It Came from Memphis

Robert Gordon begins where most chroniclers of the music world end and spins a magical fairy tale peopled with Delta bluesmen, a peanut vendor, a matinee cowboy, a professional wrestler, and a manic deejay. It Came From Memphis doesn't focus on Elvis, Al Green, or the Sun/Stax studios. Instead it creeps into the shadows cast by those institutions, concentrating on artists like Jim Dickinson and Alex Chilton, and bands like the MarKeys and Big Star. Gordon limns, with respect and the fascination born of true devotion, the story of white teenagers caught in the middle of an extraordinary confluence of music, entrepreneurship, to usher in an exciting new musical form. The result is a rock 'n' roll and Memphis — its alma mater.

The first book to explore the other, less obvious factors that conspired to make Memphis the birthplace of rock and roll--factors as diverse as TV cowboys, professional wrestlers and Holiday Inns--It Came from Memphis sheds new light on the origin not just of rock music, but the rock and roll lifestyle. 20 photos.

Robert Gordon has written for major music publications in the United States and England, and has contributed to several books. He produced the Al Green CD box set Anthology, and his liner notes were nominatied for a Grammy&@174;. As a filmmaker, he directed the award-winning blues documentary All Day and All Night, and his music video work has appeared on MTV, BET, and CMT. He is the author of a forthcoming biography of Muddy Waters and director of the companion documentary. He lives in Memphis with his wife and two daughters.