  
  Sam Phillips, perhaps the most important music producer to the development of rock & roll, rockabilly, and blues, and a supporter of racial equality in the music industry, passed away on July 30, 2003. Phillips worked at a number of radio stations in throughout the 1940’s before opening Sun Studios (originally known as the Memphis Recording Service) in 1950. In 1951, The Kings of Rhythm, led by Ike Turner, recorded “Rocket 88” (though the song was credited to Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats) at Sun, which many claim to be the first rock & roll song. The early 50’s also saw a number of future blues heavyweights record at Sun Studios, such as B.B. King, James Cotton, Bobby Blue Bland, and…
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Before claiming the mantle of Cream, Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, and Ginger Baker‘s the fledgling power trio took the stage of the Sixth National Jazz and Blues Festival in Windsor, England, for their official debut on July 31, 1966. The three musicians, who collectively had previously played in such bands as The Yardbirds, The Graham Bond Organisation,John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, and Manfred Mann, formed what would be rock’s first hugely successful supergroup. The trio had…
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An intense close up of The King of Blues himself, the one and only B.B. King. Photo by Paul Robinson.
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Sonny Boy Williamson II returns this week to introduce pianist Sunnyland Slim, who accompanied by Hubert Sumlin on guitar, brings the blues straight from Chicago with “Come Home Baby”.
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The Jimi Hendrix Experience takes the crowd of The Monterey Pop Festival by storm with their blistering performance of Howlin’ Wolf’s “Killing Floor”on June 18, 1967. Hendrix took the stage a relative unknown, but after his performance at Monterey, he was rock and roll legend.
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A week has passed and the time has come for another look at what’s happening in pop culture history. TodayTribut is taking a look at all the pop-culture happenings during the week of July 31 through August 6. Let’s get rocking!
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