Air Week: April 30-May 6, 2018

Jimmy Preston

Jimmy Preston made a major contribution to early Rock n’ Roll by ushering in the era of the screamin’ sax. “Messin’ With Preston,” “Hucklebuck Daddy,” “Hay Ride” and his other early sides for Gotham Records were highly influential in the new genre of Rhythm & Blues, but it’s his original version of “Rock The Joint” that he will always be remembered for. “Rock The Joint” from 1949 is a definite contender for the first Rock n’ Roll song, but since you can’t pin an entire musical movement down to just one tune, let’s just say that it was one of the first. It jumps, it wails, it swings and tells the story of how this music is really going to make them rock the joint. It was immediately covered by Chris Powell & The Five Blue Flames for Columbia, then Jimmy Cavallo, but most importantly, Bill Haley laid down a ground-breaking rockabilly version of “Rock The Joint” in 1952. So even though Jimmy Preston is mostly remembered for one major contribution, Matt The Cat has dug up many more noteworthy jump tunes to open your ears and tap your toe to. This week’s “Juke In The Back” is jumpin’ with some pristine shellac from the great and highly unappreciated Jimmy Preston. DIG! 

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