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"I rock 'em, roll 'em, all night long," bragged the Dominoes' bass singer, Bill Brown. The year was 1951, and the raunchy lyrics were from Sixty Minute Man, a music whose popularity would be reincarnated years afterwards in the film Bull Durham. At that time, Brown didn't recognize he was making history in two ways. First of all, his "rock 'em, roll 'em" reference would provide title to a fresh design of music taking shape on the American horizon. Secondly, after spending 14 weeks at #1 on the Rhythm and Blues chart, Sixty Minute Guy would peak at #17 on the mainstream Pop chart, which makes it the first crossover single in American music background.
The phenomenon would grab steam as white teenagers continued to utilize the predominately-Negro world of R&B. In 1953, The Orioles' Crying in the Chapel simply missed the coveted Pop TOP by stalling at #11. Despite becoming banned by the FCC for suggestive lyrics in 1954, Hank Ballard's Use Me Annie offered a million singles without radio airplay, as did the sequels Annie Had a Baby and Annie's Aunt Fannie. Yes, America-times were a-changin'! One artist who recognized the change in trends in early stages was Sam Cooke. A popular lead singer with the gospel Soul Stirrers, Cooke saw that young listeners were quickly abandoning Gospel for more liberated types of music. By 1955, Chuck Berry and Small Richard had successfully targeted the teenage Rock & Roll market and have scored hits with Maybellene and Tutti Fruitti Meghan Krauss Music respectively. Looking to capitalize in the same respect, Cooke made the changeover from Gospel to Pop with the launch of You Send Me in 1957. "It was a huge risk on Sam's component," Cooke's youngest brother David remarked. "Pop music was viewed as the devil's music by people in the church. If he failed in Pop after losing his Gospel group of fans, he wouldn't have had anywhere to turn. His profession could've started and ended at the same time." By singing with very clear diction and utilizing white-colored background singers, Cooke intentionally created a audio that wouldn't be categorized since ethnic, but one that will be more conducive to a mainstream audience. He figured if he were to focus on two markets, his chance of success would double aswell. Casey Kasem, who would eventually turn into a nationally-recognized radio sponsor in his own correct, was a DJ on Detroit's WJBK in nov 1957. Kasem is certainly credited as being the 1st jock to enjoy You Send Me on a typically Rock & Roll station. The others, as they say, is history. With Cooke's gospel roots bubbling below the surface, You Send Me rose to #1 on both Pop and R&B charts, creating a complete new sound the globe called Soul.
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