Tag Archives: Rocket 88

First Rock n’ Roll Song

photo by birch from Memphis photostream
photo by birch from Memphis photostream

As part of their Behind the Beat series, KPLU’s All-Blues host John Kessler and production manager Nick Morrison produce radio features on the history of jazz and blues music. This week’s topic is about the record considered to be the first rock n’ roll song, “Rocket 88” by Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats.

KPLU – Behind the Beat
http://www.kplu.org/post/we-agree-was-first-ever-recorded-rock-and-roll-song

Twenty-one-year-old Jackie Brenston was Ike Turner’s saxophonist when he stepped up to sing the vocals on “Rocket 88,” recorded at Sun Studio in Memphis in March, 1951. Guitarist Willie Kizart’s distorted amp gave the tune a distinctive fuzzy sound that set the tone for rock music to follow.

Sun Studio
706 Union Avenue, Memphis, TN, 38103
Phone: 800-441-6249
http://www.sunstudio.com/

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Background and Resources

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Memphis Travel
http://www.memphistravel.com/

Memphis Travel – Mobile Apps
http://www.memphistravel.com/interactive-map#mobileapp

Memphis Magazine
http://www.memphismagazine.com/

ILoveMemphis Blog
http://ilovememphisblog.com/

Memphis History
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memphis,_TN

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National Civil Rights Museum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Civil_Rights_Museum

Unpublished MLK Assassination Photos
http://life.time.com/history/mlk-assassination-photos-from-memphis-tennessee-april-4-1968/#1

Graceland
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graceland

Memphis Trolley
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MATA_Trolley

Memphis Railroad and Trolley Museum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memphis_Railroad_%26_Trolley_Museum

Memphis Central Station
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Station_(Memphis)

Gibson Guitars
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibson_Guitars

Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burkle_Estate#Slave_Haven_Underground_Railroad_Museum

The Cotton Museum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton_museum

Steamboats of the Mississippi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steamboats_of_the_Mississippi

Ernest C. Withers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Withers

Memphis Rock ‘n Soul Museum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memphis_Rock_N%27_Soul_Museum

The Orpheum Theatre
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orpheum_Theatre_(Memphis)

Center for Southern Folklore
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_for_Southern_Folklore

Memphis & Shelby County Music Commission
http://www.memphismusic.org/Programs.aspx

Little Kids Rock
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Kids_Rock

photo by micro43, Flickr
photo by micro43, Flickr

All-Music Guide – Blues
http://www.allmusic.com/genre/blues-ma0000002467

Memphis Blues
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memphis_blues

The Blues Foundation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blues_Foundation

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Woman With Guitar: Memphis Minnie’s Blues
http://www.amazon.com/Woman-Guitar-Memphis-Minnies-Blues/dp/0872866211/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1402586730&sr=1-1&keywords=Memphis+Minnie

B.B. King
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/bb-king-mn0000059156/biography

Al Green
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/al-green-mn0000607448/biography

Elvis51Elvis Presley
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/elvis-presley-mn0000180228/biography

Sun Studio
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Studio

Levitt Shell (Overton Park Shell)
http://scottymoore.net/overton.html

Rocket 88
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_88

WDIA Radio
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WDIA

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Wheelin’ on Beale: How WDIA-Memphis Became the Nation’s First All-Black Radio Station and Created the Sound that Changed America
http://www.amazon.com/Wheelin-Beale-Wdia

The Stax Museum
photo by Kim, Flickr

Stax Records
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stax_Records

Stax Records (Concord Music Group)
http://www2.concordmusicgroup.com/labels/Stax/

Stax at 50: A 50th Anniversary Celebration
http://www.allmusic.com/album/stax-50-a-50th-anniversary-celebration-mw0000452604

Wattstax
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wattstax

photo by AOK Library and Gallery, UMBC
photo by AOK Library and Gallery, UMBC

Otis Redding
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/otis-redding-mn0000414251/biography

Booker T. & the M.G.’s
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/booker-t-the-mgs-mn0000772733/biography

Staple Singers
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-staple-singers-mn0000577235/biography

Sam & Dave
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/sam-dave-mn0000282709/biography

Isaac Hayes
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/isaac-hayes-mn0000101946/biography

John Németh
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/john-n%C3%A9meth-mn0000484219/biography

The Bo-Keys
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bo-Keys

photo by sarah james, Flickr
photo by sarah james, Flickr

Hi Records (Official)
http://www.hirecords.com/

Hi Records
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hi_Records

Hi Times: The Hi Records R & B Years
http://www.allmusic.com/album/hi-times-the-hi-records-r-b-years-box-mw0000125619

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Big Star
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/big-star-mn0000051992/biography

Ardent Studios
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ardent_Studios

A Man Called Destruction: The Life and Music of Alex Chilton, From Box Tops to Big Star to Backdoor Man
http://www.amazon.com/Man-Called-Destruction

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FedEx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FedEx_Express

Changing How the World Does Business: FedEx’s Incredible Journey to Success – The Inside Story
http://www.amazon.com/Changing-How-World-Does-Business

FedEx Delivers: How the World’s Leading Shipping Company Keeps Innovating and Outperforming the Competition
http://www.amazon.com/FedEx-Delivers-Innovating-Outperforming-Competition

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photo by Jack Delano, Wikimedia Commons

Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brotherhood_of_Sleeping_Car_Porters

Jim Crow Stories: The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_org_brother.html

Miles of Smiles, Years of Struggles
http://www.paulwagnerfilms.com/miles-of-smiles-trailer/

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photo by Joseph, Flickr

Amtrak
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amtrak

National Train Day
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Train_Day

Content Creation for Train Simulator 2014
http://www.engine-driver.com/article/show/3465/interview-content-creation-for-train-simulator-part-1

Chuggington
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuggington

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Mississippi Blues Trail
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi_Blues_Trail

Delta Blues Museum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta_Blues_Museum

Ground Zero Club
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_Zero_(blues_club)

photo by Amy and Turgay, Flickr
photo by Amy and Turgay, Flickr