Whole Lot Of Shakin' Going On (Excerpt)
The writing of “Whole Lot Of Shakin’ Going On” is credited to African American singer-songwriter Dave “Curlee” Williams, and white pianist, bandleader and songwriter James Faye “Roy” Hall. Big Maybelle and Big Mama Thorton were amongst the many artists that recorded the song before Jerry Lee Lewis did his own cover at Sun Studios in February of 1957. Released as Sun 267 in May of 1957, the song reached number three on the Billboard pop charts, and number one on the R&B charts. The single also went to number one on the country charts, and number eight in the UK. As a result, Lewis became an overnight sensation.