Bill Haley

Died On This Date (January 1, 1967) Moon Mullican / Country Music Great

themusicsover January 1, 2010 3 Comments

Aubrey “Moon” Mullican
March 29, 1909 – January 1, 1967

In a perfect world, you wouldn’t need to tell you who Moon Mullican was. As a singer, songwriter a pianist associated with country music, what he was doing would be called rock ‘n roll some ten or so years later. By combining elements of hillbilly, jazz and blues, he created a sound and a fury that was a direct influence on Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, Hank Williams, Jim Reeves and Bill Haley. He is rumored to have been the uncredited co-writer of Hank Williams’ “Jambalaya.” Mullican passed away in the early morning hours of January 1, 1967 after suffering a heart attack the previous day.

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Blues R&B Singer

Died On This Date (November 24, 1985) Big Joe Turner / Influential Jump Blues Singer

themusicsover November 24, 2009 No Comments

Big Joe Turner
May 18, 1911 – November 24, 1985

Big Joe Turner was a jump blues singer who has been rightfully called “The Boss of the Blues.” He is also considered to be one of the direct influences on early rock ‘n roll. Turner’s career began during the 1920s as a singing bartender in around his hometown of Kansas City. He eventually moved to New York City where, in 1938, legendary talent scout, John Hammond Sr. gave him a slot on the groundbreaking From Spiritual to Swing concerts. By the early ’40s, Turner was living in Los Angeles where he worked with the likes of Duke Ellington, Art Tatum, Count Basie, and Meade Lux Lewis. In 1951, Turner signed with the up-and-coming label, Atlantic Records where he began releasing a string of upbeat songs that would help establish rock ‘n roll as a new art form. Such records included “Sweet Sixteen,” “Chains of Love,” “Corrine Corrina” and “Shake Rattle and Roll,” which would be made into hits by Bill Haley and Elvis Presley. Turner returned to a more traditional blues sound during the ’60s. Big Joe Turner was 74 when he suffered a fatal heart attack on November 24, 1985.