- Erline Harris
Erline Harris was an American
rhythm and blues singer in the 1940s and early 1950s.Little is known of her life. She made her first professional appearance in 1939 at the Club Plantation in
St. Louis . In 1949 and 1950, she recorded several singles for the DeLuxe record label. The first, "Rock and Roll Blues", was one of the first jump blues songs to use that phrase in its secular context, with the lyrics "I'll turn out the lights, we'll rock and roll all night" [ [http://www.hoyhoy.com/artists/erline.htm Erline Harris ] ] The label credited her as Erline "Rock and Roll" Harris, and she was also credited as the writer of the song. Her next record, "Jump and Shout", was another strong contender as one of the first rock and roll records, featuring a strong walking bass line, and honking saxophone byPlas Johnson of the Johnson Brothers fromNew Orleans . Johnson later went on to become one of the country's leading session musicians. In all, Harris recorded 12 tracks in all for DeLuxe, but they do not appear to have had much commercial success. [ [http://home.earthlink.net/~jaymar41/otherfems.html otherfems ] ]In 1950, she performed with saxophonist Epp James' band in Chicago clubs. She recorded again in 1951 for
Chess Records , on "Pushin' My Heart Around" with John Peek's Orchestra. [ [http://hubcap.clemson.edu/~campber/chess1.html The Chess Label Part I (1950-1952) ] ] She does not appear to have recorded after 1951 and her later life is unknown.References
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