Q: This Kansas man wrote the hit song “Shake, Rattle and Roll” and about 400 other songs during his career. He often used the pseudonyms Charles Calhoun and Chuck Calhoun, but we want to know the REAL name of this man from Atchison. What is it?
A: Jesse Stone
Rhythm and blues musician and songwriter Jesse Stone wrote the hit song “Shake, Rattle and Roll,” which became one of the first rock and roll recordings to sell a million copies. He was born on November 16, 1901 in Atchison. Using the pseudonyms Charles Calhoun and Chuck Calhoun, Stone wrote more than 400 songs in a number of genres. He came from a musical family and was influenced by a wide array of styles. Stone played the piano, composed and arranged music and produced records. He died on April 1, 1999 in Florida. He was finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.
Fun Factoid: The late president and founder of Atlantic Records, Ahmet Ertegün, once said that, “Jesse Stone did more to develop the basic rock 'n' roll sound than anybody else.”
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-jesse-stone-1085284.html