Louisiana Hayride was a country music show (first in radio, then TV) that from 1948 to 1960 helped launch careers of some country and western music performers (including Hank Williams).
Elvis Presley performed on the radio version of the program in 1954 and made his first television appearance on Louisiana Hayride in March 1955.
Ecstatic at 14 with my first Elvis 45
I stood between my
big brother’s speakers
and turned the volume up
to absorb the voice
and ride the rhythm
surging through my body.
My Mom disapproved of Elvis,
Marlon Brando with his motorcycle
and the no cause rebel James Dean.
Their cocky masculinity, she said
could influence her son,
and spin him around
until he goes off
in the wrong direction.
Years later when I was away at school
Mom tossed my hot rod club jacket
along with my Elvis LP
Mark Scott Smith
This is the song I listened to over and over, standing between my big brother’s towering speakers.
Well, Be-bop a-Lula, to you, little guy. Don’t Be Cruel showcased his amazing Bing Crosby larynx. My boyhood Elvis moment came in early ’56 when he sang Heartbreak Hotel on the Dorsey Bros tv show. James & I were mesmerized with Heartbreak Hotel. The floodgates were opened; there was no way of stopping rock ‘n roll from that moment.
If you missed the final episode of Ray Donovan, it’s worth watching when Elvis sings You Will Never Walk Alone. Turn up the volume
Actually Be-Bop a Lula was by Gene Vincent – https://youtu.be/vDU9FP5_B2M
Elvis did a cover, as did a number of people.
Here’s the Elvis version. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H9T7427EbI Spoiler alert!! Scene opens with Ray’s girlfriend walking to join him, not knowing Ray just killed her father because he knocked up Ray’s sister decades earlier which led to her suicide. Alternate scene has Ray’s brother walking around a balcony o a skyscraper contemplating suicide because his personal life is in shambles and his MS has advanced beyond his toleration. So actually, many people do walk alone.
Hi, Mark – Heartbreak Hotel was the first one that really got me (and Don’t Be Cruel). They
put some sort of echo/reverb effect on Elvis’ guitar which made it sound extra “lonely
baby”.
I love your poem – it’s perfect. It’s difficult to understand in a way how your Mom
could toss your jacket and Elvis record – those were treasures! However, I can see
where those three guys you mentioned were scary role models for moms to
behold. Doug F. is right as we all realized: “rock n’roll is here to stay” and g’bless
Alan Freed and Dick Clark !! (and also Jean Shepard – having not much to do with
rock but up on everything else in the universe if you could stay up till 11:30)… but the
first slow dance (I blushingly told my mom) was to The Great Pretender by the Platters
(dorky name -great singers
Thank you, Mark for sharing your memory of a great moment.
https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/g32668583/elvis-presley-life-in-photos/