king of rock and roll

**Franconicus** · 05-19-2005, 10:21

Let us make a genealogical tree for the KING OF ROCK AND ROLL.

Obviously, the progenitor is Alan Freed in the 50ies

**Gawain of Orkeny** · 05-19-2005, 10:26

I would say its more likely some black dude that most of us never heard of.

**Franconicus** · 05-19-2005, 11:46

If we do not know him, how could he have been king?

I think Alan has the first right; he created the names R'n'R and King of R'n'R.
After him I would take Chuck Berry. He is really the King. (Although some would prefer Elvis - you know the boy from Aloha Hawaii).
I saw Chuck in concert in the 90ies together with Little Richard and The Killer. He was still incredible. But he only ruled for some years in the 50ies. Who followed Chuck?

**Togakure** · 05-19-2005, 20:11

Chuck is a major contender, imo, along with Jerry Lee Lewis (surely the "King" of Rock 'n Roll piano), and Elvis. Elvis was more the "jester" that brought it to the limelight, imo ... but I admit, I'm biased cuz I've always diskliked how frontmen/showmen always tend to get the attention over cornerstone musicians. If it weren't for the musicians (particularly the songwriting ones), the frontmen would have little upon which to base their act. Good lyrics are essential, but so is a good song. All in all it's a balance of lyrical impact (not to be confused with substance), catchy tunes and stylish musicianship, and a great show. If you can add a virtuoso musician or two, then you really have a winner.

But really, the bottom line is: it's mostly a matter of luck. You can have all these things and still fail. So much depends on having the right business connections at the right time, the knack and the endurance to harness them, and capturing and maintaining the faith of an oh-so fickle and diverse audience.

In regard to "kingship," I think it would be an oversight not to recognize the gigantic influence of all the fantastic Blues players, who were essentially rockin' long before the term "rock 'n roll" was ever coined.

**Axeknight** · 05-19-2005, 23:13

If Chuck Berry and the blues are the Kings of Rock 'n' Roll, the Stones are their bastard heirs.

**ichi** · 05-20-2005, 00:46

John Lee Hooker
Little Richard
Chuck Berry
Jerry Lee Lewis
Elvis
Bob Dylan
John Lennon and Paul McCartney
Keith Richards and Mick Jagger (AKA Hillbilly Bugger Boys)
Jimi Hendrix
Jimmy Page and Robert Plant
Pink Floyd

You could add Buddy Holly early on, Jim Morrison and the Doors later, Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, and Ozzy.

ichi

**Franconicus** · 05-20-2005, 08:57

Good list! Who is the king today?

**Reverend Joe** · 05-24-2005, 03:55

Originally Posted by ichi

John Lee Hooker
Little Richard
Chuck Berry
Jerry Lee Lewis
Elvis
Bob Dylan
John Lennon and Paul McCartney
Keith Richards and Mick Jagger (AKA Hillbilly Bugger Boys)
Jimi Hendrix
Jimmy Page and Robert Plant
Pink Floyd

You could add Buddy Holly early on, Jim Morrison and the Doors later, Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, and Ozzy.

ichi

AHEM... you left off one major Blues player- Muddy Waters. His music influenced almost every Rock and Roll band until his death in '82. The Rolling Stones named themselves after one of his songs.

Oh, and for the record, the stones are atrocious.

**GoreBag** · 05-24-2005, 04:43

Originally Posted by Franconicus

Good list! Who is the king today?

Peter Tägtgren.

**Beirut** · 05-24-2005, 11:32

Chuck Berry.

He da man!

**Adrian II** · 05-24-2005, 11:36

No doubt: Little Richard. The original hardest working man in show business!

**Steppe Merc** · 05-24-2005, 13:01

Chuck Berry is the real king. I think that Ichi's list is excellent, with a few changes:

John Lee Hooker
Little Richard
Chuck Berry
Jerry Lee Lewis
Elvis (Bah, never liked him, but...)
Bob Dylan
John Lennon and Paul McCartney and George Harrison
Keith Richards and Mick Jagger (AKA Hillbilly Bugger Boys)
Eric Clapton
Jerry Garcia
Jim Morrison
Duane Allman
Jimi Hendrix
Jimmy Page and Robert Plant
Pink Floyd (I think they should go after Jerry, if this is chronological...)
Bob Marley (Yes, it is rock...)

Not entirley sure where he goes up there, but Bo Diddley and Muddy ought to be there as well.

**Franconicus** · 05-24-2005, 15:33

Originally Posted by AdrianII

No doubt: Little Richard. The original hardest working man in show business!

Hi Adrian,
Did you see the Chuck Berry film? There is a small interview with Little Richard. It goes like that:
My mom used to say: Chuck Berry is the King of Rock'n'Roll!
I said: Mom, I thought, I was the King of Rock'n'Roll!
She said: Well, son, what you do is pretty good music. But what Chuck does is Rock'n'Roll!