Sun Records (Memphis)

Elvis Presley, Bill Black, Scotty Moore, Sam Phillips (owner)

Sam Phillips, owner/producer

Elvis Aaron Presley (1935-1977)• b. Tupelo, MS (poor white rural)

• Wide range of musical influences

• 1948 – to Memphis

• 1953 – 1st time at Sun Studios

• 1954 – demos for Phillips(“That’s All Right Mama” / “Blue Moon of Kentucky”)

• Public performances

• 1955 - Col. Tom Parker, manager

• Contract sold to RCA

• TV – 1956

• 1958-60 – into Army

Louisiana Hayride

• Ex. Elvis Presley Louisiana Hayride – YouTube

• Elvis Presley. I Got A Woman.Louisiana Hayride Archives 1954-1956.Remastered.2011 . – YouTube

• Elvis Presley. Tweedle Dee.Louisiana Hayride Archives 1954-1956.Remastered.2011 . – YouTube

• Elvis Presley. Maybellene . ( Tunzi Remix ).Louisiana Hayride Archives 1954-1956.Remastered.2011 . - YouTube

Elvis on Television

• Jan-Feb ’56: Stage Show (CBS)- Variety show hosted by Dorsey Brothers- No special interest or reaction

• Milton Berle Show- 1948-56 (“Mr. Television”) - 3 Apr ’56 : YouTube - Elvis Presley Milton Berle Show 3 Apr 1956: Blue Suede Shoes (c. 17:00)- 5 June ’56: ELVIS PRESLEY - Hound Dog (live on the Milton Berle Show in 1956) - YouTube

- “Elvis the pelvis” – panned by critics as obscene

Elvis on Television (part 2)• The Steve Allen Show

- Sunday night variety (competitor to Ed Sullivan)- 1 July ’56 : Elvis 1956 Hound Dog 'Live Steve Allen Show – YouTube “Hound Dog”

• Ed Sullivan Show- Leading TV Variety Show- 9 Sept ’56 : Elvis - Ready Teddy - Hound Dog (Sept 9, 1956) – YouTube (from Hollywood, Charles Laughton, host)- 28 Oct ’56 : Elvis - Don't Be Cruel - Love Me Tender (Oct 28, 1956) – YouTube (NYC)- 6 Jan ’57 : For Elvis Fans Only. P in the V. HD and Stero – YouTube (NYC)

Elvis Presley – Singer/Personality• No Original Material• Eclectic vocal style• Stage presence & overt

sexuality – “Elvis the Pelvis”• Universal appeal (all charts)• Examples

- (1st rec.) Elvis Presley thats all right mama + blue moon of kentucky SUN 209 – YouTube

[cf. Crudup original : Arthur Crudup - That's All Right (original version) – YouTube]- (1957) YouTube - Elvis Presley - Jailhouse Rock (Music Video)

- (1957 movie) YouTube - Elvis Presley - Love Me Tender (End Scene)

- (RCA rec.) YouTube - Elvis Presley - Love Me Tender

Carl Perkins(1932-1998)

• b. to Tennessee sharecropper

• Gospel & black music

• “Rockabilly”• Examples

- Carl Perkins - Blue Suede Shoes on Ranch Party (1957 ) – YouTube

- Carl Perkins - Honey Don't All Shook Up – YouTube

- Carl Perkins - Matchbox - 1984 - YouTube

Johnny Cash(1932-2003)

• b. Arkansas (J.R. Cash)• Sun recording artist• Rockabilly, but no crossover

appeal• Country music superstar• Marries June Carter• YouTube - Johnny Cash -

Get Rhythm (Tex Ritter TV show 1958?)

Jerry Lee Lewis(b. 1935)

• b. Louisiana- poor family (religious)- cousins (J. Gilley & Jimmy Swaggert)

• Boogie woogie piano style• “Wild man of Rock ‘n Roll”• Examples

- YouTube - Jerry Lee Lewis - Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On (1957)- Great Balls of Fire-Jerry Lee Lewis-original song-1957 – YouTube- jerry lee lewis - good golly miss molly.wmv – YouTube- Jerry Lee Lewis -Whole Lotta Shakin Going On (Live 1964) - YouTube

Sun Records’ “Million Dollar (Rockabilly) Quartet”

1956 : Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash

Buddy Holly(1936-1959)

• b. Lubbock, TX• Influenced by Elvis, etc.• C&W meets R&B for

Pop audiences• Examples

- Buddy Holly That'll Be the Day with Lyrics - YouTube

- YouTube - Buddy Holly on the Arthur Murray Dance Party 12/29/57 (Peggy Sue)

3 February 1959

5 miles NW of Mason City, IA Airport

“The Day the Music Died”

Buddy Holly

Ritchie Valens

(“Donna” / “La Bamba”)

J.P. Richardson, aka “The Big Bopper”(“Chantilly Lace”)

End of the “Rock ‘n Roll” era

Into theUS Army

(1958-1960)

Legal Troubles and Prison (1959-63)

Gets Religion (1957-63)

“Reverend Penniman”

(1958): his2nd Marriage

to his 1st cousin (once

removed)