Gene Summers (born 1939 in
Dallas, TexasDallas , with a population of 1,279,910, is the third-largest city in Texas and the 8th-largest in the United States. The city is the main economic center of the 12-county Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan area that according to the March 2009 U.S. Census Bureau release, had a population of...
) is a
rockRock music is a genre of popular music that entered the mainstream in the 1960s. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, rhythm and blues, country music and also drew on folk music, jazz and classical music....
/
rockabillyRockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, and emerged in 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" 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 " 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" 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" 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" 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...
" and his biggest-selling single "
Big Blue DiamondsBig Blue Diamonds was 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 FameThe Rockabilly Hall of Fame was established on the Internet 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 FameThe 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 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" –...
.
Summers graduated from
Duncanville High SchoolDuncanville 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 ArlingtonThe University of Texas at Arlington is a comprehensive doctoral/research university in Arlington, Texas . It is classified by Carnegie as Research University - High Activity. UT Arlington has a student population of nearly 25,000 and is the third largest institution of the University of Texas...
.
Gene Summers (born 1939 in
Dallas, TexasDallas , with a population of 1,279,910, is the third-largest city in Texas and the 8th-largest in the United States. The city is the main economic center of the 12-county Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan area that according to the March 2009 U.S. Census Bureau release, had a population of...
) is a
rockRock music is a genre of popular music that entered the mainstream in the 1960s. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, rhythm and blues, country music and also drew on folk music, jazz and classical music....
/
rockabillyRockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, and emerged in 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" 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 " 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" 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" 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" 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...
" and his biggest-selling single "
Big Blue DiamondsBig Blue Diamonds was 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 FameThe Rockabilly Hall of Fame was established on the Internet 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 FameThe 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 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" –...
.
Summers graduated from
Duncanville High SchoolDuncanville 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 ArlingtonThe University of Texas at Arlington is a comprehensive doctoral/research university in Arlington, Texas . It is classified by Carnegie as Research University - High Activity. UT Arlington has a student population of nearly 25,000 and is the third largest institution of the University of Texas...
. That same year, he formed the
rockabillyRockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, and emerged in 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 RebelsThe Rebels may refer to:* The Rebels , American rock-and-roll band fronted by Gene Summers in February, 1958.* The Rebels, backing band of American guitarist Duane Eddy...
and performed on
Joe Bill's Country Picnic on KRLD, where they were spotted by
songwriterA songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics, as well as the musical composition or melody to songs. One who writes only lyrics is a lyricist, while one who writes only music is a composer.-History and background of songwriters:...
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 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 On
The 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 Roll
Mister Rock and Roll is a 12", vinyl record album 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 Roll
Texas 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 Nashville
Gene Summers In Nashville is a 10" vinyl album by Gene Summers. It was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee in 1980 and contains rockabilly and country tracks performed by Summers. It was issued on the French Big Beat label in 1981....
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 & 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 & Roll
The 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 Daddy
Do Right Daddy is a CD 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 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" –...
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 Haynes
Jerome Martin "Jerry" Haynes is 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. Peppermint , which was retitled Peppermint Place for...
' "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 Show
The 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 Wrestling
World Class Championship Wrestling was a popular 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...
- 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)
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 & 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" version)
- 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), Lembo Allen (2004), Dennis Gilley (2000),
- 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 (????)
- 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)
- 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), 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 Polecats (1980), 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" version), Alan Leatherwood (2004), The Starlight Wranglers (2004), The Greyhounds (2004), Black Knights (2004), Rory Justice (2004), Big Sandy & his Fly-Rite Boys (2005) ("live" version), Mike Mok and The Em-Tones (2007) ('live" version),
- Gene Vincent
Vincent Eugene Craddock , better 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 lessor known items such as private recordings of "Stand By Me", "Chain Gang" and "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...
".
- 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