July 19 marks the 70th anniversary of the launch of Elvis Presley’s recording career. On that day in 1954, famed Memphis, Tennessee, label Sun Records released the future King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s debut single, “That’s All Right.”
“That’s All Right” was a song written and originally recorded by Delta blues singer/songwriter and guitarist Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup in 1946. Presley record his version of the song on July 5, 1954, while doing a session with guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black.
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The 19-year-old Presley had been introduced to Moore by Sun Records owner Sam Phillips, who recently had used Elvis as a session singer on a demo recording Although the session was unsuccessful, Phillips recognized Presley’s raw talent, and he thought he and Moore, who played guitar in a local group called The Starlight Wranglers, might work well together. Moore, in turn, introduced Presley to Black.
Phillips invited the trio to record a series of tunes at Sun, and after they rehearsed on July 4, 1954, they headed to the studio the following night.
The Recording of “That’s All Right”
Presley, Moore, and Black had prepared a number of ballads to record, but during a break in the session, Elvis started goofing around and singing “That’s All Right.” The other two then joined in. For his impromptu rendition, Presley sang in a unique vocal style that he’d never tried before.
In an interview quoted in the liner notes of the A Boy from Tupelo box set, Presley noted, “I never sang like that in my life, until I made that first record. … I remember that song because I heard Arthur sing it, and I thought I would like to try it. That was it.”
When Phillips heard what Elvis and the guys were doing, he encouraged them to record a serious version of the song.
“That’s All Right” Gets Local Radio Airplay
Impressed by the recording, Phillips brought it to local DJ Dewey Phillips, who played the track on his station, WHBQ, on July 8. It got a huge response, and Presley was brought into the station that same night for an interview.
Presley Records “Blue Moon of Kentucky”
With an apparent hit on their hands, Sam Phillips brought Presley, Moore, and Black back to Sun studio to record a B-side, although they had nothing prepared. During the session, Black began fooling around with a revved-up version of the Bill Monroe bluegrass classic “Blue Moon of Kentucky,” and Presley joined in on vocals and acoustic guitar. Phillips thought their version of the tune song sounded great and unique, and Presley had his B-side.
Release of “That’s All Right”
Sun released “That’s All Right” backed with “Blue Moon of Kentucky” on July 19, 1954. The songs combined elements of country and blues, the basic ingredients of early rock ‘n’ roll.
“That’s All Right” became a local hit in Arkansas, Mississippi, and New Orleans. Presley’s meteoric rise to superstardom was about to begin.
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