Rockabilly emerged in the early 1950s and blended elements of country music and rhythm and blues. It was pioneered by artists recording for Sun Records, including Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Roy Orbison. These artists incorporated slap bass, strong guitar, and a driving beat into their energetic performances of songs that fused the genres. Bill Haley was also an early rockabilly star, covering R&B songs and achieving success with "Rock Around the Clock", which helped popularize rock and roll to mainstream audiences.

1. Rockabilly
R&B Performed by Those with Roots in
C&W
Most Associated with Sun Records
Instrumentation From the String Band
Tradition Rather Than the Jump Blues, i.e.,
no sax solos

2. Rockabilly
Instrumentation: Guitar, Bass, Drums
(Later)
Bass Players used “Slap Bass” Technique
derived from drummer-less bands.
Rockabilly Hiccup
Exuberant Performance Style
“Cat” Clothing Style

3. Bill Haley
1st Rockabilly Star
1940s Country Musician

4. Bill Haley

5. Bill Haley
Bill Haley and the Saddlemen began
Covering R&B
1951 Covered “Rocket 88”
1952 Covered “Rock the Joint” (DJs played
the wrong side)

6. Bill Haley in Wildwood
Entertained at
Summer Resort,
Discovered the
Audience Liked
R&B

7. Bill Haley

8. Bill Haley
1953 Changed Name to The Comets
Decca Records Used Same Producer as
Louis Jordan
1954 Recorded “Rock Around the Clock”
But Not A Hit Until Blackboard Jungle
1955

9. Bill Haley

10. Bill Haley
1954 Covered “Shake, Rattle, & Roll”
Rock’s 1st Million Seller
Removed Sexual References

11. Shake Rattle & Roll Comparison
Haley - Pots & Pans
Turner - pots & pans; dresses
Haley - dresses
Turner - Devil in nylon
Turner - one-eyed cat
Haley - one eyed cat
Turner - Over the Hill

12. Haley’s Covers
Some Would Argue that Haley’s Versions
Are Rock and the Originals Are R&B
“Choo Choo Ch-Boogie” 1957
Louis Jordan “Choo Choo . .” 1946
“See You Later Alligator” Haley Cover
“See You Later Alligator” Bobby Charles

13. Bill Haley
Toured Europe & England
Exuberant Crowds Rioted
Styles Had Changed When He Returned
An Important Transitional Artist

14. Sun Records Rockabillies
Sam Phillips Founder of Sun Records
1950 Began Memphis Recording Service,
Recorded Blues Artists,Sold Masters to
Chess & Modern
Recorded “Rockett 88” 1951
Sun Records Began 1952

15. Sun & Elvis
Phillips Knew the Time Was Right for
White R&B
Elvis Walked in Summer 1953
Next Time, He Met Elvis and Suggested He
Work With Two Musicians Who Happened
to be There.

16. Elvis Scotty & Bill
Would Elvis’
Records Sounded
Different if Other
Musicians Were
Hanging Around
the Studio?

17. Elvis
Scotty Moore, Bill Black Worked With
Elvis and “Stumbled Into” the Style
July 19, 1954 Recorded
“That’s Alright Mama” &
“Blue Moon of Kentucky”

18. Early Elvis

19. The Phases of Elvis: 1st
Early Elvis, Records at Sun
Many Early Unreleased Recordings He
Sounded Like A Crooner
Stumbled into Shouter Style (p.96-7)
Signed Management Contract With Col.
Tom Parker, Signed to RCA

20. Col. Tom Parker

21. Phase Two: Recording Star
1956 Recorded Hits for RCA
Several TV Shows
Col. Signed with Two Movie Studios
1958-60 Elvis Interruptus (U.S. Army)
Heartbreak Hotel I Want You Don’t Be Cruel
Hound Dog Love Me Tender
Jail House Rock

22. Lame Elvis

23. Phase Three: Movie Star Elvis
After Army He Made Movies, Only One
TV Performance, No Live Performing
31 Movies
Recorded Movie Soundtracks with Songs
Like:
Rock Hula Baby Bossa Nova Baby
Viva Las Vegas

24. Phase Four: Las Vegas Elvis
Movie Career Over
Return to Live
Performance 1969-75
1968 Elvis Presley NBC
Special
Tours ave. 110
Performances per Year

25. Other Sun Rockabilies
Carl Perkins
Songwriter/Singer/Guita
rist
“Blue Suede Shoes”
Respected by the Beatles
“Match Box”
Blind Lemon
Beatles

26. Other Sun Rockabillies
Jerry Lee Lewis
Pianist
Glissandos
“Whole Lotta
Shakin’ Goin’
On” 1957
Placed on All 3
Charts

27. Other Sun Rockabillies
Jerry Lee cont.
“Great Balls of Fire”
1958
Married 13 yr. Old
2nd Cousin
May 1958 English
Tour Ended 1st
Career

28. Other Sun Rockabillies
Roy Orbison Singer/Songwriter
“Ooby Dooby”
Switched Labels, Hits 1960-64 “Pretty
Woman”
Johnny Cash, Warren Smith etc.

29. Non-Sun Rockabillies
Everly Brothers (Don, Phil)
Parents Were Radio Performers
Sang in “Country Brothers” Harmony
Solo Sound Like Hank Williams
“Bye Bye Love”
“Wake Up Little Susie”

30. Everly Brothers

31. Non-Sun Rockabillies
Buddy Holly
Rock and Roll
“Common Man”?
Started as C&W
Elvis Inspired Him

32. Non Sun Rockabillies
“That’ll Be The Day”
• Rockabilly Hiccup
“Peggy Sue”
Died in Plane Crash “Winter Dance Party
Tour”
Posthumous Release “It Doesn’t Matter
Anymore”

33. Non Sun Rockabillies
Eddie Cochran
• “Summertime Blues”
Gene Vincent
• “Be-Bop-A-Lula”
Accident in England Killed Cochran,
Injured Vincent.