Rockin' 50s.com

Although I usually produce reference-oriented books, this is as close to a biographical style work that I’ve ever done. It’s a brief history of where rock ‘n’ roll music evolved from and then where it went and what ended it.

Where did the music come from? With mostly dated entries, Bill Griggs takes you quickly from the late 1800s and the inventions of the phonograph and the jukebox through the rural blues, gospel, and western music of the 1940s where rhythm and blues began its metamorphosis and slowly evolved into rock 'n' roll music. With a focus on this era, Griggs provides mini-bios of Robert Johnson, "Big" Mama Thornton, Wynonie Harris, "Big" Joe Turner, and others who paved the way for this new music.

What was the first rock 'n' roll song? What IS rock 'n' roll music? This is discussed as the book progresses into the 1950s with pop music slowly evolving into rock 'n' roll. The New Orleans sound is discussed in detail with mini-bios of Dave Bartholomew and Cosimo Matassa, and the major rock 'n' roll artist who has been around the longest - Fats Domino.

Where did the music go? The end of the book profiles most of the events that caused the decline of rock 'n' roll music: The deaths of many artists, the self-destructive careers of others, the payola scandal, and the advent of Surf and Merseybeat music. Alan Freed, of course, is covered in depth with his contribution to the music and the era.

This 60-page booklet contains many photographs of the R&B artists and groups who made rock 'n' roll what it became. A listing for The Ed Sullivan Show lists the various rock 'n' roll artists who made live performances and how many times they appeared on the program. Another feature at the back of the booklet is listings of various motion pictures, television specials, and videotapes that contain performances from 1950's rock 'n' roll artists. Although not complete, nor the "last word" by any stretch of the imagination, the book will take you through the people and events that helped shape the rock 'n' roll generation of the 1950s. It will tell you what happened, when and who did what, along with some anecdotes you may not be aware of.