The 50s Flashcards
Recording studio in Memphis, TN
Sun Records
When was Sun Records founded?
1952
Who started Sun Records?
Sam Phillips
What was the first rock song to hit the charts?
Rocket 88
Who performed Rocket 88?
Ike Turner
Who was Ike Turner?
A horrible person and wife beater
What kind of music did Sun records record?
Delta Blues
Who famously recorded with Sun Records?
B.B King and Elvis Presley
What was Elvis influenced by?
Black culture, gospel, country, R&B, and hillbilly
What was Elvis’ first hit?
“That’s Alright Mama”
Who originally wrote “That’s alright, Mama”?
A Blues artist named Arthur Crudup in 1946
Did Elvis write who own music?
No.
What were the first two songs Elvis released?
“That’s alright, Mama” and “Blue Moon on Kentucky.”
When did Elvis come to Sun Records?
1953, when Elvis was 18.
What was rockabilly?
The “white version” of Rhythm and Blues. The term was created to describe Elvis’ music.
What region does rockabilly come from?
The south
Who was the King of Rock and Roll?
Elvis Presley
What was crossover music?
Music that appealed to the white youth as well as the black community
When was Chess Records founded?
1950
Who founded Chess Records?
Leonard and Phil Chess, two brothers who immigrated from Poland
What kind of blues did Chess Records record?
Originally Delta Blues which evolved into Chicago Blues
What is the difference between Delta and Chicago Blues?
Chicago blues was amplified, used electric guitars and harmonicas. Delta Blues was acoustic.
Why did many black families migrate north in the 40s and 50s?
Farms required less workers due to agricultural advancements.
Who were the two crossover artists that Chess Records recorded?
Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry
What was the Bo Diddley beat?
A style of rhythm made famous by Bo Diddley. Was inspired by the salsa beat in Mexican music. Influenced countless artists including Buddy Holly
What show was Bo Diddley on?
The Ed Sullivan Show
Why did Chess Records arrange for Bo Diddley to play on the Ed Sullivan Show?
Marketing
What was Bo Diddley’s real name?
Ellis McDaniel
What instrument did Bo Diddley play before the guitar?
The violin
What would Bo Diddley include in his band?
Women and a variety of instruments like the electric violin and maracas
What was the main influence on Chuck Berry’s sound?
Country
What was Chuck Berry an innovator of?
The guitar solo. He set the standard for many artists and influenced John Lennon and Bruce Springsteen
What was Chuck Berry’s 1st hit with Chess Records?
“Maybellene”
What kind of songs did Chuck Berry aspire to write?
Nice songs that could reach a broad audience
What were Chuck Berry’s songs generally about?
School, cars, love, and adolescent concerns.
What were Southern prejudices fueled by?
Fear
When was Elvis’ record contract sold to RCA Records?
Mid 1950s
Why did Sun Records sell Elvis’ contract?
Because Elvis was getting too big for them to handle and they need the money for other projects
How much was Elvis’ contract sold for?
$35,000
Who was in charge of Elvis after the contract purchase?
Colonel Tom Parker
Who filled in the void after Elvis left Sun Records?
Carl Perkins
What song is Carl Perkins known for?
“Blue Suede Shoes”
Carl Perkins was the king of what?
Rockabilly
What is the standard Rock and Roll configuration?
2 guitars, a bass, and a set of drums
Who was another artist who signed with Sun Records in the mid-50s?
Jerry Lee Lewis
What instrument did Jerry Lee Lewis Play?
Piano, started playing as a teenager
Why was Jerry Lee Lewis kicked out of minister school?
Because the music he played was too lively
What was Jerry Lee Lewis’ first hit?
Shakin
What were the reasons that the big names in Rock and Roll leave by the end of the fifties?
Elvis got drafted, Little Richard became a minister, Chuck Berry was arrested for transporting a white girl across boarders, Jerry Lee Lewis married his 13 year old cousin before divorcing his 1st wife, and Buddy Holly died.
What happened to rock after the big names left?
It expanded into pop, bringing in the age of the teen idol
What was the Payola Scandal?
When record companies paid off DJs to play their songs on the radio and didn’t pay the taxes on the money. Chess Records as found guilty, but Phil got off because he proved he had paid his taxes.
Who were Jerry Leiber and Mike Stroller?
R&B song writers, they were the ones who wrote “Hound Dog” and “Jail House Rock”
Who were the ones really making the musical hits?
The songwriters
Who did Chuck Berry listen to as a kid?
Pat Boone and Frank Sinatra.
How long did the pop teen idol stage last?
From the mid 50s to 1963, when The Beatles took over.
Who was Ricky Nealson?
A teen idol in the 50s. Was on the sitcom “Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet” (mid 50s- 1966)
What did Ricky Nealson do on the “Advetures of..”
Played a main role and played music on the show. Usually the show ‘s plot would be based on the song he played.
What are examples of songs Ricky Nealson played?
“I’m walking” (fats domino cover) And “hello, Mary Lou”
Ricky Nealson played what kind of music?
LA Rockabilly
Who was Buddy Holly?
Influential rock artist. In two years he had 8 #1 hits. Die in plane crash.
What was Buddy Holly’ s band called?
Buddy Holly and the Crickets
What was unique about Buddy Holly and the Crickets?
They were the prototype for the self-contained rock band.
Who did Buddy Holly and the Crickets influence?
The Beatles and The Hollies
Who was the 1st major white artist to write his own music?
Buddy Holly
What were two of Buddy Holly’s hits?
“Peggy Sue” and “That’ll be the day”
Who were the Everly Brothers?
Don and Phil Everly. Played from the 50s through the 70s and did reunion tours after that.
What sound did the Everly Brothers have?
The Nashville sound
Who did the Everly Brothers influence?
The Beatles and Simon and Garfunkle
What charts did the Every Brothers have hits on?
Country and pop charts
What were the Everly Brothers known for?
Harmonies
What song did the Everly Brothes right that parents hated?
“Wake up little sue” because it was about a fella who had sex with a younger gal
What kind of music was happening in the Norhteast?
Doo-wop
What was Doo-wop?
R&B/Rock&Roll with acapella elements that came around in the late 50s. Emphasized on melody and was considered to be non-threatening. The official term wasn’t coined until the 70s
What did Doo-Wop do for black musicians?
Increased the marketability for their music
What were Doo-Wop songs, typically?
1 hit wonders
What is an example of a Doo-wop 1 hit wonder?
“Earth Angel”
Who was Ray Charles?
The father of Soul Music, started in 55. Was similar to Chuck Berry and wrote music for his audience.
What genres did Ray Charles write for?
Almost all of them. Country, soul, gospel, jazz, swing, pop, show tunes, R&B, ballads, and patriotic songs
Who was the king of soul?
James Brown
How many illegitimate children did Ray Charles have?
13, all of which got 1 million dollars when he died
what two doo-wop groups did lieber and stroll write for?
the coaster and the drifters
