posted october 15, 2003. the big train rolled into memphis october 10th, 2003 with a shower of rock-a-billy legends that would equal the stable of artists sam phillips had on his sun roster in the 50′s. the rock-a-billy hall of fame picked memphis because that’s where elvis did his first live show at the overton park shell. the overton park shell had been closed down for twenty years when the rock-a-billy hall of fame discovered that it had just reopened. it was decided that memphis would be the perfect place for the benefit show. also the rock-a-billy hall of fame had plans to induct rick nelson. they had been looking for a suitable location for the induction ceremony. since rick nelson had a special fondness for memphis and it’s rock-a-billy roots memphis was the perfect place. rick nelson’s twins gunner and matthew were contacted. they agreed to perform on the show and except the induction plaque for their dad. the show was on. rock-a-billy legend glen glen was contacted in hollywood. glen who had been friends with rick nelson and elvis was asked to present rick nelson’s induction into the rock-a-billy hall of fame to the nelson twins. at 2:00 p.m. on october the 10th, cash o’reilly and the down right daddies’ were introduced to the audience by mc burl boykin. they put on a great show and were real crowd pleasers. sun recording artist and rock-a-billy legend charlie feathers son and daughter bubba and wanda feathers came on next and sang many of their dad’s hits. it was great to see bubba and wanda keeping the feathers family tradition alive. what a show they put on. next on stage from toledo, ohio was the fabulous joe “the shaker” doing his fifties hit “chicken shack.” joe was backed up by butch wax, larry manuel, and the flat tops. “the shaker” is an excellent performer that keeps you rockin. bobby joe swilley and the country line band, with andy anderson, guitarist bucky barrett along with alton lot, don pittman, wray henson, and richard thames got their harmony together on the fiesta’s 1959 hit song “so fine” and other group hits of the 50′s. what a performance the audience loved it.

the fans came to see and hear rock-a-billy at it’s best and they got it. the rock-a-billy country band came on next with barbara pittman, kim curtis, jerry lee “smoochie” smith, j.t. morgan, rayburn anthony, and drummer w.s. holland who worked with carl perkins and johnny cash. they rocked everyone with a show no amount of money could buy. barbara pittman the first woman to record for sun records put on a great show. roman self came out next singing some the songs that made his dad rock-a-billy legend ronnie self famous. roman sang his dad’s big hit “be bopa lena.” he was backed up by bob timmers on lead guitar and bobby joe swilly on drums. roman really puts on a good show. glen glen and his band came out next what a wild bunch this is they put on a good rockin show. alan clark who knows every rock-a-billy legend in the world, played lead guitar harmonized with glen glen and don wilson on their hit songs. sheree homer sang an old carl perkins tune “matchbox.” johnny powers from detroit came on next singing his hit “long blonde hair” “looking cool” in his leather outfit and shades. he is the only rock-a-billy legend to record for both sun and motown records. glen glen ended their part of the show singing his big hit “everybody’s movin.”

everybody was having a good rockin time. rock-a-billy legend gene summers from dallas texas got the fans rockin with his big hit on jan records “straight skirt.” if you’ve never seen gene summer perform live you are missing a great show. gene is a dynamic performer who keeps the audience rockin in there seats. gene left the stage and came out among the audience and sang to them, they loved it. he ended his show with his biggest hit “big blue diamond” giving the fans what they came for good ole rock-a-billy. gunner and matthew nelson closed the show with a sizzling performance with their band the dempseys that had everyone jumping and shouting. flashes were going off everywhere as they sang some of there dad rick nelson’s hits. what a way to end a rock-a-billy show.

~ Widmarc Clark