What We’re Watching: Sun Studio Sessions
In 1951, Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats (featuring Ike Turner on keyboards) recorded “Rocket 88” at Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee. This is considered by most rock historians as the first rock and roll single and it’s led to Sun Studio being thought of as the birthplace of rock and roll. The studio that rock pioneer Sam Phillips started helped to launch the careers of Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis and many more over the years. Now PBS has launched a new public television series called Sun Studio Sessions.
Currently KUT is working on our own music television show called Sessions at the Cactus Cafe with the ESPN Longhorn Network. We’ve filmed performances with Dale Watson and his Lonestars, Slaid Cleaves, Graham Weber and David Ramirez. We’re not ready to share these with you just yet but in the meantime we thought you’d enjoy these Sun Studio Sessions that PBS is working on right now as it’s What We’re Watching.
