Elvis Presley’s first recording celebrated

  • By Nekesa Mumbi Moody / Associated Press
  • Sunday, July 4, 2004 9:00pm
  • LifeGo-See-Do

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – As far as Elvis Presley songs go, “That’s All Right,” his very first record, wasn’t among his biggest hits. In fact, the 1954 song wasn’t a hit at all.

Yet today, 50 years to the day after it was recorded, media and fans will converge on Memphis for a blowout celebration to commemorate the song, which has been labeled by the city as the tune that started the musical and cultural phenomenon known as rock ‘n’ roll.

Some consider it a stretch to anoint Presley the creator of a genre that mixed blues, R&B, country and even a bit of swing – musical styles that were around long before Elvis.

“There was a birth way before – where did Elvis get it from?” asked rocker Lenny Kravitz.

“The thing we think of as rock ‘n’ roll is Elvis,” said rock historian Marc Kirkeby. “But there were records that would be thought of as rock ‘n’ roll before that and they were done by black artists.”

And not just blacks – or even artists – are credited with starting rock ‘n’ roll. Just two years ago, there were commemorations of the 50th anniversary of rock ‘n’ roll pegged to disc jockey Alan Freed’s Moondog Coronation Ball in Cleveland. Some rock historians claim the March 21, 1952, show as the first rock concert – the main reason the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was located there.

Other historians point to “Rocket ‘88,” the 1951 hit written by Ike Turner, as the first rock record because of its distorted electric guitar sound. Still others claim Bill Haley’s 1954 hits “(We’re Gonna) Rock Around the Clock” and “Shake, Rattle and Roll” (the latter a remake of a Big Joe Turner version) helped birth rock.

And, of course, there are those who say the blues and swing recordings of black artists from years earlier were rock tunes.

Presley’s “That’s All Right,” a cover of a blues number by Arthur Crudup, was released in 1954 by the famed Sun Records, then a local blues label in Memphis owned by a relatively unknown Sam Phillips. The record was not a national success, but caused a sensation when played on local radio.

Presley’s upbeat version, mixing in a bit of country twang, gave the song a different sound. It created a buzz for Presley that eventually caught the attention of RCA Records, which bought out Elvis’ contract a year later. Presley wouldn’t get his first pop No. 1 single until 1956 with “Heartbreak Hotel.”

Even folks in Memphis won’t go as far as to say “That’s All Right” was the definitive date rock was created.

“… People look at that date as something that had a dramatic effect on rock ‘n’ roll,” said Kevin Kane, president of the Memphis convention and visitors bureau.

John Schorr, Sun Studio’s current owner, said. “I don’t think anyone is calling this the very first rock ‘n’ roll song ever made, but it is the first time rock ‘n’ roll went global and exploded on the world scene.

“Everyone refers to it as kind of the opening shot of the big bang of rock ‘n’ roll. …”

Others suggest that more so than the music, “That’s All Right” was perhaps the first time American teens – more specifically, white teens – started embracing a new style of edgy, sexy black music as their own.

“The rock ‘n’ roll explosion really starts when white kids were becoming immersed in black music,” historian Kirkeby said. “Elvis was the catalyst for that, you have to give him that credit.”

Soul legend Isaac Hayes puts it more bluntly.

“You’ve got to think about it at a time when black music was looked down upon by whites,” he said “People like Elvis got lambasted for singing that kind of music, It took a white guy to break it. Blacks couldn’t break it.”

More than 1,000 stations around the world are scheduled to play “That’s All Right” at the same time today, and Memphis talent such as Justin Timberlake and Hayes are expected to perform during a concert.

Rolling Stone has agreed that Presley’s debut song marks the birth of rock.

“As a mass phenomenon that changed American culture, Elvis Presley is a legitimate starting point for the beginning of rock ‘n’ roll,” said Joe Levy, a deputy managing editor of the magazine.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Everett P. Fog, 15, in front of an Everett mural along Colby Avenue on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Hello, Everett! No escape when your name is same as the town

Everett P. Fog, 15, sees and hears his first name wherever he goes. His middle name is also epic.

Jared Meads takes a breath after dunking in an ice bath in his back yard while his son Fallen, 5, reads off the water temperature on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Chill out: Dive into the cold plunge craze

Plungers say they get mental clarity and relief for ails in icy water in tubs, troughs and clubs.

Schack exhibit to highlight Camano Island watercolorists

“Four Decades of Friendship: John Ebner & John Ringen” will be on display Jan. 16 through Feb. 9.

XRT Trim Adds Rugged Features Designed For Light Off-Roading
Hyundai Introduces Smarter, More Capable Tucson Compact SUV For 2025

Innovative New Convenience And Safety Features Add Value

Sequoia photo provided by Toyota USA Newsroom
If Big Is Better, 2024 Toyota Sequoia Is Best

4WD Pro Hybrid With 3-Rows Elevates Full-Size

2025 Toyota Land Cruiser (Provided by Toyota).
2025 Toyota Land Cruiser revives its roots

After a 3-year hiatus, the go-anywhere SUV returns with a more adventurous vibe.

Enjoy the wilderness in the CX-50. Photo provided by Mazda USA Newsroom
2025 Mazda CX-50 Adds Hybrid Capability to Turbo Options

Line-Up Receives More Robust List Of Standard Equipment

Practical And Functional bZ4X basks in sunshine. Photo provided by Toyota Newsroom.
2024 bZ4X Puts Toyota Twist On All-Electric SUV’s

Modern Styling, Tech & All-Wheel Drive Highlight

Photo provided by Mazda USA Newsroom
2025 Mazda3 Turbo Premium Plus Hatch Delivers Value

Plus Functionality of AWD And G-Vectoring

2025 Mazda CX-90 Turbo SUV (Provided by Mazda)
2025 CX-90 Turbo models get Mazda’s most powerful engine

Mazda’s largest-ever SUV is equipped to handle the weight, with fuel efficiency kept in check.

Provided by Bridges Pets, Gifts, & Water Gardens.
Discover where to find the best pet supplies in town

Need the perfect store to spoil your furry friends? Herald readers have you covered.

VW Jetta SEL is a sedan that passes for a coupe. Photo provided by Volkswagen U.S. Media.
2025 VW Jetta Offers Greater Refinement, Technology And Value

A Perfect Choice For Small Families And Commuters

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.