[1][2][3][4] By 1954, the band's repertoire had continued to expand to take on board rhythm and blues influences and songs, in a style the singer later termed "hillbilly bebop".
They met producer Don Law, and signed to Columbia Records, with Erwin taking the stage name of Sid King and his band becoming the Five Strings.
Billed as "the youngest band in the land", the group recorded nine singles for Columbia between 1955 and 1957, including "Good Rockin' Baby" and "Gonna Shake This Shack Tonight" (both written by King), and early versions of "Blue Suede Shoes" and "Ooby Dooby".
They toured widely, performed on the Louisiana Hayride and Grand Ole Opry radio shows, and shared bills with emerging stars including Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Johnny Cash, and Roy Orbison.
[2][5] Sid King and his brother, with a band, performed at rock and roll festivals, and made several trips to Europe, including a show at the 2008 Hemsby Rock'n'Roll Weekender.