Joey Welz Rockabilly Years (LP)

Best known for his tenure as a latter-day pianist with Bill Haley and His Comets, Baltimore-born Joey Welz (shortened from his birth name of Welzant) did his share of recording prior to the Haley hookup. His slinky instrumental rocker Shore Party hit the shelves in late 1959 on the Baltimore-based Bat label when he was only 19, registered to Joey Welz and His Rock-A-Billy Piano. Its flip Boppin’ The Stroll was a storming vocal rocker, complete with a Jerry Lee-style 88s solo. Joey joined The Comets after original pianist Johnny Grande exited, though he recorded on his own throughout the ‘60s and right up to the present day.