John Jensen Discusses the Beginnings of Rock ‘N’ Roll

Rock ‘N’ Roll historian, and former Bay area broadcaster John Jensen opened his presentation at the Steilacoom Historical Museum by playing a little game with audience members, “to make sure we have the right crowd here today,” he said. Let’s see how many of the photos YOU can name. Ready, GO!

Photo credit- Emily Molina

Rock ‘N’ Roll music created a profound shift in our culture, according to Jensen. It came at a time when the nation was awakening to a more working-class ideology, and moving away from previous elitist attitudes. Sentiments began to change from adult-oriented to having a greater focus on Americas youth. Music began to take on a rustic, backwoods feel.   

Jensen shared how it unfolded from a conflux of earlier musical genres. A kaleidoscope of rhythm, blues, country, gospel, jazz, and all that had come before it. Influenced by what was happening around it. Altering social norms, and the invention of new technologies, like radio and television broadcasting had a huge impact. The pre-broadcasting years of Tin Pan Alley, an area in New York City where some of the earliest sheet music publishing companies, and songwriters, had ebbed.  

And then, he hit us with the audio clip:

“One, Two, Three o’clock, Four o’clock, ROCK! Five, six, seven o’clock, eight o’clock, ROCK! Nine, ten, eleven o’clock, twelve o’clock, ROCK! We’re gonna ROCK around the clock tonight…”

A little “B” side song by Bill Hailey and the Comets (“A” side was normally the “hit” song on a record) that spent seven weeks at number one here in 1955. Jensen interjects, “It was on the soundtrack of 14 different movies, and to date, has sold more than 25 million copies!”

photo credit- Emily Molina : John Jensen

He went on to give us a listen to rare clips of even earlier versions of the song, all interconnected and sounding very similar. Artists like Jimmy Preston, with his, ‘Rock This Joint’, in 1949, and even as early as 1929, with Arthur Blake’s, ‘Diddy Wah Diddy.’ However, it was Bill Hailey that made it a hit.

With only six record companies, it was no easy feat to get on one of the major labels. Rock music wasn’t being played on mainstream radio quite yet, and neither were black artists. In fact, many of the early black artists songs were only played on the radio after white artists did covers of them.

It wasn’t until another disc jockey, pioneer Alan Freed, bridged the gap. First in Cleveland, Ohio, and later New York, by playing black musicians, and promoting rock music, and live shows on the radio.

Thank you, Mr. Jensen. Your years in radio broadcasting and expertise as a musical historian took us on a winding melodic journey, tracing the roots of legends, and this legendary musical genre.

More information about talks offered by John Jensen can be found at: https://www.johnjensentalks.com/

Please join us at the museum on February 14, 3 p.m. for our next Explorations Speaker Series event: Life at Ft. Nisqually, with Lane Sample

Steilacoom Historical Museum

1801 Rainier Street

(253) 584-4133

Friends of the Steilacoom Library sponsor these FREE events in partnership with the Steilacoom Historical Museum Association.

Published at:

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Special Guest Speaker at the Steilacoom Historical Museum on Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January 20th in observance of the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. we welcome you to join us at the Steilacoom Historical Museum for special guest speaker and author, Robert E. May, Professor Emeritus of History at Purdue University, as he discusses his title: Yuletide in Dixie: Slavery, Christmas, and Southern Memory.

In his book May explores the true story of what Christmas was like for slaves during this time. He exposes how inaccurate presumptions of festive celebrations among slaves and slave owners contributed to stereotypes as well as strengthened white supremacy in America.

May received his PhD in history from the University of Wisconsin. His other areas of expertise include: the Civil War and its causes, the U.S.–Mexican War, and the politics and expansionism of the United States in the mid nineteenth century.

He has authored many books including: Slavery, Race, and Conquest in the Tropics: Lincoln, Douglas, and the Future of Latin America, and The Southern Dream of a Caribbean Empire, to name a few.
May currently lives in Olympia, WA.

Please join us for this FREE event sponsored by The Steilacoom Historical Museum Association:

Yuletide in Dixie: Slavery, Christmas, and Southern Memory–Robert E. May, Professor Emeritus of History at Purdue University
Monday, January 20th, 1p.m.
Steilacoom Historical Museum
1801 Rainier St, Steilacoom, WA 98388
(253) 584-4133

Published at:

https://thesubtimes.com/2020/01/17/special-guest-speaker-at-the-steilacoom-historical-museum-on-martin-luther-king-jr-day/

So long tonsils—don’t think I will miss you

Since as long as I can remember, and before that I’m told, I have had problems with my tonsils.

As a child I mostly remember the earaches, and the hot water bottle my mom would put on my ears to ease the pain. You know, the red rubber ones that you actually filled with hot water.

Later in life I would frequently show up at Urgent Care for the doctors to take a quick peak down my throat and promptly give me a shot of penicillin in my back side. No questions asked.

On a normal day, anyone could look down my throat and exclaim, “what abnormally large tonsils you have!” It’s happened. More. Than. Once.

Strep throat, tonsillitis…been there, done that and many antibiotics later. My grandma always recommended gargling with salt water. Yuck. But I’ve done it when the pain was unbearable.

In my adult life it hasn’t always been diagnosed as an infection. I’ve gone to the doctor after finally not being able to tolerate the pain —for them to prescribe nothing at all. More recently I’ve been given steroids.

When I was a flight attendant constantly breathing in the recycled airplane air, I regularly had throat issues.

After a run, my throat sometimes hurts from breathing in the cold morning air.

After cleaning, using chemicals, or other strong smells, like scented candles, my tonsils often swell up.

Add a little stress, or lack of sleep, and the first signs of being run down for me is a sore throat.

The other day as I prepared for my post-surgery diet by stocking up on popsicles and jello, the check out clerk said, “how old ARE you?” Likely surprised that someone my age would be getting their tonsils removed at this late date. Yes. I’m old. And yes, I’m getting them removed.

Not to mention everyone’s compelling need to describe just how much more painful the recovery is for an adult. Thanks. For. That.

I almost had them removed about 16 years ago. I visited an ENT in New York where I lived at the time; but chickened out.

After an extremely painful sore throat last winter, and another recommendation from a doctor to have them removed, I finally decided to go through with it.

Pre-surgery

I look a lot happier in this pre-surgery photo than I do now, believe me. Everything went fine with the surgery and I was able to come home shortly after. But the pain. Oh, the pain!

It’s like having the worst sore throat ever, but it won’t go away. I can hardly talk or eat. My steady diet of jello and popsicles has left me pretty unsatisfied. All I can hope is that once the healing is over, I’ll never have to deal with this again.

Fingers crossed!

Discovering the Roots of Rock ‘N’ Roll with John Jensen

What do you think of when you hear the words Rock ‘N’ Roll?

Did you know that its earliest inception can be traced back to rhythm, blues, country and gospel music. One thing for sure, wherever it came from, it took the world by storm. It not only crossed over both racial and musical genres, it made people move. We haven’t been the same since.

Join us at the Steilacoom Historical Museum this month as former Bay Area broadcaster John Jensen explores the origins of Rock ‘N’ Roll. He will present his talk: The Roots of Rock ‘N’ Roll, Tracing the beginnings of rock from the 1920s to the 1960s. He will share rare music and media clips while taking a closer look at the trailblazers of this musical genre.

Mr. Jensen is a foremost audio historian, and former San Francisco broadcaster. He went on to become the general manager of KMPX, a station loyal to the music of the 1920s through the 1950s. He produced broadcasts involving the likes of Bing Crosby. His expertise has been used by major filmmakers like Francis Ford Coppola.

Mr. Jensen presents talks at a variety of local venues covering not only broadcasting, and the genesis of this legendary musical genre, but WWII era history, both at home and abroad.

Friends of the Steilacoom Library sponsor these FREE events in partnership with the Steilacoom Historical Museum Association.
Don’t miss:

The Roots of Rock ‘N’ Roll
Friday, January 10, 3 p.m.
Steilacoom Historical Museum 1801 Rainier Street
(253) 584-4133

Published at:

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https://thesubtimes.com/2020/01/06/discovering-the-roots-of-rock-n-roll-with-john-jenson/?fbclid=IwAR2N_UdJnLfWJjKACPs3oCaQo1eScxzuOFg6XsV-qqdot-I9VQ9sBNh3Xhc