Roc LaRue

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Roc LaRue (born Roger Adrian LaRue May 20, 1939 in Fall River , Massachusetts , † November 19, 2019 in Jacksonville , Florida ) was an American rockabilly musician.

Life

Childhood and youth

Roc LaRue was born in Fall River in 1939, where he also grew up. He took his first steps as a musician in the mid-1950s while attending BMC Durfee High School. LaRue appeared three times a week on the WALE radio program and also appeared on WNET-TV.

Career

His career was fueled by winning a talent competition hosted by Eddie Zack at the Empire Theater in Fall River. Zack invited LaRue to his television show Eddie Zack's Hayloft Jamboree and made other appearances with him in the region.

LaRue changed his genre from country music to rockabilly after watching the movie Rock Around The Clock starring Bill Haley . Elvis Presley later became a major influence on LaRue. Through his regular appearances, band leader Johnny Cardell became aware of LaRue and hired him as the new singer for his band The Three Pals . The group quickly attracted young audiences and grew in popularity. Tours have been undertaken that have already taken them to Canada . While LaRue and the band were playing in Troy , New York State , they were discovered by Don Davis. Davis brought LaRue and the band to New York City , took over their management and got the group a record deal with RAMA Records . The first single came out with Baby Take Me Back in April 1957.

LaRue's popularity was still growing steadily. Baby Take Me Back sold well and stormed various regional hit parades all the way to Georgia . LaRue and the 3 Pals now performed regularly in the Wagon Wheel Lounge (45th Street) in New York. LaRue later said in interviews that many big stars like Marty Robbins , Marvin Rainwater or Webb Pierce were in the audience these days. Due to its success, LaRue went on a tour with Carl Perkins and Eddie Cochran . This time was LaRue's career highlight.

At the beginning of the 1960s, the success came to an end. LaRue's appearances in the Wagon Wheel Lounge ended in 1959 and his engagements on the Dick Clark Show , the Ed Sullivan Show and other national television programs were canceled. The music scene had changed and rockabilly had gone out of style. LaRue moved back to New England and joined the US Army in 1961 . He performed most of his military service in Germany , where he continued to play in small clubs. In 1964, LaRue returned to the States and began playing country music again. He released a few records with little success and played with Elton Britt , George Morgan , Johnny Dollar and Lee Moore . In 1968 LaRue initially gave up his career.

present

LaRue's early recordings - especially his single Baby Take Me Back  - became hugely popular with the rockabilly revival. For a while LaRue performed regularly at rockabilly festivals and works again in the studio. He has already recorded an album with his two sons Roger and Chris. In 2003, LaRue was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in recognition of his accomplishments .

Discography

Singles

year Title A Title B comment Record company
1957 Baby take me back Teenage blues alternatively with I'm So Ashamed on the B-side RAMA Records
1958 I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine If I Were In Your Shoes Holland Records
1965 Hello There Mister Cute Little Yodeler Wyncote Records
1968 Don't turn around Right of Wrong Connecticut Rebels, Vocal by Rocky LaRue (B-side of Dottie Light) Subtown Records
2004 Get A Little Closer / Let's Make Love All Night Red Headed Mama / I'll Sure Come-A-Runnin ' Wild Hare Records
Unpublished titles
1957
  • Rockabilly Yodel
  • Deceived
 RAMA Records
1959
  • Who's-a-gonna Love Ya
  • I told ya
  • The Wonder of It All
 VIP Records
1968
  • The Hangman
  • There Stood The Flowers
 Subtown Records
2004
  • Truck Drivin 'Man
 Wild Hare Records

Albums

  • 2003: One More Time
  • 2004: Honky Tonks & Dance Floors
  • 2007: Rockin 'with ... Roc LaRue

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Obituary for Roger Adrian LaRue on Arlington Park Funeral Home , accessed December 21, 2019
  2. ↑ Künstlerdiskographie on 45cat , accessed December 21, 2019
  3. ↑ Roc LaRue on discogs , accessed December 21, 2019
  4. ↑ Roger LaRue on Rockin 'Country Side , accessed December 21, 2019
  5. ↑ Roc LaRue Session Discography , American Music Magazin 108, June 2006
personal data
SURNAME LaRue, Roc
ALTERNATIVE NAMES LaRue, Roger Adrian (real name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American rockabilly musician
DATE OF BIRTH May 20, 1939
PLACE OF BIRTH Fall River, Massachusetts
DATE OF DEATH 19th November 2019
Place of death Jacksonville (Florida)