God has always had a stranglehold on music, whether it be blues, doo-wop, soul and of course rock’n’roll. Little Richard, who spent his life entering and leaving religious orders to sing rock, claimed that God inspired his music. He said, “God doesn’t give a damn whether we’re black, yellow, green or white. He’s the one who guides our dance steps, our musical notes and our words.” Little Richard only read one book in his life, the Bible. He added, “You have to admit that there’s no one better than a black man to sing rock’n’roll.” Little Richard, this phenomenon was born in 1932 in Macon, Georgia, with Fats Domino and Chuck Berry, he was one of the first black artists to be popular with white audiences. He left his mark on his era with his songs, his flamboyant outfits and his open homosexuality, a rare approach for the time in these particularly racist southern regions. When you think of Little Richard, I imagine you think of “Tutti Frutti”. This title contains the famous “Wop bop aloobop alop bam boom”, described by Jordan Bassett in the New Musical Express as being: “The big bang that ignited rock’n’roll, the birth of the teenager, the spark that lit the fuse”. Then comes the most arrogant, the most violent, the most enlightened. Jerry Lee Lewis will be one of the first rockers to associate with the Sun label. He will forge his first single “Crazy Arms” with Jack Clement, Phillips’ associate who was traveling in Florida. Sam Phillips will get hooked and will begin a long association with the one who will be called The Killer. Jerry Lee Lewis, the most enlightened of all these rock pioneers, the most violent, the most arrogant, the most megalomaniac, has also never ceased to blame God for his talent. A pair of blue suede shoes that will mark the history of rock’n’roll. Carl Perkins was born on April 9, 1932 in Tiptonville, Tennessee. He worked in the cotton fields with black workers at a young age. During the day, he learned gospel music and at night, he listened to blues and country on local radio stations. In 1954, Elvis Presley’s single “Blue Moon of Kentucky”, heard on the radio, pushed him to try his luck with Sam Phillips, boss of Sun Records. And this famous pair of blue suede shoes, it was Johnny Cash who gave Perkins the idea for these lyrics during a tour, remembering a black man he was with in the army who always chanted “don’t step on my BSS” during trips/leaves, because the others kept their army boots, he wanted his suede shoes to stay spotless. This title would become his first real hit, but also an anthem for young people. In this very masculine environment that was rock’n’roll, what about women? The one who asserted herself as the first great lady of rock’n’roll was called Wanda Jackson, born in 1937 in Maud, Oklahoma. A musician, she performed from childhood in various country music orchestras in her native state. Thanks to some huge hits recorded between 1956 and 1960 such as “Fujiama Mama”, “Riot in Cell Block n°9”, “Hot Dog” and a few others, the Capitol label would make Wanda Jackson the female equivalent of Elvis. Wanda Jackson would record a lot and leave behind some masterpieces inscribed in the history of rock’n’roll. Gene Vincent, born February 11, 1935 in Munden Point (Virginia), is one of the pioneers of rock’n’roll with only one authentic hit “Be Bop a Lula”. He is the almost unique example of the bad boy who is both sensual and very generous. A survivor of the tragic accident that cost Eddie Cochran his life in 1960, Gene hired two of the most brilliant guitarists of the genre, Cliff Gallup and Johnny Meeks. With him and his group The Blue Caps, rock’n’roll was authenticated as a music of all dangers. He dressed in black leather, and a silver medallion around his neck. Despite a turbulent career, despite the many wild songs recorded and despite a prominent place in the world of rock’n’roll, “Be Bop A Lula” would be Gene Vincent’s only big hit. Little Richard “Tutti Frutti”; Jerry Lee Lewis “Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On”; Carl Perkins “Blue Suede Shoes”; Wanda Jackson “Let’s Have A Party”; Gene Vincent “Be Bop A Lula”. 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