Michelle Smith

Historically Hysterical 

Chuck Berry was the 

King of Johnny B Goode

Little Richard was the architect 

of Lucille and Tutti Frutti

Race records in the forties

Smashing creations and still hated 

Segregation and racism 

Was their conscience ever disturbed?

Whites dancing to what they understood 

Blacks invented unique beats and melodies 

Foot stomping, dancing, clapping sounds,

Tutti Frutti covered by Pat Boone is a joke

He was not Blue eyed soul like the

Righteous Brothers or 

1978 Bobby Caldwell 

Emulate. Appreciate. Dedicate

Elvis swiveled his pelvis to

Jailhouse Rock on the Ed Sullivan show 

TV watchers amazed or angered

He was considered the Rock & Roll King

Absolutely not, Chuck's and Richard's 

bravado best on the guitar and piano

had audiences prior to him 

Historically they did their thing

Elvis and B B King became friends,

he enjoyed and benefited from gospel roots

and Sun records, swooning girls and sing

Guitars, Bass, Drums, Saxophones, Horns,

Teen aged Frankie Lymon 

appeared on Dick Clark's American Band

A pin drop could be heard 

As those indelible blonde and brunette girls 

faces showed mixed true face value

Did prejudice strike a nerve?

Young, gifted, and Black

belting out one of three song hits.

Did prejudice strike a nerve?

Music is an international language 

Rock and Roll is a 70+ aged genre 

birthed and created by the 

Mississippi and Louisiana Delta

Southern African Americans

Royalties and rights still for 

pennies or unpaid

And that's the cruelest and coldest word.