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Birmingham's Place In Rock 'N' Roll History

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "BIRMINGHAM BOUNCE")

HARDROCK GUNTER: (Singing) In the heart of Dixie in Alabam', there's a place we love called Birmingham.

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

This is Hardrock Gunter's "Birmingham Bounce." It was recorded in 1958 at a radio station here in town - not ours, unfortunately - and is considered by some to be the first real rock 'n' roll song. It was a huge regional hit. But when Red Foley recorded a version for national distribution, Hardrock Gunter's version sort of slipped from the shelves - but not from memory.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "BIRMINGHAM BOUNCE")

HARDROCK GUNTER: (Singing) Now, some like a horn with a valve in the middle. Some like a beat of big bass fiddle. If it's "Old Black Joe," a high diddle-diddle (ph), we all love to dance... Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.