Piano Guidance
Photo by Jess Loiterton Pexels Logo Photo: Jess Loiterton

What was Elvis 1st hit?

The future rock 'n' roll superstar was a young unknown when his debut single, 'That's All Right,' came out J. He would soon change the world. Sixty years ago today, on J, Elvis Presley's first record, "That's All Right," was released.

What is the oldest piano brand?
What is the oldest piano brand?

Sauter is the longest standing piano manufacturer around. They began in 1819 and continue to produce pianos to this day, making them the oldest...

Read More »
Is classical piano difficult?
Is classical piano difficult?

The piano has long been considered one of the more challenging of all musical instruments to learn how to play. With so much to learn to be able to...

Read More »

Sixty years ago today, on July 19, 1954, Elvis Presley's first record, "That's All Right," was released. It was an event that would open the doors to make rock 'n' roll a household name around the world –a nd brought the young singer to San Diego in 1956 (about which more in a moment). Yet, by all accounts, his recording of "That's All Right" came about largely by accident. At the time, the man born in Mississippi as Elvis Aron Presley was a 19-year-old truck driver for Crown Electric in Memphis. On July 5, 1954, he recorded an unremarkable version of the Leon Payne country-music ballad, "I Love You Because," in the Sun Records studio at 706 Union Avenue in Memphis. Sun honcho Sam Phillips was decidedly unimpressed. Then, the man who would soon be known almost everywhere as simply "Elvis" broke into an impromptu version of the blues chestnut "That's All Right." Phillips' eyes lit up, he hit the "record" button and history was made.

Elvis Presley, "That's All Right" (1954)

With bassist Bill Black and guitarist Scotty Moore accompanying Elvis, the song – which was written and recorded in 1946 by blues troubadour Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup – had that certain undefinable magic. It was the aural equivalent of a diamond in the rough, and Phillips knew it. As he had famously mused some time before meeting Elvis: "If I could find a white man who had the Negro sound and the Negro feel, I could make a billion dollars."

Elvis was that man.

Having grown up in Memphis, Presley was steeped in the music of such budding Memphis blues and R&B greats as B.B. King, Rufus Thomas and future San Diegan Ike Turner (who recorded for Sun before Elvis and whose 1951 R&B chart-topper, "Rocket 88," is now regarded as the first bona fide rock 'n' roll hit.) Crudup's song was an Elvis favorite, although it was unknown to most white listeners in what, sadly, was then still a very segregated United States. His version sounded quite similar to Crudup's 1946 recording, right down to the vocal phrasing and scat-singing, but added a country-music lilt. That's no surprise, since Elvis was also heavily inspired by Hank Snow, Jimmie Rodgers, Roy Acuff, Bob Wills and other seminal country artists.

What are the top ten easiest instruments to play?
What are the top ten easiest instruments to play?

The 11 Easiest Musical Instruments to Learn Keyboard. ... Castanets. ... Harmonica. ... DJ Controller. ... The Harp. ... Drums. ... Guitar. ......

Read More »
What is the easiest song to play on a piano?
What is the easiest song to play on a piano?

Seven Easy Piano Songs for Beginners Twinkle Twinkle. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is always popular, especially with young students, but adults who...

Read More »

Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup, "That's All Right" (1946)

Elvis' version of "That's All Right" quickly became a hit in Memphis and then throughout the region. His live performances made an even bigger impact, thanks to his strong voice, matinee idol looks and his penchant for shaking his legs and moving his hips in a sexually suggestive manner. Such gyrations were nothing new for black blues and R&B performers and their fans. But for a white artist to emulate these charged, bump-and-grind moves was unheard of at the time. If one believes the notion that early rock 'n' roll was the sound of sex, in a manner, Elvis' revolutionary impact on his white audience becomes even more palpable. The fact that his first live national TV performances showed him only from the waist up underscored just how much his uninhibited gyrations offended the social mores of the day. His next Sun single, or 45, as singles were also known, was an energetic remake of the Wynonie Harris R&B classic, "Good Rockin' Tonight." It reaffirmed that Elvis was the man who would introduce millions of young white listeners here and abroad to the vibrant joys of black American music, even if few in his rapidly expanding audience knew it at the time. More regional hits came. In mid-1955, Elvis made the national charts for the first time, reaching No. 10 on the Billboard Country charts with his version of the Arthur Gunter-penned "Baby Let's Play House." It took until 1956 for Elvis to get on the pop charts, which he did with no fewer than 11 consecutive Top 40 hits, including the chart-topping "Heartbreak Hotel," "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You," "Don't Be Cruel," "Hound Dog," and "Love Me Tender." On April 3, 1956, Elvis performed in San Diego for the first time. His appearance on TV's "Milton Berle Show" was filmed here aboard the aircraft carrier USS Hancock. The next two nights found Elvis doing concerts at downtown's San Diego Arena, where he also performed June 6 that same year.

Is 94 BPM music slow?
Is 94 BPM music slow?

Moderato – moderately (86–97 BPM) Allegretto – moderately fast (98–109 BPM) Allegro – fast, quickly and bright (109–132 BPM)

Read More »
Can I buy a piano with ivory keys?
Can I buy a piano with ivory keys?

The short answer to this question is no, you can't buy new pianos with ivory keys anymore. They have been outlawed on new pianos since the 1970s in...

Read More »

"If he puts on the same kind of show that he did last April, I'll arrest him for disorderly conduct," Jansen told the San Diego Union. "I've had enough complaints from parents to assure me that twerp is not doing the kids any good." Elvis performed as scheduled, but the city's Social Services Department later met to debate whether he should be banned from appearing here again. Perhaps not coincidentally, Elvis did not return until 1970, when he made his debut at the San Diego Sports Arena (now known as Viejas Arena). His final concert here was at the same venue on April 24, 1976. He died less than 16 months later, at the age of 42, on Aug. 16, 1977. The impact Elvis had on his generation, and beyond, is undeniable. So was his tragic artistic and physical decline in the years before his death. But the revolution he sparked is still apparent, in ways large and small, and it began exactly 60 years ago with "That's All Right."

Can a song have 2 hooks?
Can a song have 2 hooks?

A song can have multiple hooks, but typically only has one chorus (which is repeated throughout the song). Put another way? The chorus usually...

Read More »
Does Flowkey have full songs?
Does Flowkey have full songs?

If you're someone who already takes lessons and you're just looking for additional help with learning songs, Flowkey would be a great thing to add....

Read More »
Can I teach myself piano keyboard?
Can I teach myself piano keyboard?

Absolutely. While there is no doubt that having a good traditional teacher can be helpful, the fact is you can teach yourself how to play piano /...

Read More »
What's the softest sound a human can hear?
What's the softest sound a human can hear?

Human ear can perceive a very wide range of sound pressure. The softest sound a normal human ear can detect has a pressure variation of 20 micro...

Read More »