"Million Dollar Quartet" Reviewed

Above, the Sun Studio Cafe with the "Million Dollar Quartet". Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last November, I took a tour of the famous Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee. It was the studio where Elvis Presley was discovered.

At the studio, several large photos of the "Million Dollar Quartet" decorated the inside and outside. It was of a jam session that included Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis.

In Edinburgh, Scotland, there is currently a musical play about this historic jam session and it is reviewed by The Edinburgh Reporter.

They wrote:

1956 was a memorable year. Not only did Hearts win the Scottish Cup (come on, I need something to lift my spirits) but at the end of the year there was a chance meeting of four of the greatest musicians ever to grace this planet. 

Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley were all in the studios of Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee. The owner of Sun Records, Sam Phillips was desperate to keep many of his rising stars under his wing although he sold the rights to Elvis to RCA Records the previous year. Thus, on a December day in 1956, they all played an impromptu set at Phillips’ studio. It was the only time these four legends played together. 

Based on the book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux, Million Dollar Quartet tells the story of this incredible meeting This fabulous musical is on at the Edinburgh Playhouse all this week and is, quite simply, brilliant.

When I spotted the title of the review, I thought the review was for the CD recording of the jam session. I bought a copy at Sun Studio. The CD has been available for several years and it is fascinating to listen to.

To read more, go here.