Rock and roll has many famous landmark events. The Beatles on Ed Sullivan. Dylan going electric on at the Newport Folk Festival. Woodstock.
But there’s an anniversary of an event coming up that, had it not occurred, in all likelihood none of those other things would have happened.
On July 5th, Memphis will mark its own piece of rock and roll history with a celebration that’s fit for a king. Literally. Because it was 50 years ago exactly that a local kid named Elvis entered the now-hallowed Sun Studio and laid down what many consider to be the rock and roll record that started it all. The tune, "That’s All Right," forever changed the face of music and is considered by many to be the flashpoint of modern rock and roll; a birthplace marked by a black taped "X" on the studio floor where Elvis stood.
To celebrate this seminal recording session on Tuesday, July 5th , Sun Studio has helped create a loving, unique tribute to what happened there exactly 50 years ago. To begin with there will be what’s being billed as a "Global Moment in Time" — a moment at which radio stations across the world will be encouraged to simultaneously play "That’s All Right." This will hopefully mark the largest playing of a single song at the same moment in history. As the song is broadcast from Sun Studio, celebrities and musicians will be on hand to help mark the event. Of particular note in attendance (to actually press the "Play" button as the song is sent out via satellite) will be famed guitarist Scotty Moore. Moore, recently named one of the 50 greatest guitarists of all time by Rolling Stone magazine, played lead guitar for Elvis Presley on all of his famed Sun Records recordings (including "That’s All Right") as well as such subsequent #1 hits as "Heartbreak Hotel" and "Hound Dog."
I spoke recently with Scotty Moore and he vividly recalled the events leading up to the session. Sun Records founder Sam Phillips had asked Moore to give Presley a listen the day before the session to see what he thought of the kid. Elvis went over to Moore’s house, which had been located near the Firestone Plant. (It’s no longer there and is not marked yet by a plaque.) Moore recounted that for several hours, Presley sang for him, interrupted only by Moore’s wife bringing in the occasional refreshment. Impressed, Moore came in to play lead guitar on the session the next day. Moore also told me that while the session felt good, he had no idea it would prove to be a defining moment in musical history. Several weeks after the session, when the record was beginning to take off on local radio, the group rushed back to Sun with Elvis to record the b-side, "Blue Moon of Kentucky."
Here comes the Sun
Sun Studio has witnessed an almost
embarrassing amount of recording history—to think that this same room where Elvis recorded “That’s All Right”, where Jerry Lee Lewis cut “Great Balls of Fire” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” and where Johnny Cash laid down “I Walk The Line” and “Folsom Prison Blues” (among many others) is almost unfathomable.
John Schorr, who runs Sun Studio today, more than understands the legacy. He lovingly carries the rock and roll torch, preserving the history that took place on the site and presenting it in a way that’s fun, interesting and relevant. (Case in point, the record store/gift shop next to Sun Studio in the old café that’s bursting with old musical chestnuts and cool Sun memorabilia.) Visitors can even still cut their very own records at Sun, for a song.
Outside the studio on July 5, Schorr promises a glorious rock and roll street fair like no other. Lining the entire block with Elvis-centric vendors and other interesting booths, food, lots of live music and even a bunch of genuine rock and roll artifacts (part of the Hard Rock Café’s traveling museum). Not to mention that musically synchronous moment when all will be "right" around the world the moment that “That’s All Right” is played.
All roads lead to Memphis this summer
And let it be known that the musical celebration doesn’t stop in Memphis after July 5. Kevin Kane, the President of the Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau got to thinking last year that with the Elvis anniversary approaching, it might be a good idea to remind everyone that Memphis remains a hotbed of musical history and notable legacies. That’s why he spearheaded the creation of an entire summer of rock and roll to celebrate the big 5-0. When asked why Memphis has figured so importantly in the evolution of popular music, he interestingly theorizes that Memphis has always been a unique stew of good old-fashioned entreprenuership (it’s the birthplace of Holiday Inn, Fed-Ex and the home of the first supermarket). Factor in its proximity to the Mississippi Delta, where so much energetic, soulful, spirited, music flowed from, and you get a potent recipe of red hot music delivered fresh to the people.
Here are some of the scheduled events the rest of the year.
• Elvis Week (Aug 7-16, 2004): The Week will highlight the 50th Anniversary of Rock ‘n’ Roll, offering numerous rock ‘n’ roll-themed entertainment events.
• The Grand Opening of the FedExForum (September 2004): Memphis will inaugurate with a musical extravaganza its new, musically themed arena and home to the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies. The FedExForum will be a state-of-the-art, 18,000+ seat, sports and entertainment venue.
• The Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum: The Museum will unveil its new exhibition facility in the FedExForum in September.
And in addition to Sun Studio, which offers 45 minute tours daily for $9.50 (call 901/521-0664 for more information) make sure you visit these other musical Memphis landmarks:
• Beale Street: known for its legendary music scene, offering extraordinary rock ‘n’ roll, blues and soul music at numerous clubs including B.B. King’s Blues Club and Isaac Hayes’ Music•Food•Passion.
• Graceland (3734 Elvis Presley Boulevard; 800/238-2000. Admission starts at $16.25 for the mansion only): the home of Elvis Presley, one of the five most visited home tours in America, and the most famous home in America after the White House.
• The Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum: the Smithsonian Institution’s permanent Rock `n' Soul: Social Crossroads exhibit with 300 minutes of information, music, and rare interviews with dozens of famous figures in rock 'n' soul history.
• Soulsville: Stax Museum of American Soul Music (926 East McLemore; phone 901/946-2353. Admission: $9)the museum, performance center and community outreach facility located on the site of the original STAX Record Studios, where the careers of some of the greatest soul musicians began.
• Gibson Guitar Factory (145 LT. George W. Lee Avenue; 901/543-0800. Admission: $10): home of an extraordinary guided tour of how the latest in guitar technology is used to shape this magical instrument. Memphis is always a great place to visit, but this summer it’s even better. From July 5 on, there will be a King-sized feast in the cradle of rock and roll, so put on your blue suede shoes and boogie on down.
For more information, try the following websites www.50yearsrocknroll.com and www.memphis.com.
