Rock Awhile

"Rock Awhile" is a song by American singer-songwriter Goree Carter, recorded in April 1949 for the Freedom Recording Company in Houston, Texas.

The song was released as the 18-year-old Carter's debut single (with "Back Home Blues" as the B-side) shortly after recording. The track is considered by many sources to be the first rock and roll song, and has been called a better candidate than the more commonly cited "Rocket 88", which was released two years later. The song features an over-driven electric guitar style similar to that of Chuck Berry years later.

The former New York Times pop critic, Robert Palmer, made this comment about the recording in 1995:

• Goree Carter – vocals, electric guitar
• Lonnie Lyons – piano
• Louis "Nunu" Pitts – bass
• Allison Tucker – drums
• Conrad O. Johnson – alto saxophone
• Sam Williams – tenor saxophone (rhythm)
• Nelson Mills – trumpet (rhythm)

• Commentary on the song, SpontaneousLunacy.com