Gene Summers
| Gene Summers | |
|---|---|
| Born |
January 3, 1939 (age 78) Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Genres | Rock, rockabilly |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, producer |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1958–present |
| Labels | Alta, Apex, Capri, Charly, Collectables, EMI/Big Beat, Jan/Jane, Jamie, Jubilee, K-Tel, Mercury, Norton, Overtone, Rave, Rhino/Atlantic, Tear Drop, W&G |
| Associated acts | The Rebels, The Tom Toms, Bill Smith Combo |
| Gene Summers & The Tom Toms | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Genres | Rock, r&b, rockabilly |
| Years active | 1962–1965 |
| Labels | Jamie, Alta, Capri |
| Past members |
|
Gene Summers (born January 3, 1939 in Dallas, Texas) is an American rock/rockabilly singer. His recordings include "School of Rock 'n Roll", "Straight Skirt", "Nervous", "Gotta Lotta That", "Twixteen", "Alabama Shake" and his biggest-selling single "Big Blue Diamonds". Summers was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 1997 and The Southern Legends Entertainment & Performing Arts Hall of Fame in 2005. He still performs worldwide and celebrated his 50th anniversary as a recording artist in 2008 with the release of Reminisce Cafe.
Summers graduated from Duncanville High School in 1957 and attended Arlington State College, now known as the University of Texas at Arlington. That same year, he formed the rockabilly band The Rebels and performed on Joe Bill's Country Picnic on KRLD-TV where they were spotted by songwriter Jed Tarver. This led to the band being signed by newly founded Jan Records. Their first record was released on February 1, 1958, under the name of Gene Summers & His Rebels.
Summers, who was still popular on the back of two regional hits "Straight Skirt"/"School Of Rock 'n Roll", (Jan No. 11-100) and "Nervous"/"Gotta Lotta That" (Jan No. 102), was playing in east Dallas at the 1-2-3 Club with his new group of Rebels which included lead guitarist and original Rebel James McClung, bass player Jack Castleberry, drummer Charlie Mendias and Codine Craft on piano. When Craft married and left the band, she was replaced by pianist/frontman C.W. Kendall formerly of the Big Beats - "Clark’s Expedition" (Columbia No. 41072) and "The Big Beats Live At The Off-Broadway" an LP issued by Liberty Records (#LRP-3407).
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