Accessibility links
Rock Did Not Begin with Elvis On July 5, 1954, Elvis Presley recorded "That's All Right," long hyped as the first rock 'n' roll record. It's not. By 1954, quite a number of records had been released that would qualify as rock 'n' roll. Even at Sun Studios, where Elvis recorded, the sound was nothing new. David C. Barnett of member station WCPN reports.

Music

Rock Did Not Begin with Elvis

Heard on Morning Edition

Rock Did Not Begin with Elvis

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/3063011/3063012" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Related NPR Stories

On July 5, 1954, Elvis Presley recorded "That's All Right," long hyped as the first rock 'n' roll record. It's not. By 1954, quite a number of records had been released that would qualify as rock 'n' roll. Even at Sun Studios, where Elvis recorded, the sound was nothing new. David C. Barnett of member station WCPN reports.