The Million Dollar Quartet

Tommy Towery

LHS '64

The hit jukebox musical Million Dollar Quartet is currently bringing the legendary 1956 rock 'n' roll jam session to life on stage at Theatre Memphis (performing on the Lohrey Stage). Set inside Sun Studio, the production captures the historic, spontaneous meeting of music icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins, featuring live performances of classic hits like "Blue Suede Shoes," "Great Balls of Fire," and "Walk the Line."

The Killer Comes to Huntsville -

Jerry Lee Lewis Rocks the Madison County Coliseum,

April 11, 1964

Willard Finkbinder

On the evening of April 11, 1964, North Alabama music fans had an opportunity to see one of rock and roll's most explosive pioneers when Jerry Lee Lewis brought his "Show & Dance" to the Madison County Coliseum in Huntsville.

Sponsored by VFW Post 2702, the event ran from 8 p.m. until midnight, with advance tickets selling for just $1.50 and admission at the door costing $2.00. In an era before massive arena tours and computerized ticketing, local fans purchased their tickets at neighborhood record stores such as Hornbuckle's Record Shop and Slim's Record Ranch.

Although Lewis remained one of the most electrifying performers in America, the 1964 appearance came at a challenging period in his career. Just six years earlier, his rise to superstardom had been interrupted by controversy surrounding his marriage to thirteen-year-old cousin Myra Gale Brown. When the marriage became public during a 1958 British tour, public reaction was swift and severe, causing concert cancellations and damaging his standing with many mainstream audiences. 

Yet Jerry Lee Lewis never stopped performing. If anything, he became even more intense on stage. By 1964, audiences who came to see him were treated to a hard-driving show from a performer determined to prove he still possessed the fire that had made him famous. Fans heard crowd favorites such as "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On," "Great Balls of Fire," and "Breathless," delivered with the piano-thumping energy that earned him the nickname "The Killer."

For Huntsville residents, the concert offered a chance to witness a living piece of rock-and-roll history. The city was growing rapidly during the space age boom, and national entertainers increasingly found their way to North Alabama. Lewis's appearance connected Huntsville to the exciting and often turbulent world of early rock music.

More than sixty years later, the surviving newspaper advertisement serves as a reminder of a remarkable night when one of music's most controversial and talented performers took the stage at the Madison County Coliseum. For the fortunate fans who spent their Saturday evening there, the memory was undoubtedly worth more than the $2 admission price.

LEE LUNCH BUNCH

We covered boy's hair last week, so this week I thought we might look back at some things dealing with the girls.

The Wayback Machine

"Great Balls of Fire"

Jerry Lee Lewis

Beauty School Dropout" is a song from the musical Grease. It was written by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, and was performed by Frankie Avalon for the film version and soundtrack album.

Last Week's Questions, Answers, And Comments

Delores McBride Kilgore, LHS '66, "Very nice!"