Meet Bill Flagg: The First Rockabilly Artist Who Changed Music Forever
Discover the story of Bill Flagg, the singer who first used the term "rockabilly." From his early cowboy roots to a lasting music legacy, explore how he helped shape a genre that still rocks today.
Jul 20, 20256.2K Shares114.9K Views
Biography
William R. “Bill” Flagg was born on March 11, 1934, in Waterville, Maine, and raised in Connecticut. He began his music career in the early 1950s as a radio “singing cowboy” called The Lone Pine Cowboy. In 1954, he and his friend John Sligar created a new sound blending rock ’n’ roll with hillbilly music, and Flagg became known as the first artist to call it “rockabilly.”
In 1956, Bill Flagg& The Rockabillies released songs like “Go Cat Go” and “Guitar Rock” on Tetra Records, helping to define the rockabilly style. He later signed with MGM Records and released “Doin’ My Time” and “I Will Always Love You” in 1958. After that, he stepped away from the music business to help run his family company.
Years later, his son encouraged him to return to performing. He formed a bluegrass band called Hobo Bill and the Last Ride and played at local venues and festivals in Connecticut. His contribution to music was recognized in 2000 when he was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
Bill Flagg died on November 19, 2024, at the age of 90 in Southbridge, Massachusetts. His early work and naming of “rockabilly” left a lasting impact on music history.
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