Rock and Roll Flashback Podcast

Welcome to Rock and Roll Flashback podcasts!   Bill Haley and his group the Comets are generally credited with first popularizing Rock and Roll in the early 1950's.  As a result of their success, they sold over sixty million records worldwide.  During the period from late 1954 to the end of 1956, the band recorded nine Top 20 singles, one of which reached number one and three that were Top Te...

Welcome to Rock and Roll Flashback!  Throughout the 50's and 60's, there were numerous Rock and Roll bands, vocal groups and solo artists. Many went on to have successful music careers, but unfortunately for others, lasting popularity did not always materialize. Some groups managed to achieve brief recognition, sometimes with just one hit, only to vanish from the music scene. A few manag...

Welcome to Rock & Roll Flashback!   I'm Jumpin' John, and today's podcast is called Little Richard, Part 1.  In this first installment of our two-part podcast I will discuss the early career and chart years of Richard Wayne Penniman, the architect of Rock and Roll! Be sure to check out our companion podcast, Little Richard, Part 2, where I will discuss the conflicted life, caree...

Welcome to Rock & Roll Flashback!   I'm Jumpin' John, and today's podcast is called Little Richard, Part 2.  In this installment of our two-part podcast I will discuss Little Richard's life, influence, and legacy after he received a sign from God in October 1957.   Be sure to check out our companion podcast, Little Richard, Part 1, where I review the early career of the gre...

Welcome to Rock and Roll Flashback!  I'm Bill Price, and this episode of the Rock and Roll Flashback Podcast will feature the career of singer/songwriter Otis Redding! Otis Ray Redding Jr. was born on September 9, 1941 in Dawson, Georgia.  When Otis was two years old, his family moved to Macon, Georgia.  At an early age, he sang in the Vineville Baptist Church choir and learned to play the gu...

Welcome to Rock and Roll Flashback!  I’m Bill Price, and we’ll be looking back at some of Rock and Roll’s greatest artists, songs and stories!  In this edition of Rock & Roll Flashback Podcasts, I’ll focus on the year 1963: The end of a Rock and Roll Era.  The year was significant in many aspects, due to the changes that were taking place in the music’s evolution, and also in the events that t...

Welcome to Rock and Roll Flashback!  I'm Bill Price, and in this edition of Rock and Roll Flashback Podcasts, I’ll again be spotlighting songwriter, composer and singer Jimmy Webb.  Jimmy’s career in the music industry is impressive, having accumulated a string of pop classics and recorded by several well-known artists.  In Jimmy Webb, Part 2, I’ll focus on the story behind the hit song “MacA...

Welcome to Rock and Roll Flashback!  I'm your host, Bill Price.  In this edition of Rock and Roll Flashback Podcasts, I’ll be spotlighting songwriter, composer and singer Jimmy Webb.  Jimmy’s career in the music industry is impressive, having accumulated a string of pop classics, recorded by several well-known artists.  Be sure to check back for another episode:  Jimmy Webb, Part 2.  In Part...

Welcome to Rock & Roll Flashback!  I’m Bill Price, and we’ll be looking back at some of Rock and Roll’s greatest artists, songs and stories.  In this edition of Surf’s Up, I’ll spotlight the singing duo Jan and Dean, and The Surfaris, who helped play a role in popularizing surf music. We welcome your feedback, so please feel free to click on this link and let us know your thoughts and/or sugge...

Welcome to Rock & Roll Flashback.  I’m Bill Price, and we’ll be looking back at some of Rock and Roll’s greatest artists, songs and stories.  Today on this edition of Surf’s Up, I’ll be focusing on the Surf Craze of the early 1960's and the role the Beach Boys played in making it a national US trend. We welcome your feedback, so please feel free to click on this link and let us know your...

Welcome to Rock and Roll Flashback!  In this episode we examine the brief, but prolific, career of The Lovin’ Spoonful!  The band was among the most popular groups in the US for a short period in the mid-1960s, and their music and image influenced many of the contemporary rock acts of their era.  Beginning in July 1965 with their debut single " Do You Believe in Magic ", the The Lovin’ S...

Welcome to Rock and Roll Flashback Podcasts.  Today's episode reviews the career of Sister Rosetta Tharpe! Sister Rosetta Tharpe was a woman who broke every norm.  She was a thrice-married, bi-sexual woman who, for several years, toured with her gay partner.  She was a fearless and confident black artist who popularized gospel music by combining traditional gospel music with the sounds of jaz...

W elcome to Rock & Roll Flashback!   I'm Jumpin' John, and in today's podcast I will discuss the career of influential music producer Terry Melcher!  Terry has been credited with shaping the 1960's California surf sound and folk rock movements.  His best-known contributions were collaborations with Bruce Johnston, production of the Byrds ' first two albums in 1965, and...

Welcome to Rock & Roll Flashback!   I'm Jumpin' John, and in today's podcast I will discuss the career of John Ramistella, better known as Johnny Rivers! John Henry Ramistella was born on November 7, 1942 in New York City.  In 1948 his family moved from New York to Baton Rouge, Louisiana .  John was drawn to the guitar before rock and roll became a national sensation.  His first...

Welcome to Rock & Roll Flashback!   I'm Jumpin' John McDermott, and in today's podcast I will discuss the major influence of disk jockey Alan Freed on the early development of rock and roll! Alan Freed has secured a place in American music history as the first important rock 'n' roll disc jockey.  Not only was he the first radio disc jockey and concert producer who fre...

Welcome to Rock & Roll Flashback!   I'm Jumpin' John, and we'll be looking back at some of Rock and Roll's greatest artists, songs, and stories.  Today's podcast will discuss the life and illustrious career of the woman known as "The Queen of Soul":  Aretha Franklin! Aretha Louise Franklin was born on March 25, 1942 in Memphis, Tennessee .  Her father, C. L....

Welcome to Rock & Roll Flashback!   I'm Jumpin' John, and today's podcast will cover the first three years in the career of one of the great American rock bands:  the Doors!  So light your fire and have a listen to The Doors, Part 1!  In 1965 Ray Manzarek was playing keyboards in a Los Angeles band called Rick & the Ravens with his brothers Rick and Jim Manzarek.  Ray Manzar...

Welcome to Rock & Roll Flashback!   I'm Jumpin' John, and today's podcast will cover the final years, starting in 1969, of the career of one of the great American rock bands:  the Doors!  Among other things I will review the little known role of the Lovin' Spoonful's John Sebastian in a Doors' recording - and the origin of Mr. Mojo Risin!  So break on through and...

Welcome to Rock & Roll Flashback!   Hey, Jumpin' John here, and on this podcast I will discuss the brief career of early rock and roller and rockabilly sensation, Eddie Cochran!  Ray Edward Cochran was born in 1938 in Albert Lea, Minnesota .  When Eddie was in junior high school his family moved to Bell Gardens, California .  Cochran briefly took music lessons in school, and the school ba...

Welcome to Rock & Roll Flashback!   I'm Jumpin' John, and today's podcast will review the career of one of the pioneers of rock and roll music:  Chuck Berry!  Charles Edward Anderson Berry was born in St. Louis , Missouri in 1926.  Despite a lifetime filled with legal problems and periodic jail time, he became one of the most influential, groundbreaking musicians of early rock a...

Welcome to Rock & Roll Flashback!   I'm Jumpin' John, and on this podcast I will discuss the English rock band called the Kinks!   Ray Davies and his younger brother Dave Davies were born in the mid 1940’s in London, England.  After both learning to play guitar, the brothers formed the Ray Davies Quartet at school with Ray's friend and classmate Pete Quaife and Quaife's fri...

Welcome to Rock & Roll Flashback!   I'm Jumpin' John, and in this podcast I will discuss the British invasion band called The Animals and their influential interpretation of the song " The House of the Rising Sun ".  So sit back and have a listen to The Animals podcast! In 1962 Eric Burdon joined the Alan Price Rhythm and Blues Combo in Newcastle upon Tyne in northeast Engl...

Welcome to Rock & Roll Flashback!   I'm Jumpin' John McDermott and today's podcast is Part 3 of a three-part series called "Shades of Past (Recollections of a Garage Band)".  This series recalls one of America's most underappreciated garage bands:  The Limited Sensation Domaine!  From their humble beginnings in Monroeville, Pennsylvania as the Quad Squad in 1963 t...

Welcome to Rock & Roll Flashback!   I'm Jumpin' John McDermott and today's podcast is Part 1 of a three-part series called "Shades of Past (Recollections of a Garage Band)".  This series recalls one of America's most underappreciated garage bands:  The Limited Sensation Domaine!  From their humble beginnings in Monroeville, Pennsylvania as the Quad Squad in 1963 t...

Welcome to Rock & Roll Flashback!   I'm Jumpin' John McDermott and today's podcast is Part 2 of a three-part series called "Shades of Past (Recollections of a Garage Band)".  This series recalls one of America's most underappreciated garage bands:  The Limited Sensation Domaine!  From their humble beginnings in Monroeville, Pennsylvania as the Quad Squad in 1963 t...