“SHAKE, RATTLE & TURN THAT NOISE DOWN!
How Elvis Shook Up Music, Me and Mom”
Mark Alan Stamaty
The first time I ever heard an Elvis Presley record, “Hound Dog” – at age 8 in 1956 - it swept me up in a feeling of pure joy, got me moving and dancing instantly like nothing I’d ever heard before. I turned up my radio full blast and let the music take me away.
It wasn’t long before my mother appeared in my room in a state of frantic hysteria. “STOP IT! STOP IT! TURN THAT DOWN!” she screamed, “I CAN”T STAND IT! ARE YOU CRAZY?! WHAT IS THAT?!”
“That’s Elvis Presley”, I said as I lowered the volume. “He’s a new singer,”
“Elvis WHO?! A WHAT?!” she replied. “HE’S NOT A SINGER! THAT’S NOT MUSIC! THAT’S THE WAILING OF A LUNATIC ASYLUM!”
Thus went the initial entry of Elvis into our home. How we eventually bridged this gap is the story of my new book: SHAKE, RATTLE & TURN THAT NOISE DOWN!
Truly a labor of love, this very personal recounting of Elvis’ impact on our family is also something of a lesson in music history, popular culture and the magnificence of Elvis.
There is a famous quote from John Lennon: “Before Elvis, there was nothing.”
I know, of course, that this statement is factually and absurdly incorrect. Before Elvis, there was, unquestionably, a very long line of great musicians, composers, singers, bandleaders, etc. Elvis himself readily admitted he did not have the musical ability of many artists who came before him, like Fats Domino and legendary blues singer Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup.
On the other hand, I understand exactly what John Lennon meant when he said what he said. I lived it, I felt it and I agree with him 100%. John Lennon was talking about his experience growing up in England. I had a very similar experience growing up in New Jersey. Before Elvis came along, the popular music available to me through my creme-colored plastic AM radio was, on the whole, very tame. The big stars of the day were singers like Patti Page and Perry Como, whose gently soothing melodies echoed the big band music of my parents’ youth. Before Elvis, there was no apparent way for a kid like me to be exposed to blues, rhythm & blues or rock ‘n’ roll. I wasn’t looking for it, because I didn’t even know it existed.
Elvis was a revelation and, once he broke through, along with him came lots of other great rock ‘n’ rollers like Little Richard, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis and so many more who would give me so much happiness. Popular music was never the same again, right up to our present time.
And I would like the children of today to have some understanding of who Elvis was, why his name is still so well-known and how many other great rock ‘n’ rollers there were who came into mainstream popularity once Elvis bridged the gap.
The most important thing about Elvis to me was the way his music made me feel. When I sat down to write and illustrate this book, I drew upon that very same feeling. A feeling of love, joy and celebration of life. I took great care and I took the time - (my editor can attest to that) - to try to get it as “right” as I could, to try to infuse every page with that deeply felt feeling. I hope you will see my book and I hope you will enjoy it.
Mark Alan Stamaty
December, 2009
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