Rocket 88

Willie Kizart & The Kings of Rhythm—The Damaged Amp and the Birth of Fuzz Guitar

This March 1951 recording of “Rocket 88” is one of the most pivotal tracks in rock music history, frequently cited as a definitive contender for the first rock and roll record. Although released under the moniker Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats, the instrumentation, arrangement, and foundational rhythmic engine belonged entirely to Ike Turner and his Kings of Rhythm. The track was recorded at Sam Phillips’ then Memphis Recording Services, later renamed Sun Studio, in Memphis, Tennessee, and quickly became a massive national hit.

The defining moment that launched a genre rests squarely on guitarist Willie Kizart. His contribution, the famously distorted tone he achieved (due to a damaged amplifier speaker cone stuffed with paper), created an iconic, raw sound that caught everyone’s ear. This unique tone wasn’t just on the hit single; it was also prominently featured on the B-side, “Come Back Where You Belong,” proving the sound was a consistent part of the session. Consequently, Kizart’s accidental “fuzz” tone influenced countless blues and rock guitarists who followed and became the mechanism for the song’s massive impact.

While Ike Turner’s arrangement and piano playing cemented his role as the bandleader and a key architect in the evolution of R&B, it was Kizart’s unique guitar voice that made “Rocket 88” sound like the future. This single recording captured the sound of rock music’s future and provided the template for Sun Studio’s subsequent rise to fame.

Techniques to Explore

Guitarists studying “Rocket 88” encounter a foundational electric blues style where simple riffing and a revolutionary tone drive the track. Here are a few core techniques to listen for and learn.

• Rhythmic Single-Note Riffing—driving single-note patterns
• Heavy Attack Dynamics—forceful right-hand attack
• Overdriven Chord Stabs—aggressive rhythmic accents

Performance Details

💬 What defines the sound that launched a genre?

Which element—Willie Kizart’s pioneering fuzz or the Kings of Rhythm’s driving beat—is the true engine that started rock and roll? Drop your thoughts below.