the follow-ups "i love my baby" and louis prima's "oh babe!" were also hits, and darnell's powerful and passionate voice contributed to the development of a trend in popular music soon marketed nationwide as rock and roll. darnell was the top selling r & b artist of 1950. however, after regal collapsed in 1951, his records became less successful. by now known as "mr. heart & soul", he appeared in the 1955 movie "harlem rock & roll revue", and spent the rest of the decade recording for various labels.