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| A young Big Joe Turner |
BluesMuse 12
If Albert Ammon’s ‘Boogie Woogie Stomp’ was the
world’s first rock & roll record in 1936, what was the second? Allow me to
put forward ‘Roll ‘Em Pete’, another rollicking piano-based boogie woogie, this
one released in 1938.
world’s first rock & roll record in 1936, what was the second? Allow me to
put forward ‘Roll ‘Em Pete’, another rollicking piano-based boogie woogie, this
one released in 1938.
The
Pete doing the rolling was 34-year old Pete Johnson, playing boogie piano for
his young blues-shouting partner, Big Joe Turner, 25. Like Albert Ammons, the
African-American duo of Turner and Johnson from Kansas City was recording a
faster, more rhythmic style of blues that one day would be called rock &
roll.
Pete doing the rolling was 34-year old Pete Johnson, playing boogie piano for
his young blues-shouting partner, Big Joe Turner, 25. Like Albert Ammons, the
African-American duo of Turner and Johnson from Kansas City was recording a
faster, more rhythmic style of blues that one day would be called rock &
roll.
Big
Joe, of course, made the original recording of ‘Shake, Rattle & Roll’ in
1954, covered and made famous worldwide by Bill Haley. Born in 1911 and known
as Boss of the Blues, Big Joe Turner died in 1985.
Joe, of course, made the original recording of ‘Shake, Rattle & Roll’ in
1954, covered and made famous worldwide by Bill Haley. Born in 1911 and known
as Boss of the Blues, Big Joe Turner died in 1985.
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