Gene Summers
Encyclopedia
Gene Summers is an American
rock
/rockabilly
singer and entertainer. Some of his classic recordings include "School of Rock 'n Roll
", "Straight Skirt
", "Nervous
", "Gotta Lotta That
", "Twixteen
", "Alabama Shake" and his biggest-selling single "Big Blue Diamonds
". Summers was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame
in 1997 and The Southern Legends Entertainment & Performing Arts Hall of Fame
in 2005. He still performs worldwide and celebrated his 50th anniversary as a recording artist in 2008 with the release of Reminisce Cafe
.
Summers graduated from Duncanville High School
in 1957 and attended Arlington State College, now known as the University of Texas at Arlington
. That same year, he formed the rockabilly
band The Rebels
and performed on Joe Bill's Country Picnic on KRLD-TV where they were spotted by songwriter
Jed Tarver. This led to the band being signed by newly-found Jan Records. Their first record was released on February 1, 1958, under the name of Gene Summers & His Rebels.
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United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
/rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
singer and entertainer. Some of his classic recordings include "School of Rock 'n Roll
School of Rock 'n Roll
"School Of Rock 'n Roll" is a song composed by James McClung in 1958 and published by Song Productions, BMI the same year. It was originally recorded by Gene Summers and his Rebels, a rockabilly band from Dallas, Texas and was first released in February, 1958 by Jan Records #11-100...
", "Straight Skirt
Straight Skirt
"Straight Skirt " is a song written by Mary Tarver in 1958 and published by Song Productions, BMI the same year. It was originally recorded by Gene Summers and his Rebels, a rockabilly band from Dallas, Texas and was first released in February, 1958 by Jan Records #11-100. On March 8, 1958 Cash...
", "Nervous
Nervous (song)
"Nervous" is a rockabilly/doo-wop song first recorded by Gene Summers and His Rebels in 1958 and later covered by Robert Gordon and Link Wray, among others. It was composed by Mary Tarver in 1957, published by Ted Music, BMI and issued on Jan/Jane Records...
", "Gotta Lotta That
Gotta Lotta That
"Gotta Lotta That" is a song written by Bernice Bedwell in 1958 and published by Song Productions, BMI. It was first recorded by Gene Summers and His Rebels in 1958 and issued by Jan/Jane Records...
", "Twixteen
Twixteen
"Twixteen" is a song written by Mary Tarver in 1958 and published by Ted Music, BMI. It was first recorded by Gene Summers and His Rebels in 1958 and issued by Jan/Jane Records...
", "Alabama Shake" and his biggest-selling single "Big Blue Diamonds
Big Blue Diamonds
"Big Blue Diamonds" is a song written by Earl J. Carson in 1950 and published by Lois Music, BMI. It was first recorded by Red Perkins and originally issued as a 78rpm single on King Records #903 b/w "Rag Man Boogie" in 1950...
". Summers was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame
Rockabilly Hall of Fame
The Rockabilly Hall of Fame was established on the internet on March 21, 1997, to present early rock and roll history and information relative to the artists and personalities involved in this pioneering American music genre....
in 1997 and The Southern Legends Entertainment & Performing Arts Hall of Fame
The Southern Legends Entertainment & Performing Arts Hall of Fame
The Southern Legends Association along with its subsidiaries is a diversified non-profit entertainment company with operations in four business segments, Hall of Fame inductions, artist promotions, musical recordings and various entertainment operations. It was founded in 2005 by Widmarc Clark,...
in 2005. He still performs worldwide and celebrated his 50th anniversary as a recording artist in 2008 with the release of Reminisce Cafe
Reminisce Cafe
Reminisce Cafe is a landmark album by Gene Summers, released in 2008. It is his 50th anniversary Album issued by Seduction Records on February 1, 2008, exactly 50 years to the day of the release of his first hit single "School Of Rock 'n Roll"/ "Straight Skirt".-Track listing:# "Reminisce Cafe" –...
.
Summers graduated from Duncanville High School
Duncanville High School
Duncanville High School is a secondary school located in Duncanville, Texas, United States. The school is a part of the Duncanville Independent School District....
in 1957 and attended Arlington State College, now known as the University of Texas at Arlington
University of Texas at Arlington
The University of Texas at Arlington is a public research university located in Arlington, Texas, United States. The campus is situated southwest of downtown Arlington, and is located in the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. The university was founded in 1895 and served primarily a military...
. That same year, he formed the rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
band The Rebels
The Rebels (rockabilly band)
The Rebels were a rockabilly band from Dallas, Texas that recorded School of Rock 'n Roll and Straight Skirt with Gene Summers. The group consisted of James McClung , Gary Moon and Benny Williams . They were soon joined by pianist Bill Brown who played on some of their early personal appearances...
and performed on Joe Bill's Country Picnic on KRLD-TV where they were spotted by songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
Jed Tarver. This led to the band being signed by newly-found Jan Records. Their first record was released on February 1, 1958, under the name of Gene Summers & His Rebels.
Partial discography
- Rock 'n Roll Volume 2.Rock 'n Roll Volume 2.Rock And Roll Volume 2. is a 12" vinyl album by Gene Summers and five other artists. This was the first album ever released on Summers. It was issued in 1973 on the Collector Records imprint, a re-issue label located in Holland...
1973, Holland - The Southern Cat Rocks OnThe Southern Cat Rocks OnThe Southern Cat Rocks On is a 12" vinyl album by Gene Summers, his second album release. It is a compilation of tracks he recorded in Texas between 1962 and 1975.-Production and album credits:...
1975, Switzerland - Mister Rock and RollMister Rock and RollMister Rock and Roll is a 12", vinyl record album by Gene Summers, issued by Lake County Records in 1977. It was Summers' second album released by the Swiss label.-Production and album credits:...
1977, Switzerland - Rock a Boogie Shake 1980, Sweden
- Early Rocking Recordings 1981, Holland
- Texas Rock and RollTexas Rock and RollTexas Rock And Roll is a 10" vinyl album by Gene Summers. It was released by the French Big Beat label in 1981. It is a compilation of early rock 'n roll recordings by Gene Summers covering a time period from 1962 through 1975....
1981, France - Gene Summers in NashvilleGene Summers in Nashville-External Links:*...
1981, France - Dance Dance Dance 1981, UK
- Rock 'n Roll Tour - "Live" In Scandinavia 1983, Sweden
- School Of Rock 'n Roll (album)School of Rock 'n Roll (album)School Of Rock & Roll is a CD by Gene Summers. It was his first CD release although many of his recordings had been previously released on various artists compilation albums and CDs...
1994, Holland - Sounds Like Elvis CD 1996 (compilation), USA
- The Ultimate School of Rock & RollThe Ultimate School of Rock & RollThe Ultimate School Of Rock & Roll is a 32-track CD by Gene Summers. It is a compilation of his biggest hits including out-takes and alternate tracks. The CD was released nationally in the United States by Crystal Clear Sound Records in 1997 and is still in print...
1997, USA - Rockaboogie Shake 1999, UK
- Do Right DaddyDo Right DaddyDo Right Daddy is an album by Gene Summers. It was recorded at Enviken Studios , Enviken, Sweden on August 5, 2002. The back-up band included Ulf Back, Jonas Olpers, Patrik Staffansson, Riley McOwen, Lars Sodervall, Ulf Torstensson and Henrik Eriksson...
2004, Sweden - Reminisce CafeReminisce CafeReminisce Cafe is a landmark album by Gene Summers, released in 2008. It is his 50th anniversary Album issued by Seduction Records on February 1, 2008, exactly 50 years to the day of the release of his first hit single "School Of Rock 'n Roll"/ "Straight Skirt".-Track listing:# "Reminisce Cafe" –...
2008, USA
Television, Films and DVDs
(incomplete)- Hi-School High Lites Show - Dallas, TX 1956
- The Neal Jones Show - Dallas, TX 1956
- Joe Bill's Country Picnic - Dallas, TX 1957-'58
- Jerry HaynesJerry HaynesJerome Martin "Jerry" Haynes was an American actor from Dallas, Texas. He is most well known as Mr. Peppermint, a role he played for 30 years as the host of one of the longest-running local children's shows in television, the Dallas-based Mr...
' "Top Ten Dance Party" - Dallas, TX 1958 - The Larry Kane Show - Houston, TX 1958
- The Ted Steele Bandstand Show - New York City-1958
- The Milt Grant ShowThe Milt Grant ShowThe Milt Grant Show was a Washington, D.C. teen dance party program aired on WTTG from 1956 to 1961. It was hosted by a former radio deejay, who recognized the untapped potential of the teen rock and roll music market, and convinced the management to let him host a dance party show - but only if he...
- Washington, DC 1958 - The Buddy Deane Show - Baltimore, MD 1958
- The Larry Kane Show - Houston, TX 1964
- Hi-Ho Shebang Show - Ft. Worth, TX 1965-'66
- Le Grand Échiquier - Paris, France 1981
- World Class Championship WrestlingWorld Class Championship WrestlingWorld Class Championship Wrestling ' was a regional professional wrestling promotion headquartered in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. Originally owned by promoter Ed McLemore, by 1966 it was run by Southwest Sports, Inc., whose president, Jack Adkisson, was better known as wrestler Fritz Von Erich...
- Dallas, TX 1981 (see Ring announcers) - Warner-Amex Special Gene Summers 'Live' At Zebo's - 1983
- Backlot (movie-short) - 1986
- No Safe Haven (movie) - 1989
- Rob's Chop Shop (TV Pilot) - 1996
- Billy Martin (movie) - 2000
- Big Beat Generation Vol. 1 (DVD) - 2009 (Big Beat Records, France)
- Big Beat Story Vol. 2 (DVD) - 2011 (Big Beat Records, France)
Cover versions of Gene Summers songs
Many songs popularized by Gene Summers have been recorded by other artists. Cover versions include:- Alabama Shake - by Crazy Cavan and the Rhythm Rockers (1976), The Flying Saucers (1976), C.S.A (1978), Teddy and The Tigers (1979), The Rockabilly Rebs (1979), Rockin' Lord Lee & The Outlaws (1988), Tony Vincent (1993), Badland Slingers (1999), The Shaking Silouets (1999), The TTs (2002), Rawhide (2004), King Drapes (2003), Hurricains (2007) ("live" video), The Muskrats (2009), ("live" video), Deke Dickerson (2010) ("live" video),
- Almost 12 O'Clock - by Rock-Ola (1981),
- Big Blue Diamonds - by Jacky Ward (1971), Ernest Tubb (1972), Mel Street (1972), Jerry Lee Lewis (1973), Bobby Crown (1980), Dan Walser (1996), Dennis Gilley (2000), Lembo Allen (2004), Rance Norton (2008), Back In Time Band (2009) ("live" video),
- The Clown - by J. Frank Wilson (1969),
- Crazy Cat Corner - by Bill Peck (1998) (re-written vocal adaptation titled "The Night Elvis Missed The Boat"),
- Fancy Dan - by Darrel Higham (1998), The Rocking Boys (2003), Eddie & The Flatheads (2003), Houserockers (2005), Roughcuts (????). John Lewis Trio (2010) ("live" video),
- Gotta Lotta That - by Johnny Devlin (1958), Andy Lee & Tennessee Rain (2000), Rudy LaCrioux and the All-Stars (2001)
- I'll Never Be Lonely - by Eddie Clendening (2006)
- My Picture - by The Sprites (Original Drifters) (1962)
- Nervous - by Johnny Devlin (1959), Robert Gordon with Link Wray (1979), Lonestars (1981), Rock-Ola & The Freewheelers (2000), T-Bird Gang (2009). NOTE: Gene VincentGene VincentVincent Eugene Craddock , known as Gene Vincent, was an American musician who pioneered the styles of rock and roll and rockabilly. His 1956 top ten hit with his Blue Caps, "Be-Bop-A-Lula", is considered a significant early example of rockabilly...
attempted twice to record a demo of "Nervous" in home recordings in Dallas in 1957 which were released in 1998 on Dragon Street Records CD "The Lost Dallas Sessions" - Reminisce Cafe - by Pete Moss (2004) (Taped during a "live" broadcast on The Pete Moss Show on KDWN-AM Radio, Las Vegas, Nevada)
- Rockaboogie Shake - by Lennerockers (2002)
- School Of Rock 'n Roll - by Savage Kalman and The Explosion Rockets (1979), The Polecats (1980), Red Hot Max And The Cats (1989), The Rhythm Rockets (1989), Johnny Reno (1990), The Lennerockers (1991), The Alphabets (1991), Mess Of Booze (1993), The Vees (1995), The Blue Moon Rockers (1996), The Cornell Hurd Band (2002), Thierry LeCoz (2003), Rockin' Ryan and The Real Goners (2003), Lucky Strike Band (2003), Los Aceleradores (2004) ("live" video), Alan Leatherwood (2004), The Starlight Wranglers (2004), The Greyhounds (2004), Black Knights (2004), Rory Justice (2004), Big Sandy & his Fly-Rite Boys (2005) ("live" video), Mike Mok and The Em-Tones (2007) ("live" video), Bob Glazebrook & Houserockers (2009) ("live" video), Dixie Stompers (2009) ("live" video), The Muskrats (2009) ("live" video), Black Knights (2010), The Jets & Lights Out (2010) ("live" video), The Bop A Tones (2010) ("live" video),
- Gene VincentGene VincentVincent Eugene Craddock , known as Gene Vincent, was an American musician who pioneered the styles of rock and roll and rockabilly. His 1956 top ten hit with his Blue Caps, "Be-Bop-A-Lula", is considered a significant early example of rockabilly...
- UNISSUED private recording, (late 1960s). According to a 1998 Now Dig This! magazine review of Derek Henderson's book "Gene Vincent A Discography", there's a complete A-Z listing of the 217 song titles that he's (Vincent) known to have recorded-everything from the Capitol biggies such as "Say Mama", Rocky Road Blues" and "Wildcat" to lesser known items such as private recordings of "Stand By Me", "Chain Gang" and "School Of Rock 'n RollSchool of Rock 'n Roll"School Of Rock 'n Roll" is a song composed by James McClung in 1958 and published by Song Productions, BMI the same year. It was originally recorded by Gene Summers and his Rebels, a rockabilly band from Dallas, Texas and was first released in February, 1958 by Jan Records #11-100...
".
- Gene Vincent
- She Bops A Lot - by The Lightcrust Doughboys (2000)
- Straight Skirt - by The Diamonds (1958), Johnny Devlin (1958), Ronnie Dawson (1958), The Sureshots (2005)
- Turnip Greens - by Darrel Higham & The Enforcers (1992)
- Twixteen - by Teddy and The Tigers (1979), Runnin' Wild (1997), Jimmy Velvit (2000) (The Velvit version is a re-written vocal adaptation titled "Waiting For Elvis")
- You Said You Loved Me - by Sid and Billy King (1988)
External links
- Gene Summers on Facebook
- Gene Summers Home Page
- Billboard.com
- [ Gene Summers entry] at Allmusic
- Gene Summers page at the Rockabilly Hall of FameRockabilly Hall of FameThe Rockabilly Hall of Fame was established on the internet on March 21, 1997, to present early rock and roll history and information relative to the artists and personalities involved in this pioneering American music genre....
- Gene Summers page at Tapio's Fin-A-Billy (sessionography)
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