February 1, 1957: Atlantic releases "Youngblood"/"Searchin" by the Coasters. Written and produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller …

February 1, 1957: Atlantic releases

 The Coasters’  "Youngblood"

 

Backed with "Searchin"…

 

  Both tunes were written and produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller (the cats who wrote HOUND DOG for Big Mama Thorton)…

.

“Youngblood”/”Searchin” was on the charts for most of the year…

 Leiber and Stoller went on to produce and record numerous hits by the Coasters and other Atlantic artists such as the Drifters, Ben E. King and LaVern Baker …

THE USE OF ANY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL IS USED UNDER THE GUIDELINES OF "FAIR USE" IN TITLE 17 & 107 OF THE UNITED STATES CODE. SUCH MATERIAL REMAINS THE COPYRIGHT OF THE ORIGINAL HOLDER AND IS USED HERE FOR THE PURPOSES OF EDUCATION, COMPARISON, AND CRITICISM ONLY. NO INFRINGEMENT OF COPYRIGHT IS INTENDED… 

The years between 1955 and 1960 brought “Race Music” into the mainstream…

NUMBER ONE R 'n B HITS ON 
SEPTEMBER 25, 1955 ~ 1960

The years between 1955 and  1960 brought  “Race Music” into the mainstream; and ya know what?

It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll!!!

On September 25, 1955: Chuck Berry was in the middle of an eleven week run at the TOP of the R ‘n B Chart with "Maybellene" …

Just a year later, some white dude—a Memphis truck driver!!!-- was on top of those same charts with his smash hit cover of Big Mama Thornton’s Lieber and Stoller penned … "Hound Dog"/"Don’t Be Cruel"
 —That was  Elvis Presley, of course…

On this date in 1957 another white cat, Paul Anka,  topped the R ‘n B Chart with  "Diana" …

And the next year, on September 25, 1958: "Little Star" by The Elegants 
(yep, by another white group)
 topped the R ‘n B Chart…

In 1959 New Orleans’ Fats Dominoe  jumped to NUMBER ONE with  

"I Want to Walk You Home" …

And Brook Benton was at #1 on this date in 1960 with Kiddio …

1955 ~ 1960

“Race Music” became R ‘n B

 and ushered in ROCK ‘n Roll!!! 

And THAT my friends, IS HISTORY!

OTIS BLACKWELL: THE UNSUNG HERO OF RHYTHM & BLUES

Otis Blackwell (February 16, 1931 – May 6, 2002)  [not be confused with another songwriter and producer Robert "Bumps" Blackwell] was an American songwriter, singer, and pianist, whose work significantly influenced rock and roll. His compositions include Little Willie John's "Fever", Jerry Lee Lewis' "Great Balls of Fire" and "Breathless", Elvis Presley's "Don't Be Cruel", "All Shook Up" and "Return to Sender" (with Winfield Scott), and Jimmy Jones' "Handy Man".

He first became famous by winning a local talent contest ("Amateur Night") at the Apollo Theater, Harlem, New York in 1952, which led to a recording contract with RCA and then with Jay-Dee. His first release was his own composition "Daddy Rolling Stone"

His first successes (as a songwriter) came in 1956 when Little Willie John's R&B hit with the sultry "Fever"

FEVER was an even bigger pop success for Peggy Lee…

Then, "All Shook Up" (first recorded by David Hill on Aladdin)    began a highly profitable association with Elvis Presley, who was credited as co-writer.

Some of the songs he composed include:

"All Shook Up" (Elvis Presley)

"Don't Be Cruel" (Elvis Presley--inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002)

"Fever" (as "John Davenport")

Besides so many others (Little Willie John, Peggy Lee, etc.); also a GREAT version by The McCoys…

"Great Balls of Fire" (Jerry Lee Lewis-- inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998)

"Breathless" (Jerry Lee Lewis and others)

"Hey Little Girl" (Dee Clark)

"Handy Man" (Jimmy Jones, Del Shannon, James Taylor)

"Return to Sender" (Elvis Presley)

 

 

Legacy (This Info Courtsey of Wikipedia)

Otis Blackwell was one of the greatest R&B songwriters of all time. His songwriting style is as uniquely identifiable as that of Leiber and Stoller, Chuck Berry, or Willie Dixon and helped redefine popular music in America in the 1950s. This is true even though he often collaborated with such partners as Winfield Scott, Eddie Cooley, and Jack Hammer. Blackwell was one of the most important innovators who helped invent the musical vocabulary of rock & roll at its very beginning. Blackwell's works have been recorded into immortality by a host of other major figures in the record field, including Jerry Lee Lewis, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, James Brown, The Who, Johnny Thunders, Billy Joel, James Taylor, Dolly Parton, Conway Twitty, The Judds, Carl Perkins and Peggy Lee, among numerous others. At other times in his career, Blackwell has also been successful as a record producer, having helped turn out hits with artists as diverse as Connie Francis, Mahalia Jackson and Sal Mineo.

1986: Otis Blackwell was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
1991: Inducted  into the National Academy of Popular Music's Songwriters Hall of Fame.

In 1994, Shanachie Records released Brace Yourself! A Tribute to Otis Blackwell. The album features 15 Blackwell-penned tracks recorded by the likes of Kris Kristofferson ("All Shook Up") http://youtu.be/wv6kWLGWhFQ

Blondie's Debbie Harry ("Don't Be Cruel") http://youtu.be/pzFPz3HyMro

Also on the album: The Smithereens ("Let's Talk About Us"), Graham Parker ("Paralyzed") and Ronnie Spector ("Brace Yourself")   

CHECK OUT THE WHOLE BRACE YOURSELF TRIBUTE HERE… http://www.discogs.com/Various-Brace-Yourself-A-Tribute-To-Otis-Blackwell/release/1562617

By the way: Detroit’s own Crispin Cioe (Radio King, etc.)  did all the horn arrangements and played baritone sax on this tribute album!

Blackwell was named one of the 2010 recipients of Ahmet Ertegun Award in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This category encompasses those who primarily work behind the scenes in the music industry

Otis Blackwell died in 2002 of a heart attack and was interred in Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee.

CHANCELLOR OF SOUL STORY ON OTIS BLACKWELL:

NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED
Chancellor of Soul, Mike Boone presents his internet radio
show, 'Show Facts' a show highlighting the history of legendary artists and their music.

"Return to Sender" (Elvis Presley)

Legacy (This Info Courtsey of Wikipedia)

Otis Blackwell was one of the greatest R&B songwriters of all time. His songwriting style is as uniquely identifiable as that of Leiber and Stoller, Chuck Berry, or Willie Dixon and helped redefine popular music in America in the 1950s. This is true even though he often collaborated with such partners as Winfield Scott, Eddie Cooley, and Jack Hammer. Blackwell was one of the most important innovators who helped invent the musical vocabulary of rock & roll at its very beginning. Blackwell's works have been recorded into immortality by a host of other major figures in the record field, including Jerry Lee Lewis, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, James Brown, The Who, Johnny Thunders, Billy Joel, James Taylor, Dolly Parton, Conway Twitty, The Judds, Carl Perkins and Peggy Lee, among numerous others. At other times in his career, Blackwell has also been successful as a record producer, having helped turn out hits with artists as diverse as Connie Francis, Mahalia Jackson and Sal Mineo.

1986: Otis Blackwell was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame

1991: Inducted  into the National Academy of Popular Music's Songwriters Hall of Fame.

In 1994, Shanachie Records released Brace Yourself! A Tribute to Otis Blackwell. The album features 15 Blackwell-penned tracks recorded by the likes of Kris Kristofferson ("All Shook Up") http://youtu.be/wv6kWLGWhFQ

Blondie's Debbie Harry ("Don't Be Cruel") http://youtu.be/pzFPz3HyMro

Also on the album: The Smithereens ("Let's Talk About Us"), Graham Parker ("Paralyzed") and Ronnie Spector ("Brace Yourself")   

CHECK OUT THE WHOLE BRACE YOURSELF TRIBUTE HERE… http://www.discogs.com/Various-Brace-Yourself-A-Tribute-To-Otis-Blackwell/release/1562617

By the way: Detroit’s own Crispin Cioe (Radio King, etc.)  did all the horn arrangements and played baritone sax on this tribute album!

Blackwell was named one of the 2010 recipients of Ahmet Ertegun Award in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This category encompasses those who primarily work behind the scenes in the music industry

Otis Blackwell died in 2002 of a heart attack and was interred in Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee.

CHANCELLOR OF SOUL STORY ON OTIS BLACKWELL:

NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED
Chancellor of Soul, Mike Boone presents his internet radio
show, 'Show Facts' a show highlighting the history of legendary artists and their music.

 The Otis Blackwell Legacy
(This Info Courtsey of Wikipedia)

Otis Blackwell was one of the greatest R&B songwriters of all time. His songwriting style is as uniquely identifiable as that of Leiber and Stoller, Chuck Berry, or Willie Dixon and helped redefine popular music in America in the 1950s. This is true even though he often collaborated with such partners as Winfield Scott, Eddie Cooley, and Jack Hammer. Blackwell was one of the most important innovators who helped invent the musical vocabulary of rock & roll at its very beginning. Blackwell's works have been recorded into immortality by a host of other major figures in the record field, including Jerry Lee Lewis, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, James Brown, The Who, Johnny Thunders, Billy Joel, James Taylor, Dolly Parton, Conway Twitty, The Judds, Carl Perkins and Peggy Lee, among numerous others. At other times in his career, Blackwell has also been successful as a record producer, having helped turn out hits with artists as diverse as Connie Francis, Mahalia Jackson and Sal Mineo.
 

1986: Otis Blackwell was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame

1991: Inducted  into the National Academy of Popular Music's Songwriters Hall of Fame
 

In 1994, Shanachie Records released Brace Yourself! A Tribute to Otis Blackwell.

The album features 15 Blackwell-penned tracks recorded by the likes of Kris Kristofferson ("All Shook Up")

Blondie's Debbie Harry ("Don't Be Cruel")

Also on the album: The Smithereens ("Let's Talk About Us"), Graham Parker ("Paralyzed") and Ronnie Spector ("Brace Yourself")   

CHECK OUT THE WHOLE BRACE YOURSELF TRIBUTE HERE…

By the way:

Crispin Cioe: Radio King, Uptown Horns, J. Geils, Rolling Stones, to name a few of the acts with whom he's been associated...

Detroit’s own Crispin Cioe (Radio King, etc.)  did all the horn arrangements and played baritone sax on this Otis Blackwell tribute album!

Blackwell was named one of the 2010 recipients of Ahmet Ertegun Award in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This category encompasses those who primarily work behind the scenes in the music industry

 

Otis Blackwell died in 2002 of a heart attack and was interred in Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee.

Check out the
CHANCELLOR OF SOUL STORY ON OTIS BLACKWELL:

(NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED
Chancellor of Soul, Mike Boone presents his internet radio
show, 'Show Facts' a show highlighting the history of legendary artists and their music)

OTIS BLACKWELL:
THE UNSUNG HERO OF R&B!