A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs

Episode 76: “Stagger Lee” by Lloyd Price

Mar 31, 2020
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ANECDOTE

Lloyd Price's Early Career

  • Lloyd Price, a teenager in 1952, had a hit R&B song, "Lawdy Miss Clawdy".
  • After returning from military service, Price's career was revitalized by Elvis and Little Richard covering his song.
ANECDOTE

The Brawl Behind Stagger Lee

  • "Stagger Lee" originates from a barroom brawl in 1895 St. Louis, where Lee Shelton (Stagger Lee) shot Billy Lyons.
  • The fight stemmed from an argument over a hat, escalating from playful banter to a fatal shooting.
INSIGHT

Political Intrigue of the Trial

  • Shelton's trial involved political maneuvering due to his and Lyons' involvement with rival political parties.
  • The trial highlighted the shifting political landscape and the power dynamics within the black community at the time.
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