Rockabilly Holding It's Own

Sunday, August 17, 1958

'Rockabilly', a mixture of rock 'n'roll and hillbilly, is the most popular type of music in and around Lubbock according to record sales, say owners of local record stores.

Buddy Holly and the Chirpin' Crickets, Sonny Curtis, Terry Nolan, Niki Sullivan, and Jerry Clement and the Jokers, all area talent, have contributed heavily to the nationwide popularity of the new type of rhythm and song.

'Lubbock can actually be considered the capital of the rockabilly type of music, said Wayne Allen, local record store chain owner.

'Johnny Cash and the Everly Brothers, both formerly known as western recording artists, have had records in the top twenty by using rockabilly', added U. V. Blake, local record shop proprietor.

GOT TO BE DIFFERENT

What is it that makes a new type of music catch on and makes a particular record a hit out of hundreds of its type?

'When something new and different comes out, it is very likely to become a hit whether it is a new type or just a new record,' says Gerald Coleman, a local disc jockey. 'But it has to be different plus having a good tune and good lyrics to make a hit.'

Holly and his group, the Crickets, are perhaps the best established of the local recording artists. Jerry Allison and Joe B. Mauldin round out the threesome that graduated from Lubbock High School.

The Crickets have had three recordings in the million-plus sellers class - 'That Will Be The Day' [sic], 'Peggy Sue', and 'Oh Boy'. The Crickets record for Decca. 'Peggy Sue' was written by Allison and Norman Petty [sic] of Norman Petty Trio fame. Holly, Allison, and Petty teamed up to write 'That Will Be The Day' [sic].

Incidentally, Peggy Sue in the Crickets' hit song is not fictitious. She is the former Peggy Sue Gerron, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Gerron, 4909 W. 16th St. and was married to Allison on July 22.

Niki Sullivan, another Lubbock product, has had a record that was a big hit in this area - 'It's All Over'. Sullivan, formerly with the Crickets, records on the Dot label.

Terry Noland, also of Lubbock, has waxed four records. His latest effort is 'Crazy Dream'.

Slaton's Sonny Curtis has recorded two numbers, the most popular of which is 'Laughing Stock'. He wrote a tune recorded by Nolan 'Everyone But One'.

A relative newcomer to the area recording group is Jerry Clement of Lubbock and his band, the Jokers. Clement and the Jokers haven't had any recordings released yet but they have waxed several tunes.

Rock 'n' Roll and Rockabilly is also a very popular selection on local juke boxes, according to Bob Jordan of Jordan Music Company.

'Elvis Presley is probably the most popular recording artist on the juke boxes here, but the Crickets and Sonny Curtis are also well liked, Jordan added.

Record sales are booming all over Lubbock. Besides the increases in sales in record stores, grocery and drug stores are adding record racks to their stocks to meet the demand for the waxie music carriers.

'I think record sales are increasing because people are becoming more familiar with records and because record prices are not going up,' said Blake.

How do teenagers feel about rock 'n'roll and the new rockabilly?

Jerry Parsons, 17, a senior at Lubbock High Schoolsays: 'I like some of the rock 'n' roll okay, but it depends on the selection. I wouldn't want a steady diet of it because I like the smooth and mood music too'.

'I like rock 'n' roll, but I like other types of music, too,' said Tom Bannister, 17, Lubbock high school junior.

ADULTS BUY IT TOO

Contrary to popular belief, teenagers aren't the sole buyers of rock 'n' roll and rockabilly, although they make up the buying majority. Persons of all age groups, from pre-school age to those with graying hair are customers, according to local record salesmen.

'Rock 'n' roll has undergone a change lately that will probably stave off its decline,' adds Blake.

'Artists are eliminating a lot of the yelling and screaming and substituting good rhythms, beats, and some pretty good tunes that make rock 'n'roll have a broader appeal'.

'Broadway show albums are among our top album sales, says Allen. 'A lot of good musicals have been produced with a lot of good music in them'.

Stereophonic sound, the newest thing in the recording world, is new, but it is the coming thing. It gives the record listener the feeling of being there due to its unique recording procedure.

Instead of the single microphone taking down all the music, two separate recording devices are used at the same time and then combined. Thus, when a symphony orchestra is cutting a record, one microphone records the strings and other instruments on one side of the group while the second recording device takes down the brass instruments on the other side.

To get the full effect of stereophonic recording, more equipment is needed. Two amplifiers and two speakers are required to give the 'being there' effect.

'We are converting a lot of standard record players over to stereophonic by adding the stereo cartridge', said Blake, 'and we will convert even more when the idea is more generally known and more stereo records are available'.

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