Classic Rock'n'Roll & Classic Rockabilly CDs and Vinyl-Records

Classic Rock'n'Roll & Classic Rockabilly

Bear Family is specialized in Rockabilly and Rock 'n' Roll! Besides the well-known big names, this is the history of countless, often neglected and forgotten artists, who made wonderful recordings. Their music is very important to us. Here at Bear Family, you will be served and advised by experts and collectors!

Classic Rockabilly

Classic Rockabilly was, simply, the white Southerner's Rock'n'Roll. It derived from honky-tonk and juke-joint music of the early Fifties' South. From the Western-swing, country-boogie and Hank Williams influenced hillbilly music of the whites came the basic instrumentation of acoustic guitar and bass with their chopped rhythms, while black R&B and boogie provided the drum styles and — most importantly — the electric lead guitar styles. Sometimes the piano, steel guitar, fiddle or saxophone would be added.

But basically Classic Rockabilly was a raw acoustic rhythm with a heavy back-beat and cutting electric guitar solos. Throughout the South, this music developed with young bands using the traditional C&W booking circuits. It was dance music, it was wild, it was fun, but it was not quite Rock'n'Roll.

Sun Records

The catalyst that transformed Classic Rockabilly was the emergence of Sun Records in Memphis, and in particular Elvis Presley's first record, 'That's All Black Right'. The enthusiastic high-pitched vocals, the slapping bass rhythm of Bill and the violent guitar runs of Scotty Moore caused a stir among deejays.

But Presley's attitude, sex-appeal and down-right outrageousness drew attention to the music even more. When Presley was transferred to RCA Victor, he became a national phenomenon, and for two y was the music of most white kids. Sun took off with Carl Perkins and others whose muse. typified and exemplified the style.

Perkins' Blue Suede Shoes' topped all charts and the music of 1956 became the basis for the careers of Ricky Nelson, the Everly Brothers, Roy Orbison, Conway Twitty, Buddy Holly, Buddy Knox, Johnny Burnette and a host of others.