Difference between revisions of "Rockabilly" - New World Encyclopedia

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[[Image:Rockabilly2.JPG|right|thumb|1950's "Rockabilly" book by [[Harlan Ellison]] ]]
 
[[Image:Rockabilly2.JPG|right|thumb|1950's "Rockabilly" book by [[Harlan Ellison]] ]]
'''Rockabilly''' is one of the earliest forms of [[rock and roll]] as a distinct style of music. It is a fusion of [[blues]], boogie-woogie,  and [[country music]], and its origins lie in the [[American South]].
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'''Rockabilly''' is one of the earliest forms of [[rock and roll]] as a distinct style of music. It flourished in the mid 1950s based mainly in the American south, and several of its leading practitioners were among the most famous early [[rock]] performers.
 
 
The center of classic rockabilly reocordings was the Sun record studios in Memphis, Tennessee. There, Sun owner Sam Phillips discovered such artists as Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, and Jerry Lee Lewis. Other influential artists in the genre included Buddy Holly, Gene Vincent, Rob Orbison, and Conway Twitty. Many of these, of course, went on to have important careers in "mainstream" rock. By the late 1950s, rockabilly had fused with rock and roll to such a degree that virtually died out as a distinct musical form.
 
 
 
==Characteristics==
 
  
 
The classic rockabilly sound was "a brash, lively, unselfconscious hybrid of blues and country," characterized by a "slapping string bass, twanging lead guitar [and] acoustic rhythm guitar - with plenty of echo while singers made astonishing yelps, gulps, hiccups and stutters."[http://www.history-of-rock.com/rockabilly.htm]
 
The classic rockabilly sound was "a brash, lively, unselfconscious hybrid of blues and country," characterized by a "slapping string bass, twanging lead guitar [and] acoustic rhythm guitar - with plenty of echo while singers made astonishing yelps, gulps, hiccups and stutters."[http://www.history-of-rock.com/rockabilly.htm]
  
According to author Peter Guralnic, its rhythm was "nervously uptempo, as well as accented on the offbeat." The echo effect was a "homemade technique refined independently by [[Sam Phillips]] [in Memphis] and [[Leonard Chess]] in Chicago with sewer pipes and bathroom acoustics."
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While usually thought of as a white southern genre, rockabilly's blend of blues and country crossed racial boundaries. Elvis Presley's music, for example, was popular on northern radio stations that catered to blacks, while white stations often refused to play his music on grounds that it corrupted the morals of youth. Chuck Berry, on the other hand, is an example of a black musician whose songs — though rarely characterized as rockabilly — often closely resembled it. (See for example: "Johnny B. Goode" and "Sometimes I Will and Again I think I Won't.")
  
While usually thought of as a white southern genre, rockabilly's blend of blues and country crossed racial boundaries. Elvis Presley's music, for example, was popular on northern radio stations that catered to blacks, while white stations often refused to play his music on grounds that it corrupted the morals of youth. Chuck Berry, on the other hand, is an example of a black musician whose songs — though rarely characterized as rockabilly — often closely resemble it. (See for example: "Johnny B. Goode" and "Sometimes I Will and Again I think I Won't.")
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The center of classic rockabilly reocordings was the Sun Records studios in Memphis, Tennessee. There, Sun owner Sam Phillips discovered such artists as Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, and Jerry Lee Lewis. Other influential artists in the genre included Buddy Holly, Gene Vincent, Roy Orbison, and Conway Twitty. Many of these went on to have important careers in "mainstream" rock. By the late 1950s, rockabilly had fused with rock and roll to such a degree that virtually died out as a distinct musical form. In recent years, various rockabilly revival groups have brought a renewed appreciation for the genre.
  
==Early influences==  
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==Background==  
  
 
In the 1940s, several country acts began performing blues-inlfuenced songs with driving rhythms that anticipated rockabilly. [[Bill Monroe]]'s uptempo numbers such as "Heavy Traffic Ahead" and "Bluegrass Stomp" are examples. The Delmore Brothers recorded such sons as "Hillbilly Boogie" and "Pan American Boogie" in 1945. [[Hank Williams]], adding drums and electric guitar, created such pre-rockabilly classics as "Move It On Over," "Honky-Tonkin'" and "Hey Good Lookin', What You Got Cookin'?" Several other country artists recorded similar sounds.
 
In the 1940s, several country acts began performing blues-inlfuenced songs with driving rhythms that anticipated rockabilly. [[Bill Monroe]]'s uptempo numbers such as "Heavy Traffic Ahead" and "Bluegrass Stomp" are examples. The Delmore Brothers recorded such sons as "Hillbilly Boogie" and "Pan American Boogie" in 1945. [[Hank Williams]], adding drums and electric guitar, created such pre-rockabilly classics as "Move It On Over," "Honky-Tonkin'" and "Hey Good Lookin', What You Got Cookin'?" Several other country artists recorded similar sounds.
  
In 1952, [[Bill Haley and the Comets]], released "Rock the Joint" on the Essex label, which some believe was very first true rockabilly recording, replete with slap bass and the hallmark country/blues sound. The song also featured the first appearance of guitar solo would re-appear in two years later in his biggest hit, "Rock Around The Clock." Tennessee Ernie Ford performed in a similar style on songs such as "Smokey Mountain Boogie." Author Nick Tosches writes, "By the early 1950s, it was not uncommon to encounter simultaneous country and rhythm-and-blues recordings of the same song."
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In 1952, [[Bill Haley]], released [http://aolsearch.aol.com/aol/redir?src=audio_search&requestId=2bf48665586a7264&clickedItemRank=1&userQuery=bill+haley+rock+the+joint&clickedItemURN=http%3A%2F%2Frockroll.kulichki.net%2Frm%2Fbill%2Fbh_rjoin.ram "Rock the Joint"], which some believe was very first true rockabilly recording, replete with slap bass and the hallmark country/blues sound. Tennessee Ernie Ford performed in a similar style on songs such as "Smokey Mountain Boogie." Author Nick Tosches writes, "By the early 1950s, it was not uncommon to encounter simultaneous country and rhythm-and-blues recordings of the same song."
  
 
==The Heyday of Rockabilly==
 
==The Heyday of Rockabilly==

Revision as of 20:59, 15 November 2006

File:Rockabilly2.JPG
1950's "Rockabilly" book by Harlan Ellison

Rockabilly is one of the earliest forms of rock and roll as a distinct style of music. It flourished in the mid 1950s based mainly in the American south, and several of its leading practitioners were among the most famous early rock performers.

The classic rockabilly sound was "a brash, lively, unselfconscious hybrid of blues and country," characterized by a "slapping string bass, twanging lead guitar [and] acoustic rhythm guitar - with plenty of echo while singers made astonishing yelps, gulps, hiccups and stutters."[1]

While usually thought of as a white southern genre, rockabilly's blend of blues and country crossed racial boundaries. Elvis Presley's music, for example, was popular on northern radio stations that catered to blacks, while white stations often refused to play his music on grounds that it corrupted the morals of youth. Chuck Berry, on the other hand, is an example of a black musician whose songs — though rarely characterized as rockabilly — often closely resembled it. (See for example: "Johnny B. Goode" and "Sometimes I Will and Again I think I Won't.")

The center of classic rockabilly reocordings was the Sun Records studios in Memphis, Tennessee. There, Sun owner Sam Phillips discovered such artists as Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, and Jerry Lee Lewis. Other influential artists in the genre included Buddy Holly, Gene Vincent, Roy Orbison, and Conway Twitty. Many of these went on to have important careers in "mainstream" rock. By the late 1950s, rockabilly had fused with rock and roll to such a degree that virtually died out as a distinct musical form. In recent years, various rockabilly revival groups have brought a renewed appreciation for the genre.

Background

In the 1940s, several country acts began performing blues-inlfuenced songs with driving rhythms that anticipated rockabilly. Bill Monroe's uptempo numbers such as "Heavy Traffic Ahead" and "Bluegrass Stomp" are examples. The Delmore Brothers recorded such sons as "Hillbilly Boogie" and "Pan American Boogie" in 1945. Hank Williams, adding drums and electric guitar, created such pre-rockabilly classics as "Move It On Over," "Honky-Tonkin'" and "Hey Good Lookin', What You Got Cookin'?" Several other country artists recorded similar sounds.

In 1952, Bill Haley, released "Rock the Joint", which some believe was very first true rockabilly recording, replete with slap bass and the hallmark country/blues sound. Tennessee Ernie Ford performed in a similar style on songs such as "Smokey Mountain Boogie." Author Nick Tosches writes, "By the early 1950s, it was not uncommon to encounter simultaneous country and rhythm-and-blues recordings of the same song."

The Heyday of Rockabilly

Elvis Presley's 1954 Memphis sessions for Sun Records produced arguably the most influential rockabilly recordings. "That's All Right Mama", first performed by Arthur Crudup, was a reworking of a blues tune, done with overtones of country music. Presley also recorded a rocking 4/4-time version of the bluegrass standard "Blue Moon of Kentucky", originally a waltz number by Bill Monroe. Elvis sang similar songs on the Louisiana Hayride radio show, where he was billed as "The Hillbilly Cat", a title that embodies the rockabilly synthesis.

File:Perkins-Album.jpg
Carl Perkins recordings for Sun Records are considered among the purest expressions of rockabilly.

During roughly the same period of time, a young singer/songwriter in Lubbock, Texas named Buddy Holly was busy taking elements of various musical styles (blues, country, gospel, south of the border, etc...) and melding them into the sound that won him stardom. Holly's pioneering efforts are legendary, and the rockabilly sound was a strong element in much of his work.

Carl Perkins, who also recorded for Sun, is the performer whose recordings most clearly define the rockabilly genre. His "Blue Suede Shoes" is considered a classic of the style. The early recordings of Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Dale Hawkins, Charlie Feathers, Hasil Adkins, Gene Vincent, Billy Lee Riley, Johnny Burnette and Roy Orbison are also considered definitive. Early Everly Brothers hits such as "Bye Bye Love" and "Wake Up Little Susie" also featured the rockabilly sound. Eddie Cochran and Ricky Nelson, though not southerners, were also are considered rockabilly performers. Bill Flagg was the first to name the music "rockabilly" when he recorded for Tetra Records in 1955−1956. His song "Go Cat Go" went into the National Billboard charts in 1956.

Rockabilly was also a vehicle for many women performers to display their musical talents as well. Women like Wanda Jackson and Janis Martin performed a liberating form of rockabilly. Wanda Jackson was the first woman to shed her cowboy hat and boots and opt for rhinesone earrings and high heels when singing rockabilly music. She utilized Elvis' backing group the Jordanaires in her recordings.

Revival

Rockabilly's popularity waned in the early 1960s. The advent of the Beatles, however, brought a later generation into appreciation of such songs as Carl Perkins' "Honey Don't," "Matchbook," and "Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby."

In 1977 Robert Gordon, accompanied by Link Wray on guitar, started a more conscious the Rockabilly revival. His cover version of Billy Lee Riley's Red Hot got much radio airplay, and RCA released released his album Rock Billy Boogie in 1979, this time without Wray. Also in 1979 the popular operatic rock band Queen released "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," a rockabilly song which went to #1 on the U.S. charts. In the early 1980s, The Stray Cats followed, had several hit records in the rockabilly style, including "Stray Cat Strut," "Rock this Town," and "Sexy and 17." Another noteworthy Rockabilly band of the '80s was the Blasters. Other revivalists followed in the 1990s, including High Noon, Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys, Lone Star Trio, Danny Dean & The Homewreckers, the Dave and Deke Combo, The Racketeers, and others. Bands such as The Cramps, Tav Falco's Panther Burns, Reverend Horton Heat, Batmobile and more importantly The Meteors merged the rockabilly with punk rock, forming a distinct sub-genre referred to as psychobilly.

In 1997, the Rockabilly Hall of Fame was founded by Bob Timmers to present early rock and roll history and information relative to the artists and personalities involved in this pioneering American music genre.

Several rockabilly festivals take place each year; mostly in the U.S. and Europe. Attendance at these festivals ranges from a few hundred to several thousand. Since the late '90s the most popular of these has been Viva Las Vegas, which takes place each Easter weekend in Las Vegas.


See also

Samples

Further reading

  • Miller, Jim (editor). The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock & Roll. (1976). New York: Rolling Stone Press/Random House. ISBN 0-394-40327-4. ("Rockabilly," chapter written by Guralnick, Peter. pp. 64-67.)
  • Tosches, Nick. Unsung Heroes of Rock 'n' Roll. (1984). New York: Harmony Books. ISBN 0-517-58052-7.
  • Morrison, Craig. Go Cat Go!: Rockabilly Music and its Makers. (1996). Illinois. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 0-252-06538-7.

External links

Template:Countrymusic

Template:Rock

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