Wynonie’s Blues - Bees Knees - Live at the St. Croix Boom Co., Stillwater, MN, January 1981

Wynonie’s Blues
Written by Wynonie Harris
Performed by the Bees Knees
Tom Burnevik – Vocals, Tenor Sax
Bill Black – Bass
Mike Croy – Drums
Mark Perry – Piano
Dean Magraw – Guitar
Tony Moen – Trumpet
Mike Abresch – Baritone Sax
Pete Masters – Trombone
Rick O’Dell – Alto Sax
Remastered by Catbox Studios, 2021
http://www.catboxstudios.com/

If it wasn’t for the racism that prevented black musicians from having their records played on white radio stations in the 1940s and 1950s, Wynonie Harris would have been labeled the King of rock and roll rather than Elvis Presely. Harris had 15 top 10 hits between 1946 and 1952 on the “Race Charts,” the term given by Billboard magazine when it published hit songs that were marketed to African Americans in the 1940s. Good Rocking Tonight was a hit for Elvis Presley in 1954, but was a number one hit on the race charts for Wynonie Harris in 1948. Music reviewers today consider Wynonie Harris’ version of Good Rocking Tonight to be the first rock and roll record.

Wynonie’s Blues, written and recorded by Wynonie Harris made it to number 3 on the race charts in 1946 with Illinois Jacquet providing the honking screaming saxophone lead. This version performed by the Bees Knees captures the energy that is typical for Wynonie Harris records that pre-date the rock and roll era.

Видео Wynonie’s Blues - Bees Knees - Live at the St. Croix Boom Co., Stillwater, MN, January 1981 канала Catbox Studios