Search - Freddie Bell :: Rockin Is Our Business

R & R will never die.

B. J. F. Scholten | 07/24/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Freddie Bell, a lesser known "creator" of the original rock of the 50-s, probably still going strong, will help the younger generation understand what is real r&r about, instead of the screams of todays rock."

A Curio Worth Having

07/29/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Freddie Bell and The Bell Boys, a rock combo formed closely on the heels of Bill Haley & His Comets, appeared with Haley, Allen Freed, The Platters, Tony Martinez & His Band, and Johnny Johnston in the 1956 film Rock Around The Clock.



That, the fact they were the FIRST such North American group to appear in the U.K., touring with Tommy Steele in 1956, and actually arranged Elvis' mega-hit Hound Dog, are their main claims to fame. Led by vocalist Bell, the group included Russ Contic on piano, Chick Keeney on drums, Frank Brent on bass, Jerry Mayo on trumpet, and Jack Kane on sax.



Never able to crack the Top 100 Pop charts in North America, they did reach # 4 in the U.K. on the Pye label with Giddy Up A Ding Dong in 1956. That, however, was it.



Still, if you're looking for a CD containing the music typical of the many bands with local popularity in clubs and roadhouses from 1955 to 1957, but who could never get that big-time break, you'd be hard pressed to find a better one than this."