Stories Behind The Music -- Ruth Brown and the Roots of Rock n' Roll

The rock era was not recognized, or labeled as such at least, until 1955. There is an ongoing debate about which blues songs, pre-1955, contributed to the popularity of the music that would later be labeled as rock. James Miller is a well-known expert and author on pop culture and rock music. In his excellent book Flowers in the Dustbin -- The Rise of Rock and Roll, Miller states that a number of songs by African-American artists paved the way for the beginnings of rock and roll.

One of the earliest songs in that category, that he views as groundbreaking, was by the legendary blues performer, Ruth Brown. Her recording "Teardrops From My Eyes" was a smash in October 1950. At the same time the white audience was hooked on the Tennessee Waltz by Patti Page, Ruth Brown was dominating the R&B charts with her hit.

It is interesting to note that we are lucky enough to have a video of Brown performing this monumental tune. Therefore, even generations later, we can witness this part of music history with our own eyes.

 

 

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  Steven L. Smith

 Bellingham WA Home Inspections