User:Jjleahy/sandbox

Many of the beginning artists like Ruth Brown, LaVern James, Etta James and Tina Turner started creating their styles long before the invention of Rock n Roll. They helped shape the genre of rhyme and blues which was the precursor to Rock n Roll. When Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson approached Ruth Brown about recording for their new independent label, Atlantic Records, they had Brown sing songs that she described as “different rhythmically from what I was into” and “a step ahead of the accepted sound of the day.” This new rhythmic sound showed huge chart success. After Brown released many songs in October 1950, such as “So Long,” many people dubbed her as “Miss Rhythm” because of her constant chart and touring successes. This new style saw Brown become one of the most influential figures in creating the genre of rhythm and blues as well as one of the core architects of rock 'n' roll. One of the first inductees into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, Little Richard, recognized Brown with influencing his inflection. Brown also gave influence to another rising rock 'n' roll star, Etta James. According to James, Brown was always "cute and sassy at the same time," and she knew how to work the stage. Brown's kind of workmanship had an irreplaceable effect on rock 'n' roll, which was developed and refined while performing rhythm and blues. In Brown's autobiography, she discusses how important choosing a specific outfit for the show was. Her wardrobe had a wide range of colors to reflect any situation. On at least one occasion she dyed her hair red to match her dress. Both Ruth Brown and Etta James give their praise to gay men and transvestites who helped with their makeup, hair, and clothing. These men had a level of exaggeration that was inextricable to their performance. Etta James's first decision was to create an image that she described as "an outrageous blonde" with a "sleazy edge." These two styles combined gave her a "bad girl" look which she used to help distinguish herself from the rest of the artists. James also created songs that were another but innocent. At 17-years-old, she released "The Wallflower" which highlighted her sexuality and left normal mainstream femininity. Her touch, sexy, and cool image provided an early template for the iconic "rock chick."