Rhythm and Blues - Rock N Roll
Shortly after World War II in 1945, record companies, such as Savoy, Atlantic, Columbia, Victor, King, Imperial, and other lesser known independent labels were recording music for the black population which were referred to as "race" records.
But in 1949, Billboard, a music-trade magazine proposed that the term "race" be removed and replaced with Rhythm 'n' blues or R&B. The new terminology placed emphasis on the traditional blues pattern being performed as ensemble music, plus a rhythm section of electric guitars, electric bass, electric piano or organ and a complete drum set.
Taking an active lead in R&B were B.B. King, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Roscoe Gordon, Johnny Ray, Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Roy Brown and Johnny Otis. The early 1950s, brought out many vocal groups singing R&B. There were the Drifters with their recording of "Money Honey," the Dominoes' rendition of "Sixty Minute Man," the Midnighters' "Work With Me Annie," and the Five Royales doing "Think" and "Dedicated To The One I Love."
Rhythm and blues soon became a stepping stone to rhythm and gospel, with such groups as the Soul Stirrers, the Swan Silvertones, the Dixie Hummingbirds and the Pilgrim Travelers.
In 1951, Jackie Brenston recorded "Rocket 88" for. Chess Records in Memphis, Tennessee. The record became the number one hit on the R&B charts that year, but it was also referred to as the first rock-and-roll record.
Bill Haley, who had a western group called the "Saddlemen," recorded "Rocket 88" for the Essex label in 1951. Then in 1952 with his new group, Bill Haley and His Comets, began recording rock-and-roll records, the first being "Rock The Joint."
Picking up the momentum and further exposure of rock-and-roll music to a racially mixed teenage audience were white disc jockeys Alan Freed in Cleveland, Ohio, and Dewey Phillips from Memphis, Tennessee.
By the mid-1950s, rock-and-roll, or simply put, "rock," became the popular music craze. Much of rock music came from the fusion of blues, jazz and gospel styles, along with country-western and folk music.
Bill Haley and His Comets have been credited with being the first to produce a rock-and-roll hit with his "Rock Around The Clock" in 1955. Following close behind Bill Haley were Elvis Presley's country-western hits, "I Forgot To Remember To Forget" and "Mystery Train" on Sun Records. Chuck Berry's "Maybellene" and Fats Domino's "Ain't That A Shame" were top R&B hits around that time.
1955 was the first year for rock-and-roll. Teenagers proved to be devoted and faithful audiences. Rock was a music for the younger generation. It was also music for dancing, and the youth of America wanted to dance.
