How Rock ‘n’ Roll Began, Reimagined
Musical interactions between Black and white had been going on for decades. How did rock ‘n’ roll establish a stronghold...
Tagged: rock ‘n’ roll
Fats Domino and the Sound of New Orleans
The New Orleans sound reflects the diversity and eccentricity of the local culture. Fats Domino ignited its first rock ‘n’...
Five Cool Things About Steely Dan
The studio-based duo was on a timeless quest for sonic perfection. Prologue: The Birth of Steely Dan In the sixties,...
The Story of the First Rock ‘n’ Roll Concert
DJ Alan Freed hosted the gathering at the Cleveland Arena, capacity 8,600. Up to twenty thousand teens showed up. What...
Rock Songs About Drugs
Recreational drugs and rock ‘n’ roll: It was fun until it wasn’t. The songs endure. In the rock ‘n’ roll...
“John Barleycorn Must Die!” the Best Drinking Song Ever?
The story behind Traffic’s deep dive into British folk music. Prologue: Steve Winwood At the center of it all was...
Back in the Day: Punk Rock versus Disco
The story of a clash of cultures in the late ’70s. In the midst of all those great rock acts...
Unheralded Session Players ‘Funk Brothers’ Key to Motown Sound
Ace songwriting and production team Holland-Dozier-Holland helped make Berry Gordy’s dreams come true. Back in the Day If you came...
When Soul Music and Rock Shared the Top of the Charts
The sixties was a time for breaking down racial barriers. Music was no exception. The Way It Was By the...
The Musical Journey of ‘House of the Rising Sun’
British Invaders Eric Burdon’s Animals made the song famous in 1964. A young Bob Dylan gave it a whack two...
Power-Riffing with Rock Legend Eddie Van Halen
Savoring instances of the charmed but tragic life of rock’s last guitar God. The rock world on Oct. 6 lost...
Four Awesome Bruce Springsteen Covers
One song was actually a collaboration. Most recipients of Bruce’s songwriting had career revivals. There is a commonality to these...
Little Richard & Elvis: Sexual Heat Birthed the Dawn of Rock ‘n’ Roll
We mourn the passing of Little Richard, a rock ‘n’ roll pioneer who died May 9. If you love anything...
Best Summer Rock Songs from the Sixties and Seventies
I feature five from rock’s greatest decades, plus some honorable mentions. Summer just opens the door and lets you out....
Payola, Radio Song Royalties, and Sinatra’s Dying Wish
While streaming compensation was recently bolstered, traditional broadcasters still don’t pay song royalties to performers. In the Beginning…Payola At the...
Have a Rockin’ & Rollin’ Thanksgiving!
I wish everyone a very, very happy Thanksgiving! During my adult life, I have made a ritual of listening to...
Chuck Berry’s Gift: The Soundtrack for Our Time
A Philly Blues Musician and Former History Teacher Measures the Late Rock ‘n’ Roller’s Greatness Editor’s Note: John Colgan-Davis is a harmonica player...
The Blues Had a Baby and They Named It Rock ‘n’ Roll
Many Rock Songs Pay Homage to Elegantly Simple 12-Bar Blues ‘Sweet Home Chicago’ Ground Zero for Great Blues Migration For the record:...
