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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
You are probably wondering why I've uploaded a photograph of the dark side of a microphone.
Again, no people in the photo - only ghosts of those missing people.
This microphone is a piece of rock 'n roll memorabilia that is housed in a place that was the birthplace of rock 'n roll. I'm not certain I can write a note with as much reverence as it deserves or if I can even begin to relate the feelings I had while I was there.
I've been to a lot of places, a lot of important and historical places. I've been to Petra in Jordan - a place I had hoped to visit since I was about 8 and saw it in a National Geographic. I've been to Mount Sinai, to the place where Moses received the tablets - on Ash Wednesday and heard a group of young, Polish pilgrims singing to the Lord in such a sweet, wonderful way that my hair stood on end. I've been to Westminster Abbey and stood near the graves of Charles Dickens, Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and many kings and queens.
I've not ever been moved like I was when I entered Sun Studios.
I've been thinking about this since I was there, since I had that feeling, that movement. Why, after all these years, all those places I've stood, why does this one place move me so?
I have to attribute it to the fact that the music that came from this place, the rock 'n roll and blues and country music that sprung forward from this single room affected my entire life. I started loving rock 'n roll, I'm certain like so many others, at a young age, from the time I first heard it, I like to believe. I can't tell you the first rock 'n roll I ever heard, I can tell you that it is very much likely that it was not Elvis or Jerry Lee Lewis or Ike Turner, but perhaps it was. The first I remember that I can put music with a group or artist was The Beatles, probably in the early 1960's, at a friend's house when I was a little boy. His mother was playing "Twist and Shout" over and over and over again. She made a point of making sure we knew who that was singing and she danced and sang with the record while we laughed.
That was my first rock 'n roll memory. The first I can think of, at least.
Maybe the Beatles did not record in Sun Studios, but their music (especially the early stuff) was strongly influenced by and in some cases covers of the songs produced there. After that point in my life I became an immediate aficionado of popular music. Ever since I was a little kid you could ask me who did a pop song and I could tell you - with authority. Even today, with my CRS Disease, people ask me to join them at Trivia Nights just because I am sure to get the pop music questions.
My 40gb iPod is almost full of rock 'n roll, blues, country, bluegrass, and did I say rock 'n roll. It is my third iPod, and I have all of them still. I own every piece of music that resides on that device. I have all the compact discs to prove it. I do not download music because I believe the musicians should get their due. I do not pay for music on iTunes because I have to have the disc in my hands. I have been collecting compact discs since 1983, I don't know how many I have, but I seldom trade one in or sell one, even if I have two copies on my computer and iPod or if I only like one song on the whole disc.
There's a little background for you. Maybe that is why I was so moved when I stepped into that place. There were others that were visibly moved, too. It was hard for me to hide this feeling. Were I less male I might have let some tears roll down my cheeks. I may be an old sailor, but this is no sea story.
What happened in that room influenced my entire life, even though I do not play any instrument or sing in public (well, sometimes I'll participate in Happy Birthday after a few beers). This is THE MICROPHONE that started it. This is purportedly the original microphone that Elvis Presley used to sing a birthday song to his mother so long ago. It was ignored by all, perhaps even his mother (it turns out the story was a sham so Elvis could get in the studio just to see if they would notice his voice) until Marion Keisker suggested to Sam Phillips that they call Elvis to see if he could back up one of the current singers. That night the song "That's Alright" was recorded and the next day set upon the world. I don't know if that would be the official start of the age of rock 'n roll or if that started when Ike Turner wrote the first bar of "Rocket 88". Either way, both historical points culminated in Sun Studios - possibly both occurrences involved this particular microphone.
I truly believed the Beale Street Music Festival would be the highlight of the trip. I was wrong. Sun Studios stood out as my Musical Mecca.
See my post on TE for another ghost of Elvis shot...
P.S.
I know I use a lot of local and American colloquialisms that could be confusing to people residing in other countries (and sometimes other States), so when I recognize these instances I will endeavor to provide an explanatory link. Today I used the Urban Dictionary for a few. I hope these explanations help.
Also, the link to Sun Studios takes you to the official site. There is a link on that main page that will show you some actual recording sessions that have been recently done at the studios. They may or may not be familiar to you, but there are some definite gems in there - they are all worth watching. I just clicked on the first one and let them play while I typed this note. You can just sit on the main page and hear Elvis, Jerry Lee, Johnny Cash and others play over and over.
These links all open in a separate window or tab, depending upon how your browser is set up. Trudy, I know you will check them out - if this doesn't make you want to visit Memphis, Tennessee, nothing will. |
bucanas, teamill, shelbeesmom, daisydaisy has marked this note useful
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where is elvis?