The premature Birth of Rock ‘n Roll

What was the first rock 'n roll song?

"Rocket 88" by Ike Turner may just be it and if you're not familiar with it that's OK. Check it out here.

The song was released in 1951, four years before Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti," Bo Diddley's "Bo Diddley," and Chuck Berry's "Maybellene. It was four years before Bill Haley & His Comets rocked around the clock. Not everyone agrees that "Rocket 88" was the first rock 'n roll song -- owing partly to the fact that there is no clear definition of what makes a rock 'n roll song in the first place.

Even if you've heard of "Rocket 88," you might not know it was Ike Turner's song. Turner's group, officially known as Ike Turner and his Kings of Rhythm, actually recorded this particular single as Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats. Brenston was Turner's saxophonist and did sing lead vocals on the song.

A driving back beat, sexually suggestive lyrics, and raw energy are some of the elements that make up the backbone of rock ‘n’ roll -- and "Rocket 88" checks all those boxes. "Rocket 88" is a blues or R&B song with a little something extra -- and at the time, that something didn't have a name. Other tracks, like Roy Brown's "Good Rockin' Tonight" (1947) or Goree Carter's "Rock Awhile" (1948), can also be described as R&B with something extra. Which of these has enough "extra" that they are no longer a kind of R&B and are truly a new strain of music?

It's a tough question -- essentially un-answerable -- but a fun one to ponder.