50 years ago on july the 5th 1954 a teenager named elvis presley from tupelo, ms. recorded a song that changed the world. “rock a billy” was born that day, giving birth to the new born music was elvis presley, scotty moore, bill black and one sam phillips. the new music rang out in the little studio on 706 union ave in memphis somewhat by mistake. this was not the sound the small band of country musicians were looking for, far from it, but it sounded right. the engineer called out into the studio to the two musicians elvis and bill who were singing and jumping around what was that? we don’t know they replied back, well what ever it was do it again i think we got something, what were we doing elvis asked bill black? “that’s all right ” i guess i don’t know. sam yells out the control studio door well what ever it was do it again. it had been a long hot day many songs had been tried and nothing had clicked or turned out right. the band of young men were getting tired and ready to call it a day. scotty moore had returned from the cafe next door and asked what all the fuss was about. sam says we came up with something that he likes and wants us to do it again. we don’t know what we did that was so different from everything else that we have done today. well what was it asked scotty? that song “that’s all right”. well let’s try it again and see if we can come up with something sam can put on tape. the trio went into the opening line and sam yells out keep it up i think we got something. several takes later they did indeed have something. no one would know what it was for a long time, never mind a name to call it, but when the teenagers around memphis heard the sound of it they all knew it was, what they had been waiting to hear. and they couldn’t get enough of it. when a flip side was recorded “blue moon of kentucky” that became as popular as “that’s all right”. no one knew it yet, but nothing would ever be the same in america and around the world ever again. elvis would change so much as time went on that he didn’t know who he was. others who followed him would become famous as well and with time, fail from their “fame”. millions of records would be recorded as rock n roll, movies would be made, and items would be sold by the millions pertaining to rock music. sam phillips would become rich and famous along with his record co, sun records. col. tom parker would become rich and famous and rca records would make millions and millions of dollars from elvis. paramount and 20th century fox movie companies would make millions and millions form the movies “elvis’ starred in. ed sullivan would receive extra fame from having elvis on his variety show. elvis would bring country music to almost a stand still and break recording and personal appearance records. where ever he showed up in public. insanity and riots weren’t far behind. women would fall in love with him by the millions and buy every record and item he sold. no one will ever again do what elvis has done, he is famous beyond belief. he is dead, yet he lives, he is talked about on a daily basis as if he were just around the corner. after elvis every entertainer has wanted to be what elvis was and no one has even come close no one, there is but one “elvis presley”. there has been disappointment in the trio that started together july 5th 1954. scotty moore has been cheated. scotty moore should be a multi-millionaire today. scotty trusted elvis do right by him and elvis didn’t. scotty moore’s guitar was the musical sound that made elvis sound so good along bill black. bill went on and became famous with the “bill black combo”. scotty stayed with elvis much longer that he should have but scotty was a friend to elvis. much of the fame of elvis is because of scotty moore, and of the trio who started together scotty is the only one still alive today to carry on the legend of 50 years ago which started in a small recording studio on 706 union ave in memphis, tn. “thats all right” is still with us, but the special moment in time is gone forever. so are those special days of the 50′s when we danced with our sweethearts to the sounds of music that will never pass our way again. hail hail rock a billy, hold on to it as long as you can because when sanford clark, billy lee riley, dale hawkins, jerry lee lewis, and bob timmers are gone most likely rock a billy will go with them.

~ Widmarc Clark