Chuck Willis(1928-1958)

Chuck Willis was an R & B singer songwriter who crossed over into pop in the mid 1950s. He had hit recordings with "Oh What a Dream", "It's Too Late", "C.C. Rider", "Hang Up My Rock & Roll Shoes", "Betty and Dupree" and "What Am I Living For". He wrote and first recorded "I Feel So Bad" which was a 1961 worldwide million seller for Elvis Presley. Willis was known as "The King of Stroll" for the new and brief dance craze (1957-58), "The Stroll". The dance had been inspired by the mellow beat and chorus featured in his 1957 hit "C.C. Rider". He made his only prime time network TV appearance on Feb.15,1958 performing "Betty and Dupree" on the premiere of "The Saturday Night Dick Clark Show", 7 weeks before his death.