MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET

THE NIGHT THAT CHANGED ROCK-N-ROLL FOREVER

You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain
Too much love drives a man insane
You broke my will, oh what a thrill
Goodness gracious great balls of fire

Great Balls of Fire…indeed! I had an absolute ball thoroughly enjoying the rockin’ musical performances of none other than ELVIS PRESLEY, JOHNNY CASH, JERRY LEE LEWIS AND CARL PERKINS!  Broadway’s Million Dollar Quartet tells the story of PASSION, FAME, BETRAYL, and a night to remember. Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley are the Million Dollar Quartet (the Trillion Dollar Quartet in today’s money). Now an international hit musical. It’s the music you remember. The story you will never forget…and you can see it here in Las Vegas at Harrah’s.

THE NIGHT THAT CHANGED ROCK-N-ROLL FOREVER

Once upon a time December 4th, 1956 to be exact, an extraordinary twist of fate brought four of music’s most iconic legends together. The Tony® Award Winning musical Million Dollar Quartet is based on the true story of what happened when Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins ran into each other by pure chance at Sun Record Studios that day.

FAB FACT: The Sun Sound began when Sam Phillips launched his record company in February of 1952. He named it Sun Records as a sign of his perpetual optimism: a new day and a new beginning.

An impromptu jam session happened and the rest as they say is history. Million Dollar Quartet is an irresistible tribute to the tale of broken promises, secrets, betrayal and celebrations that is both poignant and funny. Relive the era with the smash-hit sensation featuring an incredible score of rock ‘n’ roll, gospel, R&B and country hits, performed live onstage by world-class actors and musicians.

FAB FACT: You know what they say about the truth, right? Well there are two versions of what happened that fateful night in December. The story goes that Sam Phillips, head of Sun records, brought Jerry Lee Lewis in to play piano for Carl Perkins, who was working on some new material. Elvis eventually stopped by, as did Johnny Cash. However, in Johnny’s autobiography Cash, he tells the tale a bit differently – he claims he was the first one at the studio that day, not Perkins! Guess we’ll never know for certain but one thing is clear – the results were fantastic!

Million Dollar Quartet showcased hit songs include: “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Fever,” “I Walk the Line,” “Sixteen Tons,” “Who Do You Love?,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” “Hound Dog,” and more.

FAB FACTS:

•  There is some controversy over who wrote “Fever”, but according to Otis Blackwell, he wrote it with Eddie Cooley. Otis Blackwell was a singer/songwriter/pianist, but most well-known for his songwriting. Some famous songs he wrote/co-wrote are “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Great Balls of Fire,” and “All Shook Up.” Cooley was a songwriting partner on many of his songs, and according to Blackwell, they had an agreement that Cooley would split his weekly paycheck as a jeweler with him. They would pen songs together and Blackwell would go to New York City to “hustle” them.

• “Blue Suede Shoes”, was the only Top 40 hit for Perkins on the pop charts, but his influence reaches much further. He was extremely influential to other artists, including Elvis, The Beatles, and Johnny Cash. Perkins was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

•  “I Walk the Line” is One of Johnny Cash’s most famous songs, this song details Johnny Cash’s values and lifestyle. It is a promise to remain faithful to his first wife, Vivian, while he is on the road. Carl Perkins suggested the title “I Walk the Line” while on tour with Cash.

•  “Sixteen Tons,” was written in 1947 by the Country & Western guitarist and songwriter Merle Travis. It is based on his coal miner father, whose favorite saying, “Another day older and deeper in debt,” became part of the chorus.

•  The title “Who Do You Love?” is a play on the word “Hoodoo,” which is a folk religion similar to Voodoo and also popular in the American South. Many blues musicians mentioned Hoodoo in their songs and like Diddley, conjured up images of the skulls, snakes and graveyards.

•  Like Lewis’ previous hit, “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” “Great Balls of Fire” contained a lot of sexual innuendo, which was shocking for a southern musician in 1957. Lewis grew up in a religious household and was conflicted over whether or not he should record this. He and Sun Records owner Sam Phillips argued as Phillips tried to convince him to sing it. Tape was rolling during the spat and the exchange can be heard on some Sun Records collections.

•  “Folsom Prison Blues” is an American country music song credited to Johnny Cash. The song combines elements from two popular folk genres, the train song and the prison song, both of which Cash would continue to use for the rest of his career. It has become one of Cash’s signature songs and the most notable song on Cash’s “At Folsom Prison” album which is widely considered to be one of the top 100 albums of all time.

•  Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog,” was released as a single with “Don’t Be Cruel.” It is the only single to have both sides reach #1 in the US. 

THEY CAME TOGETHER TO MAKE HISTORY. THEY ENDED UP MAKING HISTORY.

This thrilling musical brings you inside the recording studio with four major talents who came together as a red-hot rock ‘n’ roll band for one unforgettable night. Don’t miss your chance to be a fly on the wall of fame… at MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET!

In fact, I was so inspired as a Las Vegas event planner by this musical that I am already in the midst of creating a new Destination Fabulous Couture Event tentatively titled: The Fabulous 50’s. The synopsis goes like this –Soda Shop Party, Hop Drive-In, Sock Hop, Hopelessly Devoted, Rock Around the Clock  Calling all you grease monkeys and beauty school dropouts, cruise on over for a blast from the past! The perfect theme for the lover of Fabulous 50’s Music. The perfect theme for your milestone events. It’s always fun to take a step back in time.  The fifties were a fabulous time and a 50’s party is great fun. So let’s get started!

Fabulously devoted to you,

Belinda