The Rock-A-Teens !
The Rock-A-Teens were a youthful sextet from Richmond, Virginia, led by Vic Mizelle (vocals, guitar). The other members were Bobby "Boo" Walke (guitar), Bill Cook (guitar), Eddie Robinson (sax), Paul Dixon (bass) and Bill Smith (drums). They first opened for business during 1956 as high school band Boo Walke & the Rockets.
In 1959 they auditioned for George Donald McGraw, who owned a record shop in Salem, Virginia, and a record label, Mart Records, to which Mickey Hawks was contracted at the time. McGraw was impressed by the boys' own composition "Rock-A-Teen Boogie", a falsetto-refrained instrumental with one of rock's first midtune drum solos. Retitled "Woo-Hoo", it came out on Doran 3515 (a subsidiary of Mart) in August 1959.
These first pressings on Doran credited the Rock-A-Teens as the writers of "Woo Hoo". However, none other than Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith sued the group for plagiarism, much to the confusion of the young boys. McGraw then said "I'll buy the song off you guys and that way they can't sue you". For a few hundred dollars, the song got a new owner. Unbeknownst to the group, McGraw struck a deal with Morris Levy at Roulette Records in New York to reissue the record for national distribution on Roulette 4192, now with composer credits on both sides going to G.D. McGraw.
Anyway, that was the frantic story of probably one the most frantic song ever recorded.
But fellows, you know me, as a strong defender of culture, here’s the complete lyrics of Woo-hoo, wich, in my humble opinion, should be teached in school.
There you go, brought to you by the one and only, Rev. Frost.
Whoo, hoo, hoo- hoo- hoo (4 times),
Whoo, hoo, Whoo, hoo,
Whoo, hoo- hoo- hoo.
(Drum Solo 2 schemes)
Whoo, hoo, hoo- hoo- hoo...
(Solo acoustic guitar 2 schemes)
Whoo, hoo, hoo- hoo- hoo...
Whoo, hoo, hoo- hoo- hoo (4 times)
Whoo, hoo, Whoo, hoo.
Don’t thank me.
The Rock-A-Teens :
* Woo-Hoo *
* Doggone It Baby *
* Lotta Boppin' *
Comments
My band, The dumm robinsons have a website up now, and a dodgy CD. Check it out at
http://www.goodworks.myzen.co.uk/The%20dumm%20robinsons/The%20dumm%20robinsons.html
best, Jon
ps good to see you back in action.
* Thanks !
* L'anonyme, ou vais-je trouver tout ça? Mais dans ma grotte à pépites bien sûr !
* Thanx Erik, you know me, I love to dig !
Fifty years later, and they are still remembered!
True pioneers for the punk rock genre in the late 70's!
The sax parts on the Lp are absolutely great !!!