It may surprise the young folk out there that what is widely considered to be the first rock 'n' roll recording was done three years before Bill Haley and the Comets did "Rock Around the Clock." Jackie Brenston and the Kings of Rhythm recorded "Rocket 88" in 1951, a recording which had nothing to do with either the space program (then non-existent) or a piano. It was an Oldsmobile. Again, ask your granddad. Please enjoy the audio on this clip and ignore the wildy inappropriate video. We have a recording in the Mudd, too.
One of the people responsible for that 1951 recording died today. Ike Turner, probably more widely known as the Svengali/abusive husband to Tina Turner, was 76. Ike and Tina were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.