Martin Hawkins Colin Escott - Good Rockin Tonight: Sun Records and the Birth of Rock n Roll

IN WRITING THIS BOOK, we have inevitably drawn upon some secondary as well as original sources. Wherever possible, we have tried to keep track of these, but the listing below will inevitably bear some omissions. Most of the information, though, was derived from original interview material, which is largely unattributed in the text. In view of the mythology surrounding some of the Sun artistssome of it perpetuated by the artists themselves and some by their followerswe have tried to double-check most of what has passed for established wisdom.

Some general reference materials included:

History and Encyclopedia of Country, Western and Gospel Music by Linnell Gentry (2nd revised edition)(Nashville, Tenn.: Clairmont Corp., 1969).

Joel Whitburns Top Pop Singles, 19551986 (Menomonee Falls, Wisc.: Record Research, 1986).

Joel Whitburns Top R&B Singles, 19421988 (Menomonee Falls, Wisc.: Record Research, 1988).

Joel Whitburns Top Country Singles, 19441988 (Menomonee Falls, Wisc.: Record Research, 1988).

The files of Billboard (19501969), Cashbox (19501969), and Country Music Reporter (later Music Reporter)(19561966).

The clippings file of the Showtime (Toronto) Archive, including press releases, UPI reports, contemporary news clippings, and other material.

What follows is a detailed list of printed source material, organized on a chapter-by-chapter basis.

Chapter One

The Dee-Jays by Arnold Passman (New York: Macmillan, 1971) provides essential background on the major forces in the postwar music industry.

Country Music USA by Bill C. Malone (Austin, Tex.: University of Texas Press, 1968) offers background on the country music industry.

Sam Phillips interviewed by Martin Hawkins, Hank Davis, and Colin Escott.

Background on Hoyt Wooten and WREC from WREC Sold for $6 Million by Robert Johnson, Memphis Press Scimitar, November 3, 1958.

Chapter Two

An unpublished analysis of Phillips studio configuration by Bruce Leslie, PRO Recorders. Additional information from Bill Cantrell.

B. B. King interviewed by David Booth (unpublished).

Liner notes to Joe Hill Louis, The One Man Band (Muskadine 101) by Steve LaVere.

Sam Phillips interviewed by Hank Davis and Colin Escott; by Robert Palmer in Memphis, Vol. 3, No. 9, and in Deep Blues (New York: Viking Press, 1981).

Rosco Gordon interviewed by Hank Davis, Living Blues #49.

Rocket Becomes Flying Disc, Spins Toward Record Glory by Lydel Sims, Memphis Commercial Appeal, March 28, 1951.

Tell em Phillips Sentcha by Randy Haspel, Memphis magazine, June 1978.

Chapter Three

Sam Phillips interviewed by Martin Hawkins, Colin Escott, and Hank Davis. Also the interview by Robert Palmer published in Memphis, Vol. 3, No. 9.

Duke Records: The Early Years by Roger Weeden and George A. Moonoogian, Whiskey, Women, And No. 14, contains additional background on Duke Records and its sale to Peacock.

Walter Horton, Rufus Thomas, and Little Milton interviewed by David Booth (unpublished).

Warden Uses Prisonaires as Example of Humane Policy, Ebony, November 1953.

Prison Singers May Find Success With Record They Made in Memphis by Clark Porteous, Memphis Press Scimitar, July 15, 1953.

Just Walkin in the Rain Showers Convict With $$$, UPI report, November 10, 1956.

Sun Spot information courtesy of Dave Sax.

Little Milton: The Living Blues Interview by Lynn Summers and Bob Scheir, Living Blues, No. 18.

Auburn Hare Trades in 01 Guitar for Harp With Golden Strings, The Mirror: Stillwater State Penitentiary, Vol. 93, No. 5.

Chapter Four

Jack Sallee: Writes Hit in Ten Minutes, Memphis Press Scimitar, March 17, 1955. Peter Guralnick, liner notes to The Complete Sun Sessions (RCA 6414).

Dewey Phillips interviewed by Stanley Booth in A Hound Dog, To The Manor Born, reprinted in The Age of Rock, ed. by Jonathan Eisen (New York: Vintage Books, 1969).

Elvis Presley interviewed in The Charlotte Observer, reprinted in Long Lonesome Highway by Ger Rijff (Amsterdam: Tutti Frutti Productions, 1985).

Interviews with Sam Phillips by Charles Raiteri excerpted in liner notes to Dewey PhillipsRed Hot and Blue (Zu-Zazz Z 2012); and by Robert Palmer in Memphis magazine, Vol. 3, No. 9.

Presleys Opry appearances detailed in Muscle Behind the Music: The Life and Times of Jim Denny, Part 3, Journal of Country Music, XI.3.

Bill Randle interview in Memphis Lonesome by Ger Rijff (Amsterdam: Tutti-Frutti Productions, 1988).

Chapter Five

Johnny Cash and Marshall Grant interviewed by David Booth (unpublished).

Sam Phillips interviewed by Martin Hawkins, Colin Escott, and Hank Davis.

Information on Gordon JenkinsCrescent City Blues courtesy of Allen Rush and Al Cooley.

Johnny Cash: American by Bill Flanagan, Musician, May 1988.

Johnny Cash Tells the Stories Behind His Songs by Ed Salamon, Country Music, July/August 1980.

John R. Cash: I Will Rock & Roll With You (If I Have To) by Peter Guralnick, Country Music, July/August 1980.

Ballad of a Teenage Queen by Johnny Cash, Cashbox, June 14, 1980.

Chapter Six

Harmonica Frank: Suns Hall of Fame by Steve LaVere, Rockville International, June-July 1974; liner notes to Puritan 3001 by Steve LaVere.

Hardrock Gunter: The Mysterious Pig-iron Man by Nick Tosches, in Unsung Heroes of Rock nRoll (New York: Charles Scribners Sons, 1984).

Charlie Feathers: Last of the Rockabillies by Peter Guralnick, in Lost Highway (Boston: David R. Godine, 1979).

The Miller Sisters by Hank Davis in The Sun Country Years booklet, Bear Family Records, Bremen, West Germany, 1986.

Chapter Seven

Carl Perkins interviewed by David Booth and Don Bird (unpublished).

Disciple in Blue Suede Shoes by Carl Perkins with Ron Rendleman (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Publishing, 1978).

The Very Large Legend of Carl Perkins by Lenny Kaye, Guitar World, July 1982.

Carl Perkins: Born to Rock by Dave Sholin, Gavin Report, July 4, 1986.

Chapter Eight

A Candid Conversation With Roy Orbison by Jeff Tamarkin, Goldmine, October 1979.

Twenty-Five Years Behind the Shades by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, December 20, 1980.

The Face Interview by Nick Kent, The Face, January 1989.

Roy Orbison interviewed by David Booth (unpublished).

Information on Je-Wel/Petty recordings courtesy of John Beecher, Bill Inglot, and Allen Rush.

Chapter Nine

Hes Made $2 Million on DisksWithout a Desk by Edwin Howard, Memphis Press Scimitar, 1959.

Howard Tells How Forty-Leven Times Was Recorded by Edwin Howard, Memphis Press Scimitar, 1959.

Platter Sales Route Strewn With Roadblocks: How Forty-Leven Times Fared by Edwin Howard, Memphis Press Scimitar, 1959.

Bill Riley, Roland James (sic) Produce, Lease Records by Edwin Howard. Memphis Press Scimitar, September 8, 1959.

Bandleader Justis Sets Up Record Company in Memphis by Edwin Howard, Memphis Press Scimitar, April 20, 1959.

Golden Notes Played by Sid Manker, Local Musician by William A. Bruning, Memphis Commercial Appeal, September 27, 1959.

Guitarist Sid Manker Tells Why Its Hell To Be a Drug Addict by Joseph Sweat, Memphis Press Scimitar, January 1, 1960.

Co-Composer of Raunchy Must Serve Time by Elton Whisenhunt, Memphis Press Scimitar, April 29, 1960.

Billy Riley interviewed by Bill Millar, 1973 (unpublished).

Lets All Help the Cowboy Sing the Blues by Peter Guralnick in