Go Johnny Go 1959 - - Boomer Heaven

Go Johnny Go / Paul Landres (1959). Hal Roach Studios. This is low budget from the rock and roll exploitation era when the music was considered to be a fad and soon to pass. But this one has a little something more. Alan Freed, who plays himself, was a nationally known radio disc jockey and early advocate of rock. A very important figure in the early days of that music when it was first finding its way. In his late-30s, dressed in a suit, looking like an adult square, he promoted early rock artists and helped legitimize the culture. TMC has a good commentary which points out not just Freed’s strong influence but his putting forward Black singers and groups, with them even performing with white musicians. Chuck Berry leads an all-white backup group and even without fear or hassle eats in an otherwise white restaurant with Freed. The plot is tissue paper thin. Top 40 singer Jimmy Clanton plays Johnny, a runaway orphan teen who hopes to win a contest announced by Freed for a new voice in music. He meets Julie (Sandy Stewart), a girl singer who wants to help him out. After some ups and downs Johnny finally is a hit. Meantime, we get to see and hear some great performers from the late 1950s. Chuck Berry sings three songs (Johnny B. Goode, Little Queenie, and Memphis Tennessee). Rock & Roll Hall Of Famer Jackie Wilson performs “You Better Know It,” Eddie Cochran “Teenage Heaven,” and we also hear from The Cadillacs, The Flamingos, and others.



But what killed me was the only filmed appearance by Ritchie Valens (sings “Ooo My Head”), 17-years-old, who was killed before the movie’s release in the plane crash with Buddy Holly and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson on The Day The Music Died. He had several TV appearances scheduled but didn’t make any of them. If you want to see as well as hear Ritchie Valens sing, this is the only place. (One year later Eddie Cochran would die in an automobile accident in England making this film quite a time capsule.)



This was Sandy Stewart’s only movie as an actress but she adds her voice to the soundtrack of a few others. She had a long career as recording artist and jazz singer. She has two numbers in “Go Johnny Go.”



Poor Alan Freed. As well regarded and recognized as important in rock & roll history as he is today, after riding high for many years, he had a long, hard fall. Three years after “Go Johnny Go” Freed got caught up in what came to be known as the Payola Scandal – that was record companies paying disc jockeys to play certain records over others. Payola had been made illegal in 1960. Freed was also accused of taking song writing credits he didn’t deserve and then promoting his own songs on the radio, a major conflict of interest. In 1964 he was convicted of tax evasion for not reporting his Payola income. His star fell hard and fast. Freed died of alcohol related illnesses on February 20, 1965. He was 43 years old.

Chuck Berry, Sandy Stewart, Alan Freed, Jimmy Clanton