Interviews - 1950s and 1960s rock and roll acts

Lew Williams recorded in the early 1950s before Elvis Presley. Rediscovered in the rockabilly revival, he became a headliner on the international festival circuit. This fascinating interview covers his music and times, race relations and more.

"Butterfly" and "Fabulous" were huge hits for Charlie Gracie in 1957, and led to him performing in England, where he thrilled audiences, influencing young musicians including future members of the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Hollies, and Kinks.

Freddy Cannon had 23 hits on the Billboard charts, including "Tallahassee Lassie" and "Way Down Yonder in New Orleans" (both 1959), "Buzz Buzz A-Diddle-It" and "Transistor Sister" (both 1961), "Palisades Park" (1962), "Abigail Beecher" (1964), and "Action" (1965), the theme of Dick Clark’s daily television show Where the Action Is.

As a member of Bill Haley and his Comets, Bassist Marshall Lytle played on "Rock Around the Clock," "Shake, Rattle and Roll" and many other rock and roll classics.

The Cleftones are a doo wop group from New York City who had hits in the mid-’50s and again in the early ’60s, including "Heart and Soul."