In the ‘How Music Changed” series, we attempt to find the music that had the most profound impact on popular culture and the way that music styles progressed through the years. With our series dedicated to early Jazz piano, there is little doubt that stride piano was artistically superior to the boogie-woogie players. It’s also fairly obvious that stars of stride are significantly more famous than the leaders of the boogie-woogie craze, and yet from today’s perspective, it seems that it is the boogie-woogie players who ultimately had the biggest effect on musical tastes.

Since the onset of rock and roll, there has been a lot of conjecture about what song qualifies as the ‘first’ rock and roll record. Some people go back to 1955 or maybe 1948. I’d suggest, though, that rock and roll has been a part of our scene since the very beginning of the jazz years, perhaps as early as 1928.

In this show, we’ll follow a few different strands of boogie woogie, noting each artist’s influence as time progressed. I think you’ll find that we can offer plenty of proof that your great grand-daddy was a rock and roller!

Here are a few selections that we play;

Pinetop’s Blues – Pine Top Smith

Big Boy, They Can’t Do That – Pine Top Smith

Shout For Joy – Albert Ammons

Cow Cow Blues – Cow Cow Davenport

Mess Around (edit) – Ray Charles

Roll ‘Em Pete – Joe Turner w/ Pete Johnson

Rebecca – Joe Turner w/ Pete Johnson

Wee Baby Blues – Joe Turner w/ Art Tatum

Shake, Rattle & Roll – Joe Turner & His Blues Kings

How Long Blues – Jimmy Yancey

How Long Blues (edit) – Count Basie

One O’Clock Jump (edit) – Count Basie

Down the Road a Piece – Will Bradley Trio

Down the Road a Piece (edit) – Chuck Berry

Down the Road a Piece (edit) – The Rolling Stones

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy – The Andrews Sisters