Whole Lotta ShakinWhole Lotta ShakinJerry Lee LewisJerry Lee Lewis

b. Sept. 29, 1935b. Sept. 29, 1935

Only had 3 top 10 hits in the first phase of Only had 3 top 10 hits in the first phase of his career, considered just as talented as his career, considered just as talented as ElvisElvis

– Could have been as successful if his Could have been as successful if his music wasn’t so relentlessly wild & his music wasn’t so relentlessly wild & his persona so hard-edgedpersona so hard-edged

Parents were poor and he grew up listening Parents were poor and he grew up listening to swing and Al Jolson recordsto swing and Al Jolson records

– Earliest big influence was country star Earliest big influence was country star Jimmie RodgersJimmie Rodgers

First played piano at 8; first performed at 15First played piano at 8; first performed at 15

Religion played a major role in his early life; Religion played a major role in his early life; often said Rn’R was the Devil’s Musicoften said Rn’R was the Devil’s Music

Debut single “Crazy Arms”Debut single “Crazy Arms”

1957 – 1957 – Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going OnWhole Lotta Shakin’ Going On (#3 pop, #1 C&W/R&B)(#3 pop, #1 C&W/R&B)

– After appearing on Steve Allen After appearing on Steve Allen Show, managed to sell 6 million Show, managed to sell 6 million copiescopies

Followed w/ Followed w/ Great Balls of Fire Great Balls of Fire (#2 (#2 pop, #3 C&W, #1 R&B)pop, #3 C&W, #1 R&B)

– Sold 5 million copiesSold 5 million copies

High school nickname was “Killer”High school nickname was “Killer”

Married Myra Gale Brown (his 13 yr Married Myra Gale Brown (his 13 yr old cousin) in 1957old cousin) in 1957

Career went dry for nearly a decadeCareer went dry for nearly a decade

In the late 60s re-emerged as a In the late 60s re-emerged as a country act, which most of his work country act, which most of his work has been sincehas been since

19861986 – inducted into the RRHoF – inducted into the RRHoF

-Battled serious health & legal issues through most of the 90s & 2000s- played by Dennis Quaid in Great Balls of Fire (1989)- released Mean Old Man in 2009

The Everly BrothersThe Everly BrothersThe pride of Muhlenberg Co. KyThe pride of Muhlenberg Co. Ky– Don - b. 2/1/37Don - b. 2/1/37– Phil – b. 1/19/39Phil – b. 1/19/39

Considered the most important duo Considered the most important duo in rockin rock– emphasis on harmony influenced the emphasis on harmony influenced the

likes of The Beatles & folk acts like likes of The Beatles & folk acts like Simon and Garfunkel Simon and Garfunkel

Sons of country stars Ike & Sons of country stars Ike & Margaret EverlyMargaret Everly– Grew up in the music businessGrew up in the music business

1957 – signed w/ Cadence 1957 – signed w/ Cadence RecordsRecords– Bye, Bye Love Bye, Bye Love (#2) had been rejected (#2) had been rejected

by 30 previous actsby 30 previous acts

-Heyday lasted through 1962-Cumulative record sales $35 million-Averaged a Top 10 hit every 4 months-Broke up in 1973, started making music again in mid-80s

Buddy HollyBuddy Holly

Started in Lubbock, TxStarted in Lubbock, Tx

Purely country when he Purely country when he started making music, started making music, failed recording w/ Deccafailed recording w/ Decca

Returned to Lubbock in Returned to Lubbock in 19561956

Charles Hardin HolleyCharles Hardin Holley– b. 9/7/36 d. 2/3/59b. 9/7/36 d. 2/3/59

Back up band was The Back up band was The Crickets until 1958Crickets until 1958– Waylon Jennings was a Waylon Jennings was a

member for a short timemember for a short time

Wrote his own materialWrote his own material

Pioneered what became Pioneered what became the standard for rock the standard for rock instrumentationinstrumentation– 2 guitars (lead, rhythm) bass 2 guitars (lead, rhythm) bass

& drums& drums

Huge influence on major Huge influence on major rock figures such as Bob rock figures such as Bob Dylan and Paul McCartneyDylan and Paul McCartney

1956-57: Holly and drummer Jerry Allison played w/ well-1956-57: Holly and drummer Jerry Allison played w/ well-known stars as they passed through Lubbockknown stars as they passed through Lubbock– Once opened for a young Elvis Presley (influenced Holly’s Once opened for a young Elvis Presley (influenced Holly’s

change to pure rock n’ roll)change to pure rock n’ roll)

1957 - Signed w/ Coral/Brunswick label1957 - Signed w/ Coral/Brunswick label– First hit was First hit was That’ll Be The Day That’ll Be The Day (#1)(#1)

– Due to a contractual agreement, some singles were released Due to a contractual agreement, some singles were released by the Crickets, some w/ Holly’s name onlyby the Crickets, some w/ Holly’s name only

– Next hits under this arrangement was Next hits under this arrangement was Peggy Sue Peggy Sue (#3) & (#3) & 1958’s 1958’s Oh Boy! Oh Boy! (#10)(#10)

1958 – Holly left the Crickets & his money was tied up due 1958 – Holly left the Crickets & his money was tied up due to legal issues between the two partiesto legal issues between the two parties– Prompted him to do a tour of the Midwest in winter of ‘58-’59Prompted him to do a tour of the Midwest in winter of ‘58-’59

– Backed up by Tommy Allsup, Carl Bunch and Waylon Backed up by Tommy Allsup, Carl Bunch and Waylon Jennings on tourJennings on tour

– Holly produced Jennings first album Holly produced Jennings first album Jole BlonJole Blon

““The Day the Music Died”The Day the Music Died”February 3, 1959February 3, 1959

While in Clear Lake, Iowa – tired of riding the bus and wanting to While in Clear Lake, Iowa – tired of riding the bus and wanting to get some rest, Holly, The Big Bopper & Richie Valens chartered get some rest, Holly, The Big Bopper & Richie Valens chartered a planea plane

The plane took off for Moorhead, Minnesota & crashed only The plane took off for Moorhead, Minnesota & crashed only minutes later, killing everyone on boardminutes later, killing everyone on board

Holly left behind enough old demos and unreleased recordings Holly left behind enough old demos and unreleased recordings for several posthumous releasesfor several posthumous releases

1978 – 1978 – The Buddy Holly Story The Buddy Holly Story was released staring Gary Busey was released staring Gary Busey as Hollyas Holly

1986 – inducted into the RRHoF1986 – inducted into the RRHoF

British rock band The Hollies were named after Buddy HollyBritish rock band The Hollies were named after Buddy Holly

Don McLean’s Don McLean’s American Pie American Pie inspired by Holly’s deathinspired by Holly’s death

Weezer released a song called Weezer released a song called Buddy Holly Buddy Holly & Nirvana’s video for & Nirvana’s video for In Bloom In Bloom pays tribute to Hollypays tribute to Holly

The Times, They Were Already A-ChangingThe Times, They Were Already A-ChangingAmerican BandstandAmerican Bandstand

hosted by Dick Clark, starting hosted by Dick Clark, starting in 1956in 1956

Was the first outlet for rock n’ Was the first outlet for rock n’ roll music on televisionroll music on television– Clark helped mainstream rock n’ Clark helped mainstream rock n’

roll & give it a more wholesome roll & give it a more wholesome imageimage

Clark also became rich along Clark also became rich along the way buying into record the way buying into record labels, publishing companies labels, publishing companies and managing actsand managing acts

Teens watched it to learn the Teens watched it to learn the newest dancesnewest dances

Technological AdvancesTechnological Advances

In the early 50s, American families become more mobileIn the early 50s, American families become more mobile– It becomes more common for families to have 2 vehiclesIt becomes more common for families to have 2 vehicles– More common for teenagers to go out, thus radio becomes more More common for teenagers to go out, thus radio becomes more

influential as a form of entertainment influential as a form of entertainment

The 78 rpm (10 in.) disc is replaced by the “45” as the The 78 rpm (10 in.) disc is replaced by the “45” as the primary method of distributing singlesprimary method of distributing singles– 45s are smaller and play at a slower speed, allowing for more music 45s are smaller and play at a slower speed, allowing for more music

on a smaller space, cuts production costson a smaller space, cuts production costs

RCA begins offering stereophonic LPsRCA begins offering stereophonic LPs– ““Stereo” is where the sound is delivered in 2 discrete (separate) Stereo” is where the sound is delivered in 2 discrete (separate)

channelschannels– Mononeutral (mono) the same sound comes out of both speakersMononeutral (mono) the same sound comes out of both speakers

Due to the success of stereo LPs, home electronics begin Due to the success of stereo LPs, home electronics begin using components that utilize stereo soundusing components that utilize stereo sound

Headphones (think earbuds…) are produced in the late 50s Headphones (think earbuds…) are produced in the late 50s for privacy for listeners (and peace for parents)for privacy for listeners (and peace for parents)

Rock Experiences Growing PainsRock Experiences Growing Pains19571957– Little Richard quits rock n’ rollLittle Richard quits rock n’ roll– Elvis gets drafted into the ArmyElvis gets drafted into the Army

1958 1958 – Jerry Lee Lewis’s fame bottoms out Jerry Lee Lewis’s fame bottoms out

after the story breaks about his after the story breaks about his marriage to his cousinmarriage to his cousin

19591959– Chuck Berry goes to prison for 5 yrsChuck Berry goes to prison for 5 yrs– Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, & Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, &

Richie Valens die in plane crashRichie Valens die in plane crash

By 1960, rock n’ roll had been dealt By 1960, rock n’ roll had been dealt a succession of blows, losing it’s a succession of blows, losing it’s biggest stars; music will change as biggest stars; music will change as it’s early stars become the it’s early stars become the influences of the next generationinfluences of the next generation