Amazing player and singer. My favorite of his: "What Does It Take"



Big Joe had a lot of star musicians in his band. Mickey "Guitar" Baker, of Mickey and Sylvia ("Love is Strange") fame, played on his (original) version of "Chains of Love." The Chords had the original "Sh-Boom," but it was covered by a white group, the Crew Cuts, in 1954. Oddly, a lot of musical historians believe 'Sh-Boom" was the first R&R song. I go with Jackie Branston's "Rocket 88."






That was the second single made by Alan Freed's Rock 'n Roll Band. Their first (Freed's theme song, which the band always played when his stage shows opened at the Brooklyn Paramount, was "Right Now, Right Now"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ekrZtt46T4

Speaking of unsung (no pun intended) sax players:
The Neons, a one-hit-wonder white group, had a minor hit with "Angel Face." Lead singer is pretty monotonous, but it's a lively recording. The sax break, by Sam Kimble, makes this record:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-KwIft3Vz4

The flip side of the single, "Kiss Me Quickly," has my vote for the worst flip side of the Fifties.