First pressings: Rock history as chronicled in Billboard magazine

The history of rhythm and blues is uniquely documented and illustrated from primary source materials in the critically acclaimed First Pressings series of books. Each volume provides a month-by-month account of the key articles, news stories, feature columns, and record releases in a given year during the music's most vital and musically active era. Hundreds of authentic illustrations include reproductions of vintage record company ads and artist publicity photos. A comprehensive index enables readers to locate specific mentions of record artists, disk jockeys, and talent managers, as well as music companies, nightclubs, theatres, and radio stations which helped promote R&B into the American cultural mainstream. Trace the month-by-month activities of artists like the Coasters, Little Richard, Otis Rush, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, the Five Keys, Junior Parker, Frankie Lymon, Billy Ward and hundreds more. The 1955 volume covers a pivotal year in the development of R&B and rock and roll, including a November 26 story headlined "Presley signs with RCA Victor" . . .