Rocket 88

Ike Turner carved a niche for himself as a noted blues pianist long before his rock 'em, sock 'em marriage to Annie Mae Bullock (Tina Turner), and as the creator of what many call the first rock & roll record, the immortal "Rocket 88." Sam Philips recorded the number in 1951 with Ike Turner & His Kings of Rhythm Band in Memphis, TN, then shipped it off to Chess Records credited as, without Ike's knowledge, Jackie Brenston & the Delta Cats -- a surprise to Ike. Even more surprisingly, Ike wrote the song but Brenston received the credit on the label. Brenston played tenor sax in Ike's band, and the unexpected fame swelled his head so much that he left Ike to go solo but never tasted success again. The song pays homage to the Oldsmobile model Rocket 88; at the time, the car had one of the biggest V8 engines you could find other than the Cadillac and the luxury model Olds. The song made Philips enough money to start Sun Records, where he recorded the likes of B. B. King, Junior Parker, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Elvis Presley.