Allen, Lew; McCartney, Mike (2006) ‘Elvis and the Birth of Rock’, UK deluxe limited edition by Genesis Publications

Lew Allen and Mike McCartney (2006) ‘Elvis and the Birth of Rock‘, UK deluxe limited edition. One of only 350 copies of which this is no. 88. Signed by the authors. Condition: fine as published. Accompanying the photographs, Elvis & the Birth of Rock features a text of over 7,000 words from Lew Allen and guest editor Mike McCartney, as they discuss what it was like to be in the presence of such legendary performers. ‘Buddy’s running off the stage at the end of his performance and the eyes of all of the musicians are on the orchestra leader, who is over to the left somewhere. Nobody is watching Buddy. It defines music in transition. A swing band backing a rock ‘n’ roll musician.’ – Lew Allen ‘I was standing in the hallway and one of the managers came up to Elvis and told him there was a girl on the telephone who was in the hospital. She had tickets for the show and couldn’t come as she had a very serious illness. Elvis said, ‘I want to talk to her,’ and he marched in to a room and held up the entire show for 15 minutes to talk to that girl. He had a long conversation with her and asked her several questions, with warmth and interest. I remember he said, ‘No honey I don’t have a blue Cadillac. I’ve got a pink one, a black one, a white one – oh yeah I do have a blue one.’ He was a gentleman and I respected that immensely.’  – Lew Allen