The March 15 edition of Greasy Tracks took a ride on the mystery train back to a time before a gospel-rooted singer from Tupelo, Miss., became a household name.
Here’s the archive, while a playlist is here.
There’s an interview with author Preston Lauterbach who discusses his fantastic new book, Before Elvis: The African American Musicians Who Made the King (Grand Central).
Similar in style to his Memphis-centric tomes Beale Street Dynasty, Bluff City and Timekeeper — the definitive bio of drummer Howard Grimes — along with the incredible The Chitlin’ Circuit: The Road to Rock’n’Roll and two great collaborations: Brother Robert, with Annye Anderson and Spirit of the Century with The Blind Boys of Alabama — Lauterbach’s latest should be required reading for all.
Lauterbach’s compelling historical account sheds light on the Black artists whose groundbreaking work laid the foundation for rock ‘n’ roll, years before Elvis Presley became known as the “King.”
He delves into the vibrant musical culture of the American South, particularly the “Chitlin’ Circuit” — an informal network of Black music venues that nurtured talent in the face of segregation.
The book highlights influential, yet often overlooked, African American performers like Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup, Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton, Herman “Junior” Parker, Rev. W. Herbert Brewster, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and the Newborn family, whose sounds and styles were later adopted and popularized by white artists.
The program included numerous versions of Parker’s “Mystery Train” — the track Presley recorded and released as a B side in 1955. It would go on to help catapult him to national and then international fame.