Rhythm and Blues - Rock N Roll

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.

In 1956, Elvis Presley recorded for RCA Records, "Heartbreak Hotel," whidh became an instant success. From then on Elvis recorded one hit after another, including, "Hound Dog," '!Jailhouse Rock," "Love Me Tender," "Don't Be Cruel," and "All Shook Up." With so many successful hits and their acceptance by the public, Elvis Presley was labeled the "King" of rock-and-roll.