Sat 6/14 @ 8:30PM
There weren’t many gals rocking around the clock in the ’50s. Rock and roll’s first female star was Connie Francis who had a string of hits in the late ’50s and early ’60s. And she had to fight her way through a sexist music industry that to this day hasn’t inducted her into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which recognizing many lesser men.
It has, however, inducted Wanda Jackson — peculiarly, as an “early influence” when she was just as much a straightahead rocker as Elvis, with whom she often shared the stage. Predating Francis, she had shamefully little chart success with her sassy, rockabilly style records. Later on, she more or less threw in the towel on rock and roll, migrating to country and gospel.
Now in her ’70s, she’s back to rocking again, making up for lost time and that success she should have had back in the ’50s.
She’ll be at the Beachland Ballroom with Clevelander Alan Leatherwood, who’s 50-year odyssey through rock and roll also has a strong rockabilly flavor.
Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 day of show.