This is really a test of sorts, as I've never uploaded a full on movie before (albeit this particular one happens to be public domain.) 1957's "Rock! Rock! Rock!" featured the debut of then-13 year old Tuesday Weld along with many top rock n' roll artists of the day, introduced by the late showman and dee-jay who appropriated the term "rock n' roll" to describe rhythm and blues for mainstream teen consumption...Alan Freed. Note Tuesday Weld's singing voice is dubbed by Connie Francis (who was still an "unknown" at the time) while Teddy Randazzo, who while playing her high school sweetheart, was actually much older, has his SPEAKING voice dubbed(!) to make him sound "younger" during the (admittedly) insipid dialogue. However, rock n' roll movies at the time were more noted for the music than such trivial things such as plot, acting, storyline, meaningful dialogue, cinematography, etc., so you'll get an earful of top boppin' rock n' roll in this quickie. Enjoy it while you can, 'cause this will be yanked in a few weeks to be replaced by the same movie...with a few extras added to it...

In the late 1980s, Timothy Duffy, a penniless North Carolina musicology student, set out to document and preserve traditional southern roots and blues music.  On his travels from Winston-Salem's drinkhouse music scene, an off-the-grid hotbed of gritty traditional blues, to deep-south family run churches, he found purpose and inspiration from a cast of amazingly talented, pure and unique set of characters (the artists!!).  Toot Blues remarkably captures the true essence and talent of the artists from Guitar Gabriel, a 'homeless magic potion selling' blues genius; to Willa Mae Buckner, a snake charming elderly woman taunting delightfully raunchy blues; to Beverly 'Guitar' Watkins, a grandmother who continues to tear up the stage and play a killer electric guitar behind her head; to Bishop Dready Manning and family churning out homebrewed rockabilly-gospel; to Boo Hanks, an 80 year-old bluesman recording an album for the very first time; to blind guitarist, Cootie Stark, mesmerizing crowds world-wide while never failing to find his way home by himself. Shortly after befriending and championing for these artists Tim quickly realized the limitations set upon them by living in poverty, not only in their struggles to survive and support their families but also their ability to afford time and outlets to continue with their deepest passions-music, by a simple twist of fate, Tim along with his wife Denise, began the Music Maker Relief Foundation. With rare footage, interviews, and numerous live performances, the film documents these unique musicians, brought together through the Music Maker community and their shared and vital musical heritage.

Uploading yet ANOTHER rock n' roll flick from the fabulous 1950's. In this case, it's "Sing, Boy, Sing" from 1958. If Tommy Sands' "Virgil Walker" character seems suspiciously like Elvis and Edmond O' Brien's "Mister Sharkey" character is suspiciously like Colonel Parker...well...that's purely a coincidence, of course! :-) All kidding aside, Tommy Sands (who was married to Frank Sinatra's daughter Nancy) actually was managed by The Colonel before Elvis and he had played virtually the same role he would play here in "Sing Boy Sing" in a 1957 Kraft tv special called "The Singing Idol." (That's right, THAT Kraft, the folks who make all that mac n' cheese.) Retro rockabilly fans might notice that even though Mr. Sands has the required pompadour and acoustic guitar strapped around his shoulder, instead of the bare bones stand up base, electric guitar, and drum kit backing him up...he's got a full on BIG BAND orchestra behind him! Kinda looks like The Brian Setzer Orchestra would look decades later, huh? The plot? Southern boy hits it big with rock n' roll due to the machinations of his ruthless agent. In the meantime, Our Boy "Virgil" has to struggle with his need to express himself with "The Devil's Music" and his calling to be a religious preacher. (Okay, a little bit of Elvis, but also a bit of Jerry Lee's and Little Richard's story, as well.) Look for Nick Adams(!) as Tommy's flunkie and paid buddy. (After this, the late Mr. Adams would go onto better and bigger things. Better, as in the tv show "The Rebel", and bigger, as in fighting giant Japanese monsters in both "Frankenstein Conquers The World" and "Monster Zero" in the '60's...after his failed Oscar Awards campaign in 1962 for "Twilight of Honor.") And howzabout John McIntire as Tommy's preacher uncle who constantly reminds Tommy (or "Virgil") that his singing is "sinful." And he actually does it in a NICE way, too! Jerry Paris is O'Brien's assistant, almost, but not quite, as slimey as the main manager (hey, he even suggests that "Sharkey" let "Virigl" visit "the old man" McIntire...just so "Virgil" won't be mad) and Diane "High School Confidential" Jergens is a cute, nubile groupie. Finally, there's Lili Gentle as "Virgil's" hometown girlfriend who'll "be around long after you're gone Mr. Sharkey." (Hmmm...if this were a real life rock n' roll singer, that would make her wife number 1...in a loooong list of wives, IRS troubles, and trashed hotel rooms!) In any event, "Sing Boy Sing" is a must see for fans of '50's rock n' roll/rockabilly. How much of a "must see?" Well, a few years back, I actually bought this "collector to collector" disc from SF's Amoeba Music...in spite of the fact that it obviously has the tv channel's logo on the side (so the "manufacturer" of the "disc" TAPED it off of the tv!) LOL! Remember, NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT IS INTENDED. (I'm just a '50's fanboy sharin' with other rockin' fans.)