Rockabilly women add spice to rock and roll history

When you think of the pioneers of rock and roll, you probably think primarily of men like Elvis Presley, Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, and others. But women played an important role in rock and roll’s early rockabilly foundation. And these women are too often overlooked for the influences they were.

Wanda Jackson, who holds the title of rockabilly queen is what comes to mind the most, especially since the 2011 release of his CD “The Party Ain’t Over” which was produced by Jack White. In fact, Jackson played a pivotal role in the early years of rock and roll. She brought a bold, sassy, ​​and sexy new style to pop music. She wrote many of her own songs, played the guitar, and traded in the cutesy cowgirl outfits worn by most country and rockabilly singers of the day for sexy, skintight dresses and high heels. Jackson’s early rockabilly records rank among the greatest rockabilly performances by any person, male or female.

The name you hear most often in competition for the rockabilly queen the crown is Janis Martin. Janis was just 15 years old when she recorded a demo song called “Will You, Will Yum.” When RCA heard the demo they wanted not only the song but the singer as well and Martin became a recording star. That song was her biggest hit, selling more than 750,000 copies. The record, backed by the song “Drugstore Rock and Roll” that she wrote herself, made her a huge attraction at concerts across the country. As she shared the same label as the King, she was given permission to promote herself as the Elvis Presley Woman and she lived up to her moniker.

Lorrie Collins, who along with her little brother Larry performed under the name The Collins Kids, was hauntingly beautiful. While little Larry (who was barely 12 or so) was bouncing around the stage and wailing on his crazy Mosrite two-neck guitar (no, Jimmy Page was not her first!), Lorrie stood in front of the microphone and delivered lead vocals with a wonderful voice, easy grace and amazing power. He then went on to sing a duet with Ricky Nelson and others. And he took a firm place in the hearts of teenagers across the country!

Rose Maddox came out of the ridiculous hillbilly stunt she and her brothers pulled under the name The Maddox Brothers and Sister Rose to record some fantastic rockabilly tracks. When Rose took the stage and hit rockabilly in overdrive, she was a force to be reckoned with.

Sparkle Moore (no relation to Elvis guitarist Scotty) cultivated a dangerous, greased-up image with leather jackets and a girly pompadour. He listens to his song “Skull and Crossbones” and you’ll know he meant business.

And of course, there are others who left their unmistakable mark on the world of rockabilly and rock and roll. And modern women are still getting into the rockabilly act. The captivating Imelda May shows that women can still rock and that there is still a place in rockabilly for a strong female voice.

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