Shake, Rattle and Roll: An American Love Story is a TV miniseries that aired on CBS on November 7 and November 10, 1999.

Plot

In the 1950s, Lyne Danner, whose father was in the military, goes to high school in Missouri with Tyler Hart. They both enjoy rock and roll and, together with Mookie and Dotson, form a band called The HartAches. The conservative parents are upset by this. Although Tyler already has a girlfriend, he and Lyne are attracted to each other. The band travels to Memphis and eventually gets a recording contract and prepare to go on tour. Record executives Moses and Elaine Gunn want Lyne out of the band, and insist that Tyler record songs by established artists. The band objects to making money that African-Americans deserve, but Tyler goes off on his own. Tyler succeeds in his career but loses his friends, while Lyne's career as a record producer takes off years later. Lyne's friend Marsha performs in The Emeralds, a Supremes-style girl group and becomes a freedom marcher in Alabama.

Production

Scenes representing New York City were filmed on South Tryon Street in Charlotte, North Carolina. Ovens Auditorium in Charlotte represented Atlanta. Scenes representing the shooting and death of Marsha were filmed on Main Street in Mooresville, North Carolina, and Charlotte's Dunhill Hotel was used for Philadelphia.^[1]

Producer Spencer Proffer wrote the song "Baby, Here I Am", performed by The HartAches. Bob Dylan, Carole King, Graham Nash, Lamont Dozier, and Leiber and Stoller also wrote 50s-style music for the miniseries. Dylan's song is performed by B.B. King.^[1] The Emeralds sing "Wall Around My Heat," which is performed by Chanté Moore, who also appears as one of The Emeralds while Samaria Graham lipsyncs her lead vocals as Marsha.

Cast

• Bonnie Somerville – Lyne Danner
• Brad Hawkins – Tyler Hart
• Kathy Baker – Janice Danner
• Frank Whaley – Allen Kogan
• Gerald McRaney – Howard Danner
• Samaria Graham – Marsha Stokes
• Travis Fine – Mookie Gilliland
• Kai Lennox – Dotson
• Erik King – Paul Terranova
• Maggie Gyllenhaal – Noreen Bixler (Part 1)
• Leo Burmester – Corby Judd (Part 1)
• Billy Porter – Little Richard
• Brett Rice – Joe Hart (Part 1)
• Troy Donahue – Rob Kamen
• Edd Byrnes – Bobby Icovella
• Mark Christopher Lawrence – Fats Domino
• Terence Trent D'Arby – Jackie Wilson
• James Coburn – Moses Gunn
• Dana Delany – Elaine Gunn

Rahsaan Patterson, singer Jesse Powell, and R&B artists K-Ci & JoJo also appear as an unnamed singing quartet. Blink-182's Tom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus play surf-rockers Jan and Dean, as well as Dicky Barrett from The Mighty Mighty Bosstones portraying Buddy Holly.