Best Rockabilly Live Performance Ever (1955)

Texas Rockabilly band Sid King & The Five Strings live on the Ozark Jubilee. They were one of the first Rockabilly bands and Sid and his brother Billy (guitar) is still performing today.

[@TheSkarocker56]

I was playing a gig in a bar in Barcelona at the end of the 90's. My band were playing 'Let Er Roll' By Sid King & the Five Strings and in Walked Sid King and his Brother Billy. I kid you not!! They got on stage and did a few songs with us. Surreal

[@TopGreaser]

Wow, I wish I had memories like that!

[@grouchosays]

What were they doing in Barcelona?

[@TheSkarocker56]

They were on vacation. A mutual friend invited them over and brought them along to our gig.

[@grouchosays]

@@TheSkarocker56 incredible!!

[@TheSkarocker56]

It's a shame that cell phones were still those chunky old Nokias back in the 90's. Would've been great to have it on video :(

[@MrBUESUM]

Sid King is a proud 87 years old! 😎

[@xxxxxxxx3476]

If only he had been called Elvis .

[@BIPPP1]

I was fortunate enough to interview Sid for Discoveries magazine in the 1980's. He is a great guy.I'm glad to hear he is still with us.

[@uncledoug9934]

I am playing local open mics with an 83 yo rocker. Stories galore! Good player too!

[@henryjames2484]

Sid is the bomb

[@pjriverdale8461]

Possibly the earliest television footage of a Fender Stratocaster being used in performance.

[@antoniograncino3506]

Check out Buddy Merrill on Lawrence Welk. Don't know the date of the show, but it's early fifties, likely 1954, the year the Strat came out. Leo Fender gave Buddy a Strat to play and promote. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mnu7m4lsir5sosU and one of the best performances on Welk's show was Buddy and Neil Levang playing San Antonio Rose kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3vSgXuYfKeceqc and Buddy on a Jazzmaster kzbin.info/www/bejne/qaCYm5p4arh-odk

[@marks7167]

Wish it were a telecaster

[@sethtravins3647]

@@marks7167I too find telecasters and esquires more classic, but the sound that this guitarist gets on the Stratocaster is fantastic!

[@antoniograncino3506]

@@marks7167 How 'bout a '51 Broadcaster ?🎸

[@crackthefoundation_]

It is true they were considered more affordable guitars, pre-Hendrix?

[@dblvisn]

I’m glad I clicked on this one !

[@TheSharron]

Me,too…❤

[@Haldogo]

Me too.

[@user-jd1wp5pq3q]

Same here

[@tinman7065]

My youngest son was about 5 when he said rockabilly was his favorite kind of music. When I asked why, he said, "it makes you wanna set something on FIRE!"

[@mathewhale3581]

Live wire boy

[@ACOUSTIC_4LOVE]

Gibson J-200 and a mid 50s Stratocaster. Big hats and off ya go!!!!

[@SirMikeyD]

"Out of the mouths of babes" - how very perceptive of him!

[@tinman7065]

@@mathewhale3581 he showed some talent on the drums, but after a few months of lessons we gave up. He can play a wide-open tempo really well, but has zero ability to slow the beat down. Every song is either 'Ace of Spades' speed, or nothing LOL. Now 12, he wants to learn guitar.

[@ksrmk]

CLASSIC!!

[@oliviervece6121]

Sid and billy played for me in 2001. Great guys and great show.

[@TheSkarocker56]

Where was that?

[@curtrod]

a private show yeah?

[@CFAPA]

😂​@@curtrod

[@oliviervece6121]

I used to organise rockabilly and 50 music concerts from the late 80 till the early 2000 in Lyon France. I used to have a small festival in peage du roussillon south of Lyon. I had many european bands plus original artists such as Ronnie Dawson, Ray Campi,Don and Dewey, Sonny burgess, Hayden Thompson, Sid and Billy....all of them gave us great performances and all of them were very nice guys. Nice times and nice memories. I remember Sonny burgess gaving me some money back when he realised that i lost some money as we did not break even. Very nice of him.THANKS TO THEM AND THANKS TO THE AUDIENCE FOR GIVING ME SUCH GOOD TIMES. GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

[@2skyland]

Man the kids would have gotten grounded for listening to this back in the day

[@Exisles]

Rockin rockout

[@RonJohn63]

Why? This isn't "negro music".

[@curly8029]

Devil’s music !😊

[@RonJohn63]

@@curly8029 nah, it's honky-tonk music. Proto-rockabilly.

[@jamesladley9467]

boogie wookiee chords were the first I learned.

[@antoniograncino3506]

One of the earliest videos of the Fender Stratocaster, which debuted in 1954 Great sound through what looks like a Fender Super (tweed wide panel) amp.

[@emarsshelpline9848]

Old is gold, really nice.

[@fritzthedog007]

Love it. The presenter right at the end has a BIG grin on his face, guess he loved it too.

[@BazColne]

It's good to hear that raw sound.

[@leopfeffer2419]

The whole genre sounds like a blending of Guitar Boogie (Arthur Smith 1945) and Move It On Over (Hank Williams 1947). I love them both.

[@gregdolecki8530]

He got one of them new fangled Fender geetars...........

[@jayhache5609]

Finally, someone who knows how to pronounce it correctly.

[@garethjones9605]

He got HIM one...

[@michaelward9880]

And he can play the dad gum Thang too!

[@clickbaitcharlie2329]

Gettin' a good tune out o the dang thing!

[@scottwiseman8015]

Yeah man, them things was keen back then.

[@plumbthumbs9584]

These gentlemen are having a very good time. Still as energetic and joyous today as seventy years ago!

[@wendybutler1681]

Lead guitar is holding his body back from really rocking out. The man wants to boogie!

[@thrivinginNL]

The most fun u can have with an unplugged guitar! 😂

[@johnnyreb280]

Man that slide guitarist was bustin some moves lol 😂😆🤣

[@NiteDriv3r]

he was rockn with the og rock moves

[@Lisbeth22250]

He was gettin it on!

[@user-of2su2wv9f]

I was a little sprout back in 1955. I was one year old. Just a teeny little superguy. I'm sure I would have been toe tapping. 🤠😎

[@peace-yv4qd]

My name is Sid and I approve of this performance. I was 10 when this was recorded.

[@cwegers3]

good on you mate.

[@mikefults9309]

My dad just sent this to me! He was 10 also!! ❤️👍 Great stuff this was.

[@crackthefoundation_]

My Man Sid! (Bjm song)

[@magnetodan]

Mighty fine! Yes sir, that's some mighty fine footwork!

[@richardschatz9992]

I was born in 1955, and I'm pretty sure they didn't play this in the maternity ward. So this is the first time that I've heard this. Thank you!

[@sammcrae8892]

You're one year ahead of me, and I've never heard OF these guys, although I may have heard them on the radio in my early days. All I can say is that this is not only a good show, but it's FAR SUPERIOR to anything being done today. Music seems to have died in 1980, or there about. 😮

[@rolandjohansson2714]

Love this song & Sid King and the Five Strings.

[@retiredcanadian5595]

I still have my 1966 Gretsch drum set with Avedis Zildjian cynbals!

[@jameycarothers4721]

Believe it or not in I bought a Gretsch in 1968- a used Champagne Set with 2 floor and 2 mount tom tom and a 22 and 24" Z cymbals all for $200. A few years later my head was really big and I wanted a brand new kit. The new kit did not come close to have the warm, rich sound the older set did. Was just thinking about my old kit yesterday.

[@MrEdsTheRef]

Love Rockabilly❤ This is 2 years younger than me😊

[@CapriciousCapricrn]

OMG me too!

[@darkstar1568]

Same here. God bless the 50's.

[@eddellinger1780]

I "arrived" here in '55. When I was a kid my Dad used to sing parts of this while working on stuff around the house. I realize now that he must have caught this show on TV! Now it all makes sense 😎

[@artsie8282]

That’s so cool

[@stevehardeman7209]

That means your dad was 1 cool cat !

[@frankmcnab522]

That looks like a bunch of young men enjoying their day

[@charlesjenkins615]

That dude on the doghouse is rocking that thing 😁👏✌️

[@user-bp7bg3hy3m]

Only 13 years later, "Dazed and Confused" by Led Zeppelin. Like moving from a covered wagon to the F-18 fighter jet in a little over a decade. Never again will we see such a thermonuclear explosion of talent and creativity as the 1960s were.

[@tetedepoulet8651]

I count 14, but whatever. The original was released in '67

[@brucelawson642]

PIONEERS IN ROCK !! 😊

[@denismay6011]

Sounds like the start of something great that will outlive most of us. This is Pure Gold.

[@joeblack8915]

Not really. Rockabilly was invented by Elvis at Sun studios in 1954. You can argue till you're blue in the face to the contrary. It was, end of story.

[@Bungaroosh]

Amen brother

[@bhollyfanhardin9627]

@@joeblack8915 not true.....rockabilly/rock n roll was created by Bill Haley and his band in 1952 with the song ''Rock the joint''...that is way before Elvis even thought about stepping into and recording at Sun records...it is a fact end of story........

[@xrocknrollrebelx2710]

@@bhollyfanhardin9627 Fats Domino and other were doing rock n roll long before 1952

[@diegos.loayza3706]

@@joeblack8915 Blasphemy!

[@user-pk5ih5wv8t]

Good job...the guy on steel guitar playing and doing his crazy legs dance😊

[@garyparker9847]

Man, I wish this was in color!! I would love to see that Strat in its true beauty!! Sounds incredible!!!

[@the50srockhouse70]

Thank YOU 50s Rockabilly !!!! That is a GEM !!!!!

[@buschovski1]

This really rocks. First time i heard Aid King and the Five Strings. Thanks a bunch for the post !!

[@TheDacapo1]

Great band. The guitar player is flawless and perfectly in tune. Great solo. He was more concerned playing great as opposed to showing off for the audience. That’s what singer is for! God love this band.

[@DominicPandolfino-xu5ud]

No it’s not!If I was one of those cats I would be going crazy on stage.You are too much purist,not enough crazy cat dude!I’m glad that today we have the many dance moves and styles that owe origins/inspiration to rockabilly.I just love all the dancers going hell for leather in the harp vids.🎶🎶😍❤️😎😎🙃😊😋🤗😎😎😎🌺🖖

[@daveberry3853]

Today’s dance is all RUBISH

[@SwingoMatic2024]

That's tight and in the pocket.

[@robertlee4809]

8 ball, side pocket..they won the game. Excellent music!

[@user-fg9sp5ii8p]

Love it. Who cares if it's a Strat, Gretsch, a Gibson or an old Harmony. It's just great music.

[@papadopp3870]

Mainly people interested in great vintage guitars.

[@ocumstweezers]

I know a Gretsch when I hear one. It has a distinctive growl that makes if perfect for the rockabilly genre.

[@jjohn341]

That Strat would worth an (absolute) fortune now

[@joeypinterrockandroll3961]

@@jjohn341 that had to be a custom color.

[@stevenvensko5789]

It looks like a Strat but it didn't sound like one, to me anyway. Now does anyone know if it's a Strat copy or an actual Strat?

[@patriciajrs46]

Absolute Real music! Talent, genuine. No computer antics here!

[@goldenagenut]

Wow. That's the very beginning right there, it rocks ...and it rolls! That's pure gold, thanks for posting! 👍

[@wendybutler1681]

My 79 yo sister is convinced there's nothing worth seeing on KZbin. The rest of the folks in our 55 and older community all chime in on what they go to KZbin to see. The list is varied. I follow my curiosity and find gems like this. And cow hoof health. And puppies and kitties. And the details on replacing the tail light assembly on my 2001 Jeep. Unclogging the kitchen sink. Spatchcocking a chicken.

[@alfandeddie]

Ya gotta stay current on cow hoof health!

[@MichaelandCathy1999]

Don’t forget the “Pimple Popper” channel.

[@delmedeiros3570]

​@@alfandeddieIt seems to me that he showed interest in knowing, in addition to many other things he finds on YT.

[@AdrianBoyko]

KZbin is seriously unappreciated as an educational tool. There are thousands of videos here better than any instruction you’ll receive from your friendly neighborhood school teacher.

[@jamesspalten5977]

All that I can say is that your sister is mistaken and missing out on a lot. I've got a sister like her and I don't listen to her...

[@gregperez919]

I love this band. I never heard of them. I will keep this and look to download their music. Thanks so much for sharing.

[@MichaelTheophilus906]

First Rock song in my life was Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley and the Comets. We played it in band.

[@canary_in_a_coalmine]

It’s the good ol’ boys!

[@markhahn1091]

That's hilarious!

[@flydaddy55]

I was 2 months old when this was played. Now I know where Primus got their inspiration for "Wynona's Big Brown Beaver"...

[@mikejohnson-dl7vt]

Les Claypool is Genius 🎸🎵😎❤🤙

[@youtubesucks8995]

Unfortunately they weren’t as inspiring with their music.

[@Workerbee-zy5nx]

What's a primus..😂😂😂

[@gerauldvellabrincat6241]

Oh I see what you mean😅

[@philc8575]

​@@Workerbee-zy5nx Camping stove.

[@mullerk2]

I never tire of this excellent record and wonderful video.

[@devonmoors]

Never get tired of this music! It is real without any digital manipulation.Great stuff!

[@MichaelB12345]

I was able to record this as a cover in the late 1970s. Great song. thank you Jim Colegrove

[@sensey07]

Has a western swing feel to it ... Bob Wills was the root of much of what we listen to today

[@khangtran0822]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@tannerb5716]

Great sound .. 1955 that guitar player owned a Fender Strat . Earliest video of a Strat player ? 54 or 55 vids are rare . Sid King has a bunch of nice tunes .

[@WinstonTexas829]

I wish we could see the finish on it, it looks unusual maybe it's the lighting.

[@user-oj1xl6tr3y]

Вот с этих ребят из пятидесятых годов начались все стили все мотивы здорово 👍 рок 🎸 ролл твист рокобилли буги вуги шейк навсегда здорово 👍

[@farnesio89]

My God! First time ever l've seen S King & Band performing as youngsters! This is a real gem! Very lucky to meet both, Sid & Billy! A million thanks for posting it! All the best!

[@Newportman57]

I also was able to see them perform at the Continental Club 4 years ago.Fantastic performance!

[@AuStInWiLkInSoN1213]

Hell yeah! I love this song! I just love rockabilly! This is about 47 years before I was born!

[@jefroe10]

Never heard them before..excellent! ..Sounds a lot like 'Matchbox',written by Carl Perkins,released by Carl in 1955,also by by The Beatles in 1964...Looks like Carl was 'influenced' by this song..

[@mattmartinez4972]

Im not really into rockabilly, but this really swings. Great musicianship.

[@bobparker8294]

That steel guitar player has some moves!

[@kenycharles8600]

I'd bet Mom and Dad had been dancing to that music the St. Valentines Day that I was conceived. That sound is in my genes.

[@armadillotoe]

This is amazing. I had never heard of them before this. I am an old guy, and missed this? I will look into finding more of their music.

[@DominicPandolfino-xu5ud]

Man!! Dig that crazy beat!! And moves!!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶😎😎😎😎😍😍😍

[@RodCalidge]

OMG, people. There are no bad guitars, and there is no bad music. There's just what you like and what you don't like.

[@user-vw8rg6uu6z]

1 o'clock 2 o'clock rock...

[@Tony32]

You can't deny there are bad hats 😂

[@largemarge1603]

​@@Tony32 And occasionally, mediocre rhinestones...

[@jayhache5609]

I see my fellow time travellers of 2024 are in the house.

[@MrLefrog1]

Amen to that.

[@SallyHiggins-u2p]

1:48 The first two comments make this clip EVEN BETTER! Thanks for posting 😊

[@deweygill1973]

I still have the Columbia 45 of this-…and a few more

[@HubMeunier]

Sid King & The Five Strings !! Thanks a lot for this jewel...

[@88keys30]

We met Sid & Billy King at Greenbay rockabilly Festival a few years ago. Billy King has his own Barber Shop !

[@isaiahvillarreal4512]

Green Bay was the best Rockabilly show that hardly anyone showed up too. We went all 3 times. It was all free

[@strongbrave]

Badass

[@markhumble]

Thank you for posting this! This is new to me, the performance is great and the lyric is funny - it's an answer song to "Flip Flop and Fly"

[@colt10mmsecurity68]

Here’s Sid King playing in Vegas in 2019. He comes on stage at the 2:00 mark. He is 83 during this show. Rock on! Respect!

[@joescott8877]

Forgot the link, man, lol

[@rjwintl]

Sid King reminds me of Hank the 3rd !!!

[@seanpatrick5157]

Incredible!

[@NWLee]

Joyful music, thanks!

[@t-and-d-productions]

the country-side roots of rock n roll!!!

[@tommaloney3938]

sounds like a quote from Gatemouth Brown's " Okie Dokie Stomp" at the beginning of the guitar solo. great stuff.

[@LloydVilliger]

Tight band. This rocks. Never get tired of listening to these guys.

[@alfandeddie]

The hats on those cats 🤠

[@tedgoodfellow9103]

Great stuff - well done boys! Regards from Blighty :).

[@davidcantwell2489]

Iya, I say, would ya mind dropping a rose off at Rowden Hill, Chippenham, Wiltshire, tell Eddy we miss him, I'd much appreciate it mate, oh!, and say hello to the Rockers and 59 Clubers iffin you don't mind, much obliged mate.

[@PAULLONDEN]

That was fascinating !

[@shaunsidney2899]

FANTASTIC BAND And RECORDING in 1955* ❗ HEADING TOWARDs ROCK N ROLL 👍😉😁😎😊😘😘😘

[@user-vw8rg6uu6z]

True roka billy rock.never heard these dudes

[@ccsteamer]

Cool Rockabilly...Awesome Band...Long Live Texas Rockabilly

[@SuperChuckRaney]

Western Swing all the way.

[@largemarge1603]

​@@SuperChuckRaney John Hughey on steel pedal!

[@jonnyb2532]

Awesome hats!

[@richardkeeble8960]

fantastic

[@Phantasia.Official]

Sid King, Billy King & The Five Strings - "Sag, Drag and Fall" (1955)

[@hannavirtanen7006]

I agree! This is one of the Ultimate rockabilly bands ever!

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

This was back when TV studios were still trying to figure out what the best programming for television is and that's when you got some of the best stuff, when no holds were barred.

[@ElizabethRussell144]

Wow! That's amazing!

[@kndvolk]

The contrast of the black hats is killer!

[@blogengeezer4507]

Hats.. Lucas McCain 'Rifleman' style... ;]

[@marcdelente2456]

Du rockabilly dans la plus pure tradition des gars géniaux j aimerai revivre cette moi cette période 50 et qui sera rockabilly revival courant 70 et 80 et encore rockabilly a 64 balais aimé le rockabilly ça vous fera resté le même et jeune.

[@Haldogo]

Very good 👍😃

[@greta3315]

Love this, far-out cool

[@jerrynash8920]

The drummer was laying down the beat. Nice and tight.

[@jurivlk5433]

Extraordinary! I've never seen Sid King & Five Strings performing! Only heard them. Was filmed from a TV screen, I think. A treasure.

[@richardmartinez5032]

This Rocks!

[@davidstokar887]

amazing band

[@ste.6026]

Great band and fantastic footage...

[@gboard7]

I hope to pull this kind of stuff off.

[@johnanthonycafe2993]

Full credit to the drummer in this. He’s absolutely nailed it.

[@hansgordy]

Incredible

[@retrobilly1719]

Very Good!Awesome timing & Instrumentation

[@rockinchair7762]

Superb document rock-a-billy !

[@NUKE.2024]

Wow, this is awesome. Never heard of them before; gotta tell Slim Jim to play on his Sirius #21 Station

[@chevreherd]

Idk....i think the stray cats sounded way too much like this song

[@lanebashford3982]

This band is badass and has some pre-rocknroll moves, too! They got it!

[@BackToTheBlues]

Well, hot diggity dawg - what do you know, it's the Stray Hats!

[@themodelrailwayrepaircentr297]

Awesome forever

[@sjoldtimer]

This is from the ABC TV show "Ozark Jubilee", broadcast from Springfield, MO. The was also called "Jubilee USA" for the last couple of years it was on the air. Hosted by Red Foley, it was the show that also featured the first national TV appearances by Wanda Jackson and Brenda Lee (who became a show regular). While it has been rumored that they turned down Elvis Presley, the show did have other rockers of the era, Carl Perkins, Bobby Lord, Marvin Rainwater and Johnny Cash (yes, there was a time when he did some rockabilly).

[@mazsenior]

Awesome!