MEMPHIS, Tenn. — At Sun Studio, the song “That’s Alright” gave birth to Rock ‘n Roll on July 5, 1954 and launched the music careers of Elvis Presley, along with Bill Black on string bass and a guitarist named Scotty Moore.
WREG spoke with Moore in 2004 on the 50th anniversary of the Elvis song that changed music.
“Bill and I were about to go to work, about to go home. We had to go to work the next day and that’s when Elvis stood up and started singing “That’s Alright.” Neither one of us knew the song and I don’t know to this day if he was trying to impress Sam(Phillips) because it was in his publishing company or just nervous energy.”
Almost 62 years later, Sun Studio tour guide and musician Jason Freeman channels the sharp yet graceful guitar style that Moore revolutionized.
“I think you could arguably say Scotty Moore was one of the most influential guitarists of the 20th Century. It’s not a big statement, it’s the truth,” Freeman said.
Moore’s bright guitar licks and fluid solos were the perfect compliments to Presley’s strumming rhythm guitar and Black’s hard-slapping standup bass.
“Personality wise, he was a quiet, humbled, reserved person, but the guitar, when you heard the guitar it jumped out of the speakers at you and nobody sounded like that,” Freeman said.
It’s a sound Memphis tourists such as Bob Gold loved all the way across the pond in London on songs such as “Hound Dog”, “Jail House Rock” and “Heartbreak Hotel.”
“He was also a legend, along with Elvis. He played on so many of the early releases and one of the foundation members of the Rock ‘n Roll scene of the 1950s,” Gold said.
Moore, a music pioneer and innovator, whose guitar sound helped give Elvis the foundation on which he developed a fresh blend of blues, gospel and country.
It’s a musical blend that came to be called Rock `n’ Roll.
“I think you could say if it had not been for Scotty Moore and his sound and support, maybe Elvis wouldn’t be the legend that he is today,” Freeman said.
Moore’s legacy will live on through music and film.
Moore will be portrayed in the upcoming CMT TV series called “Million Dollar Quartet,” which is being shot in Memphis.