Ivory Joe Hunter
October 10, 1914 – November 8, 1974
Ivory Joe Hunter was an early R&B singer, musician and songwriter who penned over 7000 songs, his biggest hit being 1956’s “Since I Met You, Baby.” Born in Texas, Hunter was playing the piano by his early teens. In the early ’40s, he began hosting his own radio show, and within a few years, he moved to Los Angeles to perform and record. He soon started his own record label on which he released his first record, “Blues at Sunrise.” He wrote and recorded many songs during his career, one of which, “I Almost Lost My Mind” later became a hit for Pat Boone. He also wrote songs that were recorded by Sonny James and Elvis Presley. In the mid ’50s, he moved over to the legendary Atlantic Records for which he recorded “Since I Met You, Baby,” his only Top 40 hit. During the ’60s, he found new life as a country artist, appearing on the Grand Ole Opry several times. Ivory Joe Hunter was 59 when he died of lung cancer on November 8, 1974.
Ralph “Jody” Reynolds
December 3, 1932 – November 7, 2008
Jody Reynolds had one of rockabilly’s earliest massive hits with 1958’s “Endless Sleep.” It was one of rock ‘n roll’s first “teen tragedy” songs. The single reached #5 on the Billboard singles chart and sold over 1 million copies. He followed it up with “Fire of Love” later that year. The song charted, but failed to come close to the success of “Endless Sleep.” Reynolds released several more records over the course of his career, but none were ever able to get him back up on top. He retired from the music business during the ’70s, and in 1999, he was elected to the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. He was 75 when he died of liver cancer on November 7, 2008.
Bobby Hatfield was an American singer who gained fame as one half of the popular singing duo, the Righteous Brothers. He met fellow singer, Bill Medley while in college and together they began performing in the early ’60s. Their brand of “blue-eyed” soul was an immediate hit, landing them on the charts with such records as “Little Latin Lupe Lu,” “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling,” and of course, “Unchained Melody” which would enjoy a second life on the charts when it was featured in the 1990 film, Ghost. The duo broke up in 1968, but reformed to release one more hit single, 1974’s “Rock and Roll Heaven.” The Righteous Brothers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March of 2003, and that was as good a reason as any to hit the road again. Six months later, while in Michigan for a show, Bobby Hatfield, 63, was found dead in his hotel room just prior to showtime. He had died of a heart attack brought on my the use of cocaine.
Link Wray was a loud playing rock ‘n roll guitarist who was credited for popularizing the “power chord” which would be become the staple for hard rock, heavy metal and punk in later years. Nothing better exemplifies Wray’s loud use of the power chord than his 1958 instrumental hit single, “Rumble.” Wray began singing and playing guitar as a youngster, but when he caught turburculosis while serving in Korea, a lung was removed, so he had to give up singing, and therefore put more emphasis on his guitar. During he mid ’50s, Wray and his group were the house band for a daily Washington DC music television program called Milt Grant’s House Party, where he they backed up the likes of Ricky Nelson and Fats Domino. It was while entertaining the show’s audience between acts that Wray came up with the instrumental that would later be called “Rumble” when picked up and released by Cadence Records. Even though the song had no lyrics, it caused a bit of a stir upon release. Due to it’s “aggressive” sound and title, many radio stations banned it because they felt it glorified juvenile delinquency. Wray, and in particular, that song have been noted as direct influences on the likes of Jeff Beck, Pete Townshend, Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix and Neil Young. During the ’70s and ’80s, Wray’s career experienced a renaissance during the rockabilly revival. He joined up with Robert Gordon for a couple of critically acclaimed and relatively successful rockabilly flavored albums. A number of Wray’s classic recordings have found new life thanks to prominent placement in such films as Pulp Fiction, Pink Flamingos and Independence Day. Link Wray was 76 when he passed away on November 5, 2005.
David Box is best remembered as the singer who replaced Buddy Holly in the Crickets. It is Box’s voice you here on “Peggy Sue Got Married,” which was arguably the best Crickets song after Holly’s death. Box left the Crickets to go to college where he studied art under Norman Rockwell. He also recorded under his own name and toured with the likes of the Everly Brothers. Remarkably, David Box was killed in a small airplane crash just as Holly had been. He was just 21 years old.
As if Bill Black’s remarkable career as the leader of his own rockabilly band, the Bill Black Combo weren’t enough, he also played bass Elvis Presley’s original recording of “That’s Alright Mama” at Sun Studios. Black’s stand-up bass can be heard on several of Presley’s records, such as “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Mystery Train,” and “Hound Dog.” After parting ways with Presley in the late ’50s, Black joined a band that eventually evolved into his Bill Black Combo, with whom he’d score several pop and R&B hits that were described as “dancable shuffles” that were a “mix of pop, country, blues and rock.” They were favored by jukebox operators as they kept the dance floors jumping. Black learned he had a brain tumor in the early ’60s, and even though his band was chosen to open for the Beatles during their historic 1964 US tour, Black was too ill to take part. He died of that tumor at the age of 39. In the late ’70s, Linda McCartney acquired Bill Black’s stand-up bass and gave it to her husband, Paul McCartney for his birthday.
Gene Vincent (born Vincent Craddock)
February 11, 1935 – October 12, 1971
Gene Vincent was one of rock ‘n roll and rockabilly’s early pioneers. After what he thought was going to be a life long career in the U.S. Navy, Vincent turned his sights on music after a motorcycle accident shattered his leg and left him unable to continue to serve. In 1956, he and his Blue Caps released his first and biggest hit, “Be-Bop-A-Lula,” a song that Rolling Stone magazine placed at #102 on their list of the 500 Greatest Rock and Roll Songs of All Time. While touring Europe in 1960, the driver of a cab in which he and Eddie Cochran were traveling crashed into a pole. Vincent suffered serious injuries, but Cochran died the next day. Vincent was never able to recapture his glory after the British Invasion even though he tried to connect with folk rock and country rock fans in later years. While visiting his father in California on October 12, 1971, Gene Vincent died from a ruptured stomach ulcer at the age of 36.
Shelby Singleton
December 16, 1931 – October 7, 2009
Shelby Singleton’s music career began during the ’50s working at Mercury Records as a producer. While moving up in the ranks, he became instrumental in numerous hits and was eventually rewarded with his own imprint, Smash Records where he signed Jerry Lee Lewis, Roger Millerand Faron Young among others. During the early part of his career, he produced such hits as Brook Benton’s “The Boll Weevil Song,” Ray Stevens‘ “Ahab The Arab,” and Leroy Van Dyke’s “Walk On By.” But his biggest hit came in 1968 with Jeannie C. Riley’s recording of Tom T. Hall’s “Harper Valley P.T.A.” A shrewd businessman as well, Singleton went on to purchase Sam Phillips’ Sun Records including it’s stellar catalog of recordings. Shelby Singleton died of cancer on October 1, 2009. He was 77.
One-time popular KHJ radio personality, Lloyd Thaxton became the host of his own pop music television show during the 1960s. The Lloyd Thaxton Show began as a local Los Angeles show only in 1961, but once it went into national syndication in 1964, it became the highest rated musical variety program on television for nearly a decade. Over the course of its run, the show featured such guests as Bobby Vee, the Byrds, Sonny & Cher, the Kinks, and the Bobby Fuller Four. Lloyd Thaxton died of multiple myeloma at the age of 81.
Paul Burlison
February 4, 1929 – September 27, 2003
Paul Burlison was a founding member of The Rock and Roll Trio, a rockabilly band who would heavily influence rock ‘n roll bands for generations to come. He formed the band with brothers, Dorsey Burnette and Johnny Burnette in the early ’50s, and by 1956, they were in New York City recording for the Coral label. And although their records were never quite hits, they became popular and thus influential due to many television appearances during their short run. They appeared on American Bandstand, Ted Mack’s Original Amateur Hour, The Tonight Show and Kraft Music Hall, but despite the remarkable promotional blitz, it never resulted in many record sales. The band called it quits in 1957 and Burlison all but retired from the music business, only to make a comeback during the rockabilly revival of the ’80s. It wasn’t until 1997 that Burlison made his first solo album, Train Kept A-Rollin’. Guests on the album included Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Cesar Rojas, David Hidalgo, Mavis Staples, and the second generation of Burnettes, RockyBurnette and Billy Burnette. Paul Burlison died of cancer at the age of 74.
George “Wydell” Jones
October 5, 1936 – September 27, 2008
George “Wydell” Jones was not only the lead vocalist of doo wop singing group, the Edsels, he wrote their most famous song, “Rama Lama Ding Dong.” The song, even though recorded in 1957, became a hit for the group in 1961, reaching #21 on the Billboard singles charts. The popularity of the song landed the Edsels on American Bandstand that same year. George “Wydell” Jones passed away in his home a week before his 72nd birthday.
Warren Wayne Brown was a one-time vice president of MCA Music as well as brother of jazz band leader, Les Brown. After WWII, Brown who had played the trombone in the Navy band, went to work as a song plugger for Leeds Music. When MCA purchased Leeds, Brown moved to Los Angeles to become VP. He retired in 1981 and passed away of an undisclosed illness on September 15, 2008.
Janis Martin was a popular rockabilly performer who came to prominence during the 1950s. Because of her on-stage moves, she was often referred to as the Female Elvis. An entertainer from a very early age, Martin began appearing on local radio programs while still in her mid teens, sometimes sharing the stage with the likes of Eddy Arnold, Hank Snow and Jim Reeves. Martin signed to RCA Records, who had recently signed Presley, when she was just 15. Her first record, “Will You Willyum,” quickly became a pop and country hit, leading to her getting booked on American Bandstand, The Today Show, The Tonight Show and The Grand Ol’ Opry. She released a string of hits including “My Boy Elvis” and “Let’s Elope Baby.” In 1958, RCA dropped Martin when they learned she had secretly married her boyfriend and gotten pregnant. In the early ’60s, Martin’s second husband forced her to leave the music business. She resurfaced during the rockabilly revival of the late ’70s, touring for adoring fans throughout Europe. Martin was introduced to a whole new generation of fans when she guested on Rosie Flores’Rockabilly Philly album. Janis Martin died of cancer at a Durham, NC hospital. She was 67 years old.
Dorsey Burnette
December 28, 1932 – August 19, 1979
Dorsey Burnette was born into a musical family that included brother, Johnny Burnette. But early on in life, the brothers pursued another dream, boxing, each becoming Golden Gloves champs. In 1949, they met fellow pugilist, Paul Burlison who also shared an interest in music. They soon formed the Rock and Roll Trio which would become one of the foundations of American rockabilly. Dorsey continued to perform with the group and later as a solo artist well into the ’70s. His music found a home with rockabilly, pop and country fans alike. Dorsey Burnette died of a massive coronary on August 19, 1979. He was just 46.
Elvis Presley was born in a two-room shotgun house built by his father in East Tupelo, MS on January 8, 1935. He had an identical twin brother named Jessie Garon Presley. Elvis arrived about 30 minutes later. And though he never met his brother, his life and ours would no doubt have been a hell of a lot different if he had. 42 years later, Elvis’ fiancee, Ginger Alden found his lifeless body. You probably know the rest.
Jerry Wexler was best known as a music producer who was responsible for some of the greatest music from the 1950s through the 1980s. He also coined the phrase “rhythm and blues” while he was editor of Billboard magazine before he became a partner of Atlantic Records in 1953. While at Atlantic he either produced or signed some of the all time greats of popular music. That list includes Wilson Pickett, Led Zeppelin, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan and the Allman Brothers. He retired from the music business in the late ’90s, and passed away of congestive heart failure in 2008.
Thanks to the Jeff Ballenberg at Beat Marketing for the lead.
Esther Phillips
December 23, 1935 – August 7, 1984
Esther Phillips was one of the permier female R&B singers of the 1950s. It was R&B impresario Johnny Otis, who first recognized Phillips’ talent when, at 14, she won a talent show at his night club. Otis produced her earliest recordings and put her in his traveling R&B show under the name of Little Esther. Phillips recorded several hits in the early ’50s, but an addiction to drugs slowed her ascent down and eventually sidelined her in 1954. She mounted a comeback once cleaned up in the early ’60s and began releasing hit records again. One recording in partiular, a version of the Beatles’ “And I Love Him” prompted the Fab Four to fly her to England to perform. The disco era was kind to Phillips as she was able to adapt her sound to appease a new generation of dancing fans. She had some of her biggest successes during that time. Unfortunately, she could never quite shake her addictions. She died at the age of 48 of liver and kidney failure attributed to many years of alcohol and heroin dependency.
Luther Perkins was working as a mechanic in Memphis when, in 1954 his co-worker, Roy Cash, introduced him to his brother, Johnny Cash. Already a pretty good guitarist, Perkins, Cash and another co-worker, Marshall Grant started playing together for kicks. Within a few months, they were playing their first gig and going by the Tennessee Three. Perkins’ now iconic riffs would help Cash become a country music superstar. In 1954, Cash auditioned for Sam Phillips who quickly signed him to Sun Records thanks, in part to Perkins’ guitar playing on such songs as “Folsom Prison Blues,” and “Hey Porter.” Perkins went on to record and tour with Cash for the next several years. He was there with Cash during his highs and lows, and has been credited with helping Cash get clean. On January 13, 1968, Perkins participated in what we become known as one of the most significant events in popular music history when he, Cash and Grant performed for the inmates at Folsom Prison. The show was recorded and memorialized on film and would be the best documentation of Perkins’ guitar playing. Just seven months later, Luther Perkins fell asleep on his couch with a lit cigarette. Although he awoke and tried to make it out of the house, he passed out after being overcome by smoke. He later died of burns and smoke inhalation. He was 40 years old.
Born to poverty in Arkasas, Billy Lee Riley moved to Memphis after a stint in the army during the ’50s. Having learned to play the guitar from the local black farm workers, Riley set out to make a name for himself in music. He was soon recording for Sam Phillips at Sun Studios. During his Memphis years, Riley released such hit records as “Flying Saucers Rock and Roll,” and “Red Hot.” In the early ’60s, Riley moved to Los Angeles where he played on records by the likes of the Beach Boys, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. He retired from music during the ’70s but returned during the ’90s, releasing the Grammy-nominated Hot Damn! in 1997. Billy Lee Riley died of colon cancer on August 2, 2009. He was 75.
Although he had been a professional musician since 1959, David Martin is best remembered as the founding bassist for Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs. Formed in 1963 with Sam “The Sham” Samudio, the group scored a monstrous hit with “Wooly Bully,” co-written by Martin. Although America teens were firmly entrenched in the British Invasion at the time, the song raced to #2 on the pop charts and sold over 3 million copies. And even though the song never hit the #1 position, it was named the #1 single of that year based on it’s tremendous sales. No other single has ever done that. To this day, no honest music collection of the era is complete without that song. Martin left the group not long after the release of “Wooly Bully” due to a conflict with management. He soon retired from music and opened his own video and television repair shop which he ran until he passed away on August 2, 1987.
Jody Reynolds had one of rockabilly’s earliest massive hits with 1958’s “Endless Sleep.” It was one of rock ‘n roll’s first “teen tragedy” songs. The single reached #5 on the Billboard singles chart and sold over 1 million copies. He followed it up with “Fire of Love” later that year. The song charted, but failed to come close to the success of “Endless Sleep.” Reynolds released several more records over the course of his career, but none were ever able to get him back up on top. He retired from the music business during the ’70s, and in 1999, he was elected to the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. He was 75 when he died of liver cancer on November 7, 2008.
Shelby Singleton’s music career began during the ’50s working at Mercury Records as a producer. While moving up in the ranks, he became instrumental in numerous hits and was eventually rewarded with his own imprint, Smash Records where he signed Jerry Lee Lewis, 
One-time popular KHJ radio personality, Lloyd Thaxton became the host of his own pop music television show during the 1960s. The Lloyd Thaxton Show began as a local Los Angeles show only in 1961, but once it went into national syndication in 1964, it became the highest rated musical variety program on television for nearly a decade. Over the course of its run, the show featured such guests as Bobby Vee, the Byrds, 
Paul Burlison was a founding member of The Rock and Roll Trio, a rockabilly band who would heavily influence rock ‘n roll bands for generations to come. He formed the band with brothers, 
George “Wydell” Jones was not only the lead vocalist of doo wop singing group, the Edsels, he wrote their most famous song, “Rama Lama Ding Dong.” The song, even though recorded in 1957, became a hit for the group in 1961, reaching #21 on the Billboard singles charts. The popularity of the song landed the Edsels on American Bandstand that same year. George “Wydell” Jones passed away in his home a week before his 72nd birthday.
Elvis Presley was born in a two-room shotgun house built by his father in East Tupelo, MS on January 8, 1935. He had an identical twin brother named 
Esther Phillips was one of the permier female R&B singers of the 1950s. It was R&B impresario Johnny Otis, who first recognized Phillips’ talent when, at 14, she won a talent show at his night club. Otis produced her earliest recordings and put her in his traveling R&B show under the name of Little Esther. Phillips recorded several hits in the early ’50s, but an addiction to drugs slowed her ascent down and eventually sidelined her in 1954. She mounted a comeback once cleaned up in the early ’60s and began releasing hit records again. One recording in partiular, a version of the Beatles’ “And I Love Him” prompted the Fab Four to fly her to England to perform. The disco era was kind to Phillips as she was able to adapt her sound to appease a new generation of dancing fans. She had some of her biggest successes during that time. Unfortunately, she could never quite shake her addictions. She died at the age of 48 of liver and kidney failure attributed to many years of alcohol and heroin dependency.
Luther Perkins was working as a mechanic in Memphis when, in 1954 his co-worker, Roy Cash, introduced him to his brother, 
Born to poverty in Arkasas, Billy Lee Riley moved to Memphis after a stint in the army during the ’50s. Having learned to play the guitar from the local black farm workers, Riley set out to make a name for himself in music. He was soon recording for 
Although he had been a professional musician since 1959, David Martin is best remembered as the founding bassist for Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs. Formed in 1963 with Sam “The Sham” Samudio, the group scored a monstrous hit with “Wooly Bully,” co-written by Martin. Although America teens were firmly entrenched in the British Invasion at the time, the song raced to #2 on the pop charts and sold over 3 million copies. And even though the song never hit the #1 position, it was named the #1 single of that year based on it’s tremendous sales. No other single has ever done that. To this day, no honest music collection of the era is complete without that song. Martin left the group not long after the release of “Wooly Bully” due to a conflict with management. He soon retired from music and opened his own video and television repair shop which he ran until he passed away on August 2, 1987.