Decca Records: Jump Blues and Rock in the '40s and '50s

With a world-class roster, the Decca label was perfectly positioned to capture the transition of jump blues into early rockin' R&B, and finally into rock 'n' roll. It was a short jump from Count Basie's most upbeat jazz sides to the raucous R&B of Louis Jordan and Wynonie Harris, and finally to the rock outbursts of Bill Haley and Buddy Holly.