Jackie Brenston

Jackie Brenston is a singer and saxophonist of Rhythm and blues and American Rock “roll (August 15th 1930, Clarksdale, the Mississippi - December 15th 1979, Memphis, Tennessee). It is especially known as being that which recorded what is considered by some critics the first disc of rock'n'roll of the history: “Rocket 88”.

Biography

Born in a mythical city from the Blues, Jackie Brenston, after its military service, learns how to play of the saxophone with a local musician Jesse Flowers. Shortly after it meets the young person Ike Turner and integrates off its group The Kings Rhythm. They are recommended by BB King near Sam Phillips which has a studio of recording and go up in Memphis in March 1951. They record there four titles, of which Rocket 88 , inspired of the song Cadillac Boogie of Jimmy Liggins. Philips, which did not create Sun Records yet, sells the pieces at the recording company Chess. Those sung by Turner leave under the name of “Ike Turner & his Kings off Rhythm” and the two others are published under the name of “Jackie Brenston & his Delta Cats”. It is there this disc which is the most success: Rocket 88 is n°1 classification rhythm & blues and is taken again by Bill Halley. After one second meeting at the summer 1951 when they engrave My real Gone Rocket , Turner and Brenston separate.

The musical career of Jackie Brenston knows a fulgurating rise and such a vertiginous descent because its following productions do not meet the same impact. Its last disc for Chess leaves in 1953. It continues its career of musician with Lowell Fulson, then again with Ike Turner and its group until 1962, and records a last piece, Want You To Rock Me , the following year. Then it will join The Shakers, a group of Saint Louis.

One day during an interview it will give its feeling on its career and will make even a suggestion on its epitaph: “ It made only one success discographic, without consequence ”. Sam Phillips, who however discovered Elvis Presley in 1954, would have declared that Rocket 88 was the first true rock'n'roll “roll never recorded.

Jackie Brenston dies of one cardiac arrest at the hospital for war veterans of Memphis.

Discography

As a singer:

Rocket 88/Like back where you belong (1951) - Jackie Brenston & his Delta Cats
My real gone rocket/Tuckered out (1951) - Jackie Brenston & his Delta Independent Cats
woman/Juiced (1951) - Jackie Brenston & his Delta Cats
Hi Ho baby/Leo the bilge channel (1952) - Jackie Brenston & Edna McCrae
Starvation/Blues got me again (1953) - Jackie Brenston & his Delta Cats
What edge it Be/Gonna wait for my chance (1956) - Jackie Brenston with Ike Turner' S Kings off Rhythm
The mistreater/Much later (1956) - Jackie Brenston with Ike Turner' S Kings off Rhythm
Disorder up the road/You ain' T the one (1960)
Want you to rock'n'roll me/Down in my heart (1963)

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