Mid-decade the Rhythm & Blues Charts constructed to address

the needs and preferences of the Afro-American communities

began to experience a spill over and surge in interest in their

performers among young folk of all ethnicities.  Alan Freed and

other barrier breaking DJs began spinning street corner doo-wop,

dreamy drags and up-tempo rhythm & blues explicitly for this

expansive Baby Boomer audience.  Freed—among others—labeled

this crossbreeding of electric blues, boogie, jazz jiving, country,

gospel, and group harmonies, rock’n’roll.  The cool cat was out of

the bag