Is Elvis' friend George Klein destined for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? A lot of people from around the country think so.
George Klein is as big a part of Memphis’ music scene as its musicians. As a DJ at WHBQ, GK (as Elvis called him) introduced me to new songs every week on his afternoon radio show along with the rest of Memphis. New songs were never hits unless he played them.
He had a lot of influence in what happened in Memphis musically but he never abused that influence. He used it wisely, never to benefit himself but to help promote Memphis music and to educate us to what was happening in music around the country. To quote myself from an earlier article “George is an innovator and an ambassador of Memphis music. He has helped bring Memphis music to the world and the world of music to Memphis.”
He met Elvis in the 8th grade at Humes High School. He was the only person to be in Elvis’ inner circle of friends from then until his death on August 16, 1977. The day the music really died.
But he is so much more than just Elvis’ friend. He was one of the first Rock and Roll DJs. He loved Rock and Roll and believed in it from the very beginning. He was one of the first DJ’s to play an Elvis record on the radio. It was Elvis’ Sun Record debut, “That’s Alright Mama”.
His first ratings success was doing mornings at KWEM, a West Memphis, AR radio station, he worked at their Memphis studios on Flicker Street. He had the second highest rated morning show in town and was hired away within a year by WMC AM.
When George first started working at KWEM he did a Saturday air shift. Part of that shift was to run the board for a new unknown singer’s fifteen minute radio show. His name was Johnny Cash. It’s believed that one of those recordings is what Cash used as his Sun Records audition tape.
In addition to his work at 56 WHBQ radio, George also had a TV show on WHBQ TV Channel 13 called Talent Party. It was Memphis’ version of American Bandstand originally called Dance Party and hosted by Wink Martindale. Talent Party was always faithful to local talent. Every show featured at least one local act. That show broke a lot of Memphis talent like Sandy Posey (“Born a Woman” and “Single Girl”).
George broke other records on Talent Party that went on to be national hits. They were songs that couldn’t get airplay on local stations. Songs by artist that George believed in like Larry Raspberry and the Gentrys’ “Keep on Dancing” and Sam the Sham’s “Wooly Bully” just to name a couple.
George was instrumental in crossing the race barrier too. Not because he had to, but because it was the right thing to do. Fats Domino was going to be in Memphis. George called and asked him to be on the show. Fats’ response was “I don’t do no local TV Baby.” But when George explained he would be opening the door for other local and national black artist, he was happy to do it. Talent Party was the first southern white music show to feature black artist. That’s what I mean when I say he is an innovator. He was ahead of his time in believing in Rock and Roll and in racial equality in music. If anyone deserves to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, it’s George Klein.
Now there is an internet petition to get him inducted into the Hall of Fame as a non performer. I urge you to go to www.ipetitions.com/petition/gk2011/ and sign it. I did.
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