ELVIS MADE FIRST RECORDING 45 YEARS AGO

ELVIS MADE FIRST RECORDING 45 YEARS AGO

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Wireless Flash) -- Monday (July 5) marks an important date in American history: the 45th anniversary of Elvis Presley's first commercial recording session. On July 5, 1954, a nervous Elvis stepped into Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. The session went on for hours without any satisfactory takes. However, during a break, the King picked up his guitar and spontaneously played "That's All Right (Mama)," which producer Sam Phillips decided to record. A few days later, the song was played on the radio for the first time by Memphis disc jockey Dewey Phillips, but sources conflict as to whether the first broadcast over WHBQ was on July 8 or July 9. One in-studio guest who heard the fateful broadcast was future game show host Wink Martindale, who admits he wasn't particularly impressed by Presley. However, listener response was so phenomenal that Dewey Phillips repeatedly played the song 14 times until Elvis showed up for an interview.

CONTACT: Michael Conway, *** (Sun Studios); Memphis, TN; (901) 521-0699; George Klein (worked at WHBQ and knew Elvis), ****; Memphis, TN; (901) 753-8811