nowhere and, at first, didn't even have a name. Some referred to it as "country boogie". Others called it "hillbilly rock" or "hillbilly bebop."
It was raunchy, rebellious, adult-oriented music born of Country Boogie and Rhythm & Blues. Eventually it became known as "Rockabilly," a term that acknowledged both its black and its white origins. "Rock" was an old Blues euphemism and "billy" was short for "hillbilly."
Of course it didn't just happen overnight, or appear out of nowhere. The sound of Rockabilly was foretold in the music of such Country Boogie and Honky Tonk singers as the Delmore brothers, Hank Williams, and others during the late 1940s.
Bill Haley combined the influences with Jump Blues and Rhythm and Blues to become the first successful proponent of Rockabilly in 1953 and 1954. Recognizing both black and white sources for his material, Haley promoted his group as "The Cowboy Jive Band."
By 1954 Elvis Presley was becoming a regional sensation in the mid south. Billed as "The Hillbilly Cat," (a term that again recognizes both black and white influences) Elvis sang both Blues and Country songs recorded by Sam Phillips on the Sun label. The music establishment looked on bemused, not yet realizing that everything was about to change.
In 1956 Elvis signed with RCA and received national exposure. His television appearances in 1956 delivered Rockabilly into the living rooms of middle America. As Elvis wiggled his hips and sang his songs to spellbound television audiences through 1956, kids were enthralled and parents were shocked. They didn't realize it at the time, but they were witnessing the birth of a new music genre — Rock 'n' Roll.
The other major labels, although not understanding the music, understood market share and quickly signed Rockabilly singers to compete with Elvis and RCA.
The involvement of the majors marked the beginning of the end for Rockabilly. Rockabilly was the product of unfettered singers captured on small independent labels in the mid south. The sound was raunchy with adult themes. The majors tamed the sound and targetted the emerging youth market.
Rockabilly didn't last long. By 1958 most of its heroes were dead or buried in the playlists.
But the emergence of Rockabilly during the mid '50s was nothing short of revolutionary. By combining black and white roots music — Country with Blues — Rockabilly marks the moment in American pop music when indigenous music went mainstream.
And for many, Rockabilly IS Rock 'n' Roll.
Abridged from Jive: Rock 'n' Roll And Other Four-Letter Words
Click on any artist below for profile with links to online resources
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.Featured Sites .
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Other Recommended Sites
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The Rockabilly Hall of Fame Grand Opening
images by Daniel Glass |
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The Rockabilly Ring
almost 200 Rockabilly sites |
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The Women of Rockabilly
artists / timeline / fashion |
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Rockabilly Girls, Gals & Women
artists / links / and more |
Click on any link below for more information, or to order online
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Go Cat Go!
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Rock A Billy
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Unsung Heroes of Rock n Roll
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Roadkill on the Three Chord Highway
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Country
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Lost Highway
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What It Was
Was Rockabilly |
The Rockabilly
Legends |
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Other Rockabilly Titles Available Online
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Rockabilly (Life and Times Music Series)
by Tim Frew (paperback with CD) |
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Rockabilly: A Bibliographic Resource Guide
by B Lee Cooper and Wayne S Haney |
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Rockabilly Songbooks and Instruction
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Genuine Rockabilly Guitar Hits
by Fred Sokolow |
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The Best of Rockabilly
by Dave Rubin |
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Rockabilly Guitar Bible
by Hal Leonard Publishing |
Click on any link below for more information, or to order online
Rounder Special Series
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Whistle Bait
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Ain't I A Dog
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Rockabilly Riot
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More Rockabilly Recordings Available Online
Click on any link below for more information, or to order online
at the Town Hall Party
Sun Records
Feb 7, 1959
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Rockabilly Instructional Videos
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'50s Rockabilly Guitar
— Hal Leonard Studio (VHS) |
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Rockabilly Guitar (Vol 1)
— taught by Jim Weider |
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Rockabilly Guitar (Vol 2)
— taught by Jim Weider |
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Rockabilly Slap Bass
— taught by Lee Rocker (VHS) |
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Rockabilly Rockin' Swing
— drum technique taught by Slim Jim Phantom (VHS) |
The Online Roots of Rock ™
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of Gary Wilcox Studios Incorporated. Contents copyright © 1998-2017
Gary Wilcox Studios Incorporated. All rights reserved.
All photos/artwork/music copyright of
respective copyright owners
