The Whistling Coon by George Johnson was the first phonograph record to feature an African American.

In 1891,  George Johnson recorded "The Whistling Coon".

from wiki...

By 1895, Johnson's two tunes "The Whistling Coon" and "The Laughing Song" were the best-selling recordings in the United States. The total sales of his wax cylinders between 1890 and 1895 have been estimated at 25,000 to 50,000, each one recorded individually by Johnson.[7] Remarkably, the New Jersey record company marketed Johnson as a black man, during an era when much of American life was strongly segregated by race. "The Whistling Coon" was characterized by a light-hearted tune and lyrics which would be unacceptable today, in which a Black man is compared to a baboon.

Today's next musical lesson.  The history of rock and roll in England.
Before the Beatles and the rest of the "British Invasion" acts,  rock and roll in England was dominated by Cliff Richard.  Although he didn't sell well in the U.S.,  Richard sold 21 million records in Great Britain,  emulating the American rock and rollers of the 50's.

Sorry Bob.....that was rather unpleasant.

Oops Improper use of the "C" word.
Bob is now banned into eternal darkness and woe for making the above unmentionable statement. Facts and history be damned. Just close your eyes, it never happened. LOL

Are you saying it's now like the PNJ forum when I wasn't allowed to write Bob Sikes' nickname even though Earle Bowden had written it a hundred times before? lol

The PNJ forum wouldn't allow me to write Vice President Cheney's first name either. We had to write that as D*** Cheney. lol

But remember,  I don't buy anything,  I just browse.  So I'm not sure just browsing in the olive store qualifies me to be a part of the elite class.
Besides,  I aint well bred enough for it.  The only hillbilly that got to that position was Jed Clampett and I don't have his money (they aint found no oil on my property, just pollution from the treatment plant).  Plus I don't remember Granny ever cooking with olive oil.  Mostly lard.

I will admit the raspberry flavored balsamic vinegar they sell in there is mighty tasty. They gave us a free sample.

Mr Ichi wrote:

Bob wrote:I will admit the raspberry flavored balsamic vinegar they sell in there is mighty tasty.  They gave us a free sample.

LOL  Did you wonder how I knew that?

Extrasensory perception would be my guess.

My comment was directed at the music......they both sucked very badly, or the sound was simply unable to pick up the older tune. The British group simply sucked.....really really really bad.........Just because something is old does not make it a classic.

2seaoat wrote:  The British group simply sucked.....really really really bad.........Just because something is old does not make it a classic.

"I think the first English record that was anywhere near anywhere
was Move it by Cliff Richard, and before that there'd been nothing"
- John Lennon.

"Cliff Richard is in my opinion, one of Britain's finest singers technically & emotionally. I've been a fan since Living doll, The day I met Marie
to We don't talk anymore. Long may he sing"
- Sting.

"Cliff Richard? You're joking, aren't you? You're kiddin'? I grew up with Cliff. He'd be on 'Saturday Club'. I was a teenager, y'know. So I listened to records, TV, radio and all that stuff like any other teenager. He's a professional. he just goes in and does it, y'know.
It's great workin' with somebody like that, really good. I wanted him, basically, 'cos of the content of the song.
He couldn't be around this long if he wasn't a great singer. I think
he plays himself down, though, underestimates himself. He's a
good singer, very good"
- Van Morrison.

http://www.cliffchartsite.co.uk/cliff1.html

I think I saw them in Vegas at the Stardust, in a lounge off the casino floor at 3am where I got a dollar shrimp cocktail.......of course I had been drinking, and thought they sucked......but then again after 5 dollar shrimp cocktails and five gin and tonics I probably did not appreciate that crap. I am sober today......unfortunately I still do not appreciate that crap.

You and I are about the same age, seaoat. The 50's R&R was not our music.
We entered music listening/buying age in the early 60's.
I didn't really start listening to 50's music in a big way until many years later.
But for me, it became an acquired taste with little effort.

But I'll have to agree with you on one thing. The so-called "music" featured in the first post to the thread is so horrible that it made my ears hurt. If that's music then so is the sound of a blender crushing the ice cubes for my bloody mary.

And that's not a comment on old music. Old music can be as entertaining as any music as evidenced by this.

My nephew has made a name for himself in Memphis, Nashville, and Chicago playing the music of the 1920s. He had studied at the Old Town school of Folk music and I have attended one of his concerts and he brings the music of that era alive and it is really really good.

I did not like the entertainer because he reminds me of so many lounge acts which I have seen over the years......not that much talent singing covers and ham to the core. I love artist, and not necessarily a performer.