Erline Harris
Encyclopedia
Erline Harris born Erlyn Eloise Johnson, was an American rhythm and blues
singer in the 1940s and early 1950s. Her 1949 song "Rock and Roll Blues" was one of the first jump blues
songs to use the phrase "rock and roll
" in its secular context.
, the eldest of five children and a second cousin of Louis Armstrong
. By 1930 she had left home, lived in New York
, and at one point in the 1930s was engaged to singer Billy Eckstine
. She made her first professional appearance as a singer in 1939 at the Club Plantation in St. Louis, Missouri
, and later owned a restaurant and lived in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1942 she graduated from Louisiana State Normal College
, Natchitoches, Louisiana
, and by the late 1940s was married to New Orleans dancer Ike "Streamline" Harris. By 1948, both Erline and her husband appeared on variety bills in New Orleans and elsewhere, often with such musicians as Dave Bartholomew
and Paul Gayten
. Her name was spelled in various ways in publicity material, usually as Erline but occasionally as "Earline", "Arline" or "Elaine".
She won her first recording contract, with DeLuxe Records
, in February 1949, and recorded several singles for the record label. The first, "Rock and Roll Blues", was one of the first jump blues songs to use that phrase in its secular context, with the lyrics "I'll turn out the lights, we'll rock and roll all night" The song was already her signature tune; the label credited her as Erline "Rock and Roll" Harris, and she was also credited as the writer of the song. The song is thought to have been recorded at Cosimo Matassa
's studio in New Orleans, and became a regional hit. Her next record, "Jump and Shout", was another strong contender as one of the first rock and roll records, featuring a strong walking bass line, and honking saxophone by Plas Johnson
of the Johnson Brothers from New Orleans. Johnson later went on to become one of the country's leading session musicians. In all, Harris recorded 12 tracks in all for DeLuxe, but they do not appear to have had much commercial success.
In 1950, she performed with saxophonist Epp James' band in Chicago clubs. She recorded again in 1951 for Chess Records
, on "Pushin' My Heart Around" with John Peek's Orchestra. She did not record after 1951, but continued to perform in clubs, particularly in and around Georgia
where she lived at the time. In 1953, she remarried, gave up her music career, and moved to Los Angeles, California
, where she brought up a family of four children. She died in 2004, in Las Vegas, Nevada
, at the age of 89.
Harris' life story was almost completely undocumented until her daughter, Dale Comminey, was put into contact with writer and researcher John Broven. Drawing on scrapbooks and other material, Broven and Comminey collated a history of Erline Harris' life and career, which was published in two issues of Juke Blues
magazine in 2010.
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
singer in the 1940s and early 1950s. Her 1949 song "Rock and Roll Blues" was one of the first jump blues
Jump blues
Jump blues is an up-tempo blues usually played by small groups and featuring horns. It was very popular in the 1940s, and the movement was a precursor to the arrival of rhythm and blues and rock and roll...
songs to use the phrase "rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
" in its secular context.
Life and career
Erlyn Johnson was born in ArkansasArkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, the eldest of five children and a second cousin of Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
. By 1930 she had left home, lived in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and at one point in the 1930s was engaged to singer Billy Eckstine
Billy Eckstine
William Clarence Eckstine was an American singer of ballads and a bandleader of the swing era. Eckstine's smooth baritone and distinctive vibrato broke down barriers throughout the 1940s, first as leader of the original bop big-band, then as the first romantic black male in popular...
. She made her first professional appearance as a singer in 1939 at the Club Plantation in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, and later owned a restaurant and lived in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1942 she graduated from Louisiana State Normal College
Northwestern State University
Northwestern State University, known as NSU, is a four-year public university primarily situated in Natchitoches, Louisiana, with a nursing campus in Shreveport and general campuses in Leesville/Fort Polk and Alexandria. It is a part of the University of Louisiana System.NSU was founded in 1884 as...
, Natchitoches, Louisiana
Natchitoches, Louisiana
Natchitoches is a city in and the parish seat of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States. Established in 1714 by Louis Juchereau de St. Denis as part of French Louisiana, the community was named after the Natchitoches Indian tribe. The City of Natchitoches was first incorporated on February...
, and by the late 1940s was married to New Orleans dancer Ike "Streamline" Harris. By 1948, both Erline and her husband appeared on variety bills in New Orleans and elsewhere, often with such musicians as Dave Bartholomew
Dave Bartholomew
Dave Bartholomew is a musician, band leader, composer and arranger, prominent in the music of New Orleans throughout the second half of the 20th century...
and Paul Gayten
Paul Gayten
Paul Gayten was an American R&B bandleader, pianist, songwriter, producer and record company executive.-Career:Gayten was born in Kentwood, Louisiana, the nephew of blues pianist Little Brother Montgomery...
. Her name was spelled in various ways in publicity material, usually as Erline but occasionally as "Earline", "Arline" or "Elaine".
She won her first recording contract, with DeLuxe Records
Deluxe Records
Deluxe Records is the record label of German hip-hop artist Samy Deluxe.- History :After Hamburg label Eimsbush went bankrupt in 2003, Dynamite Deluxe member Samy Deluxe founded a new label within the same year called Deluxe Records. At first, it was part of Capitol Records which is owned by EMI...
, in February 1949, and recorded several singles for the record label. The first, "Rock and Roll Blues", was one of the first jump blues songs to use that phrase in its secular context, with the lyrics "I'll turn out the lights, we'll rock and roll all night" The song was already her signature tune; the label credited her as Erline "Rock and Roll" Harris, and she was also credited as the writer of the song. The song is thought to have been recorded at Cosimo Matassa
Cosimo Matassa
Cosimo Matassa is an Italian-American recording engineer and studio owner responsible for many R&B and early rock and roll recordings....
's studio in New Orleans, and became a regional hit. Her next record, "Jump and Shout", was another strong contender as one of the first rock and roll records, featuring a strong walking bass line, and honking saxophone by Plas Johnson
Plas Johnson
Plas John Johnson Jr. is an American soul-jazz and hard bop tenor saxophonist, probably most familiar as the lead on Henry Mancini’s "The Pink Panther Theme"....
of the Johnson Brothers from New Orleans. Johnson later went on to become one of the country's leading session musicians. In all, Harris recorded 12 tracks in all for DeLuxe, but they do not appear to have had much commercial success.
In 1950, she performed with saxophonist Epp James' band in Chicago clubs. She recorded again in 1951 for Chess Records
Chess Records
Chess Records was an American record label based in Chicago, Illinois. It specialized in blues, R&B, soul, gospel music, early rock and roll, and occasional jazz releases....
, on "Pushin' My Heart Around" with John Peek's Orchestra. She did not record after 1951, but continued to perform in clubs, particularly in and around Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
where she lived at the time. In 1953, she remarried, gave up her music career, and moved to Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, where she brought up a family of four children. She died in 2004, in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, at the age of 89.
Harris' life story was almost completely undocumented until her daughter, Dale Comminey, was put into contact with writer and researcher John Broven. Drawing on scrapbooks and other material, Broven and Comminey collated a history of Erline Harris' life and career, which was published in two issues of Juke Blues
Juke Blues
Juke Blues is a British magazine covering blues, R&B, gospel, soul, zydeco and jazz. It was established in 1985 in London by Cilla Huggins, John Broven and Bez Turner, and is now published at least twice a year in Bath, Somerset, England...
magazine in 2010.