Country music

Rock historian Ed Ward remembers some country music-singing brother duos that preceded more famous siblings like the Everly Brothers.

In the 1950s, Elvis Presley encouraged Jackson to sing rockabilly. She was notable for writing and performing her own independent and forceful songs, says rock historian Ed Ward. Her sexual persona matched Presley's, but proved to be a detriment to her career -- so she returned to country music.

Rock historian Ed Ward plays us some tracks from the "Million Dollar Quartet" sessions. It was an early 60s recording date at the Sun Studios in Memphis, featuring Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash.

Rock and roll historian Ed Ward tells the story of "Rabbit" Brown, a little-known New Orleans blues singer from the 20s who made some of the most haunting music you'll ever hear.

Rock historian Ed Ward looks back at the birth of the country music industry, during the early days of Fiddlin' John Carson, A.P. Carter and his wife, Sarah, and the Tenneva Ramblers.

Rock critic Ken Tucker gives his picks for the best albums of 1989.

Rock historian Ed Ward looks back on Roy Orbison's early career at Sun Records. Ed says that early work shows that Orbison was a more versatile performer that his big hits would indicate.

Rock historian Ed Ward examines the performers that led the way for Jerry Lee Lewis. Lewis burst on the scene in the late 50s, but Ed shows that lots of other guys were pounding the keys way before the killer.

Rock historian Ed Ward investigates the little known original versions of some of rock's most classic songs. Elvis Presley, Fats Domino, and Jerry Lee Lewis' covers are discussed.

Rock historian Ed Ward looks at how country musicians in the age of Elvis took their cues from African American blues and boogie-woogie to develop a new, electric guitar-fueled style.