It’s been said that finding the first rock ‘n roll song is akin to finding the spot on the colour spectrum where
blue becomes indigo. The task might be impossible, but Our Fake History has never been afraid of the impossible. If we search through the rich musical histories of cities like Chicago, Memphis, and New Orleans we might just find the inventor of rock ‘n roll. Tune in and find out how cracked amps, too many dudes in a car, and a quick mention of “Wang Dang Doodle” all play a role in the story.

Listen to the playlist HERE

Works Cited

“Archives.” Alan Freed, www.alanfreed.com/wp/archives/.

Blue Monday Fats Domino and the Lost Dawn of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Paw Prints, 2008.

Gillet, Ch M. de. The Sound of the City the Rise of Rock and Roll. Da Capo, 1996.

Guralnick, Peter. Sam Phillips: the Man Who Invented Rock ‘n’ Roll. Back Bay Books, 2016.

Lewis, Randy. “Fats Domino Put the Joy in Rock ‘n’ Roll.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2017, beta.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-fats-domino-appreciation-20171025-story.html.

McKeen, William. Rock and Roll Is Here to Stay: an Anthology. W.W. Norton, 2000.

Newfield, Jack. “Who Really Invented Rock ‘n’ Roll.” Who Really Invented Rock ‘n’ Roll – The New York Sun, www.nysun.com/arts/who-really-invented-rock-n-roll/2037/.

Palmer, Robert. “The Church of the Sonic Guitar.” Present Tense, 1992, pp. 13–37., doi:10.1215/9780822382225-002.

Palmer, Robert. Rock & Roll: an Unruly History. Harmony Books, 1995.

Press, The Associated. “No Black Artists on Rock ‘n’ Roll Cans.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 16 Aug. 2004, www.nytimes.com/2004/08/16/us/no-black-artists-on-rock-n-roll-cans.html.

“Roll Over, Ike Turner.” Texas Monthly, 6 Nov. 2014, www.texasmonthly.com/the-culture/roll-over-ike-turner/.