1. Rockin’ & Rollin’ Little Richard
b. Richard Wayne Penniman Dec. 5, 1932
Way of dress and outrageous style epitomized rock’s spirit of rebellion
1 of 12 children, 2 uncles and grandfather were preachers
Father was a bootlegger
Kicked out of his home at 13
Either due to his musical interests or homosexuality (stories vary)
Got a contract w/ RCA
Sept – began recording for Specialty Records

2. One song he cut was a filler called “Tutti Fruiti”
Cleaned up considerably before release, original lyrics:
Tutti Frutti, good booty/If it don’t fit, don’t force it, you can grease it, make it easy
Cut 36 songs for Specialty (7 were gold)
Tutti Frutti (#18), Long Tall Sally (#6);
Lucille (#21), Keep a Knockin’ (#8);
Good Golly Miss Molly (#10)
Quit music after receiving a sign from God
Returned to rock in 1964, stopped recording in the late 70s again

3. Had his best latter-day recording success singing children’s songs
After several failed musical ressurections, Little Richard survived into the 1980s w/ an autobiography, movie & tv roles
Down and Out in Beverly Hills, Why Do Fools Fall In Love, Last Action Hero; also appeared on Full House, Martin, & Miami Vice
Had his best latter-day recording success singing children’s songs
Probably best know for the theme song of the Magic School Bus
inducted into the R&R HoF
1990 – received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
1992 – played at the presidential inaugural ball for Bill Clinton

4. Pat Boone
B. 6/1/34
Successful pop singer & actor in the 1950s & early 60s
Sold over 45 million albums & had 38 Top 40 hits (6 #1s)
2nd biggest charting artist of the 1950s behind Elvis Presley
Holds record for 220 weeks on the Billboard charts with more than one song
1955 cover of Fats Domino’s Ain’t That a Shame set the course of his pop career, covering R&B hits
The British Invasion effectively ended his hit-making days

5. Bill Haley and His Comets
b. 7/6/1925 – d. 2/9/1981
1948 – formed a country band that never gained much popularity
1950 –signed a deal with Essex record
1951 – released Rocket 88, reaction convinced him that fast-paced R&B style music would sell
1954 – Haley left Essex for Decca Records
Spring 1954 – released Rock Around the Clock (sold moderately)

6. Sold 60 million records world-wide, inducted in RRHoF in 1986
The follow-up song, Shake, Rattle, and Roll hit the Top 10 in U.S. and Britain
Rock Around the Clock re-released in 1955 & it hit #1 on the pop charts
12 U.S. Top 40 hits
The song was included in Blackboard Jungle, a movie about juvenile delinquents
Led viewers to identify Haley as a young rebel through his music
Over exposure revealed him to be a pudgy, balding, family man in his 30s, last Top 40 hit was Skinnie Minnie (1958)
Continued to be popular in Europe even after popularity declined in US (Rock Around the Clock on pop chart 1974 in Britain)
Sold 60 million records world-wide, inducted in RRHoF in 1986