Just going on the record now...before he dies...

[Docreed2003]

10. Great point...

Most of the early rockers had strong church backgrounds and many of them were torn by that heritage. Jerry Lee even spent time in seminary prior to his musical career, of course kicked out because, according to him, he put too much of the devil into his piano playing in church. Arguably, what we know as rock and roll may have had a very different face in not for that gospel influence, fused with the blues and country, etc.

I knew Little Richard had been very ill recently, but he totally lapsed my mind that he was still living. Another absolute legend who left his stamp on R&R. His life has been one of contradictions for sure...it will be interesting to read his true history one day, much like Bragg's book on Lewis.

I've often wondered how different that early rock scene might have been had not Jerry Lee married his second cousin, if Little Richard had not quit for the ministry, if Elvis hadn't left for the army, if early black rockers had received greater notoriety in their day, if Chuck Berry hadn't spent time in prison, and if Buddy Holly and the rest had never gotten on that plane. It's a fruitless endeavor, but when you think of the influence so many of these early icons had, it's hard not to think that the musical landscape could have been quite different at the time of the British Invasion. Arguably, the British Invasion happened because of all of those events! All of the initial British rock bands were heavily influence by American blues and early rock music. Americans were thirsty for that raw musical energy which was severely lacking at that time, not to knock the acts from the early 60's they were just intentionally tamed.