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MEMPHIS HEROES AWARDS FIRST
ANNUAL MEMPHIS HEROES AWARDS 1/20/2004 press release courtesy the Memphis chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS): and EPE. Inc April 13 - Memphis Heroes Awards 2004
The Memphis Chapter's first annual Heroes Awards, planned for April 13 at the Cannon Center of Performing Arts, will honor Elvis' first bandmates, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Scotty Moore, Bill Black and D.J. Fontana; GRAMMY Award-winning musician/bandleader Ike Turner; GRAMMY Award-winning multi-instrumentalist Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown; and indie rock band Big Star. The Heroes Awards begin at 7:30 p.m. with live performances, awards and video tributes. Artists participating in the event include Ronnie McDowell, GRAMMY winners the Jordanaires; GRAMMY winner John D. Loudermilk; Mike Mills, bass player for GRAMMY-winning band R.E.M.; and three-time W.C. Handy Award winner Joe Louis Walker. Tickets are currently available at all Ticketmaster locations, online at ticketmaster.com or by phone at 901.525.1515. The Peabody Hotel is offering Memphis Heroes Awards attendees a special rate. For information, call Sarah Carroll at the Memphis Chapter office.
Much as 2003 was deemed the Year of the Blues to celebrate 100 years of the blues, Memphis will celebrate 50 years of rock and roll in 2004. On July 5, 1954, Elvis Presley, Scotty and Bill's recording of "That's All Right," produced by Sam Phillips for his Sun Records, hit the airwaves and began a musical revolution. All three musicians made stellar contributions to the track by shedding their inhibitions, by mixing country and blues and going into new territory. D. J. Fontana was added to the band in 1955. They are widely acknowledged as the first great rock and roll band, influencing rockers of later generations, including the Beatles and Rolling Stones. In March 1951, Clarksdale, Mississippi-born teenager Ike Turner and his band, the Kings of Rhythm, traveled to Memphis to record at Sam Phillips' Sun Studio. Their original tune "Rocket 88" was recorded and released with a lead vocal by sax player Jackie Brenston under the name Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats. "Rocket 88" zoomed to the top of the R&B charts and is today regarded by many critics as the first true rock and roll record. Louisiana-born, Texas-raised multi-instrumentalist and GRAMMY winner Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown is an unclassifiable American original who has been dishing up his unique blend of blues, R&B, country, jazz and Cajun music for more than 50 years. A virtuoso on guitar, violin, harmonica, mandolin, viola and even drums, Gatemouth has influenced performers as diverse as Albert Collins, Frank Zappa, Lonnie Brooks, Eric Clapton and Joe Louis Walker. The quintessential American power pop band Big Star remains one of the most mythic and influential cult acts in all of rock and roll. The group's three studio albums are listed in Rolling Stone magazine's "500 Greatest Albums Of All Time," and their influence on subsequent generations of indie bands such as R.E.M., the Replacements and the dBs is enormous. Their song "In The Street" (as recorded by Cheap Trick) was chosen for the theme of the television sitcom "That '70s Show." The Heroes Awards will be recorded for television and will feature presentations and performances by historic and contemporary artists influenced by these musical pioneers. courtesy N.A.R.A.S. Memphis site
The Heroes Awards celebrate legends in the music industry, acknowledging those artists who have made a lasting impact to the world of music and popular culture. Just as Memphis’ musical history encompasses an array of genres, the selected honorees represented diverse backgrounds. Those whose outstanding careers were recognized included Elvis Presley’s bandmates Scotty Moore, D.J. Fontana, and the late Bill Black; power pop band Big Star; soul icon Ike Turner; and the blues octogenarian Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown.
The audience was treated to live performances, video tributes and presentations to the honorees by their friends and fellow musicians. Music lovers, fans, business leaders music executives and entertainers from across the country were in attendance. Mike Mills, a member of the alternative rock band R.E.M., touted the influence of Big Star, while presenting the first award to the under-acclaimed Memphis band. "If you’re a fan of rock and roll, even if you haven’t heard of Big Star, you owe them, because I guarantee you, any band you like did hear of them and listened to them, and do their best to do as well as they did,” Mills said. Big Star performed one of their most notable hits, “In The Street,” which garnered even more fame when it was covered by Cheap Trick to be the theme song to “That ’70s Show.”
Elvis’ dream team and bandmates, guitarist Scotty Moore, bassist
Bill Black, and drummer D. J. Fontana, were next to receive their
awards. Black’s children accepted his award on their late father’s
behalf. Ronnie McDowell, Joe Louis Walker, and the Jordanaires
accompanied Moore and Fontana during their musical performances, which
included the bluesy rock love-lost anthem “Heartbreak Hotel” and
Elvis’ signature version of the gospel classic “How Great Thou
Art.” Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown closed the evening with his unique brand of Louisiana- and Texas-rooted blues that utilizes country, rock and roll, soul, swing, jazz, Cajun, and Brown’s talent as a multi-instrumentalist. Turner presented Brown with his award and noted that Brown was the only guitar player he ever paid attention to.
Brown performed the up-tempo swing ballad “Take The ‘A’ Train.” He also silenced the audience when he held a single, haunting high note on his violin for at least a minute that seemed to cry out to the room. Recording Academy President Neil Portnow summed the show up with one great statement, “This isn’t just Memphis history. It isn’t just music history. This is world history...[and] we celebrate the unique power that music has to unite all of us.” Special thanks go to Memphis Heroes Awards Presenting Sponsor Gibson Musical Instruments/Baldwin Pianos, and all sponsors including WREG Channel 3, Graceland, Phillips Recording, Spin Street, Memphis Flyer, Memphis Radio Group, Blues Ball/Memphis Charitable Foundation, Pinpoint Printing, Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau, The Peabody Hotel, Another Roadside Attraction, Henry Turley Company, Memphis Marriott Downtown, Sun Studio, Northwest Airlink, Running Pony Productions, Ardent Studios, Select-O-Hits, Huey's, AMRO Music, BMI and Eskridge & Eskridge Law Firm. courtesy N.A.R.A.S. Memphis site |
