The Queen of Rockabilly
Wanda Jackson is known to many as the “Queen of Rockabilly” – and she lives up to that name, even at age 80! She cites that her influences are primarily country, folk, jazz, and blues. Her style is a mixture of deep country sounds and fast-paced rockabilly, often situating the techniques on polar ends of the record. During her career, she had also had success in country music, gospel, and rock and roll. Her roots are gospel – as she honed her skills singing in a church gospel choir.
Her voice is characteristically unique, with that great growl that could deliver a wide range of emotions and the great projection of the song. During her career, she was known for doing her albums half rock and half country, as that became her staple sound.
In the height of her career, she toured regularly. She was also nominated for a Grammy and was a big attraction in Las Vegas from the 1950’s to the 1970’s. Jackson had massive success over the pond as well. In the early 80’s, there was a resurgence in the popularity of rockabilly, and her career in that genre was given new life. She was invited to Europe to play in country and rockabilly festivals. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009, in the category Early Influence. Jackson still gives public performances and is currently on tour.
Hard Headed Woman
Did you know that The King of Rock n Roll and The Queen of Rockabilly had a thing going on before? Crazy, right? Apparently, it was Presley himself who encouraged Jackson to sing rockabilly. And though she had doubts she had the voice for it, he disagreed and pushed her to do it. And the rest, as you know, is history.
Yes, the song is an Elvis original, and it was published in 1958. But Jackson’s cover embodied the fiery personality that she has and that sass and swagger that only a queen has. Jackson injects the confidence the song needed instead of the interpretation that a woman is just a thorn in the side of a man.
Every Jackson song is coupled with that regardless of genre or generation. She is truly an awe-inspiring icon that keeps on rocking
Watch the performance here!
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classic country, Country, Elvis Presley, First Lady of Rockabilly, King of Rock and Roll, Queen of Rockabilly, Rock, wanda jackson