Jesse Stone
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Jesse Stone (born Charles Calhoun 16 November 1901, died 1 April 1999) was a American rhythm and blues musician whose influence spanned a wide range of genres.
Stone grew up in Atchison, Kansas, where he was influenced by a wide array of styles.
Duke Ellington got Stone's orchestra booked at the Cotton Club in 1936, and Ellington put Stone up free of charge in his apartment for four months. Stone's early recording show a deep blues influence
He joined the staff at Atlantic Records as a producer, songwriter, and arranger in the late '40s. The recording of Stone's song "Idaho" by Guy Lombardo sold three million copies.
Stone's best known composition was "Shake, Rattle and Roll", for which he was credited as Charles Calhoun. It was first recorded by Big Joe Turner in 1954 for Atlantic and was a major hit for the rhythm and blues artist, often cited as one of the first rock and roll records. An even bigger success was a cover version of the song recorded later in 1954 for Decca Records by Bill Haley & His Comets. This version became one of the first rock and roll recordings to sell a million copies and be an international success (predating Haley's better-known "Rock Around the Clock" by nearly a year). Stone also co-wrote "Flip, Flop and Fly" with Turner, which was another hit (Haley was also fond of the song and recorded it no less than three times during his career). Stone also had additional Haley connections: another Haley hit, 1955's "Razzle-Dazzle", was written by Stone under the Calhoun pseudonym. Stone is also credited as co-writer (along with James E. Myers a.k.a. Jimmy DeKnight, co-writer of "Rock Around the Clock") of "Rattle My Bones", a song recorded in 1956 by the Comets spin-off group, the Jodimars.
Stone was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.
The Rhythm and Blues Foundation honored him in 1992 with a Pioneer Award.
Stone died at age 97 in Altamonte Springs, Florida.
References
- [Jesse Stone memorial] via soul-patrol.com
- [The Godfather of Rock & Roll, Jesse Stone!] via the African-American Registry
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