Saturday Night Jamboree
 |
|
|---|---|
| Radio show from Memphis, Tennessee | |
| publication | 1953-1954 |
| production | KWEM |
| Contributors | |
| Moderation | Joe Manuel |
The Saturday Night Jamboree was an American country show that was broadcast by KWEM in Memphis , Tennessee .
history
Beginnings
The idea of the Saturday Night Jamborees came from country musician Joe Manuel. Manuel had been a professional in the music business since the 1930s and could be heard on the radio every day. After the rise of the Grand Ole Opry , Manuel decided to start such a show as well. The first show was held in 1953 with Joe Manuel and Marcus Van Story and his band in the Goodwyn Institute Auditorium .
successes
The Saturday Night Jamboree quickly became a popular radio show in Memphis. After other shows, young musicians began to join the show and the number of members grew rapidly. The young Elvis Presley made his first public appearances there in 1953, also Johnny Cash , who was still playing country gospel with Luther Perkins and Marshall Grant at that time . The Saturday Night Jamboree may be the first place ever to play the music that later became known as rockabilly . Other well-known musicians who performed in the Jamboree included Eddie Bond , Ray Harris , Johnny & Dorsey Burnette , Charlie Feathers and Jack Earls .
After a friend of Manuel's, ME Ellis, took over management, the auditorium had to be closed for six months for renovation work. In addition, most of the musicians on the Saturday Night Jamborees were signed to record labels and toured, so Manuel decided to discontinue the show in late 1954. He died of cancer in 1959.
Guests and members
|
Web links
- Entry into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame