Rock and Roll Will Never Die!

GO JOHNNY GO!-1959-Mr. Rock and Roll Alan Freed returns in his last musical movie (this time produced by Hal Roach). It kind of signals the end of the first era of Rock & Roll. Freed was named in a payola scandal a few months after this was released.

The plot involves the search for a new singing sensation who when found will be called “Johnny Melody”. Freed gets help from Chuck Berry (also playing himself) who does two numbers (“Memphis” and “Little Queenie”). Veteran character (and frequent TV Superman villain) Herb Vigran is Freed’s press agent. Jimmy Clanton plays “Johnny No Name”, an orphan teen who gets thrown out of a church choir for “rocking” and eventually becomes Johnny Melody. Sandy Stewart plays Johnny’s girlfriend and does two songs herself.

Jimmy Clanton and his band had a hit with "Just A Dream" in 1958. He had a few other minor hits but his career was curtailed by military service. He also starred in THE TEEMAGE MILLIONAIRE in 1961.

GO JOHNNY GO! features some interesting and entertaining musical numbers notably Ritchie Valens’ only filmed performance (he was killed with Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper right before the film opened) doing “Ooh My Head”. Eddie Cochran (who died the following year) does “Teenage Heaven”. The Cadillacs do two songs (“Jay Walker” and “Please Mr. Johnson”). Jackie Wilson, Jo Ann Campbell and Harvey (going solo from The Moonglows) also perform.

Supposedly Eddie Cochran suggested having The Crickets make an appearance too but Norman Petty nixed it.

Frank Wilcox, William Fawcett and Joe Flynn round out the non-singing portion of the cast.

Director Paul Landres worked mostly in TV (THE RIFLEMAN, 77 SUNSET STRIP, DANIEL BOONE to name a few) but he did find time to direct a few other movies including THE FLAME BARRIER and the horror stories THE VAMPIRE and THE RETURN OF DRACULA.

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