#16: Doc Pomus Comes Back/Part 1

THE EARLY STIGMA OF ROCK ‘N’ ROLL

After a dormant decade, the great songwriter Doc Pomus was back in business by the late 1970s. I became his sidekick, entrenched in Doc’s late-night rock ‘n’ roll whirl, where he held court like a Buddha. He was amazed that so many of his songs became iconic anthems in a genre once vilified as teenage junk.

Episode Links

AKA Doc Pomus documentary trailer

Blues in the Red (Doc’s early 78’s)

Song under Sinatra quote: “Fat Back,” by Josh Alan Band (unreleased)

 Doc Pomus at the Pied Piper in New York, 1947

Doc Pomus at the Pied Piper in New York, 1947

Late night at the Lone Star Cafe: Josh’s wife Peggy, Doc, (unidentified singing protege), Josh, 1982

Late night at the Lone Star Cafe: Josh’s wife Peggy, Doc, (unidentified singing protege), Josh, 1982

 French Elvis Lp. Mort Shuman became a pop star in France and thus received top billing here.

French Elvis Lp. Mort Shuman became a pop star in France and thus received top billing here.

Still from documentary, AKA Doc Pomus: Josh, Doc, (unidentified), Ahmet Ertegun

Still from documentary, AKA Doc Pomus: Josh, Doc, (unidentified), Ahmet Ertegun