Rockabilly Is Alive In Chicago

November 3, 2011 1:30 PM

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bigsandyhisflyriteboysband 49 Rockabilly Is Alive In Chicago

Big Sandy And His Fly-Rite Boys

Rockabilly is a sort of music that emerged in the fifties when Rock and Roll came together with Hillbilly Music as Country music was often called at that time. But it’s more than just a mash of those types of music as it sometimes veers toward Swing, Rhythm and Blues, and Blues. The current featured artist of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame website is [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Bo Diddley[/lastfm], a Chicago R&B/Blues legend. Rockabilly is also Sun Records artists like [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Elvis Presley[/lastfm], [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Carl Perkins[/lastfm],[lastfm link_type="artist_info"] Jerry Lee Lewis[/lastfm] and [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Johnny Cash[/lastfm]. Rockabilly saw a revival in the late seventies punk era when Robert Gordon had success with his album, Fresh Fish Special which starred Rock and Roll guitarist [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Link Wray[/lastfm]. Soon after along came [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]The Stray Cats[/lastfm] and The [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Blasters[/lastfm] further popularizing Rockabilly and winning the music new fans. In the late nineties Swing Dance saw a revival that was related to Rockabilly and now a young singer from the U.K., [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Imelda May[/lastfm], is having success in the States with her third album, Mayhem, released earlier this year.

Today in Chicago there are two notable, live Rockabilly events.

Jimmy Sutton

Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys are performing early this evening not a one of their usual Chicago haunts like Martyr’s or FitzGerald’s, two great clubs where Rockabilly often shows up, but at The National Museum of Mexican Art on W. 19th Street. Make plans quick as this performance goes from 6PM to 8PM.

Later tonight the party moves to the Northside to Martyr’s on N. Lincoln Avenue. The “Big C Jamboree will be led by a band fronted by stand-up guy and stand-up bass player, Jimmy Sutton.

How do I know all of this? Because I’m on the “Big C” mailing list. And you could be, too. Visit their site HERE.

Now let’s go out and have some fun!

Read more from Tom Marker.

wsoxmike59

Count me in as one of the many Rockabilly fans in Chicago. I’m a big Robert Gordon too, glad to see his name mentioned in the article. Saw him last year at the Abbey Pub with Chris Spedding on Guitar and the Stray Cats drummer and the Sex Pistols bass player. Great show.

Any how speaking of great Rockabilly bands, one of the opening acts for Robert Gordon that night was a really great Rockabilly band called the Hot Rod Hucksters. I really loved their sounds and bought a couple of their CD’s at the show.

I’d like to catch ‘em again soon. They were awesome. Loved their song Johnny Cash ruined my life. ; )
Shell

Check out another versatile band that boasts rockabilly among their genres: East Side Wildcats out of Roselle.
http://alsimonrockabilly.com Allen Simon

I’ve been playing Rockabilly in Chicago for the past 30yrs. Check out alsimonrockabilly.com for info on upcoming gigs.
http://www.bigcjam.com Gabrielle Sutton

Thanks to Tom Marker and WXRT for consistently having exceptional taste in music and being a long time supporter of the rockabilly scene in Chicago. The Big C Jamboree celebrated 20 years this past May, and couldn’t have done it without folks like Tom, Richard Milne/Local Anesthetic, Terri Hemmert and everyone else at Chicago’s Finest Rock.

We look forward to the next 20!
http://alsimonrockabilly.com Al Simon

I have been playing Rockabilly in Chicago for the past 30 yrs. Check out alsimonrockabilly.com for updated info.