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Music Special Programming

Whole Lotta Shakin'

This 10-hour series explores rockabilly – the brash, fast-paced 1950's mix of blues, gospel, jazz, country and popular music that is a foundation of rock and roll. Hosted by Rosie Flores, the series visits the cradle of rockabilly and profiles the stars of the genre, including Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins and Buddy Holly. It also presents the music's female stars and explores the rockabilly sounds of California. You'll hear the stories of many of the period's best-loved songs, from "Rave On" to "I Walk the Line." Click on MORE for specifics on each segment. (Airs 9am-5pm  and 7-9pm.)

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Jul 5, 2008 • 1 min read

In an era when America was tuning into Patti Page and Mitch Miller, rockabilly was a bold, young upstart, like Marlon Brando in the movie The Wild One. Whole Lotta Shakin' is a 10-hour series exploring rockabilly – the brash, fast-paced 1950's mix of blues, gospel, jazz, country and popular music that is a foundation of rock and roll. Hosted by Rosie Flores, and produced by award-winning Lex Gillespie, the series visits the cradle of rockabilly, Memphis and profiles the stars of the genre, including Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins and Buddy Holly. It also presents the music's female stars and explores the rockabilly sounds of California. You'll hear the stories of many of the period's best-loved songs, from "Rave On" to "I Walk the Line." (Airs 9 am to 5 pm and 7 to 9 pm.)

  • 7-8pm: Rave On

    Buddy Holly crossed musical barriers, forging his unique musical style with country, R & B, pop, gospel and jazz. Like rockabilly itself, his national career was brief, but in the 18 months between his first hit "That'll Be the Day" and his death in a plane crash, he left his mark on popular music.

  • 8-9pm: Summertime Blues The West Coast had its own brand of rockabilly featuring those who traveled west from the Dust Bowl. Features the singular

    Rose Maddox and the story of

    Eddie Cochran and his anthem of teenage angst, "Summertime Blues." His death in a car crash in England in 1960 signaled the end of the rockabilly era, a raucous music that laid the foundation of rock and roll.

    Hand-Picked Music
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