The Southern Roots of Rock and Roll

Could Birmingham be one of the first places to truly embrace rock and roll?

In 1950, local musician Sid “Hardrock” Gunter recorded a track at WBRC-AM that many have forgotten—but shouldn’t. His “Birmingham Bounce” hit the airwaves more than a year before “Rocket 88,” the record often credited as the birth of rock and roll.

Birmingham Bounce may also stand as the first true rockabilly track. When Gunter released it, the record took off regionally. Crowds poured in by the thousands, forcing him to book airport hangars just to hold his shows.

Then came the big-label wave. Decca Records issued their own version, recorded by country star Red Foley, and it skyrocketed to the top of the country charts—#1 for 14 straight weeks. Meanwhile, Gunter’s original version got buried in Foley’s shadow.

Still, Gunter kept pushing. In 1954, before Sun Records ever signed Elvis, he released “(Gonna Rock and Roll) Gonna Dance All Night.” Not only did the title say it loud, but the lyrics used the phrase “rock and roll” at a time when almost nobody else did. Only Wild Bill Moore, with Scatman Crothers on vocals, had used it earlier in his 1949 track “Rock and Roll.”

The timeline tells the truth: Sid “Hardrock” Gunter was one of rock and roll’s earliest pioneers, and Birmingham was already rocking before the world caught on.

He deserves recognition—at the very least a place in the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. From Sid Gunter’s 1950s recordings to the underground grit of The Nick decades later, Birmingham has always carried a rebellious streak in its music.