J.M. Van Eaton interview and music!- Rockabilly N Blues Radio Hour 10-5-15

Legendary Sun Records drummer J.M. Van Eaton is our guest this episode.  We spin tunes and hear stories about many of the artists he's worked with such as Jerry Lee Lewis, Billy Lee Riley, Charlie Rich, Bill Justis, Roy Orbison, Warren Smith, Johnny Cash, Charlie Feathers and some of his own instrumental and vocal tunes as well.  This is one you don't want to miss!  Hear stories from someone that helped shape the backbeat of Rock & Roll!

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Intro Voice Over- Rob "Cool Daddy" Dempsey

Warren Smith- "Uranium Rock"

Interview segment 1

Billy Lee Riley and his Little Green Men- "Flyin' Saucers Rock & Roll"

Segment 2

Billy Lee Riley and his Little Green Men- "Red Hot"

Segment 3

Jerry Lee Lewis- "Crazy Arms"

Segment 4

Jerry Lee Lewis- "Breathless"

Segment 5

Jerry Lee Lewis- "Don't Be Cruel"

Segment 6

Charlie Rich- "Philadelphia Baby"

Segment 7

Roy Orbison- "Claudette"

Segment 8

Bill Justis- "Raunchy"

Segment 9

Johnny Cash- "Straight A's In Love"

Segment 10

Charlie Rich- "Lonely Weekends"

Segment 11

Charlie Feathers- "Cootzie Coo"

Segment 12

J.M. Van Eaton- "Beat Nik"

Segment 13

J.M. Van Eaton- "Bo Diddley"

Segment 14

J.M. Van Eaton- "Memphis '55"

Outro

Billy Lee Riley & His Little Green Men
(l-r: Billy Lee Riley, Roland Janes, Marvin Pepper , JM Van Eaton)

Billy Lee Riley session (JM Van Eaton drums, Roland Janes guitar
Jerry Lee Lewis piano, Marvin Pepper bass)

Ink-N-Iron Festival, August 2015 Nashville, TN
(l-r: Danny B. Harvey, Annie Marie Lewis, James Riley
Linda Gail Lewis, J.M. Van Eaton)

Billy Lee Riley was born this day in 1933

Rockabilly artist Billy Lee Riley was born this day in 1933.  He's most widely known for some of his early Sun Records singles from 1957 like "Red Hot", "Flyin' Saucers Rock 'n' Roll" (which featured Jerry Lee Lewis on backing piano), etc.  In the early 60's he became a studio musician again (after playing on several other fellow Sun artist singles in the 50's like Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison and others).  While in LA, he worked with Dean Martin, The Beach Boys, Sammy Davis Jr. and others.  He also recorded under other aliases like Lightnin' Leon, Skip Wiley, Darren Lee and in bands like The Megatons, The Spitfires, The Rockin' Stockins and more.

He released several instrumental albums featuring his amazing Harmonica skills like Harmonica And The Blues and Harmonica Beatlemania.  He retired from music in 1973 but decided to join in a "Memphis In May" celebration and continued playing music until the time of his death in 2009.  Bob Dylan claims Riley as one of his idols and countless of others have covered his songs including Robert Gordon (with Link Wray) and Brian Setzer.

Here's some select videos of Billy along with covers from those he influenced....

Billy Lee Riley- "Flyin' Saucers Rock 'n' Roll" and "Trouble Bound" (with Billy Burnette and Lee Rocker in the band)

Brian Setzer- "Flyin' Saucers Rock 'n' Roll"

Billy Lee Riley- "Red Hot"

Robert Gordon & Link Wray- "Red Hot"

The Beatles play their final Cavern Club performance in 1963

The Beatles played their last of 292 appearances at The Cavern Club on August 3rd, 1963.  Ringo had replaced Pete Best in August of 1962.  This final appearance was only a month after "She Loves You" was released and about 6 months before their first United States visit.  Their setlist included several Rockabilly and Soul cover tunes from the likes of Chuck Berry, Arthur Alexander, Carl Perkins, Little Richard, Larry Williams, The Coasters, Dr. Feelgood, Ray Charles, Billy Lee Riley, Chan Romero and others.  Here is the complete setlist from their Cavern shows:

Ain’t She Sweet (John)
Johnny B.Goode (John)
Sheik Of Araby (George)
Anna (John)
Kansas City (Paul)
Sheila (George)
Baby It’s You (John)
Keep Your Hands Off My Baby (John)
Shimmy Shimmy (John)
Beatle Bop (Instrumental)
Lend Me Your Comb (John)
Shine (George)
Beautiful Dreamer (Paul)
Like Dreamers Do (Paul)
Shot Of Rhythm And Blues (John/Paul)
Besame Mucho(Paul)
Locomotion (John)
Slow Down (John)
Boys (Ringo)
Long Tall Sally (Paul)
Soldier Of Love (John)
Chains (George)
Love Me Tender 
Some Other Guy (John/Paul)
Clarabella (Paul)
Love Of The Loved (Paul)
Stand By Me (John)
Claudette (Paul)
Loving You (Paul)
Sure To Fall (Paul)
Darktown Strutters Ball (George)
Lucille (Paul)
Sweet Little Sixteen (John)
Don’t Ever Change (George/Paul)
Matchbox (Ringo)
Talkin’ ‘Bout You (John)
Dream (George)
Maybellene (John)
A Taste Of Honey (Paul)
Dream Baby (Paul)
Memphis (John)
Three Cool Cats (George)
Falling In Love (George)
Money (John)
Till There Was You (Paul)
Glad All Over (George)
Mr. Moonlight (John)
Time (George)
Hello Little Girl (John)
My Bonnie
Tip Of My Tongue (Paul)
Hey Baby (Paul)
Nothin’ Shakin’(George)
To Know Her Is To Love Her (John)
Hey Good Lookin’ (George)
Oh! My Soul(Paul)
Too Much Monkey Business (John)
Hey Hey Hey Hey (Paul)
Open (George)
Tutti Frutti (Paul)
Hippy Hippy Shake (Paul)
Over The Rainbow (Paul)
Twist And Shout (John)
Honeymoon Song (Paul)
Picture Of You (George)
What A Crazy World (George)
Hully Gully (John)
Pinwheel Twist (Instrumental)
What’d I Say (Paul)
I Call Your Name (John)
Please Mr. Postman (John)
What’s Your Name (John)
I Forgot To Remember To Forget (George)
Quarter To Three (Paul/John)
Where Have You Been (John)
If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody (John/Paul)
Rip It Up (Paul)
Wooden Heart (Paul)
I’m A Hog For You Baby (Paul/John)
Red Hot (George)
Yakety Yak (George/John)
I’m Gonna Sit Right Down & Cry (John)
Red Sails In The Sunset (Paul)
You Better Move On (John)
I’m Henry The Eighth (George)
Roll Over Beethoven (George)
Young Blood (George)
I Remember You (Paul)
The Saints
Your Feet’s Too Big (John/Paul)
It’s Now Or Never (Paul)
Save The Last Dance For Me

Happy Birthday Jerry Lee Lewis!

"The Killer" Jerry Lee Lewis was born this day in 1935 in Ferriday, LA.  The original "wild man" of rock & roll continues to thrill audiences to this day!  He signed to Sun Records in 1956 releasing "Crazy Arms" as his first single.  He was also the studio's piano player later that year for other artist sessions including among them Carl Perkins' "Matchbox", "Your True Love", "Put Your Cat Clothes On" and others as well as Billy Lee Riley's "Flying Saucers Rock 'n' Roll".  Here's a look through the years at "The Killer"...

From the 2008 Grammy Awards, here's Jerry Lee with Little Richard and John Fogerty: