In this Dec. 4, 1956, file photo, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash play and sing at Sun Studios in Memphis.A twist of fate brought together Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash at Sun Records Studios in Memphis on Dec. 4, 1956. An impromptu jam session ensued with the quartet singing gospel and country songs.
During the session, Sun Records owner Sam Phillips called Bob Johnson, the entertainment editor of the Memphis Press-Scimitar, and told him what was going down. Johnson came over with a photographer, and when his article about the jam session appeared in the paper, it was headlined "Million Dollar Quartet."
That eventful performance will be relived nearly 65 years later when Alhambra Shrine brings The Million Dollar Quartet Tribute to its stage on Saturday night, Aug. 24.
The tribute quartet is made up of Austin Irby as Elvis, a semifinalist for the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist title in 2014, 2016 and 2018; Ryan Morris as Jerry Lee Lewis, Jonathan Weathersby as Carl Perkins and Trista LaBorde as Johnny Cash.
If you go
› What: Million Dollar Quartet Tribute› Where: Alhambra Shrine Temple, 1000 Alhambra Drive off East Brainerd Road› When: 7-9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24› Admission: $15› For more information: 423-892-0223
The quartet will be accompanied by Dennis Massengale and No Big Deal.
Alan Tedders will emcee the program, and there will be a musical introduction by Gene Hodge.
Irby was named one of the Top 10 Elvis tribute artists in the world by Elvis Presley Enterprises in 2016. In 2018, he was named Entertainer of the Year by the CHMR Music Awards.
Show time is 7 p.m. A soda-shop dinner will be available at 6 p.m. for an additional $10. The menu will include cheeseburgers, chips, cookies and milkshakes.
For tickets: 423-892-0223 or 423-619-7911.