The Rock-A-Teens

The Rock-A-Teens were a short-lived American rockabilly group from Richmond, Virginia, active in the late 1950s, led by Vic Mizelle.[1]

For the 1990s band, see The Rock*A*Teens.

The Rock-A-teens
Also known as	Boo Walke & the Rockets
Origin	Richmond, Virginia, United States
Genres	Rockabilly, rock and roll
Years active	1956–c. 1960
Labels	Doran Records 3515 (a subsidiary of Mart Records), Roulette Records
Associated acts	The Bill Smith Combo
Past members	Vic Mizelle (vocals, guitar), Bobby "Boo" Walke (guitar), Bill Cook (guitar), Eddie Robinson (saxophone), Paul Dixon (Bass), Bill Smith (drums)

The Rock-a-Teens were one-hit wonders whose lone hit record was "Woo Hoo", written by George Donald McGraw and backed with "Untrue", released on Roulette Records R 4192.[2] The song hit No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100.[3]

Career

The Rock-A-Teens formed in 1956 as Boo Walke & the Rockets while still in high school. After the initial success of "Woo-Hoo", they cut an album of the same name. Meanwhile Roulette Records issued a follow-up single of "Twangy" and "Doggone It Baby". Neither the album or follow-up single was successful. The group broke up shortly after and none of the members continued in the music business. Vic Myelle (Rock A Teens) with on went other Richmond groups for years.

Discography

Album

• Woo Hoo (1960) Roulette Records SR 25109 - Recorded November 1959 and Spring 1960.[4]

Track Listing

1. "Woo-Hoo" (George Donald McGraw) - 2:05
2. "Doggone It Baby" (Victor Mizelle) - 2:23
3. "I'm Not Afraid" (Mizelle) - 2:15
4. "That's My Mama" (Billy Smith) - 1:41
5. "Dance To the Bop" (Floyd Edge) - 2:23
6. "Story Of A Woman" (Mizelle) - 2:00
7. "Twangy" (Bobby "Boo" Walker) - 2:00
8. "Janis Will Rock" (Mizelle) - 2:27
9. "Pagan" (Mizelle) - 2:08
10. "Lotta Boppin'" (Mizelle) - 2:23
11. "Oh My Nerves" (Walker) - 2:07
12. "I Was Born To Rock" (Mizelle) - 2:32

Technical Staff

• Producer – Joe Reisman

Singles

• "Woo Hoo" (McGraw) / "Untrue" (Mizelle), Roulette R-4192 - 1959[4]
• "Twangy" (Walker) / "Doggone It Baby" (Mizelle), Roulette R-4217 - 1959[4]

Original members

• Vic Mizelle (vocals, guitar)
• Bobby "Boo" Walke (guitar)
• Bill Cook (guitar)
• Eddie Robinson (sax)
• Paul Dixon (bass)
• Bill Smith (drums)

References

1. Pete Crigler Keeping It Tight in the Old Dominion 2010 p5 "One of the first real non-pop bands to come out of Virginia was a group of kids called the Rock-A-Teens, out of Richmond. By 1959, they'd started playing dances around the area when they auditioned for a local label owner named George Donald McGraw..."
2. Bruce Eder, The Rock-A-Teens at AllMusic
3. Billboard, AllMusic
4. "Rock-A-Teens (RCS Artist Discography)". Rcs-discography.com.

External links

• BlackCat Rockabilly Europe, search for The Rock-A-Teens. Retrieved November 8, 2009