Forgotten Pioneers of Rock 'n Roll

Louis Jordan

by Pete Holly

There are many artists who pre-date the first rock 'n roll era of the 1950's that can be sited
as being the forerunners of rock 'n roll.For my money one of the most significant is Louis
Jordan.He had a long sussessful career with numerous hit's-Caldonia-Saturday Night Fish Fry-
Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin'-Beware !-just to name a few.His band The Typhony Five
were topnotch and they toured for nearly two decades-so why isn't Louis
Jordan more well known?Probably because for later generations he was so far ahead of
his time. His music is nearly %100 rock 'n roll but the peak years of his popularity were
between big band swing and R&B bands and the first rock 'n roll era-and he tends to get left out
of both catagory's.
One thing for sure,there was no shortage of greatness in Louis and his bands music.It's as
rocking as can be.The songs are all top notch-Inventive-Cool-Hip-Funny and occasionally
Sad-sounds like rock 'n roll doesn't it? Your damn right.

notes:Louis Jordan was the lead singer of his band and played saxaphone{and several other
instruments}.Chuck Berry has said Louis and his Band were one of his main inspirations
and he is also noted to be an early rap stylist,with many of his song's being spoken in classic and
extremly entertaining jive talk,telling story's that give insight to the culture of the time and that are still relevant today.
Written by Pete Holly-Copyright-2009-all rights reserved