Frank was a great guy, I played with him for about a year at Annarinos in Dayton back when I was a fresh faced rocker ,singing & playing with the " older guys". What an uplifting talented man!
It's difficult to draw hard and fast lines between early rock and roll, rhythm and blues, jazz, swing, and so on. There were a lot of bands playing variants of up tempo blues-based dance music on acoustic instruments with upright bass (slapped or plucked). However, rockabilly of the was very much at a different end of the spectrum from this: hillbilly rock and roll: country music given the rock and roll treatment, country instruments, and generally artists from the deep south. Brass instruments were very rare in rockabilly (Sonny Burgess had brass in some of his songs). Rockabilly was most commonly played by a bass, drums guitar/vocals trio. Rockabilly owed part of its heritage to Hank Williams and other country stars of the late 40s/early 50s, and if you want a good idea of what rockabilly sounds like, listen to 3 or 4 of Carl Perkins' rockin' tracks released by Sun. This video shows something very different. Good, certainly rockin', but not rockabilly.
Crazy man crazy! Rockabilly welcomes ALL vintage American music styles! Hot jazz bands, blues, jump blues, hillbilly, western swing, rockabilly, girl groups all welcome at rockabilly music festivals and car shows. Rockabilly wants YOU! Swing to the jazz cats, hee haw with the hillbillies, dig that down n dirty blues, grab your best gal or guy and hit the dance floor! We have top bands young and old playing shows all around the free world, all these styles and more.
Vegas, Reno and Lake Tahoe, back in the day, were filled with this sort of lounge entertainment. I saw the tail end of this type of act, when I started performing as a bass player on the Nevada casino scene, back in the 70's. In those days, even a crappy musician could work 6 nights a week 42 weeks a year. There was a ‘huge’ demand for entertainment. The dough was good, lonely women were everywhere and all the casinos were packed. I had a hell of a time!
@@paulnicolosi4792 I was a musician in Atlanta for many years. Mostly rockabilly and Americana. It was great, lots of venues to play. I see Vegas has a big rockabilly scene with car shows, ladies with lots of tats, etc. I hope Vegas recovers from this pandemic effect. I know the city has taken a big hit. I don't know how Atlanta is doing as I had to retire in 2000. I'm in Florida now and it's kind of musically bankrupt down here. Still plenty of Jimmy Buffett cover bands, lol.
@@kingofthecatnap6246 Nevada will never be what it was, but the entertainment scene will recover eventually. You’re right, those car shows are great venues for oldies and rockabilly. I was with ‘ Little Elmo and the Cosmos’ and ‘Jim Shue and the Sneakers’. We worked those shows for years. Good times! Now, I’m living on Kauai, not much call for rockabilly here, unless you have five ukulele players...
Whether it is awesome hot swinging jazz, rock n roll or rockabilly or not, the bassist had the rock attitude to have fun with the bass playing to lay down and stand on the bass like rockabilly bassists would do.
Whether one understands it or not, please learn youngins that in today's world of popular music most are oblivious to great musicianship. Young people today can't comprehend. All they know is are loops, fake instruments and vocal pitch correction. They don't even know what that is. They just don't know any better. It's very sad!
@@misterpeppercorn3078 Great point. I have played the piano since my childhood, and I went to study music in college. The true musicians regardless of college education in music, know discipline on the instrument, and hours of practice, and what makes a really great musician. Be ready to start from the bottom, take time to perfect the craft, be humbled - and I think a good handful of young people are not built for that - they want it quick, and it’s not just music but also sports as well.
@@gregc8670 Your right... He ain't REALLY a slap player. The technique isn't too hard to learn, but it's tough to MASTER. If you get the gumption, look up the Johnny Burnette Rock N Roll Trio recordings from '56... Done in Nashville. Bob Moore on bass... THAT'S slap bass. Oh... There's also Kevin Smith. He used to play with High Noon the Rockabilly Trio... Also a MASTER. Cheers!
Is that Al Rappa playing the bass? Looks an awful lot like him... Al went on to join the Bill Haley band in 1959... He was known for his crazy looking "Wonder Bread Bass"... It was painted white and had BIG, different color Polka Dots painted on it.
Ok, so first off the bat....this is NOT Rockabilly. Second there is no slap bass. Thirdly, slap bass existed long before Rockabilly. Finally, Rockabilly was not a well known term in the 50s and what is called Rockabilly today is usually Rock'n'Roll. Revisionists and young 'un...pay attention.
My dad is the man playing trumpet. Thanks so much for posting!
As well as the singer and front man, and emcee! 😁
Frank was a great guy, I played with him for about a year at Annarinos in Dayton back when I was a fresh faced rocker ,singing & playing with the " older guys". What an uplifting talented man!
@@stevebutts8072 Hi Steve! Thanks for reaching out. Would love to chat with you about my dad, if you are open. Where else can we chat?
@@francesnicolais6475 We can talk on my Facebook band page on the private message section. facebook.com/thedistancebandrocks
Cool ! 👍
It's difficult to draw hard and fast lines between early rock and roll, rhythm and blues, jazz, swing, and so on. There were a lot of bands playing variants of up tempo blues-based dance music on acoustic instruments with upright bass (slapped or plucked). However, rockabilly of the was very much at a different end of the spectrum from this: hillbilly rock and roll: country music given the rock and roll treatment, country instruments, and generally artists from the deep south. Brass instruments were very rare in rockabilly (Sonny Burgess had brass in some of his songs). Rockabilly was most commonly played by a bass, drums guitar/vocals trio. Rockabilly owed part of its heritage to Hank Williams and other country stars of the late 40s/early 50s, and if you want a good idea of what rockabilly sounds like, listen to 3 or 4 of Carl Perkins' rockin' tracks released by Sun. This video shows something very different. Good, certainly rockin', but not rockabilly.
Crazy man crazy!
Rockabilly welcomes ALL vintage American music styles! Hot jazz bands, blues, jump blues, hillbilly, western swing, rockabilly, girl groups all welcome at rockabilly music festivals and car shows. Rockabilly wants YOU!
Swing to the jazz cats, hee haw with the hillbillies, dig that down n dirty blues, grab your best gal or guy and hit the dance floor!
We have top bands young and old playing shows all around the free world, all these styles and more.
Vegas, Reno and Lake Tahoe, back in the day, were filled with this sort of lounge entertainment.
I saw the tail end of this type of act, when I started performing as a bass player on the Nevada casino scene, back in the 70's.
In those days, even a crappy musician could work 6 nights a week 42 weeks a year. There was a ‘huge’ demand for entertainment. The dough was good, lonely women were everywhere and all the casinos were packed. I had a hell of a time!
Congrats, that must have been a blast! Great memories.
@@kingofthecatnap6246 Yeah, you should have been there. It was amazing.
@@paulnicolosi4792
I was a musician in Atlanta for many years. Mostly rockabilly and Americana. It was great, lots of venues to play. I see Vegas has a big rockabilly scene with car shows, ladies with lots of tats, etc. I hope Vegas recovers from this pandemic effect. I know the city has taken a big hit. I don't know how Atlanta is doing as I had to retire in 2000. I'm in Florida now and it's kind of musically bankrupt down here. Still plenty of Jimmy Buffett cover bands, lol.
@@kingofthecatnap6246 Nevada will never be what it was, but the entertainment scene will recover eventually. You’re right, those car shows are great venues for oldies and rockabilly. I was with ‘ Little Elmo and the Cosmos’ and ‘Jim Shue and the Sneakers’. We worked those shows for years.
Good times!
Now, I’m living on Kauai, not much call for rockabilly here, unless you have five ukulele players...
@@paulnicolosi4792
Wow, what a transition. It must be really nice there. I'll try to look up these bands, probably on YT here.
Now that's entertainment,the group made some great R&R at the time,thx for posting, they Deserved to be far better known.
Would you please stop with the rockabilly description already? It appears in all of your videos however they are not playing rockabilly music.
surprised he didnt call it "proto punk"
Whether it is awesome hot swinging jazz, rock n roll or rockabilly or not, the bassist had the rock attitude to have fun with the bass playing to lay down and stand on the bass like rockabilly bassists would do.
Whether one understands it or not, please learn youngins that in today's world of popular music most are oblivious to great musicianship. Young people today can't comprehend. All they know is are loops, fake instruments and vocal pitch correction. They don't even know what that is. They just don't know any better. It's very sad!
@@misterpeppercorn3078 Great point. I have played the piano since my childhood, and I went to study music in college. The true musicians regardless of college education in music, know discipline on the instrument, and hours of practice, and what makes a really great musician. Be ready to start from the bottom, take time to perfect the craft, be humbled - and I think a good handful of young people are not built for that - they want it quick, and it’s not just music but also sports as well.
Sorry to inform you Tommy Terry was not a great bass player, just a great showman with an incredible jaw line.
@@misterpeppercorn3078this is awesome music fr
Epicness in a nutshell. Wonderful.
Best music
All these guys were pros! Great video!
SO GOOD!
Brilliant yes, Rockabilly, no ;)
I wonder how long that bass lasted
Those plywood basses are tougher than anyone thinks...
HOW DOES ONE PLAY WHILE STANDING ON BASS?? SOMEONE TEACH ME
It is easier than it looks
Stand on one side of the bass and the pin will keep you up
Christine Souza hmmm I’m still a bit hesitant to try it out but thanks. Have you actually done it before though?
Yes, many times, almost fell once though
It was scary trying it my first time, but it gave me an amazing feeling being up on it
Back when jazz used to be fun!
Looks like Rudy's Rock ( Bill Haley and The Comet's)
What the F*** bass slap with techniques powers unstoppable OMG Oh My Goddy
This band is cookin Dad ! 😎👌
Did this come out before Rudy's rock?
O verdadeiro Rock and Roll...
I'm trying to figure out how slap bass is played. I don't see him slapping the bass much, if at all. Maybe a little when he climbs up on it.
@@gregc8670
Your right... He ain't REALLY a slap player.
The technique isn't too hard to learn, but it's tough to MASTER.
If you get the gumption, look up the Johnny Burnette Rock N Roll Trio recordings from '56... Done in Nashville. Bob Moore on bass... THAT'S slap bass.
Oh... There's also Kevin Smith. He used to play with High Noon the Rockabilly Trio... Also a MASTER.
Cheers!
You should see the finally when he swings upside down on the trapeze.
fast Jazz, AKA swing, not even close to Rockabilly
Music Hall.
Is that Al Rappa playing the bass?
Looks an awful lot like him... Al went on to join the Bill Haley band in 1959... He was known for his crazy looking "Wonder Bread Bass"... It was painted white and had BIG, different color Polka Dots painted on it.
No. His name is Tommy Terry.
Tell me how this is rockabilly?
There’s nothing new under the sun!
Ok, so first off the bat....this is NOT Rockabilly. Second there is no slap bass. Thirdly, slap bass existed long before Rockabilly. Finally, Rockabilly was not a well known term in the 50s and what is called Rockabilly today is usually Rock'n'Roll. Revisionists and young 'un...pay attention.
Not rockabilly. Rock n roll and swing
That's great,, but it isn't Rockabilly,, It's Jazz, with a touch of Dixie thrown in,
Pretty lame not to throw in the ending of the bass playing swinging upside down on the trapeze.
That’s not rockabilly. It’s Jump Jive.
It’s not rockabilly
Drummer
This isn't rockabilly, not even close.
ACROBATIQUES!!!!!!!!!!
Show off.
@Dean 1914 Had forgotten about this... Show off as in they know their good. Completely meant as a compliment.
Deffo meant as a Compliment