#1950s rock n roll
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"Sure, we like 15 year olds, but your products' best customers aren't the teenagers--so why direct your sales message to them?" (1957)
#vintage#retro#advertising#vintage ad#black and white#radio#old ad#1950s#rock n roll#1950s rock n roll#1950s radio#WCFL
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The Led Zeppelin Connection
When Robert Plant was about 10 years old, in 1958, he used to do an Elvis impersonation behind the curtains in his living room, arguably looking for a certain ambience that Elvisâ early records had. He used to have a quiff and spent hours in front of the mirror trying to emulate Elvisâ moves. Both him and Jimmy Page used to listen to Radio Luxembourg, a foreign radio station that at the time was the only way to listen to rock ânâ roll music in the UK. It couldnât always be tuned in and it was staticky, but in their homes with ears to the speakers they would pick up fragments of Fats Domino, Buddy Holly or Elvis Presley. Robertâs parents were worried about the influence rock ânâ roll had on their son and one day, while he was listening to his favorite music, even pulled the plug off the radio. He didnât desist of course and it was through Elvis that he learned about the Delta Blues. Rock ânâ roll and R&B records were only found in second-hand shops in the UK back then, left behind by Americans or discarded from jukeboxes, so thatâs what Page and Plant focused on separately while Elvis was drafted into the army.
What sparked Jimmy Page musically, however, even before discovering Chuck Berry in 1956, was Elvisâ rockabilly classic âBaby, Letâs Play Houseâ, which he heard first on that staticky radio. Even though the allusion in the lyrics about living in sin didnât hit him until years later, that song, he confessed in an interview, turned him on and sent shivers up his spine, so much so that he decided to take up a guitar left behind at his house and learn to play it. Soon enough, he formed a skiffle band and started to emulate solos from guitarists he liked, especially James Burton (who played guitar in Ricky Nelsonâs hits and would later play his famous pink Telecaster in Elvisâ TCB band). Like Elvis, Jimmy would bring his guitar to school and sometimes it got confiscated for the day. He bought a record player in 1960 and got the early Elvis records he liked, such as âLawdy Miss Clawdyâ and âTryinâ to Get to Youâ. âThat music was refreshingâ, observed Page many years later, âwhen all you heard before was Rosemary Clooneyâ.
It was only in 1968 however that Page and Plant joined forces and with John Bonham and John Paul Jones formed Led Zeppelin. Rock music had evolved a lot from â50s rock ânâ roll to 70s hard rock, but Elvisâ influence can be heard everywhere in Robert Plantâs delivery, in some of his stage moves and in the lyrics too (âIt's been a long time, been a long time / Been a long lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely timeâ - âRock and Rollâ from Led Zeppelin IV). Having watched Elvis for years, Led Zeppelin also learned how to use their bodies on stage to emphasize the feel of the music â striking poses, shaking their hips, thrusting their pelvis and so on. In order to pay homage to how it all started for them, they semi-regularly included Elvis songs in their sets, especially in the long âWhole Lotta Loveâ medley. It included âThatâs Alright, Mamaâ, âHeartbreak Hotelâ, âA Mess of Bluesâ and others.
The members of Led Zeppelin went to see Elvis live several times over the years, including in 1972 at Madison Square Garden, but it was only in May 1974 that Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Bonham were invited to meet him after a concert. Elvis was not a fan of hard rock, but he knew about Led Zeppelin, as they were topping the charts at the time. He would say to his own entourage, âWell, I may not be Led Zeppelin but I can still pack 'em inâ. He was actually amused that his step-brother Ricky was really excited that they were in the audience. During the concert that night in Los Angeles he acknowledged them before launching into âFunny How Time Slips Awayâ with his signature self-deprecating humor, stopping his TCB band and saying that they should all play as if they knew what they were doing because Led Zeppelin was in the audience.
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After the concert they were invited to see Elvis and led into a room full of girls â all copies of Ann Margret, as Robert Plant humorously recalls. They were told by Elvisâ entourage not to discuss music with him, so initially they were starstruck and tongue tied. Elvis, who apparently only knew one of their songs, Stairway to Heaven, didnât talk to them for a little while, until his interest was sparked by Bonzo mentioning his classic car collection. Elvis knew the band members were famous for the groupies and their libertine behavior on tour, so he asked about that and they hilariously denied everything. Jimmy joked that they rarely did sound checks, but if they did all Robert wanted to sing was Elvisâ songs. Elvis was amused by that and asked him which songs he liked and Robert said that he liked the ones with all the moods, like âLove Meâ: âTreat me like a fool / Treat me mean and cruel / But love meâ. When they were about to leave, Elvis swung around the door frame, looking quite pleased with himself, and started singing that song to them: âTreat me like a foolâŚâ and Robert promptly replied âTreat me mean and cruelâŚBut love meâ. They actually talked and had fun for about 90 minutes together. Members of his Memphis Mafia even checked with him several times because Elvis usually saw people for only 10 minutes.
Another memorable meeting took place in his Monovale house, also in LA, this time involving John Paul Jones, the bassist of the band, and Richard Cole, the bandâs tour manager, who was a friend of Jerry Schilling. When the two arrived with a bottle of Dom PĂŠrignon, they were surprised to find Elvis in his pajamas and slippers watching TV with the MM. Cole, apparently a bit drunk, started to swear in front of everyone and Elvis didnât approve, especially since his girlfriend Sheila Ryan was present. Accounts differ but one story says that Elvis jumped up in a karate stance and knocked off his watch and another that Elvis simply asked to see Coleâs expensive watch. What happened for sure is that they all started to swap watches, John getting a jewel-encrusted watch from Elvis in exchange for his Mickey Mouse wristwatch. The evening went on pleasantly, with Elvis quoting several Monty Python routines to his new English friends. Towards the end of the evening, Elvis suggested another exchange. He eyed John, who had been the quiet one all night, lowered his pajama pants beneath his robe and in perfect Monty Python fashion said âLetâs swap pants!â. According to Jerry, the more eccentric Cole was shocked into silence, while John and Sheila bursted into laughter.
The last time Elvis Presley and Led Zep crossed paths is bittersweet, as it happened shortly before Elvisâ death in 1977 when their jets met on the runway at the airport. His other step brother, David Stanley, asked Elvis if he could go with the band that night for their concert. Elvis just looked at him and said, âNo.â When he asked Elvis why, he said, âLook at the bottom of your paycheck.â As he entered the limo with Elvis David said they sure have a nice jet. Elvis leaned over and reminded him, âThey lease their jet from Caesarâs Palace, I own mine.â
Robert Plant kept singing Elvisâ songs on stage throughout his career. Here heâs singing âLittle Sisterâ in 1979 with Rockpile.
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Here heâs sitting on the floor with some records. Note Elvisâ first album is there (thanks Lucy for this).
You can find my other posts on Elvis connections with artists who followed him at this link. So far Iâve written about Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan/Andy Warhol, the Clash, Jim Morrison and Quentin Tarantino.
#elvis#elvis presley#led zeppelin#robert plant#jimmy page#rock n roll#rock n roll history#1950s rock n roll#1970s rock#hard rock#john Paul jones#john bonham
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Buddy Holly (September 7, 1936 â February 3, 1959)
Happy Birthday to this amazing legend, although he made music for only a short time, his career path left behind such amazing pieces that will never be forgotten, and neither will he as a person alone, either. đ
#buddy holly#buddy holley#charles hardin holley#1950s#the 50s#the 1950s#rock n roll#rock n roll music#rock and roll music#50s music#1950s music#1950s rock and roll#1950s rock n roll#50s rock n roll#50s rock and roll
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My brother saw Elvisâs gold Cadillac in Nashville today.
#gold Cadillac#Elvis Presley#Elvis#Nashville Tennessee#music#rock n roll#1950s rock n roll#1960s rock n roll#1970s rock n roll#Nashville#Friday afternoon
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Wanda Jackson (1958)
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LAWD HAVE MERCY đââď¸
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Elvis must have been so much fun to hang out with in the 1950s. Look at him pretending to punch Roy Orbison in the jaw while heâs drinking Coca Cola like a lil angel! A little bit lower and it would be like Hunk with Vince in âJailhouse Rockâ lol. đ
By the way, Iâve always dreamt of Elvis covering Roy Orbison. Any song really, but especially âOh, Pretty Womanâ.
from the official Roy Orbinson twitter account:
"A picture of Roy Orbison and Elvis Presley has finally been found. Here it is!
This photo was taken at Sam Phillipâs house in Memphis in the late spring of 1957.
Thank you to all involved in finally releasing this picture to the public"
#elvis#elvis presley#elvis photos#roy orbison#1950s rock n roll#1950s music#sam phillips#history of rock n roll#Spotify
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backstage at the oakland auditorium â june 3, 1956.
#elvis#elvis presley#elvis aaron presley#elvis aron presley#elvis fans#elvis presley fans#elvis history#elvis x reader#elvis smut#king of rock and roll#king of rock n roll#1950s#1956
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Elvis Presley, 1950s
#Elvis Presley#Elvis History#Elvis#1955#1950s#The King of Rock n' Roll#Rockabilly#Rock n Roll#Gospel#King of Rock n Roll
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Rockers
#Rockers#rockers60s#rockabilly#rock´n´roll#teddyboys#tonupboys#motorcycle#caferacer#1950s#triumph#Triumph#BSA#Norton#Ton Up#Vintage motorcycle#rockerslusitanos
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Elvis Presley and Barbara Gray | 1956 | photographer: Alfred Wertheimer
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The marquee at the Brooklyn Fox Theater reads "Alan Freed In Person, with The Everly Brothers, Chuck Berry, Frankie Avalon, The Kalin Twins, The Elegants, The Danleers and more plus screen fare," August 29, 1958.
Photo: Popsie Randolph via Getty Images/ABC News
#vintage New York#1950s#Popsie Randolph#rock 'n roll#Brooklyn Fox Theater#Alan Freed#Everly Brothers#Chuck Berry#Frankie Avalon#Kalin Twins#Elegants#Danleers#Aug. 29#29 Aug.#1950s New York
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The Jimi Hendrix Connection
In 1956, when he was 14 years old, Jimi Hendrix found an old beat-up ukulele while cleaning up a garage and started to learn playing by ear following along to a couple of Elvis songs on the radio. âHe used to sing Elvis songs to me to make me go to sleep,â his brother Leon recalls. âMy favorite was âLove Me Tender.ââ
The following year, on September 1, 1957 Jimi attended an Elvis Presleyâs concert in his hometown of Seattle. He couldnât afford the dollar-fifty ticket so he saw his idol from a hill overlooking the stadium.
Elvis was wearing his iconic gold lamĂŠ suit that day. Jimi was far away but he had a closer look at Elvis while he was leaving the venue on the backseat of a white Cadillac. A couple of months afterwards he made this drawing of Elvis with his guitar, with a list of Elvis songs written around him. In 1970, two months before his untimely death, Jimi would play in that same baseball stadium.
In 1968 the New York Times had written an article about one of his concerts calling him âthe black Elvisâ. Jimi wasnât fond of journalists trying to label him and he didnât understand why he was accused of playing white music for a white audience. He got hooked on the blues from an early age and was fond of Elvisâ blues songs as well, saying: âColor just doesnât make any difference. Really, some people seem to think from their kneecaps! Look at Elvis. He could sing the blues, and heâs white. He used to sing better when he sang the blues than when he started singing that âbeach partyâ stuffâ.
Hereâs footage of Jimi Hendrix playing and singing his own version of âHound Dogâ, made famous by Elvis but originally a blues song by Big Mama Thornton, while jamming backstage on acoustic guitar.
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And hereâs Jimiâs live version of âBlue Suede Shoesâ from a concert in Berkeley in 1970 and a studio jam where he also briefly starts singing âHeartbreak Hotelâ and âTroubleâ.
#elvis#elvis presley history#elvis presley#jimi hendrix#rock n roll history#rock n roll#1950s music#1960s music#1970s music#hound dog#blue suede shoes#blues music#1950s history#1960s history#1970s history#1960s rock#1970s rock#1950s rock n roll#Youtube#Spotify#1950s#SoundCloud
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#eddie cochran#rock n roll#rock n roll music#rock and roll#rock and roll music#50s#1950s#the 50s#50s music#the 1950s#rockabilly#rockabilly music#rocknroll#oldies music#oldies#50s rock n roll#1950s rock n roll#1950s singers#50s singers
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Elvis and Judy Tyler for Jailhouse Rock | c. May, 1957.
#elvis#elvis presley#elvis history#elvis presley history#music history#elvis photos#elvis presley photos#king of rock n roll#elvis aaron presley#movie history#jailhouse rock#judy tyler#elvis in the 50s#50s elvis#1950s#1957
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I am genuinely down bad for this man (literally)
#elvis presley#oldies#1950s#graceland#the king of rock n' roll#tumblr fyp#elvisaaronpresley#elvis the pelvis#elvis fans#elvis the king#60s elvis
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