R&B
Here is one of the great early rock and roll hits, the Kansas City song. It was written in 1952 by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and was originally titled “K.C. Lovin.” Little Willie Littlefield recorded it in 1952, and there have been hundreds of covers and recordings, but Wilbert Harrison’s version in 1959 was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It sold more than one million copies and earned in RIAA gold record. Soon after Harrison’s release, there were versions by Hank Ballard & The Midnighters, Rockin’ Ronald & The Rebels, and Little Richard (in a medley). Other notable versions are by The Beatles, James Brown, Fats Domino, Bill Haley & His Comets, Brenda Lee, Peggy Lee, Trini Lopez, Muddy Waters, Tom Jones, Jay and The Americans, The Everly Brothers, Dean Reed, and Sammy Davis, Jr., just to name a few. The list of those who didn’t play or record the Kansas City song is probably shorter. It was the recording of by Harrison that was given a Grammy Hall of Fame Award and is on the list of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s “500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.”
Harrison was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, and was an R&B singer, pianist, guitarist, and harmonica player. Harrison recorded on Bobby Robinson’s Fire and Fury record labels and performed for many years. In 1970, he had charting success with “Let’s Work Together (Part 1)” and “My Heart is Yours.” Robinson was an independent record producer, who founded a number of record labels, and worked such artists as The Shirelles, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Dave “Baby” Cortez, Elmore James, King Curtis, and Lee Dorsey, just to name a few.
1 Comment
Great song. I remember dancing to it back in the day. Keep those golden oldies coming!