Episode 2
Paul Gambaccini tells the story of a pioneering DJ who played a part in the birth of rock'n'roll and start of Elvis' career - Dewey Phillips.
Paul Gambaccini continues the fascinating story of a pioneering disc jockey who played a part in the birth of rock 'n' roll in Memphis and early career of Elvis Presley.
A full two years before Alan Freed "discovered" rock 'n' roll, Dewey Phillips was playing rhythm and blues on WHBQ to an audience of black and white listeners. His zeal for rhythm & blues and country set the stage for both Elvis' subsequent success and the rock 'n' roll revolution of the 1950s. Significantly, Dewey captivated a huge white audience with previously forbidden "race" music.
Dewey was the first DJ to introduce an Elvis record on the radio in July 1954. On his Memphis radio show Red, Hot & Blue, he played an acetate of the first single That's All Right (Mama) cut for him by the owner of Sun Studios, Sam Phillips (no relation). Legend has it that Dewey played the song anywhere from seven to eleven times in a row and he interviewed Elvis that night.
Elvis always acknowledged his debt of gratitude to Dewey - not only for his first radio exposure but also for the influence on his musical development through hearing the exciting mix of blues and country records every night.
The programme includes extracts from Dewey's radio and TV programmes of the 50s and early 60s. Interviewees include Louis Cantor - author of Dewey And Elvis - who worked on Memphis radio station WDIA; Charles Raiteri - another Memphis radio veteran; Humes High School classmates of Elvis: George Klein and Jerry Schilling; and an archive interview with the late Memphis musician and producer Jim Dickinson.
First broadcast in 2009.
Last on
Music Played
-
Little Junior鈥檚 Blue Flames
MYSTERY TRAIN
- THE SUN STORY.
- RHINO.
- RNCD-75884.
-
Rufus Thomas
Tiger Man
- Black Music Originals Vol 2.
- Still Records.
- CD SUN-4.
-
Elvis Presley
MY HAPPINESS
- SUN RECORDS.
- SUN RECORDS.
- SUN-1958.
-
Elvis Presley
THAT'S ALL RIGHT
- THE SUN SESSIONS CD.
- RCA.
- FD-8614.
-
Elvis Presley
BLUE MOON OF KENTUCKY
- THE ELVIS PRESLEY SUN COLLECTION.
- RCA.
- ND-89107.
-
Elvis Presley
GOOD ROCKIN' TONIGHT
- THE SUN SESSIONS.
- RCA.
- PD-86414.
-
Elvis Presley
Milkcow Blues Boogie
- Sunrise (Disc 1).
- Sun Records RCA.
- 07863-67675 2.
-
Elvis Presley
BABY LET'S PLAY HOUSE
- THE SUN SESSIONS CD.
- RCA.
- PD-86414.
-
Bill Doggett
Blip Blop
- Blip Blop.
- King.
- K10067.
-
Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra
OPUS 1
- Everest: FS 539.
- Everest.
- FS 539.
-
Link Wray
Rumble
- The Original Rumble.
- ACE.
- CDCH-924.
-
The Ramsey Lewis Trio
A HARD DAY'S NIGHT
- THE BEST OF RAMSEY LEWIS.
- MCA.
- CHD-6021.
-
Elvis Presley
THAT'S ALL RIGHT
- SUNRISE.
- RCA.
- 07863-67675 2.
-
Depeche Mode
I Feel Loved
- Universal Music Tv.
-
Giorgio Moroder
The Chase
- And They Danced The Night Away CD1.
- CASABLANCA.
- 10.
Broadcasts
- Wed 30 Aug 2017 02:00成人快手 Radio 6 Music
- Fri 7 Dec 2018 02:00成人快手 Radio 6 Music
- Fri 29 Nov 2019 02:00成人快手 Radio 6 Music
- Fri 21 Aug 2020 03:30成人快手 Radio 6 Music