[2] By the early 1950s he was based in Philadelphia, where he attended music school and led a band, the Rhythm Rockers.
[2] Their first single, "There Goes That Train", was issued by the small Piney label in 1955, and was picked up by Mercury Records for national distribution, reaching number 10 on the Billboard R&B chart.
McGill recorded more tracks in Los Angeles in 1955 with guitarist Chuck Norris and pianist Ernie Freeman, and again in New York City in early 1956, but his later singles on Mercury were not hits.
[4] McGill returned to Philadelphia, and recorded as both a solo performer and session musician for the local Kaiser and Junior labels run by Kae Williams.
[5] McGill could not read music; singer Richard Lewis said "Rollee just winged it".