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There is much debate as to what should be considered the first rock and roll record.

One contender is " Rocket 88 " by Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats ( in fact, Ike Turner and his band The Kings of Rhythm ), recorded by Sam Phillips for Sun Records in Memphis in 1951.

It has been argued that " That's All Right ( Mama )" ( 1954 ), Elvis Presley's first major single for Sun Records was the first rock and roll record, but, at the same time, Big Joe Turner's " Shake, Rattle & Roll ", later covered by Bill Haley, was already at the top of the Billboard R & B charts.

Other artists with early rock and roll hits included Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Fats Domino, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Gene Vincent.

Bill Haley's " Rock Around the Clock " ( 1955 ) became the first rock and roll song to top Billboard magazine's main sales and airplay charts, and opened the door worldwide for this new wave of popular culture.

Soon rock and roll was the major force in American record sales and crooners, such as Eddie Fisher, Perry Como, and Patti Page, who had dominated the previous decade of popular music, found their access to the pop charts significantly curtailed.