[Jack Black]

Who started rock and roll? Bill Haley and the Comets are often mentioned as the artists who played the first Rock and Roll hit song "Rock around the Clock". Written in 1952 it was recorded by Haley in 1954.

The article in Wikipedia points out that Haley charted a year earlier with "Crazy Man, Crazy". And that "Shake, Rattle and Roll" hit #1 in 1954, also by Bill Haley.

Some say "Rocket 88" by Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats (which was really Ike Turner's band under a different name). March of 1951.

Tutti Frutti was released in 1955. Here's a nice article on the from Wikipedia.

1949 Rocket 88.

Louis Jordan, early Rock and Roll performer.

He'll tell you he's the REAL King of Rock and Roll, not Elvis: Little Richard.

[exit82]

I agree. 17 no. 1 hits from 1955-1957.

In a time of discrimination in the South, too. His concerts were the first ones where whites and blacks mixed, because his appeal was so great.

Little Richard was in England and met the Beatles, who were big fans of his. He had legions of fans in England and France.

He showed them how to do the “wooooo” sound that become their trademark.

He was giving concerts even in 2012.

His life story is an amazing one.

[Ben Ficklin]

Louis Jordan played swing music. Some of his old hits were later recorded and made popular in the 70s and 80s by the western swing band, Asleep at the Wheel: Caldonia, Choo Choo Choo Boogie, Is you is or is you ain’t, Nobody here but us chickens.