1. Whole Lotta Shakin
Late 1940’s and early 50’s young white kids begin to listen to black R&B, Simple song that kids could relate to
On high powered Southern AM radio stations like WLAC Nashville
R&B gains more fans as more station play this music
Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed in 1951 begins calling R&B, Rock &Roll
A slang for sex!

2. Whole Lotta Shakin Loved by kids, hated by their parents
Only recorded on small independent record labels

3. Fats Domino Fats offers white kids a cleaner and safer R&B/R&R
Hails from New Orleans
Combined R&B with a Country & Western feel
Sells 50 million records in the 1950’s

4. Little Richard Claims to invent Rock & Roll
Flamboyant young man from Georgia
One of R&R first wild men
His music was not heard on white radio stations, but loved by white kids

5. Sam Phillips
Founds the Memphis Recording Service in 1950 as a 27 year beginner!!!!
Has several regional hits with local black artist
Changes name to Sun Records
Looks for a young white southern boy to record R&B/R&R

6. Sun Records
1951 Sam Phillips and Sun Records release the first Rock and Roll song
Rocket 88 by Jackie Brenston with Ike Turner
Written the night before

7. Elvis Presley “The King”
Born in Tupelo, Mississippi, on January 8, 1935
Grew up as a poor child, parent moved to Memphis TN.
Grew up listening to all types of music

8. The King
In 1953 Elvis walks into Sun Records and pays $3.98 to record a song for his mom
Being timid with on musical experience Sam Phillips see something in Presley
Teamed with to local musicians Scotty Moore guitar and Bill Black bass they start recording at Sun
Early sessions do not go well

9. The King
At the end of one session Elvis begins to play That’s Alright Mama and his style is found
That’s Alright Mama is a cover of a 1947 R&B song
Elvis and the boys cover a country classic Blue Moon of Kentucky
Sam Phillip’s has a problem, Elvis is unknown in the music business!

10. Chess Records
Founded by Phil and Leonard Chess in 1950 on the South Side of Chicago
Recorded local blues artist like Muddy Waters and Howlin Wolf

11. Bo Didley Started his early musical training on violin
Started playing guitar against his parents wishes
Played a rhythmic style of guitar
Recorded at Chess Records
One of the first rock artist to play the Ed Sullivan Show

12. Ed Sullivan Show Number 1 variety show on TV during the 50’s and 60’s
Sunday nights at 8 pm
Sullivan was a very conservative person

13. Chess Records
Founded by Phil & Leonard Chess on the South Side of Chicago
Helped develop the Chicago blues sound

14. Bo Didley Guitar based R&R Played like a drummer on his guitar
Recorded at Chess Records
Played on Ed Sullivan

15. Chuck Berry
Wrote songs for young white teens Guitar based Maybellene released in 1955, first of a string of hits

16. RCA Sam Phillips sells Elvis to RCA in 1955 For $35,000.00
New manager Col Tom Parker
RCA makes Elvis a star!!!
Elvis’s sound becomes more refined

17. Jerry Lee Lewis Rock’s first wild man New piano playing style
Recorded A Whole Lotta Sun