When this thread was "up and running", one of the pioneers was still with us, Sid "Hardrock" Gunter.

He used the term "rock and roll" in the context of dancing and not as a slang term for sex.

That was 1950, before Alan Freed came along.

The guy was a great guitar player, band leader, comic and storyteller.

He passed away on March 15, 2103 he passed away due to pneumonia at the age of 88.

                                                                                                      Hardrock Gunter