Elvis The Cat Presley: Unpublished Facts From The Years 1954 And 1955
How much useful knowledge does Darrin Lee bring ya? During his Overton Park Shell debut, Elvis sang 'I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin')', in his words, "especially" for Marion Keisker - per Marion Nobody, no place else, has revealed this set list nugget. Plus, more of Scotty Moore RE: Elvis in '54 and '55 whilst at SUN-unedited, in his own words-than most fans ever dreamed of reading.
It is unfair that Marion Keisker has been purposely diminished in the 'Elvis Presley Story'. So, your author is proud to give this pioneer all due respect and a voice. Marion retained clear memories & strongly-held opinions long after leaving SUN, such as: "I, in essence, discovered-well, in fact, discovered-Elvis Presley."
This project features the definitive History of: (1) Elvis' first demo in 1953 - 'My Happiness' and 'That's When Your Heartaches Begin' - a personal gift for his mother. (2) Elvis Aaron Presley, Winfield Scott "Scotty" Moore III, and William Patton "Bill" Black, Jr. in the studio on July 5th 1954 - resulting in Sun 209. (3) The 'Without You' Demo & James Sweeney. (4) The Shock and Awe of 'That's All Right' & 'Blue Moon Of Kentucky' electrifying Memphis airwaves.
(5) The July 30th '54 Overton Park Shell performance. (6) Elvis' Grand Ole Opry guest appearance on October 2nd '54. (7) The Audition on March 23rd '55 for Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts. (8) The May and July 1955 Jacksonville personal appearances a.k.a. "Rock 'n' Roll's First Concert Riots". (9) Why Sun Record Company was so eager to sell the Presley contract and "The Cat" was thrilled to leave in order to sign with RCA VICTOR.
(10) Eyewitness accounts of Elvis' greased lightning fists: "Rumble Outside The Tennessee Hotel In Memphis" and "A Pummeling At The Commodore Perry Hotel In Toledo"; also, the related "Sucker-Punched In Lubbock, 1955".
IN MEMORY'Elvis "The Cat" Presley' is in memory of Mr. Samuel Cornelius Phillips (Jan. 5, 1923 - July 30, 2003).
MS. KEISKER: Elvis was a very big success. He was one of the few artists who performed that night who got spontaneous applause. There was no need for the applause signs or the applause signals from the announcers, which are standard procedure at The Opry. The applause came very spontaneously and very naturally and very exciting.....the applause had been great and the response from the Grand Ole Opry] audience had been terrific.
This soft cover boasts fascinating, contemporaneous quotes from Marion Keisker, Scotty Moore, D.J. Fontana, Mae Boren Axton ('Heartbreak Hotel' co-writer, promoter of 1955/56 Jacksonville personal appearances), Bob Neal, George Klein, Evan "Buzzy" Forbess, Oscar Davis, Pat Medford Booth, James & Gladys Tipler (Crown Electric Co.), Neal Matthews, Gordon Stoker, Ray Walker, James Blackwood, Mrs. Faye Harris and more - in print for the first time
MS. KEISKER: I was always so busy that I, a lot of it, went by me. I mean, you know, I didn't even sleep for days on an end. I would sleep at my desk because I was also holding down a full-time job down at WREC, too. And not paid for the record company - so it was, it was, uh... (She laughs at the folly of working for Sam for free) Well, wait until I start holding down a three-way job at WREC, WHER, and the record company, too
SCOTTY MOORE: Horace Logan, well, he wasn't the manager at the time. He was program director for the radio station. The actual manager, or booker, for The Hayride was Pappy Covington. Oh, when Elvis hit 'em that first time, Horace Logan liked to-he did fourteen backflips, you know, and had Sam and Elvis and all of us cornered. Man, they had contracts broke out (Scotty laughs) they was trying to sign
BOOK DEDICATION'Elvis "The Cat" Presley' is dedicated to Marion Keisker - Ms. Radio of Memphis.
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