This document discusses the origins and development of R&B and its crossover into mainstream popularity in the 1950s, focusing on influential artists from New Orleans and the South such as Fats Domino, Little Richard, and Ray Charles. It also covers James Brown and his transition to crossover success in the 1960s, as well as Sam Cooke's move from gospel to popular music. Additionally, it discusses Chess Records in Chicago and their role in releasing early rock music, including influential artists Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley.

1. R&B Crossover
“Its The Singer, Not The Song”
New Orleans & The South
Roy Brown, Fats Domino, Lloyd Price,
Little Richard, Ray Charles, James Brown,
Sam Cooke

2. New Orleans: Roy Brown
Good Rockin’ Tonight (1947)
On the Strength of this Recording other
Record Labels Started to Look Toward
New Orleans

3. New Orleans Recording Scene
J&M Recording Studio, Cosimo Matassa
Band Leader Dave Bartholomew

4. New Orleans: Fats Domino
Dave Bartholomew
helped Imperial Records
find Fats.
Recorded at J&M
1950 “Fat Man” sold a
Million and #6 on R&B
Chart

5. New Orleans: Fats Domino
Crossed over with “Ain’t That A Shame”,
Covered by Pat Boone.
Several Hits Through 1961 including
“Blueberry Hill”

6. New Orleans: Little Richard
Richard Penniman, Macon Georgia
In Atlanta, DJ Daddy Sears Connects Him
to RCA two Songs
1955 Signed by Specialty Records, “Tutti
Frutti” (Covered by Boone)
Trademark Scream Copied by Paul
McCartney

7. New Orleans: Little Richard

8. New Orleans: Little Richard
Several Hits for the Next Four Years,
Including “Long Tall Sally”
Three Movies
Left Rock for Religion in 1957
Returned in 1964

9. New Orleans: Ray Charles
(Not From New Orleans, But Lived There)
Pianist/Singer
Raised in Florida, Began Rise in Seattle
Began Recording in 1949, in West Coast
Smooth Urban Blues Style (Nat King Cole)
“Ain’t That Fine”

10. New Orleans: Ray Charles
Signed with Atlantic Records 1952
Began to Change Style Around 1955 to
“Secularized Gospel,” Caused Some
Discussion
“I Got a Woman” same as “My Jesus is All
The World To Me”
Began to Cross Over

11. New Orleans: Ray Charles
Big Cross Over,
“What’d I Say”
Changed Labels,
even More
Mainstream
“Georgia”

12. The South: James Brown
“Hardest Working Man in Show Business”
“Soul Brother No 1”
1956 “Please Please Please”
Show Business, Dancing, Cape Routine

13. James Brown

14. James Brown
Began to Cross Over in 1964
“Out of Sight”
1965 Big Hit “Papa’s Got A Brand New
Bag”
The Famous Scream

15. James Brown
String of Hits
1960s
Style Was Roots
of Funk, Disco,
& Rap
“The Payback”

16. James Brown

17. South/North: Sam Cooke
The Roots of Sweet Soul Music
Born in the South, Moved to Chicago
Lead Singer of the Soul Stirrers
“Touch the Hem of His Garment”
Switched to Pop in 1956, Caused Split With
Record Label (Devil’s Music)

18. Sam Cooke
1957 Cross Over Hit “You
Send Me”
String of Hits “Chain Gang”
“Another Saturday Night”
“Shake”
Violent Death in 1964

19. Chicago
Chess Records (Chess Brothers), Famous
for Chicago Blues, Dominated the 1950s
Rock Scene
Released “Rockett 88” in 1951
They Stumbled Into Rock & Roll

20. Chicago: Chuck Berry

21. Chicago: Chuck Berry
Song Writer/Guitarist
Wrote Songs for American Teenager
John Lennon said, If you Wanted to Find
Another Name For Rock and Roll it Would
be Chuck Berry
Muddy Waters Sent Him to Chess

22. Chuck Berry
Famous Guitar Introduction
Guitar Solos Became a Model for All
Future Guitarists
1955 “Maybellene” an old C&W Song “Ida
Red”

23. Chuck Berry
Wrote New Songs About the 1950s
Teenager
1956 “Roll Over Beethoven”
1957 “Johnny B. Goode” & “Oh Carol”
“Sweet Little Rock and Roller”

24. Chuck Berry
1959 Mann Act Violation Brought Career
to End
Did Hard Time in Federal Pen
Beach Boys “Borrowed” His “Sweet Little
16” for “Surfin’ USA”

25. Chicago: Bo Diddley
Guitarist/Singer/Songwriter
Developed Electric Guitar/Amp
Combination
Used the “Hambone” Rhythm, now Called
the Bo Diddley /Hand Jive Rhythm
1955 “Bo Diddley”

26. Bo and Chuck