good rocking' tonightConcerts
Produced by Darwin Lamm
Keeping the Memories Alive
Darwin's 'Good Rockin' Tonight' Concerts started in the late 80's and were held in Memphis each year during 'Elvis Week.' They were a huge tribute to the King and his fans. As Phil Arnold so eloquently stated in his article Elvis International magazine, "The seeds for Elvis Week were sown in 1978 when a thousand fans traveled to Memphis to commemorate the one-year anniversary of his passing. As the years went by, a number of organized activities appeared, and the celebration grew in scope and complexity. In 1982, Graceland opened to the public, giving a big attendance boost to what they preferred to call Elvis Tribute Week. From then on, touring Graceland was a part of that experience...by 1990 attendance had grown to 35,000. Carl Perkins headlined the first Good Rockin' Tonight concert on August 16, 1990.They brought together so many tribute artists and musicians who had played with Elvis and these events became more like a beloved reunion. So it must have been hard to imagine the 25th Anniversary celebration in Memphis with the concerts presented by Darwin Lamm – and the incredible list of people from Elvis’ past Darwin gathered together at these events.
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'Magazines Concerts & Darwin' by Phil Arnold
(excerpt)
Darwin & DJ Fontana
Elvis's Drummer
Darwin has had several distinct careers in his life, and I have been fortunate to be involved with him on two of them - magazine publisher and concert promoter.
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Darwin was the King of Concerts at 'Elvis Week' in Memphis. In the late 80's he correctly assessed that the fans coming for the event didn't have any really good concerts to attend. Graceland wasn't doing anything, so Darwin filled the void.
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In 1990, he staged the first of his "Good Rockin' Tonight" concert with headliner Carl Perkins. Also on the bill was the Sun Rhythm Section, featuring D.J. Fontana on drums.
In 1992, Darwin put on a show for the ages. Carl Perkins and the Sun Rhythm Section were back and new performers on the bill included Ronnie McDowell and the Jordanaires. But Darwin had a special treat for the Elvis fans that night. Toward the end of Carl Perkins' set, D.J. Fontana came out and took over at the drums. Then, Scotty Moore came out to raucous applause and played guitar on a few songs. Darwin and Carl Perkins had teamed up in an effort to talk Scottie out of retirement from Performing and to go on stage for the first time in twenty-four years.
Darwin continued to put on "Good Rockin' Tonight" concerts every year. By the time I got to my first one in 2001, he had reassembled the entire TCB Band, a huge fan favorite. At my first "Good Rockin' Tonight" concert, I learned that the place to be was backstage. In addition to the performers, anybody who was part of Elvis' history dropped in, and it was like a reunion of sorts. So, the next year Darwin gave me a 'Staff- All Access' Pass to wear around my neck, and I headed backstage. My job was to be a Go-fer. If somebody needed a cold bottle of water, I'd go-fer it. I made extra copies of the set list, carried in food from the parking garage, and meet Bill Black's children at the ticket office and escorted them in. I got to hang out with everybody and get tons of autographs.
The next year, Darwin let me take a chair at the table in the big room backstage before tons started showing up. I stayed there as they arrived, and everybody either sat at the table or stood nearby and I heard all their old stories. I also got photos of me sitting with Scottie Moore, D.J. Fontana, the TCB Band, and Millie Kirkham.
During the day I would hang out with Darwin. One morning, we were eating breakfast when D.J. Fontana sat down at the table with us. After he left, Scottie Moore joined us. Talk about being up close and person with Elvis' bandmates. It's a memory I'll treasure forever.
From 1989 and for the next 20 years, Lamm brought to Memphis an incredible list of friends of Elvis including artists and musicians who had played with Elvis. It was these concert events called 'Good Rockin' Tonight" that became the Main Event event at Graceland each year.
So thank you, Darwin, for getting me involved with the concerts. And thank you for being a wonderful friend.
Phil Arnold - Writer, Go-fer, Friend
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The Birth of Rock & Roll: July 5, 1954
PRESENTS
Darwin Lamm continued his tradition of Good Rockin' Tonight concerts when he treated Elvis fans to a double-header: The 50th Anniversary of Rock & Roll.
