Lew Allen, Bob Shatten and Mike McCartney
Elvis & the Birth of Rock [Signed by Lew Allen and Mike McCartney]
Lew Allen, Bob Shatten and Mike McCartney, Elvis & the Birth of Rock, Guildford: Genesis Publications, 2006
156 pages with 78 illustrated photographs, which are reproduced throughout in duotone inks with image varnishing on heavyweight, 200 gsm matt art acid-free paper; quarter-bound in fine blue suede leather, spine and front cover lettered in silver, all edges silver measuring 36.5 x 26.8 x 2.3 cm. Housed in a custom-designed archival case with lettering and portrait to lid screen-printed in blue and white measuring 38.5 x 28.5 x 3.5 cm. All housed in a protective printed cloth draw-string bag.
Numbers 1-350 were deluxe copies, from a total of 1750 copies. Collector copies are numbered 351 - 1,750. This copy is number 851 from a total edition of 1750 copies, thus SIGNED by the photographer, Lew Allen, and guest editor Mike McCartney.
Elvis Presley, aka the 'King of Rock and Roll,' is frequently recognized as one of the most influential figures in rock music, having elevated the genre to a mainstream audience and becoming a cultural icon.
Elvis & the Birth of Rock commemorates the extraordinary era in which rock and roll tour buses traversed the United States, frequently featuring multiple legendary performers on a single bill, as evidenced by the breathtaking photographs of Lew Allen and the words of Mike McCartney.
The monograph of the author depicts Elvis Presley on stage and behind the scenes, Buddy Holly playing and traveling just a year before his untimely death, the Everly Brothers as headliners with their hit "Wake Up Little Susie," Frankie Avalon primping in front of a mirror, Buddy Holly and Don Everly sharing private jokes, and Bobby Darin singing on stage while winking at Lew's camera.
Elvis Presley's transformation from localized celebrity to national icon was epitomized in 1956. 'Heartbreak Hotel' was his first Number One single in January, and his debut album topped the charts in March.
In 1988, Bob Shatten, Lew Allen's nephew, initiated the process of compiling the work for publication after Lew dug up some old contact sheets that had been collecting dust in his cellar for decades.
Mike McCartney continued that work by bringing the collection to the attention of Genesis Publications, which had never been seen before. Lew, Bob, and Mike, the three collaborators of the project, offer a captivating and enlightening commentary on the photographs, delving into their cultural significance and historical context.
A 17-year-old photography devotee was granted permission to photograph Elvis Presley at the Cleveland Arena for his high school newspaper on November 23rd. Lew Allen was the sole photographer at the event due to a labor strike at the three largest newspapers in Cleveland.
Images from two shows in Rochester, New York, in 1958, both of which were part of popular music bus tours throughout the United States, are interspersed among the photographs of Elvis. These tours included several now-legendary performers, including Buddy Holly, The Everly Brothers, Bobby Darin, Frankie Avalon, and many others.