Bill Clinton, Memphis, and Ghosts of Rock and Roll
Memphis, TN - In case you missed it, I recently recorded some new music. Last time I recorded, I did it here in Bossier City, but Donna and I wanted to try something different this time. So, with Donna's encouragement, she and I and Jimmy Shanks traveled up to Memphis, Tennessee to record two songs in the famed Sun Studios, otherwise known as the birthplace of Rock and Roll.
In 1953 or so, a no-name kid named Elvis Presley walked through the door of Sun Studios and the rest is history as they say. The studio itself is rather dumpy. It is a small, unimpressive room, but a powerful room nonetheless when you consider the likes of Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and others recorded in the same room. Being the musician I am, I and many others hold the place in a sort of reverance.
After the last tour group went through, we went to work recording with producer James Lott. For the first hour or so it was a rather normal recording session.
Until we took our first break.
We wandered over into the gift shop which is next door to the recording studio. While standing there, I noticed a large limousine parked outside. Right when I noticed it, a man in a suit approached the door of the gift shop and began talking to James Lott. The conversation went something like this.
Man: Are you guys gonna be here a while?
James: Sure. Why?
Man: Would you mind having a special guest?
James: That depends. Who it it?
Man: Bill Clinton.
James: Bill Clinton?!
Man: Yeah, he's in town and wanted to see Sun Studios.
So, for a short time, it appeared Bill Clinton was going to drop in on my recording session. But, of course, it was not to happen. The owner of the studio, who as it turns out is a roaring drunk, showed up at the studio about two hours later right when the limo driver came by to see if Bill Clinton could still come by. When the limo driver saw the sauced owner, beligerently asking where Clinton was, I'm pretty sure he went back to Bill Clinton and said "maybe next time."
Perhaps its better that he didnt show up though. After all, we were paying an hourly rate. Had he shown up, however, I would have most assuredly gotten him to play a saxophone solo. I didnt really need Bill Clinton though because a masterful Memphis saxophone player named Jim Spake cut some tracks for us. Jim is well known in the Memphis area and even played with Ray Charles once many moons ago. (Which is more times than I did, for sure.)
We finished the two songs sans Bill Clinton, mastered them, and went and ate breakfast at some 24 hour diner. The two songs we recorded were "New Orleans Girl" which Donna and I wrote, and "Everybody's Dreaming" which I wrote as a testament to all the thousand of people I have crossed paths with through the years who endeavor and dream to do great things.
All in all, the Memphis recording experience was perfect. We had barbecue the next day on Beal Street and headed down the road with the new songs. You can listen to them at www.winstonhallmusic.com and order them at cdbaby.com.
That's the story of my life...
In 1953 or so, a no-name kid named Elvis Presley walked through the door of Sun Studios and the rest is history as they say. The studio itself is rather dumpy. It is a small, unimpressive room, but a powerful room nonetheless when you consider the likes of Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and others recorded in the same room. Being the musician I am, I and many others hold the place in a sort of reverance.
After the last tour group went through, we went to work recording with producer James Lott. For the first hour or so it was a rather normal recording session.
Until we took our first break.
We wandered over into the gift shop which is next door to the recording studio. While standing there, I noticed a large limousine parked outside. Right when I noticed it, a man in a suit approached the door of the gift shop and began talking to James Lott. The conversation went something like this.
Man: Are you guys gonna be here a while?
James: Sure. Why?
Man: Would you mind having a special guest?
James: That depends. Who it it?
Man: Bill Clinton.
James: Bill Clinton?!
Man: Yeah, he's in town and wanted to see Sun Studios.
So, for a short time, it appeared Bill Clinton was going to drop in on my recording session. But, of course, it was not to happen. The owner of the studio, who as it turns out is a roaring drunk, showed up at the studio about two hours later right when the limo driver came by to see if Bill Clinton could still come by. When the limo driver saw the sauced owner, beligerently asking where Clinton was, I'm pretty sure he went back to Bill Clinton and said "maybe next time."
Perhaps its better that he didnt show up though. After all, we were paying an hourly rate. Had he shown up, however, I would have most assuredly gotten him to play a saxophone solo. I didnt really need Bill Clinton though because a masterful Memphis saxophone player named Jim Spake cut some tracks for us. Jim is well known in the Memphis area and even played with Ray Charles once many moons ago. (Which is more times than I did, for sure.)
We finished the two songs sans Bill Clinton, mastered them, and went and ate breakfast at some 24 hour diner. The two songs we recorded were "New Orleans Girl" which Donna and I wrote, and "Everybody's Dreaming" which I wrote as a testament to all the thousand of people I have crossed paths with through the years who endeavor and dream to do great things.
All in all, the Memphis recording experience was perfect. We had barbecue the next day on Beal Street and headed down the road with the new songs. You can listen to them at www.winstonhallmusic.com and order them at cdbaby.com.
That's the story of my life...
posted by Winston A. Hall at 10:18 AM
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