Ike Turner & the Kings of Rhythm: Live in Concert

Ike Turner's actual music career began in earnest in the late-1940s where he formed a group whom he christened the Kings of Rhythm. In 1951, the band recorded what some historians have debated as "the first Rock 'N' Roll record" with "Rocket 88", credited to Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats (this band did not actually exist). Brenston was both the band's saxophonist and the lead vocalist of the song, and on the original Chess release was listed as the song's writer. "Rocket 88" was produced at Sun Studio in Memphis by Sam Phillips. The record was one of the first examples of guitar distortion, which happened by accident when one of the amplifiers was dropped before the recording. Ike and the Kings of Rhythm settled into local fame in St. Louis where the band locally recorded for a St. Louis label and even appeared on local television shows.