Black 50s R&B was not heard in the UK. All these fabulous singers were unknown in Britain. Merchant seamen brought singles and albums back into the ports. They were like gold dust. All the local bands in the early sixties were eager to get their hands on these songs so that they could incorporate them into their act. We see these songs surfacing on all the early albums of bands such as the Beatles and Stones.
Here’s my favourite US R&B singers:
Bo Diddley
Arthur Alexander
Rufus Thomas
Screaming Jay Hawkins
Jimmy Reed
Ray Charles
Ruth Brown
Little Willie John
Ike Turner
James Brown
Tina Turner
Irma Thomas
Fats Domino
Huey Piano Smith
Sam Cooke
Big Mama Thornton
Johnny Otis
I bet I missed a few off!