Elvis Presley
Remembering D.J. Fontana, The Drummer For Elvis Presley's Band
Fontana, who died Wednesday, played on some of Presley's biggest hits, including "Blue Suede Shoes," "Hound Dog" and "All Shook Up." Originally broadcast in 1987.
Tom Petty To 'Fresh Air': 'The Songs Mean A Lot To People, And It Means A Lot To Me'
Tom Petty, leader of The Heartbreakers and member of The Traveling Wilburys, died Monday night from cardiac arrest. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee was 66 years old.
Jerry Leiber: Remembering One Of Rock's Great Songwriters
Leiber, the lyricist behind "Jailhouse Rock," "Yakety Yak" and "Stand By Me," died Monday. He was 78. Fresh Air remembers the songwriter with excerpts from a 1991 interview with Leiber and his songwriting partner Mike Stoller.
Elvis Is Back (And Now Reissued)
Elvis Presley is constantly being discovered by new generations, and by older fans in new stages of life. Critic Milo Miles talks about the surprise rewards he found while listening to the new reissue Elvis Is Back! — and during his first visit to Graceland in Memphis.
Wanda Jackson: Getting The 'Party' Started.
The Queen of Rockabilly has just released a new album with Jack White of The White Stripes. In 2003, Jackson sat down with Terry Gross to explain why she switched from country to rock.
This interview was originally broadcast on Nov. 3, 2003.
New Memoir Describes Elvis Friendship
Elvis Presley confidant Jerry Schilling talks about his new book, Me and a Guy Named Elvis: My Lifelong Friendship with Elvis Presley. When Schilling was 12 years old, he met the teenaged Elvis Presley at a north Memphis pickup football game. As Presley rose to fame, Schilling joined him on the rise, eventually becoming creative affairs director for Elvis Presley Enterprises.
Music Writer Peter Guralnick
Music writer Peter Guralnick is the author of a two-volume biography of Elvis Presley: Last Train to Memphis and Careless Love. This interview first aired October 4, 1994.
Sun Studios founder Sam Phillips
Sun Studios founder Sam Phillips. He is revered as one of the leading catalysts in post WW II American music. As a record producer in the 1950s and 60s his recordings launched the careers of Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis and thats just to name a few.
Music writer Peter Guralnick
Music writer Peter Guralnick on volume two of his biography of Elvis Presley. Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley.
Scotty Moore
Guitarist and record producer Scotty Moore, was Elvis Presley's first guitarist and manager and one of the early influences of the rock guitar sound. He co-wrote an account of his work with the King of Rock'n'Roll, entitled That's Alright, Elvis