One of the things I’ve wanted to put together is kinda a historial review of Rock n Roll music. There’s a lot of information out there, but I could not find a good overview with music embedded. I haven’t really decided on a format, but the possibilites are artist overviews, studio highlights, year highlights and maybe something else. I mainly wanted to write this for my niece and nephew to teach them something about Rock n Roll’s history. This sadly is not covered in school. Music appreciation and history are something I believe one should learn even if you have to go out and discover it yourself.
First up I think I should start with is the first Rock n Roll song to make the American Billboard music charts back in 1953. At that time it only recognized most played music, it was not broken down into different genres of music. “Crazy, Man Crazy” by Bill Haley and the Comets.
The next year in 1954 Bill Haley and The Comets recorded “Rock Around the Clock,” but it didn’t hit Number 1 on the charts until 1955. It also hit Number 1 on the UK charts. It stayed in the Top 100 for a then record 38 weeks (approximately 9 1/2 months).
This is tending to lean toward Bill Haley, but he was the early genesis of Rock n Roll and the Rockabilly style.
List of Billboard Number one singles of 1954
List of Billboard Number one singles of 1955
1955 in music
Compare this to 16 Tons by Tennessee Ernie Ford followed “Rock Around the Clock” in the Number 1 slot.