Boogie Down (Linda): Birth of the Boogie

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Oh, where, oh where has our sunshine gone (read that in Sweet Polly Purebred’s voice ). The problem with the winters here in the Ohio Valley is when we get socked in with clouds, we stay that way. But we can boogie with a sun lamp! Here’s a song that I chose to put on Linda’s side of this monthlong salute to songs with “boogie” in the title. She may not remember it, but at least it isn’t country! Birth of the Boogie - Bill Haley and His Comets Hey, did you know that Bill Haley actually recorded something other than “Rock Around the Clock”? Yes, that song is his legacy, but he did do other things to help usher in the rock and roll era. (And a little side note: Kris Kristofferson once said that his favorite version of “Me and Bobbie McGee” was…Bill Haley’s!) It is sad that Haley is relegated to that one song and a general afterthought in the advent of rock and roll. It bothered him, and it should have bothered everyone who had a part in shoving him on the back burner. I mean, he wrote a lot of his own music, which is something Buddy Holly did (and Elvis didn’t)! But we sadly can’t change history. We can appreciate Haley’s innovation and celebrate the music he made. This little ditty shows the transition of “boogie woogie” music from swing and pop into rock and roll. Long live Bill Haley’s music! Birth of the Boogie Written by Bill Haley, Billy Williamson, and Johnny Grande Recorded by Bill Haley and His Comets Released as a single, 1955 Joe got hip and started to sing: