THE KING AND I

Derek Watts, afternoon presenter on Rocket FM, the community radio station for Lewes, took time out on his recent trip to the States to pay homage to Elvis Presley, the King of rock 'n roll.

Derek and the "King" at Graceland (Elvis is on the right)

Derek, who lives in the Cliffe, was on a trip to Nashville and Memphis researching his forthcoming book "Country Boy - the Life and Times of Albert Lee", the British country-rock legend and "guitarists' guitarist".

Albert has worked with many of the great names in rock and country music and Derek interviewed (among others) Sonny Curtis and Jerry Allison of Buddy Holly's band The Crickets and Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers.

Derek also got to visit the famous Studio B at RCA in Nashville, where stars including Elvis, Roy Orbison, Jim Reeves and the Everly Brothers recorded many of their hits, often produced by the late Chet Atkins, inventor of the "Nashville Sound".

Derek is following up many other contacts he made and the new book will be a fascinating insight into the influence of one great Brit on the American rock and country scene.

Derek sits at the late Floyd Cramer's piano in studio B at RCA in Nashville Derek shoots the breeze with famous exponents of the pedal steel guitar Buddy Emmons and Hank de Vito

Derek met Jerry Allison, drummer of the Crickets Don't know what a 'Guijo' is? nor did we! James 'Superchicken' Johnson was playing one (should that be 'the one'?) when Derek looked in at the Rum Boogie Cafe, corner of Beale Street in Memphis

Derek will be bringing more of this to his afternoon show on Rocket FM this Autumn.