Late Night Music Homecoming/Halloween Edition Part 20...................."1950's"

Most of you know or may not know my recent binge I've been on with big band and jazz in the last few weeks. I find the decade more and more interesting just due to the birthplace of modern music being more and more evident with pioneers in rock, country, soul, and jazz came to the forefront. Many performers in the 50's also had great longevity (or at least potential to be), and it's interesting to see their music evolve after their roots in the 1950's, or in some cases, they already had a successful career and the 50's was more of a crossroads. The 1950's also saw some of the first black musical superstars our country had ever seen which paved the way for so many young black artists today. So, if you want me to be honest, I think the 80's was the most fun decade of music, the 70's was the most thought provoking, the 60's was the best, the 90's the most commercial, but the 50's was the most IMPORTANT.

Also receiving votes in this category were "It's Only Make Believe" by Conway Twitty, "Long Tall Sally" by Little Richard, "Walkin' After Midnight" by Patsy Cline, and "Come Go With Me" by the Del-Vikings.

Ray Charles- "I Got A Woman". One of Ray Charles originals and one of his most well known songs. I love the way Ray Charles could play so many genres and be so great at all of them. I recently saw his exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame, and that with his biopic "Ray" really showed how gifted Ray Charles really was.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mrd14PxaUco

Chuck Berry- "Johnny B. Goode". One of the influences of the Beatles, Chuck Berry was black artist who brought black jazz and combined it with rock n' roll and country and to this day still brings high energy to the stage. Here is a pretty good live version of Chuck's most well known song. The only person who can touch this version is of course Michael J. Fox in "Back to the Future".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8enzt3JP-I

Nat King Cole- "Unforgettable". Nat King Cole was a pioneer on so many levels, and I dare you to find a more smooth and passionate voice. Obviously, this was Nat's best known song, but he had a lengthy career that would have bene longer if Cole wasn't a lifetime smoker. Few people remember that Nat King Cole was the first black man to ever have his own national TV show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8tRTZIx298

Sam Cooke- "You Send Me". Sam Cooke burst onto the scene in 1957 with his smooth hit seen here. Most people know how I've mentioned that Sam Cooke is a fellow Mississippian, and even though his career was only 8 years long due to his tragic and still controversial death in 1964, he gave us alot of big hits. He has one of my all time favorite tenor voices ever, especially the bridge on this song. Still one of the best vocal riffs ever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqzv1ZS6uZs

Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong- "They Can't Take That Away From Me". I have found myself really really into Ella Fitzgerald lately, and my recent dive into big band and jazz has really been the reason for that. She was a true jazz diva before the days of the current soul divas. Ella Fitzgerald obviously outsings the famous trumpet player on this song, but nonetheless a great version of the George and Ira Gershwin classic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExmoiGZuiFQ

Isley Brothers- "Shout". These guys are still around- they've gained just a LITTLE bit of weight don't you think?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL9xOLpwI0I

Elvis Presley- "All Shook Up". It would be impossible to do a list of this genre and leave off the king. Like Ray Charles, Elvis Presley (besides being a fellow Mississippian) was one of the first artists to be a true crossover due to his ability to draw crowds from all fan bases. I dare you to find more than about 5 more artists ever who have ever come close to that. What else would you expect from someone who learned to dance from Forrest Gump?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rQEbQJx5Bo

Frank Sinatra- "Young At Heart". Frank Sinatra had been around already for over a decade when he got back in the public eye with this hit that was more than a little ironic. For many years, many people considered Frank Sinatra the icon of American music just do to his smooth as silk delivery, and his heartfelt yet clever songs. This song is no exception. Sorry for the video- it was the best I could find.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bslSxYwgwlE

Buddy Holly- "That'll Be The Day". My head hurts thinking about how big Buddy Holly could have been had he not been on the ill-fated plane crash that claimed his life as well as the lives of Richie Valens and the Big Bopper. Another HUGE influence of the Beatles (part of the reason for their band name was based off of Buddy Holly and the Crickets, and for you Beatle-Maniacs out there, most of you know that one of the Beatles earliest recordings is this very song right here), Buddy Holly was well before his time, and is still very entertaining to watch to me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6X7GOnLUdY

Miles Davis and John Coltrane- "So What". I'll close with this jazz classic that sums up the 1950's just showing the raw talent these artists had. Just think in a few weeks, this decade will turn 60 years old. While the music has changed drastically, alot of the things these artists influenced all those years ago still remain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4TbrgIdm0E

The icon

The superstar

The King