Category Archives: Artists

Bob Dylan

Artists, ,
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan at Washington protests 1963

It’s difficult to identify which branch of the rock and roll family tree Bob Dylan comes from.  As a folk singer, his early works were always on the edge.  He brought the protest to protest songs, nasty lyrics to rock’s vocabulary, deep poetry to style, and the electric guitar into the mainstream.  Some say that he even brought us The Beatles greatest works by introducing them to pot.

Dylans early work was definitely folk.  His first album, named Simply Bob Dylan, was mostly covers of folk standards.  Mixed in with the reworked songs were two original works.  “Talk’n New York” was his story of how he didn’t fit in as a mid-westerner singing in Greenwich Village coffee houses.  His second original release was “Song to Woody”, Bob Dylan’s tribute to his musical hero, Woody Guthrie.  The album sold very few copies and just barely broke even.  Yet the two original gems that it contained were  Dylan’s announcement that he was going to write and sing about what he wanted to.

His second album is where he broke loose.  “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan” from 1963 was almost all original works and strongly anti-war.  It included “Blowin’ In The Wind,” “Masters Of War”, “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall”, and “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right.”  The album soon became a best seller and is included in most surveys of the top albums of all times.

New albums followed soon after his Freewheeling’ success, and as Dylan matured, his musical scope expanded.  Many of his songs strayed from the traditional folksy and protest styles as they became more personal.  His musical style changed to and moved slowly towards rock.

Bob Dylan Shocks the Newport Folk Festival

It was a black day for folk and a big day for rock at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival.  Bob Dylan was one of the biggest folk stars and one of the festival headliners.   The crowd cheered him as he opened with three of his folk standards:  “All I Really Want to Do”, “If You Gotta Go, Go Now”, and “Love Minus Zero/No Limit”.  Then he crossed the folk and rock line by plugging in a Fender Stratocaster and launching an amplified electric set backed by Mike Bloomfield and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band.

They cranked out 3 amplified numbers before they left the stage.  Some say they were booed off the stage, others say it was planned to play only the three numbers and then go back to traditional folk. Whatever it was, there was no going back.  Bob Dylan had announced that the music world was going electric, and he was crossing the line as a rocker.

In 2008, Bob Dylan received a special award from the Pulitzer Prize committee for, as they worded it, “profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power.”  It was well deserved.

The Electric Guitar Inventors

Artists, , , ,

🎸 The Electric Guitar Inventors Who Sparked Rock and Roll

Think of a rock and roll band and what’s the first image that jumps to mind? A howling electric guitar, maybe? Maybe a bassist pounding out the beat to match? Yeah, us too.

From stage-smashing solos to that unmistakable fuzzy edge, the electric guitar is the sound of rock and roll. But the story of how this iconic instrument came to life isn’t just one of invention—it’s one of rebellion, experimentation, and a little bit of garage-shop magic. Meet the unsung heroes who turned up the volume and helped invent the future of music.

⚡ Guitars Go Electric

Patent application for Adolph Rickenbacker's electric guitar.
Patent application for Adolph Rickenbacker’s electric guitar.

Guitars have been strummed for centuries—plucked in parlors, picked on porches, and played in smoky cafés. But back in the early 20th century, acoustic guitars just couldn’t cut it in a band. They got drowned out by horns, pianos, and drums.

Enter George Beauchamp, a Hawaiian-style guitarist who wanted to be heard. In 1931, he teamed up with engineer Adolph Rickenbacker to create the first electromagnetic pickup. They mounted it to a metal Hawaiian lap steel guitar, known affectionately as the “frying pan” for its round shape.

The pickup worked like magic—it sensed the vibration of the strings and turned it into an electric signal that could be amplified. No feedback, no background noise, just pure tone. And just like that, the electric guitar was born.

🎸 Beauchamp and Rickenbacker’s invention would change music forever—and make “Rickenbacker” a household name in guitar circles.

🎷 From Lap Steel to Lead Guitar: Les Paul

Then came Les Paul, the jazz and blues maestro who wasn’t satisfied with the frying pan. Around 1940, Les built what he lovingly called “The Log”—a 4×4 slab of wood with strings and electronics. It looked like a lumberyard experiment (and kind of was), but it sounded fantastic.

Later, he added parts of a sawn-off Epiphone body to make it look more like a traditional guitar. And though it took some convincing, Gibson eventually partnered with Les, creating the iconic Gibson Les Paul. It became a favorite of everyone from Jimmy Page to Slash.

🎶 Les wasn’t just a player—he was a sound engineer, inventor, and musical visionary. He also pioneered multitrack recording. We owe this guy a lot.

🎛️ Enter Leo Fender: The Engineer Who Rocked

Patent application for Fender Bass Guitar
“Fender Bass Guitar Patent” by C. Leo Fender, inventor – US Patent Office, patent D187001.

On the other coast, Leo Fender was doing his own tinkering. Unlike Les, Leo wasn’t a guitarist—he was a radio repairman. But he had a knack for making things better, and in 1950, he unveiled the Fender Telecaster, the first mass-produced solid body electric guitar.

Then came the 1954 Stratocaster—with three pickups, a tremolo bar, and that now-iconic contoured body. It screamed rock and roll.

But Fender wasn’t done. He also invented the Fender Precision Bass, replacing the old-school upright bass with a portable, thumping, low-end monster. It revolutionized rhythm sections everywhere.

🕺 Fender gave the world tools to build a new kind of band. His guitars didn’t just sing—they shouted.

🎸 How the Electric Guitar Reshaped Rock

Before electrics took over, most bands leaned on saxophones or pianos. The guitar was more of a rhythm instrument—a sidekick, not a star.

But with amps turned up and pickups humming, the electric guitar leapt into the spotlight. It could lead, cry, growl, and dance. Bands like Buddy Holly and the Crickets, Chuck Berry, Elvis, and The Ventures put guitars front and center, and rock hasn’t looked back since.

🎤 By the mid-1950s, the rock band lineup had transformed into what we recognize today: lead guitar, bass, drums, and attitude.

🏆 Rock Hall Honors

Both Leo Fender and Les Paul are enshrined in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, not as performers but as inventors. Without their vision—and a few lucky accidents—there would be no classic guitar riff in Johnny B. Goode, no power chords in My Generation, and no face-melting solos from Stairway to Heaven.

🎥 Want to See How It All Looked?

Here’s a short video showing vintage electric guitars from the 1950s:

🎬 Watch: “History of the Electric Guitar”

So next time you hear that first crunch of a power chord or a wah-wah solo that gives you chills, tip your hat to the guys in lab coats and garages who made it all possible. They didn’t just invent an instrument—they invented a movement.

 

Elvis

Artists

🎸 Elvis Presley: The King Who Rocked the World

If rock and roll had a throne, it would be covered in rhinestones, lit with stage lights, and have Elvis Presley’s namecarved right into it. Known around the world simply as “The King,” Elvis wasn’t just a rock star—he was the blueprint.

His hip-shaking, heart-stopping stage presence and velvet voice launched a cultural revolution in the 1950s and helped define the golden age of rock. He didn’t just sing the hits—he was the hit.

🎤 From Tupelo to Memphis: Humble Beginnings

Born in Tupelo, Mississippi, in 1935, Elvis Aaron Presley grew up in a poor but musical family. He was raised on a mix of gospel, country, and blues, and it all stuck. The family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, when he was 13, and that’s where things really started to cook.

By 1953, a shy teenager with dreamy hair and a $4 recording fee walked into Sun Records to make a demo. The label’s owner, Sam Phillips, heard something in Elvis—and before long, so did the rest of the world.

🎸 “That’s All Right” and the Birth of Rock and Roll

In 1954, Elvis recorded “That’s All Right (Mama),” a song that blended country twang with blues rhythm and a whole lot of attitude. It didn’t sound like anything else on the radio—and that’s exactly why it exploded.

📺 Watch: Elvis – “That’s All Right” live

His early performances were wild. His voice was smooth, but his hips? Scandalous for the time. Parents were horrified. Teens were hypnotized. TV censors were baffled. When Elvis appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1956, the cameras literally filmed him from the waist up.

Rock and roll had officially arrived.

🚀 A Meteoric Rise

Elvis hit the charts like a freight train:

  • 1956: “Heartbreak Hotel” – #1
  • “Hound Dog” / “Don’t Be Cruel” – back-to-back #1s
  • “Love Me Tender,” “Jailhouse Rock,” “All Shook Up,” “Blue Suede Shoes”… and on and on

📺 Watch: Elvis – “Jailhouse Rock”

Between 1956 and 1958, he had more than a dozen #1 hits and changed the way America dressed, danced, and dated. He was the first true teen idol, with a style all his own—pompadour hair, leather jackets, and those signature curled lips.

🎬 Hollywood, the Army, and a Comeback

Elvis
Elvis

Elvis didn’t stop at music. Hollywood came calling, and soon he was starring in movies like:

  • Love Me Tender (1956)
  • King Creole (1958)
  • Viva Las Vegas (1964)

By 1958, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving two years in Germany. When he returned, his music leaned more toward pop ballads and movie soundtracks. The hits kept coming, but rock had moved on.

Then in 1968, Elvis reminded everyone why he was the King with a black leather suit, a TV special, and a mic in hand. The ’68 Comeback Special was raw, powerful, and iconic.

📺 Watch: Elvis – “If I Can Dream” (’68 Comeback)

🎲 Vegas, Jumpsuits, and a New Era

The 1970s brought Las Vegas residencies, bedazzled jumpsuits, and legendary live performances. His style evolved—flashier, more theatrical—but that voice? Still pure magic.

He released hits like:

  • “Burning Love” (1972)
  • “Suspicious Minds” (1969)
  • “The Wonder of You” (1970)

Even when disco and funk were climbing the charts, Elvis packed out shows and sold millions of records. He had become more than a star—he was an icon.

🕊️ A Legacy Larger Than Life

On August 16, 1977, Elvis Presley passed away at Graceland at the age of 42. The world mourned. Fans still do.

But his legacy? Untouchable.

  • Over 500 million records sold
  • 18 #1 singles
  • 31 feature films
  • And one very famous mansion in Memphis, now a mecca for fans: Graceland

He was inducted into multiple halls of fame: rock and roll, country, gospel—you name it. Few artists have ever had such broad, lasting influence on music, culture, and entertainment.

🎶 Final Thought: Long Live the King

Elvis didn’t invent rock and roll, but he certainly gave it a face, a voice, and a swivel. He brought together Black rhythm and blues, white country twang, and gospel soul—and lit the fuse that launched the rock revolution.

From greasy diner jukeboxes to glittering Vegas stages, from Ed Sullivan to Graceland, Elvis Presley was—and remains—The King of Rock and Roll.

Long live the King. 👑

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons

Artists

🎤 Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons: Falsetto Royalty of Rock and Roll

4 Seasons album Big Girls Don't Cry
4 Seasons album Big Girls Don’t Cry

The unmistakable harmonies and signature falsetto of The Four Seasons became a defining sound of early rock and pop.

When I last updated this post in late December 2012, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons were still performing, and as of this update , in May 2025,, they’re still hitting the stage and playing to sold-out crowds around the world. Their unique blend of Italian-influenced doo-wop, tight harmonies, and Frankie’s unmistakable falsetto secured their place in rock and roll history—and kept them there.

🌟 Hall of Fame Honors and a Broadway Smash

The Four Seasons’ accolades speak for themselves:

  • 🎸 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1990)
  • 🎙️ Vocal Group Hall of Fame (1999)
  • 🎭 “Jersey Boys” – the hit Broadway musical based on their story

“Jersey Boys,” which opened in 2005, tells the tale of four guys from New Jersey who sang their way to the top—and survived some serious ups and downs along the way. The show won a slew of awards, including a Tony for Best Musical, and continues to tour worldwide.

📈 Chart Dominance: Surviving the British Invasion

While many American bands were blown away by the British Invasion in 1964, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons not only survived—they thrived.

Thanks to the powerhouse duo of Frankie Valli’s vocals and Bob Gaudio’s songwriting, they racked up a jaw-dropping 27 Top 40 singles, selling over 175 million records worldwide.

The only other white American group to match their momentum at the time? The Beach Boys.

📻 Hit After Hit: The Soundtrack of the ’60s and ’70s

Here’s a look at just some of their top charting hits:

🔥 Number One Hits

  • 1962: “Sherry” – #1
  • 1962: “Big Girls Don’t Cry” – #1
  • 1963: “Walk Like a Man” – #1
  • 1964: “Rag Doll” – #1
  • 1975: “December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)” – #1

📺 Watch: The Four Seasons – “Sherry” Live (1962)
📺 Watch: Frankie Valli – “December, 1963” (1975)

🏆 Other Major Hits

  • “Candy Girl” (#3, 1963)
  • “Let’s Hang On!” (#3, 1965)
  • “Working My Way Back to You” (#9, 1966)
  • “Who Loves You” (#3, 1975)
  • “Beggin’” (#16, 1967 – and revived in popularity in the 2020s thanks to a viral remix)

And let’s not forget the 1994 dance remix of “December, 1963,” which climbed back up the charts to #14—nearly 20 years later.

🎙️ Frankie Valli: The Voice That Soared

Born Francesco Stephen Castelluccio, Frankie Valli’s name became synonymous with The Four Seasons—but he also had a stellar solo career. Some of his standout solo tracks include:

  • “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”
  • “Grease” (yes, that “Grease,” the title track from the movie, written by Barry Gibb)

He even popped up on TV in the early 2000s with a recurring role as Rusty Millio, a mobster on HBO’s The Sopranos—because of course he did.

✍️ Behind the Hits: Bob Gaudio and Bob Crewe

While Frankie was the face (and the voice), much of The Four Seasons’ success came from the dynamic duo behind the scenes:

🖋️ Bob Gaudio

  • Wrote and produced most of the group’s biggest hits
  • Continued writing for other artists and producing well beyond The Four Seasons
  • Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame

🎛️ Bob Crewe

  • Produced and co-wrote many of the band’s hits
  • Also worked with other major artists (including Mitch Ryder and Lesley Gore)
  • Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame

Together, they helped define the sound of an era—and built a legacy that still stands strong.

🎶 Final Thought: A Legacy That Lasts

More than just a doo-wop group, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons bridged the gap between ’50s vocal harmonyand ’70s pop. They weathered cultural change, shifting musical tastes, and even the Beatles—and came out still standing.

They’re still singing, still selling out theaters, and still reminding us of a time when music had soul, swing, and a whole lot of high notes.

Oh, what a night indeed.

Chuck Berry

Artists

We have all seen Back to the Future right? Remember that classic scene near the end where Marty suddenly bursts into a fantastic rendition of ‘Johnny B Goode’? Despite dancing for a while, the whole room quickly falls quiet and looks stunned at something they had never heard before. Despite this being a movie, this was the exact attitude back in the 1950s. They weren’t ready for the crazy music that Chuck Berry was going to be pumping out, although just a few short years later, he was a pioneer of the ‘Rock’ craze, and the face of music would be changed completely forever. Let’s take a little look at his contribution that he made to the music industry.

Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry

If there ever was a pioneer of Rock Music back in the 1960s, it was Chuck Berry. Whilst in the past, rhythm and blues music was rather toned down, Chuck practically reinvented the genre. Not only did he make the music much more upbeat, but he crafted lyrics that were able to appeal to the younger generation. Gone were the slow rock ballads declaring undying love for somebody, in were songs which talked about culture, cars and life at school, all in a fairly humorous way. It really is easy to see how the great man was able to touch a generation. This is a practice which continues to today.

This isn’t all though. Chuck Berry was one of the first musicians ever to take a guitar beyond a simple instrument. There is no denying that Chuck was a great guitarist, he still appears on lists of some of the greatest guitarists of all time right now, however, up until that point guitar took a back seat in much music. It was there, but you just didn’t really think about it. However, Chuck turned this completely on its head. He started to breath life into the guitar, he started incorporating guitar solos into his music, and showmanship like had never been seen before. Who can honestly forget his ‘duck walk’? All rock music since then has incorporated guitars in this way. No longer is it that uncool instrument that takes a back seat. It is often the driving force behind most modern rock music, and one of the most popular instruments in the world. It all started with Chuck, and almost all music nowadays will use variations of licks that Chuck Berry created. He really was that great at changing the face of the genre.

Chuck Berry was one of the pioneers of rock and roll music, and his influence on the genre cannot be overstated. He was known for his energetic performances, catchy guitar riffs, and clever lyrics that often spoke to the experiences of teenagers at the time.

In recognition of his contributions to rock and roll, Chuck Berry was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. The Hall of Fame, which is located in Cleveland, Ohio, was established in 1983 to celebrate and preserve the legacy of rock and roll music.

Berry’s induction into the Hall of Fame was a fitting tribute to a man who had helped shape the course of popular music. He was one of the first musicians to incorporate elements of rhythm and blues, country, and swing into his music, creating a sound that was uniquely his own.

Throughout his career, Chuck Berry had numerous hits, including “Johnny B. Goode,” “Roll Over Beethoven,” and “Maybellene.” His music continues to be celebrated today and has influenced countless musicians who followed in his footsteps.

In addition to his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Chuck Berry received many other honors during his lifetime, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1984. He passed away in 2017, but his music and legacy live on.

More on Chuck Berry:  We’ve posted a transcript of an interview with John Brewer who directed the 1998 film “Chuck Berry” here.

Chubby Checker

Artists

 

Chubby Checker is an American rock icon. He became the father of the Twist with his 1960 hit cover of a Hank Ballard’s tune. “The Twist” never hit it big for Ballard but from September 2008 until August 2013, “The Twist” topped Billboard’s list of the most popular singles in the Hot 100 of all time.

The Twist’s main claim to fame was that it was the first popular modern dance where partners danced apart to the beat. Chubby takes credit for the change and said “Anyplace on the planet, when someone has a song that has a beat, they’re on the floor dancing apart to the beat. And before Chubby Checker, it wasn’t here.”. As if the Twist wasn’t enough, he also pioneered “The Jerk”, “The Hully Gully”, “The Boogaloo” and “The Shake”. And he was part of the power behind “The Fly”, “The Pony”, “The Hucklebuck”, and “The Limbo”.

Chubby Checker Twist Album
Chubby Checker Twist Album

 

I had a chance to see Chubby in concert in 2014. He’s still going strong at 70 and devotes a section of his performance to how “The Hucklebuck” was written and why he was never able to perform it on stage. The dance involves pelvic movement that was censored in the 60s but acceptable now.

Chubby’s dominance of the pop record scene was so great that he still holds the distinctions of:
-Having five albums in the Top 12 at the same time, a feat that hasn’t been matched to this day.
-Being the only artist to have a song hit #1 twice.
-And being the only artist to have 9 double sided hits.

Born as Ernest Evans in Spring Gulley, South Carolina, his family moved to South Philadelphia. He put together a street-corner harmony group later took piano lessons at Settlement Music School. He clowned around by mimicking some of the big voices of the time, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Fats Domino.

How Chubby Checker Got His Name

His boss at the meat market where he worked was impressed with his impressions and contacted Dick Clark. It didn’t lead to a show appearance right away, but Dick Clark recorded some of his imitations in 1958 as a novelty Christmas tune that he used as a Christmas greeting. The tune, called “The Class” won him a recording contract and was released to the public. At the recording session, Barbara Clark asked him if he had a nickname to record under. He said that his friends called him “Chubby” and, as he had just been mimicking Fats Domino, Barbara suggested Chubby Checker. He had a new name!

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Controversy

Despite all of his hits and dance creations, Chubby has been passed over by The Rock and Roll hall of Fame and he’s not happy about it. I can’t blame him! In the July 28, 2001 issue of Billboard Magazine, he bought a full page ad that he addressed to “the Nobel Prize nominators and the nominators of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, TV, radio, motion pictures, entertainment, entertainers, and the general public at large, world wide.” It rambles a bit but finishes up with “I want my flowers while I’m alive. I can’t smell them when l’m dead. The people that come to see the show have given me everything. However l will not have the music business ignorant of my position in the industry. Dick Clark said, and l quote, “The three most important things that ever happened in the music industry are Elvis Presley, the Beatles and Chubby Checker”. Now l ask you. Where is my more money and my more fame? God bless and have mercy. You know I love you.”

Chubby was in the news again in 2013 when he sued Hewlett-Packer for an app named “The Chubby Checker” that estimated a guy’s penis size based on his shoe size. Someone should have known better, especially in a company as big as HP. The App is gone, Chubby is happy to see it go, and I can imagine that HP is still embarrassed over it.