Hepcats & Rockabilly Boys

During the 1950s, country music merged with the new fad called "rock and roll" to form what would be known as "rockabilly." In short, rockabilly was fast paced, guitar driven ditties with thundering rhythms.

The songs were often less than memorable made up with silly lyrics and phrases like "bop," "shake," "baby," and "go cat!" Cars, especially Cadillacs, and colors, pink and black, were prevalent in many of the songs.

Songs like "Oobie Doobie,""Baby,Baby,""Be Boppin' Baby," and "Rockin' In the Congo" were common record chart contenders during those early years.Many young,up and coming country crooners would go on to achieve widespread acclaim as names like Presley, Holly and Orbison conquered radio station playlists.

They became R&R legends. Others like Jack Scott, Boyd Bennett, Dale Hawkins, and Ray Sharpe found success to a lesser degree, but still made their mark in the new genre.

It's many of these "lesser knowns"that Hepcats & Rockabilly Boys explores.

Here are some of their stories...