On December 4, 1956, four young musicians who would change the course of music history convened at Sun Studios in Memphis. That once-in-a-lifetime moment is now headed to the Broadway stage. 'Million Dollar Quartet,' a musical directed by famed playwright and theater director Eric Schaeffer, is based on the legendary jam session of Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins. The show, which has been playing for almost a year in Chicago, is scheduled to open on Broadway in the spring.
On that fateful night more than 50 years ago, 'The Killer', Jerry Lee, was in the studio playing for Carl Perkins. Elvis, who had already left Sun Records and achieved phenomenal success at RCA with 'Hound Dog,' 'Heartbreak Hotel' and 'Don't Be Cruel,' strolled in, followed soon by Sam Phillips, record producer and Sun founder who's credited with discovering Elvis and Johnny Cash. Phillips called Johnny in to join them, marking the first and last time the four would ever play together.
Songs featured in the musical will include Jerry Lee's 'Great Balls of Fire' and 'Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On,' Carl's 'Blue Suede Shoes' (also recorded by Elvis), and other iconic songs of the period, including 'Fever' and 'Sixteen Tons.'
