Rock 'n' Roll Roots

Rost from the RWC crew has been reading up about Rock ‘N’ Roll recently and was amazed at how early some of the records that are considered the birth of Rock ‘N’ Roll were made…

Big Joe Turner – Roll ‘Em Pete (1939)

Roy Brown – Good Rockin’ Tonight (1946)

Roy Brown's original was clearly blues with a Boogie Woogie bass often called Jump Blues. But when Wynonie Harris remade this version, changed to a secular theme and put the hand-clapping hard beat on 2 and 4, He created an instant revolution in music (which serious researchers have concluded was the true birth of rock and roll). That strong beat on 2 and 4 became the single most important characteristic of Rock.

Wynonie Harris - Good Rockin' Tonight (1948)

Hank Williams – Move It On Over (1947) was obviously grounded in Country but is starting to move into Rock ‘n’ Roll territory.

Amos Milburn – Chicken Shack Boogie (1947) (this version is from 1948)

Please remember that this list is not definitive and many records have been left out on the basis that we cannot find Youtube videos for them. The final record here is widely considered the first fully formed Rock ‘N’ Roll song.

Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats – Rocket 88 (1951)

Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats was, in fact, Ike Turner and his band The Kings of Rhythm recording under a different name), recorded by Sam Phillips for Sun Records in 1951.