They wrote songs about hound dogs, sinners, preachers, drunks, jailbirds, lovers and fools.
But the real genius of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller was melding racial musical culture during the genesis of rock and roll.
From Big Mama Thornton’s “Hound Dog,” to Elvis’ “Jailhouse Rock” to Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me” to the Monkees’ “D. W. Washburn” – Leiber and Stoller helped make rock music an American art form.
Their music was on glorious display in “Smokey Joe’s Café,” which played two sold-out shows Sunday in Savannah Center. An energetic and talented cast of nine young performers showed the universal appeal of Leiber and Stoller and how it crossed racial boundaries.
Rock and roll was called “race” music back in the early 1950s. But two white guys named Leiber and Stoller understood the impact of African-American music, with its gospel, rhythm and blues and jazz roots.
Dawn Marie Driver sang “Hound Dog” as a hardcore blues number with a razor-sharp edge, as she practically howled the lyrics. Elvis loved the Big Mama Thornton record and later turned it into his own hit.
Driver also preached a blazing musical sermon on “Saved.” She wanted to rescue the soul of boozed out Jose Figueroa Jr., who was “D.W. Washburn.”
“There Goes My Baby,” was a smooth, romantic number by The Drifters. Ron Lucas gave it extra polish as he crooned the number and went out into the audience searching for lost love. Johnathan Celestin took on another Drifters’ classic – “Dance With Me” – with elegant vocal style.
Leiber and Stoller had a lot of fun making records, especially with the Coasters. The entire cast earned some laughs with a couple of Coasters’ covers: “Yakety Yak” and “Charlie Brown.”
Sexy Ashley Renae Baldwin slinked around the stage in a short-skirted maid’s uniform and long, red boa feathers as she sang “Don Juan.” She needed help from the audience and Villager Bill Brown volunteered.
Brown sat in a chair on stage as Baldwin not only borrowed his wallet, but sang, “Don Juan, your money is gone/And when your money is gone/ Don, your babe is gone…”
Brown kept his cool and got his wallet back.
“It was no big deal,” Brown said after returning to his seat. “Nothing bothers me. I’m retired from the Navy.
Brown thoroughly enjoyed the show. “This is my music from my era and I love it,” he said.
Vida Allworthy and Baldwin teamed up for a tough-minded duet on “Trouble.” Allworthy wore a tight, hot pink dress with rows of fringe as she sang and danced to “Teach Me How To Shimmy,” with some help from Jay Rivera.
Rachel Gavaletz brought controlled passion to “Pearl’s A Singer.” She started the song at a slow pace, but the momentum kept building to a powerful finish.
Jose Figueroa Jr. made like a soulful Elvis on “Treat Me Nice.” He returned for an operatic-sounding “I (Who Have Nothing)” and finished the number on his knees while earning a loud ovation.
Derick Baker covered another Elvis ballad – “Loving You” – in a warm, soft manner. Jay Rivera was rocking hard to Elvis’ “Jailhouse Rock.”
Dawn Marie Driver set the stage for the finale with a gospel-inspired take on “Fools Fall in Love.” The whole cast then came on to finish with a rousing version of “Stand By Me” that had the audience on its feet.
Tony Violanti is a veteran journalist and writes for Villages-News.com.
