Shake, Rattle & Turn That Noise Down!: How Elvis Shook Up Music, Me and Mom

FOR HIS EIGHTH birthday, Mark Alan Stamatys parents gave him his very own radio. Little did his mother realize that that innocent-looking plastic box would one day be the gateway for a new kind of sound that would “rock” her nearly out of her mind. . . .

Mark first heard the howling thunder of Elvis Presley singing “Hound Dog” on the radio one lazy day and his life was forever changed. Soon he was styling his hair like the King and practicing his dance moves with a tennis racket as his pretend guitar in front o f the mirror. But his mother lived in constant fear that her sons new love of rock n roll would turn him into a juvenile delinquent. Could Marks performance at his Cub Scout talent show change her mind?

"In this comic book — style trip down memory lane, circa 1955 — 1957, Stamaty (Who Needs Donuts?) recalls his conversion to rock 'n' roll. For a while, 'my favorite songs were often gentle melodies that put a sweet smile on Mom's face,' he recalls. As times change, a panel presents a pantheon of rock and blues musicians from Bill Haley to Bo Diddley. Stamaty pictures integration without naming it, and a delirious spread, crowded with the oversize lyrics to 'Hound Dog' ('Youainnuthinbuttahounddogcrockinallatime'), pictures him physically bowled over by Elvis Presley. His distraught mother reluctantly allows him to buy the 45-rpm single for 'Love Me Tender,' never reckoning on the raucous B-side. When Stamaty gives his classmates pompadours and performs as Elvis for a talent show, today's High School Musical fans may see common ground. Stamaty doesn't say what he sang or explain his title reference, but an amazing afterword (with photos) verifies his childhood hairstyle and impersonation, plus a 1990s reprise for President Clinton. The energetic color comics present Stamaty's nostalgic memories in an engaging, albeit quaint way: grandparents can share this with the MP3 generation. Ages 5 — 8." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

For his 8th birthday, Mark's parents give him his very own radio. Little doeshis mother realize that that innocent-looking plastic box will one day be thegateway for a new kind of sound that would "rock" her nearly out of her mind.Can he change her mind? Illustrations.

Mark Alan Stamaty is the author-illustrator of Who Needs Donuts? and Alias Mission: Saving the Books of Iraq. He lives in New York City.