The birth of rock’n’roll revisited at Sun Records

The official Sun Records Concert Show comes to Kings Theatre, Portsmouth on Sunday, May 15.

Recognised worldwide as the birthplace of rock and roll, Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee, is famed for discovering the pioneers of rock’n’roll – Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison to name but a few.

The story of Sun has been the subject of TV documentaries, books and stage shows. But this concert focuses on the groundbreaking music that emanated from the famed recording studio, according to concert show producer Pete Tobit.

Pete says: ‘During the fifties, the trailblazing Sun Studio created the songs that became the template of rock’n’roll. That’s Alright Mama, Great Balls of Fire, I Walk the Line, Whole Lotta Shakin’, Blue Suede Shoes and Good Rockin’ Tonight were all original Sun recordings.

‘Musical visionary Sam Phillips crafted the distinctive sound we know and love today from gospel, blues, hillbilly, country, boogie and western swing. Sun Records, The Concert takes the audience right inside the studio where the magic happened and lets the music do the talking.’

The fast-moving production’s eye for detail – it has been rehearsed in an exact replica of the Sun Recording studio and features the original musical instruments of the era with a youthful cast of consummate musicians – has gained the official stamp of approval of Sun.

John Singleton, president of the Sun Entertainment Corporation says: ‘From the record label that invented rock ’n’ roll, Sun Records The Concert is the only production officially endorsed by Sun Records.’

Go to kingsportsmouth.co.uk.