Wynonie 'Mr Blues' Harris 'Bloodshot Eyes' 1951 78 rpm

Wynonie Harris was a blues shouter who's songs were often had bawdy lyrics, he is mentioned as one of the founding fathers of rock and roll. In 1948 he recorded 'Good Rocking Tonight' covered 6 years later by a young Elvis at Sun Records. Harris achieved 16 top ten hits on the US R&B chart between 1945 and 1952. Elvis may well have seen Harris perform in Memphis, he was a big influence on the youngster, it was said that watching Elvis was like watching a mild version of Harris. Harris remarked in a 1956 interview that Elvis's hip movements were stirring controversy in a way his own never did: "Many people have been giving him trouble for swinging his hips. I swing mine and have no trouble. He's got publicity I could not buy". 'Bloodshot Eyes' reached #6 on the US R&B chart in 1951