Smith & Co

Itis generally accepted that Rock 'n' Roll only really came into being with the arrival on the scene of Elvis Presley in about 1954. However, many of the tracks in this collection give the lie to that assumption and prove that not only had the music been around for several years, but some of the greatest recordings in the genre were made some time before 'The King' began to weave his history-changing magic. We travel all the way back to 1950 for our first tracks.  Formed that very year in New York by pianist Billy Ward and talent spotter Rose Marks, The Dominoes won a talent competition at the famous Apollo Theatre, then appeared on television in the Arthur Godfrey show, before signing to Sid Nathan's 'King/Federal' label. 'Sixty Minute Man' which made a major impact on the charts in 1951, concentrates on what was to become one of the staple subjects of Rock 'n' Roll songs - Sex, as the lyric boasts of the singer's prowess and prodigious staying power. A great early rocker! From there on we see the emergence of all the great early rockers that set the course For the next 3 decades including Bill Haley, Fats Domino, Little Richard, Ray Charles and, of course the unforgettable Elvis Presley. The CD includes extensive sleeve notes.