Memphis TN

Robert Averwater’s father, M. J. Averwater taught music, wrote a method book and opened up Amro Music in Memphis, TN, with a fellow music teacher. Robert recalls the early days after the war reorganizing the company as new products were once again being produced. He was proud that two of his four sons, Chip and Patrick, followed in his footsteps at the store, and that a fourth generation of Averwaters, CJ, has begun working at the store.
 

Chip Averwater took over the music retail business in Memphis, just as his father did and his son would one day, keeping the tradition in the family. Chip’s passion for the music business expanded beyond the store and out into volunteer positions for several organizations including NAMM. Serving on the NAMM Board, Chip played an important role in the development of international outreach programs including providing support for the newly created China show. Chip was the Chairman of the NAMM Board for two years beginning in 2008.

Sonny Burgess is known as the wild man of rock and roll who brought a driving guitar style to early Sun recordings (the label that launched Elvis Presley). Among those recordings were “We Wanna Boogie” and “Feelin’ Good.” Sonny’s early days with Sam Phillips, the founder of Sun Records, were at the dawn of rock, when country was being mixed with the blues. These “rockabilly” songs became the foundation of the Sun sound. Before Elvis left Sun to sign with RCA Records and change music history forever, he toured around the south promoting his Sun recordings. Sonny was just starting out in those days and often opened for Elvis and another promising artist Sam signed to Sun, Jerry Lee Lewis.

Dave Campbell grew up in a household full of music! Both of his grandmothers were piano teachers and his father was a professional piano player. With such a strong background in music it was no surprise that Dave became a professional musician and made it his career until his early 30s. Dave also had a strong interest in engineering and put both passions together by getting involved with the piano industry. He worked for Kimball Pianos before being hired by Charlie Kaman,who formed Carrier Pianos in North Carolina. After building the factory and running the operations there he was hired by his long time friend, Peter Perez, to run the Aeolian Corporation of America in Memphis, Tennessee.

Paul Craft always felt a pull towards music but was not just sure how it would take hold in his life. For a time he ran a music store in Memphis called Paul Craft’s Music and Drum City all the while writing poems and setting them to music. When he felt he could write songs he headed up the road to Nashville where he cut demos and awaited the chance to have his songs published. Over the years he has become a well-respected and well-recorded songwriter having his music performed by many top artists. Among his hits, “Drop Kick Me Jesus Through the Goal Post of Life.” 

Vernon Drane played several musical instruments growing up in Tennessee including the trumpet and saxophone. He later studied instrument repair and spent several years working with the Amro Music Company in Memphis. Vernon is also a baritone singer who has performed in two church choirs for over 60 years and can be heard on several pop recordings that took part in the early days of rock and roll. Being a friend of Sun Records founder, Sam Phillips, Vernon found himself making extra money writing lead sheets for various bands that came to record, one of which was the Bill Justice band. Vernon recorded several songs with them in 1957 including the multi-million seller, “Raunchy”.
 

DJ Fontana drove down to Houston in a pink Cadillac with Elvis Presley after being hired as the then unknown singer’s first drummer. They pulled up to Herbie Brodstein’s Drum Shop (Herb would later form Pro-Mark Drum Sticks) to buy a kit. After playing on all of the sets Herb had out on display, young Elvis sat at Herb’s own set and asked if it was for sale. It was. Months later Herb saw his drum set in the pages of Life magazine. DJ recorded with Elvis beginning in 1956 and throughout the 1960s, most notably on “Jailhouse Rock,” “Treat Me Nice” and “All Shook Up.”
 

Joe Guercio is best known for the 8 years he served as Elvis Presley’s musical director, beginning in Las Vegas in 1969. He formed the orchestra that backed Elvis and his band on every tour until the King of Rock’s passing in 1977. Joe arranged Elvis’ stage introduction and wrote the 6-note fanfare that began each of his live concerts during that time. Joe also conducted several other singers in his career and arranged hit songs for Steve & Edie, Barbara Streisand and Gladys Knight. 

Wayne Jackson and his saxophone-playing friend, Andrew Love, formed the Memphis Horns, a group that played on countless recordings and on stage for over 40 years! Wayne, on trumpet, began playing professionally in the late 1950s and teamed with Andrew a few years later. Together they created a soulful sound that has been copied but never duplicated. They recorded with Otis Redding on many of the soul singer’s hits including his last “The Dock of the Bay”, and on “Soul Man” with Sam & Dave, as well as most of Al Green’s albums in the 1970s. They can be heard on Doobie Brother recordings as well as several hits in the 1980s including Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer.” 

TK Keckler moved to Memphis at an early age and began playing with local bands, which is when he met Mike Ladd. Mike was a musician who opened a small guitar shop in town and would later become a strong force in the electric guitar movement of the 1970s, including the reissue of the Gibson Le Paul. TK was hired by Mike and helped modify and design guitars, which led to several custom projects for Led Zeppelin and Elvis Presley, among others. TK most recently has been a consultant for Saint Blues Guitar Workshop in Memphis.