By the beginning of 1954, few in the record industry foresaw the arrival of Rock 'n' Roll, and none could have imagined the impact that it would have on the musical status quo. When the first rock & roll records appeared on the pop chart, the music was simply regarded as a "novelty" or a "passing fad".

History, however, shows that Rock 'n' Roll which evolved from the collision between Rhythm & Blues, Country & Western and pop in the first half of the decade, had grown into the biggest force in transatlantic popular music by the late 1950's.

In the summer of 1954, A Canadian group called the Crew Cuts had US hit with "Sh-boom". In fact, it was first recorded by a black vocal group, the Chords. No needless to say, their R&B original never gets the real fame... The original version of "Sh-boom" from The Chords hits barely the top 10 in 1954.

Another R&B hit, "Shake, Rattle & Roll" by Joe Turner, was covered by Bill Haley, a white country & western singer who'd changed his band name from the Saddleman to the Comets in affort to broaden his appeal. Bill Haley & his Comets has scored 13 top 40 hits in the "Hot 100" Billboard until 1974.

In December 1955 Carl Perkins recorded Blue Suede Shoes. This smash 1956 hit virtually defined and established rockabilly music in the rock and roll cannon and launched Sun Records into national prominence. Carl Perkins is regarded by many as one of the founding fathers of rock-and-roll. Although he placed only one record in the pop top forty "Blue Suede Shoes," it became a legendary one in the annals of rock-and-roll and propelled Perkins, one of the original rockabilly singers, into his legendary status.