Classic Pop Icons

Sometimes a cover version of a song becomes so well known that the original is largely forgotten and it is the cover that is widely assumed to be the original. In fact, some of the most popular recordings of all time were actually covers. We’ll be looking at some great examples, including two of the most popular rock ‘n’ roll tracks of the 1950s, a doo-wop classic, a memorable 1960s instrumental, and a song that kick-started the biggest dance craze of the 1960s.

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More than fifty acts have now been confirmed for the 34th annual Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis. The event takes place from Friday, April 30 to Sunday, May 2nd, and among the acts scheduled to play are Jeff Beck, Booker T. & the MGs, Jerry Lee Lewis, Leon Russell, Hall & Oates, Limp Bizkit, the B-52s, the Goo Goo Dolls, Colbie Caillat, and Earth, Wind and Fire.

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The Million Dollar Quartet stage show is transferring to Broadway and the New York Times has reported that it will retain the same cast as the Chicago production.

The show is inspired by the 1956 session at Sun studios in Memphis when Elvis Presley visited his former label and jammed with Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash. There’s some debate over whether Cash was involved in the session, as he doesn’t seem to appear anywhere on the tapes, but he was definitely in attendance as he features in the photos taken on the day. That said, the musical aims to entertain and doesn’t claim to be historically accurate.

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The Observor has produced a great series on some of some of the living legends of American music, as recalled by the stars they influenced.

In addition, photographer Jamie-James Medina spent a year taking portraits of these legends for Observor Music Monthly. The results are impressive and are presented with the articles.

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Like many of the great early rockers, including Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis recorded at Sun Studios in Memphis. He had already been turned down by both the Grand Ole Opry and the Louisiana Hayride when he arrived at Sun Studios in November 1956. After an impressive audition, he began recording for the label both as a session musician and solo artist. In late 1956/early 1957, Lewis played piano on tracks such as Carl Perkins’ “Matchbox”, “Your True Love”, “You Can Do No Wrong”, and “Put Your Cat Clothes On”, and Billy Lee Riley’s “Flyin’ Saucers Rock’n’Roll. Read more »