Mississippi Firsts in Original Rock ‘n’ Roll

Mississippi Firsts in Original Rock ‘n’ Roll

by Johnny W. Sumrall Jr.

Author of Classic Magnolia Rock

History of Original Mississippi Rock ‘n’ Roll

from

1953 – 1970

One of the first bands in the Mississippi Rock and Roll genre was Andy Anderson and the Original Rolling Stones. The group was formed at Mississippi State College (now Mississippi State University) in 1957. It was created because there were no bands to play for student dances on campus, and the group thought they could fill that need. The band consisted of Andy on guitar, Joe Tubb lead guitar, William “Cuz” Covington on an old washtub bass, Roy Estes on piano, and Bobby Lyon on drums.

The band initially started practicing in their dormitory room until Joe Tubb — whose father was head of the Mississippi Department of Education — got a letter from M. G. Gray, Supervisor of Student Housing, saying there were complaints from other students about the loud music. (He also mentioned complaints about there being bird dogs in the room.) Andy and Cuz were roommates, and Joe liked hanging around with them, so, he moved in and slept on a mattress on the floor. The letter from M. G. Gray also instructed them to make arrangements to use the Leo Hall Auditorium or the Band Hall  instead of their room for future rehearsals.

The group decided on the name for their band one night after returning from the Crossroads, a regular eating spot for them after practice sessions. Joe Tubb said they were just like the saying, “A rolling stone gathers no moss.” Thus, they became The Rolling Stones in 1957.

Their first paying performance was at the Southernaire Hotel in Columbus, Mississippi at a dance for the students at Mississippi State College for Women (Now Mississippi University for Women). Soon after, they began to play for large dances at Mississippi State College (Mississippi State University) and The University of Mississippi. They also performed at The American Legion Hut on Woodrow Wilson Drive and the VFW post located at Hawkins Field in Jackson, Mississippi. It was at those two places where I heard them for the first time. At only 14, my parents let me ride my bike to those locations to listen to them on Friday and Saturday nights. I had to be home by 9 P.M., or I couldn’t go back the next week.

In 1957 the original Rolling Stones got their first break when they entered the Mid-South Talent Contest in Memphis, Tennessee and won. They were awarded a recording contract with London Records of England. They went to the Bradley Recording Studio in Nashville, Tennessee to record their first record, “Johnny Valentine.” They were shocked, however, to learn that since the band members were not members of the Musicians Union, they could not play on the record.

Andy could sing but Hank “sugar foot” Garland, on lead guitar, Bobby Moore, on Bass, and Buddy Holland, on drums were the band. Produced by London Records, “Johnny Valentine,” with Andy Anderson on lead vocals and studio musicians on backup and background singers, the Jordanaires, who were the backup singers for Elvis, was the first rock ‘n’ roll record distributed worldwide. The song was later recorded using the entire Original Rolling Stones band.

Mississippi Firsts in Rock ‘n’ Roll Music to be continued….