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City (Civic) Auditorium Clarksdale, MS is located 75 miles south of Memphis down Highway 61 in the heart of the Mississippi Delta. Many famed blues musicians found their calling in the delta of this region and the proverbial crossroads there at Highway 61 and 49 had long been recognized in folklore as the place referred to by Robert Johnson in his "Crossroad Blues." It was where according to blues legend one could meet Satan at midnight and sell their soul, a myth perpetuated by claims made by Tommy Johnson and for years attributed to Robert. Clarksdale is also home to the "Riverside hotel" that was originally the hospital where blues singer Bessie Smith died after a car accident in 1937.
W.C. Handy, often regarded as "Father of the Blues," lived for a time in Clarksdale prior to moving his band to Memphis where he wrote "Memphis Blues" and established his presence on Beale St. Muddy Waters (McKinley Morganfield) lived and worked on the Stovall plantation near Clarksdale prior to leaving for Chicago via the Clarksdale Station in 1943 to make his name in Blues. It was also the birthplace and home to Ike Turner, who along with Jackie Brenston recorded "Rocket 88" with Sam Phillips in Memphis, a song recognized by some to be the first recorded Rock 'n Roll song.
The Civic Auditorium at 506 East Second St. in Clarksdale was originally built in 1939 with funds in part from the Works Project Administration. The facility has two meeting rooms and the auditorium has a seating capacity of 1500.
On January 12, 1955 Elvis, Scotty and Bill performed at the Auditorium at what was billed as their "First Time in the Delta," (referred to as the Clarksdale Auditorium) though according to unsubstantiated reports by Bill E. Burk in "Early Elvis: the Sun Years" they had reputedly appeared at the Auditorium sometime in late 1954. Bill wrote, "perhaps the worst attendance was Elvis’ first appearance in Clarksdale, Mississippi, just down U.S. Highway 61 from Memphis, in the heart of the Mississippi Delta. Martha Coleman said at the end of his first perfomance in late 1954 in Clarksdale, Elvis said he wanted to 'thank all three of you for comin'.'" 1 Peter Guralnick wrote in Elvis Day by Day that the January 12th show marked the known beginning of two weeks of touring with Jim Ed and Maxine Brown. Bob Neal has booked the tour and appears as MC at all the shows. The Browns are a highly polished brother--and--sister country act and in many locations attract a majority of the crowd.2 Bob Neal, recently taken over as manager of the band, also shared the stage as a comedian. The Browns though had previously been billed with them as early as December the previous year just across the river in Helena.
The Browns had first worked with Elvis, Scotty and Bill at the Louisiana Hayride in 1954 where Maxine and her brother, Jim Ed, were already members of the Hayride, having been propelled to the Shreveport-based radio show by their recent hit, "Looking Back to See." Bob Neal, contacted their booking agent, Tom Perryman, who then packaged the two acts together for a 15-day tour. On some dates, The Browns headlined, but that didn't last for long, Maxine said with a chuckle.3
On March 10, 1955, Elvis, Scotty and Bill performed again at the Civic Auditorium (advertised as the "City Auditorium"). According to Lee Cotten in "Did Elvis Sing in Your Hometown?," the show again featured humor from Bob Neal and songs from Jimmy Work and Betty Amos. It was emceed by “Fiddling” Bill Cantrell, a local favorite.4
Born in Akron, OH, in 1924, Jimmy Work moved to Kentucky at the age of 2. At 6 he started playing guitar. Singing and song writing came naturally to Jimmy who never had a lesson in his life. In 1949 he joined WCAR in Pontiac, Michigan and in 1948 started making records. His first, "Tennessee Border," turned out to be a hit and and really started Jimmy on his way. He had guested on the WLS Barn Dance, WWVA Jamboree, KWKH Louisiana Hayride, WFAA Saturday night Shindig and the Grand Ole Opry.5
Betty Amos was a country and rockabilly singer, born and raised near Roanoke, Virginia. Known also to be a bit of a comedienne while on stage, in the 1950s, she was recording with the Mercury label and also appearing on the Louisiana Hayride.6 In 1950, both she and Martha Carson were the backing ensemble to Bill Carlisle and though unrelated were billed as the Carlisles.
On that day, Peter Guralnick reports that Bob Neal complains to the Colonel that Elvis' fee is too low and receives a scathing telegram in return. The Colonel informs Neal in no uncertain terms that he can either accept the older man's expertise or go his own way. It might be possible, he lectures Neal, to get $500 for certain scattered dates, but it is impossible to get this sum every night of a two--week tour. The Colonel is paying Elvis $250 in locations that he has already played and can be counted on to draw a crowd, and $175 for shows in new territory. "I would like to have a telegram from you immediately," the Colonel concludes, "which way do you want it to go: your way, the way Elvis wants it, or the way I have set it up? It is immaterial to me." 2
Through the summer of 1955, they would share many other dates with the Browns. Jimmy Work's "That's What Makes the Jukebox Play" became a number six single in the summer of 1955 and he too would share a few more with Elvis, Scotty and Bill. He continued playing dates, recording, and writing songs; occasionally he would experiment with new sounds, as with his rockabilly-style cover of "Rock Island Line," issued in the wake of English skiffle king Lonnie Donegan's hit version (which charted in America). Work wasn't a rockabilly player or a rock & roller, however, and the rise of the new music took away just enough of the impetus from country music in general that he eventually was forced to give up the music business. He sold real estate and cut some singles. By 1959, he returned to a job as a millwright though kept his hand in songwriting signing with the Acuff-Rose organization.7
Today, the Civic Auditorium is still in use and Clarksdale is home to the Delta Blues Museum, built in the former train station. page added September 15, 2009 Special thanks James A. Lindsey of Merigold, MS for his input and to AEK's batcave for his clarification of the Robert/Tommy Johnson soul selling legend.
1 excerpt from "Early
Elvis: The Sun Years" by Bill E. Burk
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All photos on this site (that we didn't borrow) unless otherwise indicated are the property of either Scotty Moore or James V. Roy and unauthorized use or reproduction is prohibited. |
On September 8th, 1955, the boys performed at the
auditorium in Clarksdale for the last time. This show also featured
Johnny Cash, new to SUN with his growing hit "Cry Cry Cry."
