[Jeff Chandler]

The first rock and roller, IMHO.

Jordan was certainly a pioneer.

I love to listen to him and watch videos like that one. His lyrics and his performances were unabashed expressions of African-American culture, e.g.: "Is you is or is you ain't my baby?" Somewhere along the line too many young black artists decided that "keepin' it real" means being angry, mean, and obscene. Ain't no hate in a Louis Jordan song, just a whole lotta fun.

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

Somewhere along the line too many young black artists decided that "keepin' it real" means being angry, mean, and obscene. Ain't no hate in a Louis Jordan song, just a whole lotta fun.

Too true. When I think of black pioneers like Jordan, Charlie Parker, Count Basie, Thelonious Monk and the wonderful contributions they made to culture in general, not just black culture, in the face of discrimination and see how it's degenerated to 50 Cent and others, I want to cry.