Jackie Brenston - The Mistreater

If ever there were a case of the record overshadowing the artist, it would be Jackie Brenston's "Rocket 88." Often cited as arguably the first rock & roll record, this 1951 chart-topping R&B hit was Brenston's only commercially successful recording. Even when "Rocket 88" is discussed -- and it does come up in rock histories pretty often -- Brenston is often dismissed as a footnote to his own landmark, with pianist/bandleader Ike Turner's role in the recording getting more ink, Brenston sometimes characterized as a journeyman who lucked into the spotlight almost by chance. Read More