David Oke
Sun Studio, Memphis. December 2013
You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain…
I came away from a tour of the Sun Studio in Memphis elated with the fact that I had made a total stranger very, very happy. (I’d also made a tour guide very grumpy).
In this building the first recordings of Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley, amongst others, were captured by Sam Phillips.
The studio itself had what appeared to be the original tiles on the floor and ceiling. I was able to stand on the spot, marked by an ‘X,’ where Elvis stood, for a photo with an ancient microphone.
The room is still a functional studio so there were guitars, amps, drums and a piano there. I would not say that the piano was the original in the studio but it had, as I was about to find out all by myself, the exact same jangly tone as heard on those original Sun recordings.
There was an elderly man in the tour group who was unashamedly crying and overwhelmed by the experience. He had travelled from New York State with his wife and had never been to Memphis before. Through his tears he told me these famous musicians had given him many great memories, and that visiting this shrine was the happiest day of his life.
On hearing this I was starting to tear up as well.
I was standing beside the piano, eyeing the keys. Will I or won’t I?
We had been given strict instruction to not touch any instruments. Will I or won’t I?
The piano lid was open. The piano stool awaited. Will I or won’t I?
It may have been the happiest day of the elderly man’s life but he looked to me like he needed cheering up.
As the tour guide was directing everyone out the studio door and to the gift shop I sidled up to the piano and ripped out the first notes of the opening riff of Great Balls Of Fire. You should have seen the smile on the old man’s face.
“Thanks so much, you’ve made my day even better,” he sobbed.
The tour guide was not so impressed. I think I might have shaken her nerves and rattled her brain, as Jerry Lee might say. She was almost out the door but made a quick reappearance to tell me off. Most of the rest of the tour group had already left.
There can’t be too many people who can say that they’ve played in Sun Studio – even if it is only about eight notes.
©David Oke.More stories by David Oke
David Oke
David is a Melbourne musician, retired music teacher and primary school teacher and member of the Sleepy Hollow Blues club. His debut Stereo Story was about playing Great Balls of Fire at Sun Studio in Memphis. He has assisted in the organisation, and leading of gospel music workshops and Sunday gospel celebrations at the Anglesea Music Festivals, and is a member of The Seddon Jammers. His son Dan is the creative force of the band Jarrow.
Wow David, what a terrific story!
The ol’ guy you spoke of reminds me of my dad. I took him to see Swan Lake when he was about 70 years old. Partway through, I heard a rasping noise coming from him and I thought he was having a heart attack. When I whispered ‘Are you ok?’ he replied that he was so overwhelmed by the music that it had brought him to tears.
The power of music and memories is amazing …
Thanks Anne. I appreciate your comment. I had another similar experience when, a few years ago, I went to the ‘Long Way To The Top’ concert. That concert had many Australian artists performing their signature tunes, commencing with Col Joye. ‘Bye Bye Baby’ was pretty well the opening number, but my sister in law was already sobbing. The song reminded her of her childhood and watching that song on television in the lounge room with the family. Not long before that concert her dad, my father in law had just passed away. You are right. The power of music and memories is amazing.
Great tale, David, thanx muchly! Good onya for making the day special for the elderly man.
A mate visited Memphis, he played drums in our band, he gave Dave and I Sun Studios souvenir gtr picks. Dave, lead guitarist, used it, I hung onto it for a long time. Lost it over the years, should’ve dropped it inside the cover of Elvis’ Sun Sessions for safekeeping.
For sheer wicked lasciviousness, Jerry Lee’s take on ‘Sweet Little Sixteen’ is unbeatable.
Thankyou Earl. Memphis is an amazing city from a musical point of view. As well as Sun we checked out St Blues guitars who make a brilliant range of ‘cigar-box’ guitars, the Gibson guitar factory, the Stax Records museum of soul music and walked past the many blues bars on Beales street. The next city we visited was Nashville. I hope to write about that in a future stereo story. I will look up Jerry Lee’s ‘Sweet Little Sixteen’