1952 in Music

1952 is an important year for rock n roll. Sun Records opened shop under Sam Phillips stewardship and teenagers rioted in Cleveland at Alan Freed’s Moondog Coronation Ball. The genre would break out four years later. Bill Haley led the charge in 1956. In 1952, he changed his band name from Bill Haley and His Saddlemen to Bill Haley and His Comets. Despite the important rock moments, traditional pop music continued to dominate, which might explain the teenage frenzy at a show focused on them and not elevator music.

Percy Faith had the year’s #1 record “Delicado”:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qDlsnSTIbY

Other hits:

You Belong To Me by Jo Stafford: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQfF84ackMM

Wheel of Fortune by Kay Starr: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpWDKlEqLtA

High Noon (Don’t Forsake Me) by Frankie Laine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sLwPziSznU

Here is My Heart by Al Martino:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCgmhrJtMFI

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus by Jimmy Boyd:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoZeZ4spQQo

Scotty Moore: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2000

Rock Hall Bio: http://rockhall.com/inductees/scotty-moore/bio/

Moore learned to play at age 8. He played on Elvis’ Sun Sessions recordings and became the King’s personal manager for a time.

That’s All Right (Mama): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWgprZu4Hk4

Good Rockin’ Tonight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FeWJHUB8aU

Mystery Train: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_eE0NPArEY

Jailhouse Rock: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUD4vSv1ZsU

Hound Dog: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKtzJb6guoo

Ike Turner: Rocket 88 (1951)

Actually, it's Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats. Sam Phillips produced this...the first rock n roll record. Notice the double entendre. It's not just about a fancy car.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gbfnh1oVTk0

Elvis Presley: Mystery Train (1955)

Junior Parker and Sam Phillips penned "Mystery Train" in 1953. Little Junior recorded it, but no one remembers this version. Elvis covered it in 1955 and this version is now one of the all-time classics.  Since Elvis, the song has been recorded by acts ranging from Chet Atkins to UFO.

Little Junior:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfQ4N_jYUUg

Elvis:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_eE0NPArEY

Roy Orbison: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1987

His life and career in links.

Rock Hall Bio: 

 http://rockhall.com/inductees/roy-orbison/bio/

Official Site:

http://www.royorbison.com/us/home

Ooby Dooby (1956):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-ijEWj2xmg

He did not hit it big until the sixties.

Only the Lonely (1960):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2whGEvy13Ag

Running Scared (1961):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH-AafkQPEo

Crying (1961):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-l-AxZIdq4E&feature=related

In Dreams (1963):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbxsmcT7GOk

It’s Over (1964):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMc263klrMQ

Pretty Woman (1964):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdmS9wCHhSU&feature=related

1966: His wife died in a car accident.

1968: His house burned down killing his two oldest sons.

He struggled following these tragedies. He experienced a major comeback in the late eighties.

Crying w/K.D. Lang (1987):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmisOxCHEiw

You Got It (1988):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpgtbcP8-ig

The Traveling Wilburies:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8s9dmuAKvU

Died: December 6, 1988:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0tKoTLHx98

Carl Perkins: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1987

His life and career in links.

Rock Hall Bio:http://rockhall.com/inductees/carl-perkins/bio/

History of Rock:http://www.history-of-rock.com/perkins.htm

Movie Magg (one of his first Sun Records singles): 1954http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rc1O29mBYl8

1955:

Gone, Gone, Gone:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrhZKavICNU

Blue Suede Shoes (1956): Perkins hits it big! His signature hit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79CJON8fv6c

Honey Don’t:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBx_D42opkI

In 1956, Perkins was in a terrible car wreck which broke his neck. His drummer found him face down in a ditch of water and pulled him out to save him from drowning. Perkins returned to recording later that year.

The Million Dollar Quartet (1956):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFpxQOd5tHA



Glad All Over (1957):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0ZsN9AlxN4

　

Matchbox (1957):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPARnAjxd2Q&feature=related

Your True Love (1957):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hBnszf1zMY

Perkins moved to Columbia in 1958 and continued recording. In the sixties, he played Vegas, toured with Chuck Berry, and continued to write and record.

Restless (1969):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2SLUMFn3ps

He fought a protracted legal battle with Sam Phillips over the royalties to his own songs.

Get It w/Paul McCartney (1982):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3fle7MKfJM

Class of ‘55 (1987):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pG6jeC2ptgE

Perkins continued to record and perform. His last album featured John Fogerty, Paul Simon, Tom Petty, and Bono.

He died in 1998.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4tAn88vRZk

Sam Phillips: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1986

His life and career thru links:

Rock Hall Bio: http://rockhall.com/inductees/sam-phillips/bio/


Sun Records Official Site: http://www.sunrecords.com/

The First Rock Record recorded at Sun Records: Ike Turner and Jackie Brenston:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gbfnh1oVTk0

He discovered Elvis: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWgprZu4Hk4

Sun was “an early home” to:

Jerry Lee Lewis: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xraIf_cYRQE

Johnny Cash: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEV58ztuihs

Roy Orbison: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMdWzIITwoM

Carl Perkins: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79CJON8fv6c

Sam Phillips died in 2003:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyOmzxPxND4