I always felt sorry for the early rockers. In the late ’50s an investigation into graft in the record and radio business forced radio stations and record companies to turn much of the music from the rock and roll era into basic vanilla. This way they could sustain their Top 40 programming but gear the music to less black sounding songs and keep the rockers off the air.

However hard they tried, rock and roll did not die… to the consternation of many in politics. However in 1960 Elvis was still in the army,  Jerry Lee Lewis was disgraced when he announced he had married a teenage cousin, Chuck Berry was up on a morals charge, Little Richard had gone into the ministry, and rockers such as Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran suddenly couldn’t get arrested. Eddie and Gene moved to England where rock and roll was still loved and appreciated.

The downfall of these rockers came on the heels of the first big tragedy of the rock and roll era with the February 3, 1959 loss of Buddy Holly, J.P. Richardson (The Big Bopper) and Ritchie Valens. All of these original and unique contributors to early rock and roll were suddenly not getting airplay or concert bookings. Instead they were replaced by all the clean cut “Bobby’s” on American Bandstand.  Remember Bobby Curtola, Bobby Vee, Bobby Vinton, Bobby Darin, and the others? Songs like Be  Bop A Lula and Summertime Blues were replaced with songs such as Roses are Red My Love, Fortune Teller and Please Don’t Ask About Barbara.

That’s me with Gene Vincent at Denman Auditorium, 1958

Gene Vincent in particular was one of the best rockers of his era. While in England he influenced young hopefuls like John Lennon and Mick Jagger. Gene and Eddie Cochran had gone to the U.K. together. It was in 1960 while riding in a London cab Eddie Cochran was killed and Gene Vincent was badly injured. Gene was never the same after the accident and began drinking heavily, a habit that would eventually destroy him.

The British respected these  pioneers of rock and roll and continue to do so. This production from BBC Radio 2 is a tribute not only to Gene and Eddie… but a tribute to the British for keeping the flame burning. That’s a very young me (at :58 and 8:58) interviewing Gene in 1956!