Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music. It dates back to the early 1950s in the United States, especially the South. As a genre it blends the sound of Western musical styles such as country with that of rhythm and blues, leading to what is considered "classic" rock and roll. Some have also described it as a blend of bluegrass with rock and roll. The term "rockabilly" itself is a portmanteau of "rock" and "hillbilly", the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style. Other important influences on rockabilly include western swing, boogie-woogie, jump blues, and electric blues.
David Eugene Summers was an American rockabilly singer, songwriter and guitarist. His most famous recordings include the late 50s "School of Rock 'n Roll", "Straight Skirt", "Nervous", "Gotta Lotta That", "Twixteen", "Alabama Shake", "Fancy Dan" and his biggest-selling single "Big Blue Diamonds". Summers was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 1997 and the Southern Legends Entertainment & Performing Arts Hall of Fame in 2005. He still performed worldwide and celebrated his 50th anniversary as a recording artist in 2008 with the release of Reminisce Cafe.
Tommy & The Tom Toms was an American musical group from 1959 to 1962 playing rock and roll, rhythm & blues, and rockabilly.
"School of Rock 'n Roll" is a song composed by James McClung in 1958 and published by Song Productions, BMI the same year. It was originally recorded by American rockabilly singer Gene Summers and his Rebels, and was first released in February 1958 by Jan Records #11-100. It was flipped with "Straight Skirt" a teen novelty 45 which became the group's first big regional hit.
"Straight Skirt" is a song written by Mary Tarver in 1958 and published by Song Productions, BMI the same year. It was originally recorded by Gene Summers and his Rebels, a rockabilly band from Dallas, Texas and was first released in February 1958 by Jan Records #11-100. On March 8, 1958, Cash Box picked it as their 'Sleeper of the Week'. In Billboard 's 'Reviews of Pop Records' they wrote: "The artist is backed by a chorus and cheerful rockabilly support on this blues. The kids might take to this".
The Ultimate School Of Rock & Roll is a 32-track CD by Gene Summers. It is a compilation of his biggest hits including out-takes and alternate tracks. The CD was released nationally in the United States by Crystal Clear Sound Records in 1997 and is still in print. It was issued as a deluxe edition with an insert booklet containing 16 printed pages with extensive photos plus exclusive liner notes by Phil York.
Do Right Daddy is an album by Gene Summers. It was recorded at Enviken Studios, Enviken, Sweden on August 5, 2002. The back-up band included Ulf Back, Jonas Olpers, Patrik Staffansson, Riley McOwen, Lars Sodervall, Ulf Torstensson and Henrik Eriksson. Two of the tracks on this album, "Little Lu Ann" and "Boogie Rock," were written by James McClung who also composed "School Of Rock 'n Roll" "Alabama Shake" and "Fancy Dan" for Summers in the 1950s. McClung was also a founding member of Gene Summers and the Rebels in 1957.
School Of Rock & Roll is a CD by Gene Summers. It was his first CD release although many of his recordings had been previously released on various artists compilation albums and CDs. School Of Rock 'n Roll was issued in 1993 on Collector Records (#4420) out of the Netherlands.
The Southern Cat Rocks On is a 12" vinyl album by Gene Summers, his second album release. It is a compilation of tracks he recorded in Texas between 1962 and 1975.
Mister Rock and Roll is a 12", vinyl record album (LP) by Gene Summers, issued by Lake County Records in 1977. It was Summers's second album released by the Swiss label.
Texas Rock And Roll is a 10" vinyl album by American rockabilly singer Gene Summers. It was released by the French Big Beat label in 1981. It is a compilation of early rock 'n roll recordings by Gene Summers covering a time period from 1962 through 1975.
Rock And Roll Volume 2. is a 12" vinyl album by Gene Summers and five other artists. This was the first album ever released on Summers. It was issued in 1973 on the Collector Records imprint, a re-issue label located in the Netherlands. It is not available on CD.
"Twixteen" is a song written by Mary Tarver in 1958 and published by Ted Music, BMI. It was first recorded by Gene Summers and His Rebels in 1958 and issued by Jan/Jane Records. The "Twixteen" recording session took place at the Liberty Records Studios in Hollywood, California and featured René Hall and James McClung on guitar, Plas Johnson on saxophone, Earl Palmer on drums, and George "Red" Callendar on bass. The flipside of "Twixteen" was "I'll Never Be Lonely".
"Gotta Lotta That" is a song written by Bernice Bedwell in 1958 and published by Song Productions, BMI. It was first recorded by Gene Summers and His Rebels in 1958 and issued by Jan/Jane Records. The "Gotta Lotta That" recording session took place at the Liberty Records Studios in Hollywood, California and featured Rene Hall and James McClung on guitar, Plas Johnson on saxophone, Earl Palmer on drums, and George "Red" Callendar on bass. The flipside of "Gotta Lotta That" was "Nervous".
I'll Never Be Lonely is a song written by Mary Tarver in 1958 and published by Ted Music, BMI. It was first recorded by Gene Summers and His Rebels in 1958 and issued by Jan/Jane Records that same year. "I'll Never Be Lonely" was recorded at Master Recorders in Los Angeles, California in 1958 during the "School of Rock 'n Roll"/"Straight Skirt" sessions. Musicians featured were the original Rebels: Gene Summers on vocals and guitar, James McClung on lead guitar, Gary Moon on drums, and Benny Williams on slap bass. The flipside of "I'll Never Be Lonely" was "Twixteen".
"You Said You Loved Me" is a song written by Glenn Keener in 1961 and published by Gant Music, BMI. It was first recorded by Gene Summers in 1961. The recording session took place in Fort Worth, Texas at Clifford Herring Studios. Musicians included Summers-vocals, Glenn Keener-guitar, Freddie Powers-bass, Art McNulty-organ and an unknown drummer. It was released on Alta Records (#104) on February 2, 1962 and was flipped with the ASCAP pop, standard tune "Tomorrow" written by (Spiltany-Wilhite-Hirsh).
"Goodbye Priscilla (Bye Bye Baby Blue)" is a song written by Deanna Summers, David Saxton and Ben Shaw. It was published by Silicon Music, BMI in 1977 and first recorded by Gene Summers that same year. The song was initially released by Tear Drop Records as a one-sided, promotional, single and later re-issued with "World Of Illusion" as the flip side (#TD 3405).
"Nervous" is a rockabilly/doo-wop song first recorded by Gene Summers and His Rebels in 1958 and later covered by Robert Gordon and Link Wray, among others. It was composed by Mary Tarver in 1957, published by Ted Music, BMI and issued on Jan/Jane Records. The "Nervous" recording session took place at Liberty Records Studios in Hollywood, California in June 1958 and featured Rene Hall and James McClung on guitar, Plas Johnson on saxophone, Earl Palmer on drums, and George "Red" Callendar on bass. The background vocal group was the Five Masks. The flipside of "Nervous" was "Gotta Lotta That".
The Rebels was a rockabilly band from Dallas, Texas that recorded "School of Rock 'n Roll" and "Straight Skirt" with Gene Summers. The group consisted of James McClung (guitar), Gary Moon (drums) and Benny Williams. They were soon joined by pianist Bill Brown who played on some of their early personal appearances. They were one of the first rock 'n roll bands to record using the name "Rebels", preceding Duane Eddy's Rebels by at least six months and the "Wild Weekend" Rebels by more than two years.
"Hot Pants" is a song recorded on February 2, 1971 in Dallas, Texas by Gene Summers & the Platinum Fog. Rush-released in the United States by Charay Records on February 5, 1971, it preceding the release of James Brown's song of the same name by several months. It was reviewed favorably by Cash Box and as a "Personal Pick" by the Gavin Report.
