Search

Your search term isn't long enough.


Joey Kent

Joey Kent

New Orleans, Louisiana

Joey is an expert on The Louisiana Hayride, with critically acclaimed books, CDs and articles to his credit. He lectures on Hayride history and is a popular interview subject.

Subscribe 122 subscribers

About the author

Joey is the author of "Elvis: The Louisiana Hayride Years" and has over seventy film festival awards for screenwriting to his credit.  He is an archivist, historian and public speaker.

Profile verified
10 followers
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joey-kent-144b3622/
View profile

Pre-orders

348

Funded

$7,415.00

Days left

0

348copies
0 250 500 1000
Success! Cradle Of The Stars has already sold 348 pre-orders , was pitched to 72 publishers , and will be published by Pelican Press .

$20 Early Bird Bonus

59 readers

LIMITED
• Early Bird 'Signed' Copy
• Free Ebook (PDF, ePUB, MOBI)
• Free shipping

1 copy + ebook included

Free shipping

$25 Signed & Acknowledged

79 readers

• Early Bird 'Signed' Copy
• Free Ebook (PDF, ePUB, MOBI)
• Your name Acknowledged in the book
• Free shipping
• Set of 6 postcards featuring images of Elvis, Hank Williams and others

1 copy + ebook included

Free shipping

$100 Elvis & Hank Package

12 readers

• 5 'Signed' Copies
• Free Ebook (PDF, ePUB, MOBI)
• Your name Acknowledged in the book
• Set of 6 postcards featuring images of Elvis, Hank Williams and others
• Set of 6 8X10 prints of rare images from my Hayride collection

5 copies + ebook included

$5 shipping

$200 Elvis Deluxe!

0 readers

• 10 'Signed' Copies of "Cradle of the Stars"
• Free Ebook (PDF, ePUB, MOBI) of "Cradle of the Stars"
• Your name Acknowledged in the book "Cradle of the Stars"
• 10 Signed Copies of "Elvis: The Louisiana Hayride Years 1954-56" (2005 deluxe paperback edition) - large format book (8.5x11) 168 pp.
• Set of 6 postcards featuring images of Elvis, Hank Williams and others
• Set of 6 8X10 prints of rare images from my Hayride collection

10 copies + ebook included

$15 shipping

10 of 10 left

$500 Speaker Package

0 readers

• 25 'Signed' Copies
• Free Ebook (PDF, ePUB, MOBI)
• Free shipping
• Set of 25 postcards featuring images of Elvis, Hank Williams and others
• Set of 25 8X10 prints of rare images from my Hayride collection
• Acknowledgement as a Patron in the front of the book
• One hour speaking engagement at your private event or business function

25 copies + ebook included

Free shipping

3 of 3 left

$500 VIP Signing & Lunch Package

1 reader

• 25 'Signed' Copies
• Free Ebook (PDF, ePUB, MOBI)
• Free shipping
• Set of 25 postcards featuring images of Elvis, Hank Williams and others
• Set of 25 8X10 prints of rare images from my Hayride collection
• Acknowledgement as a Patron in the front of the book
• Book signing with you at your local bookstore and I will go to lunch with you afterwards

25 copies + ebook included

Free shipping

1 of 2 left

$2500 "Hello World" package Sold out

1 reader

• 125 'Signed' Copies
• Free Ebook (PDF, ePUB, MOBI)
• Free shipping
• Book dedicated to you as my hero benefactor, I will go to lunch with you and write an account of your help with my book for publication in your local newspaper or magazine

125 copies + ebook included

Free shipping

0 of 1 left

Cradle Of The Stars

KWKH & The Louisiana Hayride

From Hank Williams to Elvis Presley, Cradle of the Stars is the story of the first American idols and their rise to fame and fortune on the KWKH Louisiana Hayride.

 Share  Post on X  Threads  LinkedIn  Embed
 pszr.co/rsDLb 16129 views
History Music history
50,000 words
50% complete
8 publishers interested

Synopsis

    Will K. Henderson was just 42 years old in 1923 when he invested in his first radio
station, a modest 250 watt operation to which he gave his initials –
Shreveport, Louisiana's still operating KWKH.  It wasn't long before he
discovered a disparity in how the government awarded frequencies and wattage,
and he quickly grew tired of the favoritism shown to northern stations.  Thus
began what would be a long and protracted battle for equality of the airwaves
for his beloved city and the South in general.  The Federal Radio
Commission (forerunner of today's FCC) was formed in part to regulate the
language and range of this broadcast pioneer who dominated the airwaves of the
1920s as the nation's first "shock jock" and whose colorful
storytelling and rambling political diatribes made his sign on catchphrase
"Hello world, doggone you!" known far and wide throughout the
land. 

   Next, it was the anti-chain store movement that became Henderson's obsession and
drove his nightly tirades.   He shared the growing national belief
that chains came into a community, took away business from the local
"mom and pop" operations, and rerouted taxable revenue away from the
community.  He feared these industry giants, if allowed to grow unchecked,
would spell the end of small business in America and destroy the unique flavor
they lent to their neighborhoods.  Nearly ninety years later, with the
proliferation of McDonald's restaurants, retailers like Wal-Mart, and
broadcasting giants like Clear Channel Communications, we are beginning to
understand the effects of the system Henderson foretold in his nightly
broadcasts.

   Looking back on the Henderson era, one can see the incredible influence of this
man and his legacy.  He gave unlimited air time to a local public works
commissioner who was running for governor, and this was the tipping point that
got his friend Huey Long elected to office.  Will also gave a
break to a local high school social studies teacher who wanted to give singing
a try, and the world came to know and love Jimmie Davis as he did. 
Henderson and his engineers were the first to broadcast records directly from
the needle, bypassing the standard method of placing a microphone in front of a
conical speaker.  They, too, were the first to use two interlinked
turntables to fade from one record into the next.  Today's generation of
disco mixologists owe their very existence to Will K. Henderson.

   After his death in 1945, KWKH went on to become one of the nation's flagship
radio stations and, in the spring of 1948, decided to launch its own version of
the popular barn dance variety programs sweeping the country.  Taking its
name from a well known musical and a recent motion picture, The Louisiana
Hayride radio program premiered in April of 1948 with one simple goal: 
fill three hours with quality musical entertainment that would attract and hold
advertisers.

   During its primary run from 1948 to 1960, the Louisiana Hayride was a hotbed of
country music talent.  In its first year, the show introduced
listeners to Hank Williams, and from there the acts just kept on coming - Kitty
Wells, Webb Pierce, Slim Whitman, Jim Reeves, Johnny Cash, George Jones, Johnny
Horton, and a young Memphis cat named Elvis Presley.  Nicknamed the
“Cradle Of The Stars,” the Hayride offered aspiring country music artists what
its chief rival the Grand Ole Opry could not - a place to nurture and hone raw
talent before a live audience of several thousand and a radio audience in the millions worldwide.

   The story of the Louisiana Hayride is one of binge and purge.  The show
would work each week to develop talent, only to see its rising stars lured away
by the bright lights of Nashville and the promise of greatness.  The
audience embraced each act as more than just stage talent; these people were
neighbors, salesmen, postmen, secretaries - regular hometown folk who made up
the world’s greatest country music “farm team.”  Each “graduation” to
Nashville was a great loss requiring a look back into the ranks to select and
groom the next superstar.  From Hank Williams to the radical new sounds of
Elvis Presley, this book covers the maturity of country music and the infancy of rock ’n’
roll from the place “where it all began."

   Witness the greatest country music talent show in American history birth an unlikely
child, Elvis Presley - its greatest achievement and yet the kiss of death when
hordes of loyal country music elders reject the show’s new youthful direction
and abandon it for the comfort of their own living room and the growing
popularity of television.  With the death of its last major star, Johnny
Horton, the Hayride accepts the fate of a changing world and fades quietly from
sight for a time, but not before leaving a rich and powerful legacy of
music talent unequaled in modern times. 

   Cradle of the Stars presents a rich tapestry of photographs culled
from a collection of more than 3000 images and accompanied by an engaging
narrative assembled from historical accounts and first person interviews. 
The result is THE definitive volume on the history of KWKH and its most influential
program, The Louisiana Hayride, as related by the one man who could tell it
best, Joey Kent.  As the son of Hayride owner David Kent, Joey has worked
tirelessly the past twenty five years gathering the interviews, accounts, and
images of the story that begins almost 100 years ago, and, now, with your help,
it will be added to the historical record of this great nation for future
generations to enjoy.

Outline

I.  W. K. Henderson and the founding of KWKH
 Begins in 1907 with the first radio in Shreveport.  Examines early radio stations and Henderson’s entry into the game.  Explores his immense national popularity, his unique role as the nation’s first “shock jock,” and his fight against chain stores and the federal government.  Details history changing contributions of Henderson and his station and his relationships with Huey Long and Jimmie Davis.


II.  KWKH and country music in the late 1940’s
 The rise of country-western music in the post-WWII era and the popularity of national “barn dance” radio shows like the Grand Ole Opry and the Wheeling Jamboree.


III.  The first Louisiana Hayride - April 3, 1948
 The cast, crew, successes, and failures of the first Hayride show.


IV.  Henry and Horace:  The staff, auditions, morning shows, and other procedures.
 KWKH general manager Henry Clay and chief announcer Horace Logan are featured along with the day-to-day operations of the radio station.

V.  The arrival of Hank Williams
 How Hank came to KWKH, what he did there, and his first Hayride appearances.

VI.  The departure of Hank Williams and the birth of the “Cradle Of The Stars”
 Hank leaves for the Grand Ole Opry, and the Hayride has to scramble for his replacement.  New stars begin to spring from the ranks and their careers and contributions are examined.


VII.  Shreveport:  Support and attitudes towards “hillbilly music”
 Social attitudes toward the music coming from the Hayride, and how it affected the audience members.


VIII.  Road shows and beer joints:  Life during the week for Hayride acts
 When not performing on the Hayride, the artists held regular jobs, did morning shows on KWKH, toured the region as part of package shows, and played local honky-tonks.  Their routines are examined.


IX.  Webb Pierce, a guy who wouldn’t give up
 Webb Pierce tried anything and everything to get on the Louisiana Hayride and became the biggest selling country artist of the 1950s.  His antics are featured in this chapter.


X.  “Farm Club for the Opry”:  Talent scouts, record deals, and the lives of Webb Pierce, Slim Whitman, Kitty Wells, Goldie Hill, Faron Young, the Wilburn Brothers, Johnnie &
Jack, Red Sovine, etc. 

 The “pre-Elvis” Hayride acts are chronicled in this chapter.


XI.  Jim Reeves, Hayride junior announcer
 Jim Reeves came to KWKH for an announcer job when an injury ended his baseball career.  Filling in on the Hayride one night launched the career of one the most popular crooners in country music history.


XII.  The Memphis Flash, Elvis Presley
 A whole chapter cannot contain all the information on Elvis Presley and his arrival at the Louisiana Hayride.  Details from his time on the show that launched him to superstardom are doled out with dozens of amazing and rare photographs and testimonials from the people that knew him best.


XIII.  George Jones
 A disc jockey and part time house painter, George Jones, showed up at the Hayride a week before Johnny Cash in the fall of 1955.  Elvis was still there.  What a time in music history! 


XIV.  Johnny Cash
 Sam Phillips sent Johnny Cash to the Hayride hoping to duplicate the success he achieved with Elvis.  He got his wish.  Johnny had some interesting times on the Hayride stage.


XV.  “Elvis Has Left The Building”:  The beginning of the decline
 Elvis Presley’s final Hayride show in December of 1956 is detailed and, with the growing popularity of the new medium of television, the Hayride begins its journey into decline.


XVI.  Binge and purge:  Coping with the endless cycles of fame

 What was done to try and save the Hayride and stop the exodus of its famous talent.


XVII.  Johnny Horton
 Johnny Horton arrived at the Hayride in 1952 but didn’t settle on a style and find a way to stardom until the end of the decade.  His journey and tragic demise are examined.


XVIII.  “And all the regular cast...”:  Jack Ford, Hoot & Curley, Betty Amos, Jeanette Hicks, Werly Fairburn, Jimmy C. Newman, Tony Douglas, Tibby Edwards, etc.
 The unsung heroes of the Hayride, its regular cast, and their successes and near misses.


XIX.  Rockin’ the ‘Ride:  Rockabilly comes to the Hayride
 When Elvis leaves the Hayride, a number of acts try to copy his style in hopes of success or to please the younger audience’s growing demands.  Bob Luman, Jerry Lee Lewis, Dale Hawkins, Tommy Blake, Warren Smith, Bruce Channel and other early rockers are covered.


XX.  A teenager’s dream:  The diaries of Joyce Railsback
 Beginning the week before Elvis got to the Hayride, a West Texas teenager named Joyce Nichols would listen to the Hayride show and kept a detailed diary for several years of what was said, what was played, and what she thought about it.
These written time capsules are offered up in a unique portrayal of the era.


XXI.  The end of an era:  the influence of TV, the changing Hayride audience, and the rising cost of competing

 Now famous Hayride acts come back to the show but their fees can’t be sustained.  People stay home to watch Ed Sullivan on a Saturday night, and the Hayride struggles to stay relevant as the 1950s draw to a close.


XXII.  The package shows of the sixties
 KWKH sponsored touring package shows throughout the 1960s that featured well known talent while still showcasing new talent like Nat Stuckey.  These shows that were assigned the Hayride name are examined.


XXIII.  Hayride U.S.A. &  The Louisiana Hayride revivals
 In 1974, Shreveport businessman David Kent led a group of investors in a revival of the Louisiana Hayride.  Kent ran the show until 1987.  The artists and successes from his era as well as a handful of tribute shows that followed are chronicled in
this chapter.


XXIV.  Appendix:  Louisiana Hayride Talent Roster and Show Schedule, Louisiana Hayride Song List, the Diaries of Joyce Railsback Nichols, etc.

 All the facts of who was on the show, when, and what they sang are laid out in this appendix from Hayride archives, news ads, posters, diaries, and other ephemera.

Audience

Because Elvis Presley got his start on the Louisiana Hayride, my book will have wide appeal with his fan base, which is heaviest in the U.S., UK, Europe, Japan, and Australia.  Roots music of this country is most popular in European and Scandinavian countries, with most fan clubs of former Hayride artists located there.  In the U.S., the Hayride was most popular in Texas (over 70% of each week's live audience came from there), the southern states, and the Midwest, and should appeal to the senior demographic in those regions as well as fans of roots music everywhere.  Statistically, Elvis and Johnny Cash generate the most fan interest, followed by Hank Williams, Jim Reeves, Slim Whitman, Johnny Horton and others.  The early rockabilly acts hold particular interest with foreign music fans, and many like Bob Luman, Tommy Blake, and Bruce Channel got their start on the Hayride.   

Billboard Magazine once called my Hayride audio collection "the most important collection of country music still in private hands."  The place of the Louisiana Hayride in country music and early U.S. roots music history has worldwide appeal and cannot be denied.  Next year, acclaimed documentary film maker Ken Burns is presenting his take on the History of Country Music, to which I have contributed key Hayride images and information.  His efforts are always so well done and so well received and will create newfound interest in the story of the Louisiana Hayride.  Cradle of the Stars will be there to answer the call of curious audience members, offering a well-placed, lavishly illustrated, comprehensive, and easy to read volume on the show that should prove indispensable.  Plus, to sweeten the pot for publishers, I could offer my 168 page book Elvis Presley: The Louisiana Hayride Years, 1954-56 for reissue.  It was created in 2005 as part of an infomercial offering, but the backers invested in too many other projects and were unable to come up with the funds for a proper media buy. Therefore, the book (while critically acclaimed in the Elvis world) never got a proper launch.  I would love to see it reissued, and this can certainly be discussed with potential publishers.

Promotion

I will launch an appeal to all of my Facebook friends and anyone they know who is interested in music history or the key figures like Elvis, Johnny Cash, etc.  To my friends, the appeal will be to help me put to bed the collection I have nurtured all the time they have known me and share a wonderful historical account before embarking on a writing career of historical fiction.  Over the years, I have been contacted by enumerable fan clubs and individuals about one aspect or another of Hayride history.  I will reach out to these individuals and organizations and appeal to all they know for help in producing this vital volume of music history.  Lastly,  I will reach out to those I know in the music industry - artists, publishers, disc jockeys, etc. - who will understand the need for this volume and, hopefully, pass along my link to their followers.

Competition

No one has attempted an impartial, fact-laced, coffee table book on the Louisiana Hayride before. Although, there are several biographies out there by former Hayride acts and employees, most notably:

1.  Elvis, Hank, and Me by Horace Logan.  St. Martin Press, 1998.  274 pp. (about 30 photos).  The title says it all.  Former Hayride emcee Horace Logan takes credit for many acts on the show in this biographical offering.

2. I Was There When It Happened by Tillman Franks.  Magic Circle Press, 2000.  Former Hayride bass player and manager, Tillman Franks, tells some great stories in this entertaining self-published biography that largely deals with his time on the Hayride.

3.  Louisiana Hayride: Radio and Roots Music along the Red River by Tracey E.W. Laird.  Oxford University Press, 2004.  224 pp. (about 22 photos).  Expanded college dissertation on the many roots music contributions of Shreveport, including the artists of the Hayride.  Fact based and thoroughly researched.  I contributed notably to this volume.  Invaluable for the music researcher.

4.  Looking Back to See: A Country Music Memoir by Maxine Brown.  University of Arkansas Press, 2009.  348 pp.  Entertaining biography of a former member of The Browns, a family act that started on the Hayride.  Includes some good stories from the Hayride era.

The goal of my book is to set the stage for the Hayride by enlightening the audience on the founder of KWKH and the history that led to the show, then taking the reader on an impartial journey in words and pictures that shows how regular folks became stars (or not) and the impact the three hour weekly radio broadcast had on music history in America.  This is not an ego-driven project like the first two books, nor is it a biography of one person's perspective, nor is it a technical exploration and analysis of music trends and happenings of a particular city.  I want the reader to get to know the process, the people behind and in front of the microphones, the audience, the time, the place, and the influences left behind.  People love pictures, and I've got plenty...AND I know the facts and stories behind them.  This is a coffee table book, rich in imagery and supplemented by first hand accounts, culled through my own interviews, research, or verbatim from actual audio transcriptions.  Because I own the rights to all the images and their usage, this project need not be limited by licensing fees and can thus contain a large amount of photos.  Here is a sample page:

8 publishers interested
Anaphora Literary Press logo Anaphora Literary Press

250 copies • Partial manuscript.
Anaphora Literary Press was started in 2009 and publishes fiction, short stories, creative and non-fiction books. Anaphora has exhibited its titles at SIBA, ALA, SAMLA, and many other international conventions. Services include book trailers, press releases, merchandise design, book review (free in pdf/epub) submissions, proofreading, formatting, design, LCCN/ISBN assignment, international distribution, art creation, ebook (Kindle, EBSCO, ProQuest)/ softcover/ hardcover editions, and dozens of other components included in the basic package.

Hybrid publisher

Children Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mind & Body, Mystery, Thriller, Horror & Suspense, Romantic Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, YA Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Business & Money, Career & Success, Cookbooks, Food & Wine, Health, Fitness & Dieting, History, Journalism, Personal Growth & Self-Improvement, Politics & Social Sciences, Religion & Spirituality, Science, Society & Culture, Sports & Outdoors, Technology & the Future, Travel

Worldwide

Mascot Books logo Mascot Books

Mascot Books is a full-service hybrid publisher dedicated to helping authors at all stages of their publishing journey create a high-quality printed or digital book that matches their vision. With comprehensive editorial, design, marketing, production, and distribution services, our authors have the support of an experienced publishing team while still retaining one of the highest royalty percentages in the business.

Hybrid publisher

All categories

Next Chapter logo Next Chapter

250 copies • Completed manuscript.
Next Chapter is a Rapid Versatile Publisher (RVP) that combines the professionalism and quality of traditional publishing with the creative freedom of independent publishing. We have published dozens of bestsellers, and take pride in the transparency of our business. There are no hidden fees or small print. Join us today and take your writing career to the next level.

Hybrid publisher

Children Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mind & Body, Mystery, Thriller, Horror & Suspense, Romantic Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, YA Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Business & Money, Career & Success, Cookbooks, Food & Wine, Health, Fitness & Dieting, History, Journalism, Personal Growth & Self-Improvement, Politics & Social Sciences, Religion & Spirituality, Science, Society & Culture, Sports & Outdoors, Technology & the Future, Travel

Worldwide

WiDo Publishing / E.L. Marker logo WiDo Publishing / E.L. Marker

250 copies • Completed manuscript.
E.L. Marker™, WiDo Publishing’s new imprint, is a hybrid publisher established to meet the needs of authors in a changing publishing climate. Now, more than ever, writers are seeking a blend between self-publishing and traditional publishing. They want an option that offers the higher royalties and greater control associated with self- publishing, while enjoying the prestige and quality provided by a traditional publisher.

Hybrid publisher

Literary Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Horror & Suspense, Romantic Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, YA Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Cookbooks, Food & Wine, History, Journalism, Politics & Social Sciences, Religion & Spirituality, Travel

Worldwide

Authors Unite logo Authors Unite

250 copies • Partial manuscript.
Authors Unite helps you become a profitable author and make an impact. We take care of printing and distribution through major online retailers, developmental editing, and proofreading with unlimited revisions. We take care of the entire process for you from book cover design all the way to set up your backend so all your book royalties go straight to your bank account. We can also help with ghostwriting if you prefer not to have to figure out all the steps on how to write a book yourself.

With our book marketing services, you don’t need to worry about figuring out all the steps on how to market a book or how to become a bestselling author. We’ve helped hundreds of authors become bestselling authors on Amazon, USA Today, and The Wall Street Journal. We take care of the entire book launch process for you to help you sell thousands of copies of your book and become a bestselling author.


View case studies here: https://authorsunite.com

Service publisher

Children Fiction, Christian Fiction, Comics & Graphic Novels, Commercial Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Historical Fiction, LGBT Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Horror & Suspense, Mind & Body, Mythology & Folk Tales, Romantic Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Women's Fiction, YA Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Business & Money, Career & Success, Children Non-Fiction, Christian Non-Fiction, Communication Skills, Corporate Culture, Crafts & Hobbies, Creativity, Current Affairs, Economics, Education, Entrepreneurship & Small Business, Health, Fitness & Dieting, History, Humor & Entertainment, Journalism, LGBT Non-Fiction, Management & Leadership, Marketing & Sales, Mindfulness & Happiness, Money & Investment, Motivation & Inspiration, Nature & Environment, Parenting, Personal Growth & Self-Improvement, Philosophy, Politics & Social Sciences, Popular Science, Productivity & Time Management, Psychology, Reference, Religion & Spirituality, Science, Sex & Relationships, Society & Culture, Sports & Outdoors, Technology & the Future, Travel, YA Non-Fiction, Science Fiction & Humour

Worldwide

Bookmobile logo Bookmobile

100 copies • Partial manuscript.
Bookmobile provides book printing, graphic design, and other resources to support book publishers in an ever-changing environment. Superior quality, excellent customer service, flexibility, and timely turnarounds have attracted nearly 1,000 satisfied clients to Bookmobile, including trade houses, university presses, independent publishers, museums, galleries, artists, and more. In addition, we manage eBook conversions and produce galleys, and regularly provide short-run reprints of 750 copies or fewer for major publishers such as Graywolf Press.

Service publisher

Children Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mind & Body, Mystery, Thriller, Horror & Suspense, Romantic Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, YA Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Business & Money, Career & Success, Cookbooks, Food & Wine, Health, Fitness & Dieting, History, Journalism, Personal Growth & Self-Improvement, Politics & Social Sciences, Religion & Spirituality, Science, Society & Culture, Sports & Outdoors, Technology & the Future, Travel

Worldwide

Happy Self Publishing logo Happy Self Publishing

100 copies • Completed manuscript.
Happy Self Publishing has helped 500+ authors to get their books self-published, hit the #1 position in the Amazon bestseller charts, and also establish their author website & brand to grow their business. And the best thing is, we do all this without taking away your rights and royalties. Let's schedule a call to discuss the next steps in your book project: www.meetme.so/jyotsnaramachandran

Service publisher

Children Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mind & Body, Mystery, Thriller, Horror & Suspense, Romantic Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, YA Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Business & Money, Career & Success, Cookbooks, Food & Wine, Health, Fitness & Dieting, History, Journalism, Personal Growth & Self-Improvement, Politics & Social Sciences, Religion & Spirituality, Science, Society & Culture, Sports & Outdoors, Technology & the Future, Travel

Worldwide

JETLAUNCH logo JETLAUNCH

100 copies • Completed manuscript.
Jetlaunch book design and project management services give you back the hours you need to grow your publishing business. We've done work for John Lee Dumas, Ed Mylett, Rachel Pedersen, Dan Sullivan, Aaron Walker, Amy Landino (Schmittauer), Kary Oberbrunner, Jim Edwards, and many publishing companies. You retain all rights and royalties.

Service publisher

Worldwide

This is but one story of Elvis Presley's time on the Louisiana Hayride.  It was written for Shreveport's regional SB Magazine and published in 2011.

When Elvis First Left The Building

   Even though it’s been 55 years since Elvis Presley traded his weekend gig in Shreveport for superstardom, some parts of his legacy are destined to live on forever.  Anyone who grew up listening to Elvis or had relatives that did is familiar with the legendary phrase “Elvis has left the building.”  It has become part of the popular culture, having morphed into slang for almost any person’s dramatic or noteworthy departure.  What few Shreveporters realize, though, is the phrase got its start here in town as well.

   The date was December 15, 1956.  The place, the Youth Building (now Hirsch Coliseum) at the Louisiana State Fairgrounds off Greenwood Road (Interstate 20 had yet to be built).  It was Saturday night and time for another installment of KWKH’s popular barn dance show, the Louisiana Hayride.  Normally held in the Municipal Auditorium on the west edge of downtown, the show had to move to a larger venue that weekend because Elvis was back in town.

   It had scarcely been two years since an unknown 19 year old Elvis Presley first showed up in Shreveport, fresh from a lukewarm reception at the Grand Ole Opry and hungry for success on his own terms.  The Hayride welcomed Elvis as they had so many unproven talents before him:  Hank Williams, Kitty Wells, Webb Pierce, Slim Whitman, Jim Reeves, Johnny Horton and more.   It didn’t matter that the Presley sound wasn’t exactly country music.  It was something different, and KWKH was all about different.

   Elvis first took the Hayride stage in October of 1954 and by early November had charmed the ladies in the audience, befuddled the men, confused his fellow performers, and taken over every teenage girl’s heart in the 38 state coverage area of KWKH’s powerful signal.  That was good for business, very good, for a while at least.

   Picture, if you will, the Municipal Auditorium half filled each Saturday night with fans of classic country music.  Webb Pierce ruled the charts during the mid-fifties with more than a dozen Number One hits featuring his unique, twangy style.  MGM was releasing every track they could find on Hank Williams to satisfy the fans of the artist so recently taken from their midst.  Country was the music of the times, and crooners were in high demand.  Blue jean overalls, checkered shirts, ten gallon hats, and cowboy boots adorned most of the audience and the cast on any given Louisiana Hayride Saturday night.  Then, in walks this greasy haired teenager from Memphis wearing a pink suit, two tone bucks, and a clip-on bow tie.  Before they knew what hit ‘em, Elvis Presley offered up his take on blues and country to the audience and they began to lap it up.

   By the middle of 1955, Elvis Presley’s music was all over the charts, and he had several Number One hits of his own.  Out on tour, he easily commanded several thousand dollars a show, a sharp contrast to the forty three dollars the Hayride paid him and his band each Saturday night.  When Colonel Tom Parker inserted himself into Presley’s life that fall, the rocket ride to superstardom began.  The first item that came under the microscope was the Hayride contract.  Unfortunately for Parker, Elvis had re-signed with the Hayride a few weeks before the two of them had a management deal in place, so Elvis was tied to Shreveport until November of 1956, albeit for the new, improved rate of $200 per show.

   Parker was a crafty little devil and tried his best to get Elvis released from his Hayride contract, but KWKH station manager Henry Clay wouldn’t hear of it.  Elvis began to miss Hayride shows here and there, choosing to deduct the fine of double lost wages from his much larger booking fee elsewhere.  At one point, Colonel Tom even discussed taking over artist management at KWKH and offered to build a state-of-the-art recording studio, but his offer came with a price, and Henry Clay was unwilling to surrender the helm of the Louisiana Hayride to anyone.  So, Parker settled for the best deal he could get.

   March 31, 1956 became Elvis Presley’s final Louisiana Hayride appearance as a regular member of the cast.  It had never been the intention of the powers that be to hold Elvis back from his destiny, so Henry Clay agreed to let Elvis buy out the remaining six months of his Hayride contract for twice face value, a staggering sum of $10,000.  As the chairman of the Building Committee for the YMCA, Clay tossed in a requirement of his own - Elvis would return to Shreveport within six months and do one final benefit performance for “the charity of his choice, which would, of course, happen to be the YMCA of the City of Shreveport.

   “Love Me Tender,” featuring newfound movie star Elvis Presley, was filling up theaters coast to coast by the time the Shreveport charity show rolled around in December of 1956, and Elvis was topping the charts with the simplistic rhythm and blues song “Hound Dog.”  Every spot in the 10,000 seat venue had been sold, and then some.  Teenagers crammed into every corner, and concerns were high that the fire marshal would shut down the show even before it began.  At the last minute, bed-ridden hospital patients on gurneys were wheeled into place at the base of the stage to afford and protect the buffer zone required by fire code.

 

   To every member of the audience it was clear the King had come home.  To KWKH and the Hayride, it was business as usual and Elvis was scheduled as the third act of about twenty.  He came out just after 9 p.m. and delivered a ten song performance culminating in a drawn out, burlesque sounding rendition of “Hound Dog”.  He could have played the National Anthem and no one would have been the wiser.  The screams of ten thousand teenagers were deafening.

   Veteran Louisiana Hayride announcer and emcee Horace Logan assumed the podium once Elvis had finally wrapped up his encore.  He thanked the unruly mob of teenagers for being perfect ladies and gentlemen up to that point and encouraged them to take their seats for the balance of the show to follow.  Seeing no change in the beeline for the door and mindful that his pleas were most likely only heard by the radio audience listening in, Horace Logan cleared his throat and made one final attempt to corral the mob, this time with the truth:

    “All right, uh, Elvis has left the building.  I have told you absolutely straight up to this point, you know, that he has left the building.  He left the stage and went out the back with the policemen and he is now gone from the building.”

   Gone were the teenagers, gone chasing Elvis.  Gone, too, were the loyal fans of the old Hayride, the country one.  They had grown tired of the screaming teenagers cluttering up the audience of the Louisiana Hayride in increasingly large numbers.  Plus, there was now this new medium of television taking hold in the nation, and a guy named Ed Sullivan put on a pretty good Saturday night show of his own. 

   Without any doubt, Elvis remains the biggest thing to ever hit the Louisiana Hayride, but it was a hit from which the show would never fully recover.  Following on the heels of Elvis came Johnny Cash and George Jones, who both tried their hand at the new “rockabilly” sound, as it was being called.  Johnny had modest success with “Ballad of a Teenage Queen” before deciding to return to country, while George busied himself trying to buy up all known recordings of the four forgettable tracks by “Thumper” Jones.  It was the dawn of a new era, and the Louisiana Hayride would end its primary run just four years later but not before launching a few more careers on the road to stardom.

   In July of 1976, Elvis returned to Shreveport and the Louisiana State Fairgrounds for what would be his curtain call in the town “where it all began.”  Horace Logan came to see him and renew acquaintance.  Robert Catts, the sleepy eyed Shreveport patrolman who had served as a decoy for Elvis back in December of 1956 and helped make Presley’s legendary escape from the building possible, was once again there to serve and protect.  Elvis took up an entire floor at the Chateau Suites hotel downtown, and Catts tells a great story about the unscented skunk they unleashed on the floor as Elvis sat quietly reading his Bible.  But that’s another tale for another day.

   Oh, and for those of you keeping score, the YMCA ended up collecting a check from KWKH for $7551.99 for their share of the proceeds from the 1956 charity show.  It went into the Building Fund and helped construct, among other things, the swimming pool out at the Y’s Camp Forbing.  Rock on, Elvis!


  • Update #22 - On to the movies... Sept. 26, 2020

    Hey everyone!

    I want to thank you once more for your support of "Cradle of the Stars".  The book continues to find its way into …


  • Update #21 - Final Final update... Dec. 31, 2019

    Just a final, final note of thanks to everyone.  All pre-orders have been shipped and all domestic orders have been received, as far as I …


  • Update #20 - Final update and request for info... Dec. 9, 2019

    Hey, folks.  One final update.  I am told the publisher is shipping out the 350 pre-orders to me today.  There was a delay caused by the …


  • Update #19 - Book out next week! - Need address corrections... Nov. 12, 2019

    Hey everyone!

    I have been told by my publisher that the book has shipped from the printer and is on schedule for release next Monday.  …


  • Update #18 - Cradle of the Stars: 28 months later... Oct. 22, 2019

    Just wanted to give everyone a final update.  I can't believe it's been 28 months since I first sought out a publisher for my book, …


  • Update #17 - Ken Burns' History of Country Music... Aug. 8, 2019

    The time is fast upon us!  Ken Burns' epic documentary about the History of Country Music will premiere next month, September 15th on public broadcasting.  …


  • Update #16 - IT'S OFFICIAL! Book out this October 15th! May 2, 2019

    Hey everybody!
    I wanted to give you an update on the book.  The release date has now been firmly set for this coming October 15th, …


  • Update #15 - Home stretch!... Aug. 1, 2018

    Hey everybody!

    I wanted to give you an update on the book.  The release date got pushed a few months ago to next Spring, so …


  • Update #14 - Pelican Press Aug. 30, 2017

    Greetings, one and all! I wanted to share that my Number One choice for a publisher, Louisiana's own Pelican Press, has extended me a contract …


  • Update #13 - One final update... June 21, 2017

    Thank you, one and all, for your generous pre-orders of "Cradle of the Stars".  I ended up with interest from 9 different publishers and am …


  • Update #12 - Well Done! May 17, 2017

    Thank you, one and all, for helping make this campaign a successful one.  We had 334 total pre-sales of the book.  I have interest from …


  • Update #11 - 24 hours left! May 16, 2017

    This is it, folks, the final countdown!  Thank you all SO much for the pre-orders.  I am excited to begin final assembly.  With only 24 hours …


  • Update #10 - 48 Hours Left! May 15, 2017

    Thank you to everyone that has pre-ordered this book.  It has been an exciting campaign and I am ready to prep it for publication.  Only …


  • Update #9 - 300! May 10, 2017

    Hey, folks!

    We are winding down the Publishizer campaign.  It expires next Tuesday, so I am hoping for one final push this week.  The Forum News …


  • Update #8 - Sample page from my book... April 26, 2017

    Hey, folks!

    Karl Hasten, a longtime friend of mine, called me today for an interview in the next issue of Shreveport's excellent bi-weekly "The Forum …


  • Update #7 - #4 With A Bullet... April 24, 2017

    Hey, folks!

    Just wanted to send out a quick progress report.  I am happy to report that "Cradle Of The Stars" is the #1 most …


  • Update #6 - Nashville here I come! April 21, 2017

    Peeps!

    Another big package, one of my VIP Book Signing & Lunch packages (a $500 selection) has been bought by Nashville couple John Wood & …


  • Update #5 - Holy 254!!! April 20, 2017

    Wowza!!

    Last night I sent out an update announcing we had passed the half way point to my main goal of 250 pre-orders but now, …


  • Update #4 - Over half way!... April 19, 2017

    Hey, everybody!

    I am happy to report that pre-sales of my coffee table book have just topped 128 units which means we are over half …


  • Update #3 - 101 books sold! April 11, 2017

    My peeps!

    We did it!  The first major level has been reached in my Publishizer campaign and my book proposal just went out to 43 …


  • Update #2 - Closing in on 100 units! April 10, 2017

    My people!!

    After a little over three days, we are fast closing in on 100 units of my book pre-ordered!  Thank you, my soldiers, for …


  • Update #1 - Awesome first day!... April 7, 2017

    Thank you, my people, for an awesome first day for my book.  33 preorders have been received so far for 45 books.  I already have …


Please log in to comment.

  • Tom Nugent
    on April 8, 2017, 5:13 p.m.

    Way to go Joey. Looking forward to reading my copy!

  • Lucy Burcham
    on April 8, 2017, 9:43 p.m.

    Looking forward to receiving this account of music history. Thank you all for efforts in getting this done.

  • Tony Brantley
    on April 8, 2017, 10:02 p.m.

    Looking forward to receiving the book! Good luck Joey!

  • Billy Swan
    on April 9, 2017, 7:30 p.m.

    It sounds like an incredible book Joey...Time is right!
    Very Best, Billy

  • Margaret Peavy Powers
    on April 10, 2017, 3:50 p.m.

    Congrats Joey! Perhaps the
    next book should be...🤔🤔🤔🤔😃
    "Thoughts from the little blue Treehouse"!

  • Tom Bevins
    on April 10, 2017, 4:16 p.m.

    No one knows more about the Louisiana Hayride than Joey Kent. This will be the best work on the Hayride that has ever been done. Joey has the knowledge, the experience and a rare cache' of materials to make this the benchmark work on this subject against which all others will be judged. I cannot wait to enjoy this book!

  • Greg Nelson
    on April 10, 2017, 11:33 p.m.

    Can't wait Joey. It's going to be awesome.

  • Seth Himes
    on April 11, 2017, 2:46 p.m.

    Can't wait! Write, write, write....

  • Brian Diiulio
    on April 11, 2017, 3:12 p.m.

    Joey, I just ordered the Elvis and Hank package so I can provide a book to each of my siblings and mother. I know they will enjoy reading it. Thanks, Brian

  • Arie den Dulk
    on April 11, 2017, 5:41 p.m.

    Joey, congratulation with the achieved goal. I look forward to see your book in print!

  • John Diamond
    on April 16, 2017, 9:43 p.m.

    Joey...John here this time the site worked like a charm! Looking forward to getting together with you and chew the fat! Congratulations on bringing this great story to fruitation. Can't wait to see the images you send to me! Talk with you soon.
    John

  • Teresa Flake
    on April 19, 2017, 2:06 p.m.

    So proud of you, Joey! Can't wait to check out your book!

  • Ray Hall
    on April 23, 2017, 11:28 p.m.

    Thank you joey for giving this 78 year old history of the music I love

  • David House
    on April 25, 2017, 4:18 p.m.

    Thanks for giving us more depth and detail about Hayride history. Invaluable.

  • Suzanne Bardwell
    on April 26, 2017, 9:10 p.m.

    Joey, sorry I am running behind but I have posted the video to my personal facebook and am working on something for the Gladewater Mirror.

  • Laura Morrow
    on April 27, 2017, 4:31 p.m.

    Just ordered 3 more copies! LOVE the updates, Joey! And the format you designed will make this book such a Great PLEASURE to read!

  • DG Martin
    on April 27, 2017, 6:01 p.m.

    Im looking forward to it Joey, congratulations.
    Greg

  • Guy Vincent
    on May 5, 2017, 3:49 p.m.

    This book looks amazing, Joey! Congratulations on your incredible campaign so far :)

  • David Mankelow
    on May 6, 2017, 7 p.m.

    Thanks. If you need additional dollars to cover P&P to the United Kingdom please let me know.
    Regards David Mankelow

  • Robert Johnston
    on May 10, 2017, 10:23 p.m.

    Thanks for working on this history of "The Louisiana Hayride"!

  • Pete DeBuys
    on May 15, 2017, 12:08 a.m.

    Job well done. Looking forward to getting my copy.

    Please sign: "Your cheatin' heart, will tell on you."

  • Larry McCammon
    on May 15, 2017, 12:48 a.m.

    Hope it is a huge success for you and your family old friend. I have never forgotten your generosity when my father died. All the Best! Larry

  • Sarah Milkovich
    on May 15, 2017, 1:35 p.m.

    This is such a beautiful history, and you are a brilliant historian!! Thank you for doing this work and for sharing it with all of us!

  • Randy Lambert
    on May 16, 2017, 1:55 a.m.

    Tony Brantley recommended this book to me, I love the La. Hayride and Shreveport's rich history. Cant wait to read this.

  • Colby Doler
    on May 16, 2017, 10:30 p.m.

    This is so exciting, Joey! I can't wait to read it!

  • Connie Baten
    on May 20, 2017, 2:26 a.m.

    I so appreciate you letting me pre-order this book. My husband really wanted this! He is a Louisiana Hayride and KWKH junkie from way back! We didn't see it until the deadline had passed the day before! Thanks again!
    C. Baten

  • Anonymous
    on Nov. 12, 2019, 7:24 p.m.

    address for John Madison is 330 Marshall St. 10th Floor, Shreveport, La. 71101.....do not know what address you have on file..thanks. John Madison

  • Anonymous
    on Dec. 2, 2019, 6:16 p.m.

    Any news on book availability? Has your shipment arrived?

    • Joey Kent
      on Dec. 2, 2019, 6:29 p.m.

      Arcadia Publishing was out all last week for the holiday. They are sending my shipment of pre-0rders out this week, hopefully today or tomorrow, and I will sign and send out orders the moment I receive them. Otherwise, the book is available to the general public from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target and others now. If you pre-ordered, make sure i have your correct address and any information regarding personalizing the inscription you want me to have.