Wynonie Harris | |
|---|---|
 Publicity photo of Harris | |
| Background information | |
| Born | August 24, 1915 Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Died | June 14, 1969 (aged 53) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 1935–1969 |
Wynonie Harris (August 24, 1915[2] – June 14, 1969) was an American blues shouter best remembered as a singer of upbeat songs, featuring humorous, often ribald lyrics. He had fifteen Top 10 hits between 1946 and 1952. Harris is attributed by many music scholars to be one of the founding fathers of rock and roll.[3][4] His "Good Rocking Tonight" is mentioned at least as a precursor to rock and roll.[5]
His dirty blues repertoire included "Lolly Pop Mama" (1948),[6] "I Like My Baby's Pudding" (1950),[7] "Sittin on It All the Time" (1950),[7] "Keep On Churnin' (Till the Butter Comes)" (1952),[8] and "Wasn't That Good" (1953).[8]
- ^ Yanow, Scott (2008). The Jazz Singers: The Ultimate Guide. Backbeat Books. ISBN 9780879308254.
- ^ "The W Harris Profile" quotes his birth date as August 24, 1913. The profile goes on to say that, on account of his "indifference to learning", "he abandoned school permanently" in 1931; it is more likely he would have left school at age 16 than at age 18, so the 1915 birthdate seems more likely. The later date is supported by all other sources cited.
- ^ Demain, Bill (March 23, 2012). "5 Candidates for the First Rock 'n' Roll Song". Mentalfloss.com.
- ^ Warner, Jay (2006). On this Day in Black Music History. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 255. ISBN 0-634-09926-4.
- ^ "When was rock'n'roll really born?". The Guardian. April 16, 2004. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
- ^ Stratton, Jon (February 17, 2016). When Music Migrates: Crossing British and European Racial Faultlines, 1945–2010. Routledge. p. 53. ISBN 9781134762880. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
- ^ a b "10 Often-Censored Songs from the Early '50s". Rebeatmag.com. September 4, 2014. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
- ^ a b "Risque Rhythm (1950s)". Horntip.com. April 16, 2014. Retrieved May 7, 2016.