Photo / Jeremy Daniel
Sam Phillips, the "Father of Rock 'n' Roll, who discovered Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins, brought them together for a historical recording session.
Sam Phillips, the "Father of Rock 'n' Roll, who discovered Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins, brought them together for a historical recording session. It was an impromptu session 60 years ago at Sun Records' storefront studio in Memphis. It would be the only time in their career they would be united in what has become known as one of the greatest rock 'n' roll jam sessions of all time.
While many of the details of the rest of the day's events are still in dispute, this much is known: Perkins and Lewis were later joined by Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash, and they held an impromptu jam session. It was a reunion for Cash, Perkins and Presley, who had toured the South together in 1955. Lewis was still a star on the rise, but he quickly bonded with Presley over their shared knowledge of spirituals.
A local writer, Bob Johnson, dubbed the four the "Million Dollar Quartet" in his story in the Memphis daily paper the next day, where he called the session "an old fashioned barrel?house session with barber shop harmonies resulting."
Rock, gospel, R&B and country hits will include “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Fever,” “Sixteen Tons,” “Who Do You Love?,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “Matchbox,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “ Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” “Hound Dog,” and more.
Show dates are:
• Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.
• Thursday, 7:30 p.m.
• Friday, 8 p.m.
• Saturday, 2 and 8 p.m.
• Sunday, 1 and 6:30 p.m.
Tickets are $45, $55, $65, $75.