ROCK’N’ROLL RADIO
ALL HAIL ACE CAFE RADIO!Those who haven’t already come across Ace Cafe Radio
should remedy this situation immediately. Blaring out a
selection of rockin’ sounds from the United States and the
United Kingdom, the online station also promises a series of
podcasts from Jazz FM DJ- and rock’n’roll guru
- David Freeman that are
scheduled for upload
soon and are billed to
feature some insightful
interviews with the
greats. Some top videos
up there too!
acecaferadio.com
DICK RICHARDS RIP
ANOTHER COMET HAS PASSED ONOriginal Bill Haley And His Comets’ drummer Dick Richards
- born Dick Boccelli – has died aged 95. Rock And Roll Hall Of
Famer Richards joined Haley’s Comets in 1952, just in time to
provide the all-important rhythm for Haley’s breakthrough
hit Rock Around the Clock, released one year later. Richards
met up with his old Comets bandmates – Marshall Lytle, Joey
Ambrose, Johnny Grande and Franny Beecher – in
the late 80s to form Bill Haley’s Original Comets and
continued playing with his own group, The Ready Rockers,
right up until the end of his life. Dick Richards, a true
rock’n’roll original.
D
ave Bartholomew, a true giant of R&B and one of the pioneers
of rock’n’roll, passed away in New Orleans on 23 June at 100
years of age. Aside from writing over 4,000 songs in his lifetime
including huge hits such as Ain’t That A Shame written alongside long-term
collaborator Fats Domino – and being inducted into both the Rock And Roll
Hall Of Fame and the Songwriters Hall Of Fame, Bartholomew also provided
Chuck Berry with his one and only No.1 hit, the novelty song My Ding-A-Ling.
Born in Edgard, Louisiana, in 1918, Bartholomew followed in his musician
father’s footsteps and picked up the trumpet aged fi ve before progressing
to become a sought-after trumpet player on the big band circuit, and later
becoming a bandleader and arranger. After military service, he formed Dave
Bartholomew and The Dew Droppers and in 1949 released his debut LP,
scoring an R&B hit single with Country Boy. Best-known for his lucrative
14-year tenure working with Fats, Bartholomew also worked with the likes of
Lloyd Price, Smiley Lewis, Shirley & Lee and countless others.
Bartholomew was over 100 years old before he fi nally waved adieu,
leaving behind a towering musical legacy, as one of the genuine catalysts of
the rock’n’roll sound. “His body simply broke down. Daddy was 100 years
and six months old. It was just that time,” his son Dave Bartholomew Jr told
the Associated Press.
Farewell Mr
Big Beat...
R&B pioneer Dave Bartholomew has died
Bill Haley And His Comets- Dick Richards (far right)
All Mama’s Children