Rockabilly
tagStarted 1954Peak 1955–1959; 1979–1983Last big hit still active
Rockabilly is early rock and roll built from country rhythm, blues energy, and hillbilly performance style: slapback echo, upright bass slap, hiccuping vocals, snare snap, and a restless rhythmic bounce. It is leaner and more dangerous than pop-rock, but less urban than rhythm and blues-oriented rock and roll.
History
Coined to describe rock and roll played by "hillbillies," the style erupted in the mid-1950s through Sun Records and related scenes. Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Johnny Burnette, Gene Vincent, Wanda Jackson, and others defined its first golden age; a major revival in the late 1970s and early 1980s renewed its influence across roots rock and alternative country.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- Britannica
- rockabilly histories
- revival histories