Broadway Cast Recording of Memphis Hits Stores March 30

By Adam Hetrick
30 Mar 2010

Broadway Cast Recording of Memphis Hits Stores March 30

Rhino Records releases the original cast recording of Broadway's rock musical Memphis, featuring Chad Kimball and Montego Glover, in stores and digitally March 30.

Bon Jovi songwriter and band member David Bryan and Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change) penned the score to the musical that uses gospel, R&B, rock and soul to tell the story of a white radio DJ and the black singer who becomes his muse in the segregated South of the 1950s.

Memphis is the first of only two musicals with an original score to open on Broadway this season. The other will be The Addams Family.

In addition to 19 songs from the production, the album includes a bonus track featuring Memphis composer and Bon Jovi band member Bryan performing "The Music of My Soul."


The Memphis track listing follows:

"Underground"
"The Music Of My Soul"
"Scratch My Itch"
"Ain't Nothin' But A Kiss"
"Everybody Wants To Be Black On A Saturday Night"
"Make Me Stronger"
"Colored Woman"
"Someday"
"She's My Sister"
"Radio"
"Say A Prayer"
"Crazy Little Huey"
"Big Love"
"Love Will Stand When All Else Falls"
"Stand Up"
"Change Don’t Come Easy"
"Tear Down The House"
"Memphis Lives In Me"
"Steal Your Rock 'n' Roll"
Bonus Track "The Music Of My Soul" – David Bryan

The recording, featuring an alternate bonus track, has been available at the Shubert Theatre and online at MemphistheMusical since December 2009.

Memphis stars Kimball (Into the Woods, Lennon, The Civil War, My Life with Albertine) as DJ Huey Calhoun with Glover (The Color Purple, Ragtime, Aida) as singer Felicia Farrell.

Memphis also features J. Bernard Calloway (The Good Negro, "The Taking of Pelham 123") as Delray, James Monroe Iglehart (Spelling Bee) as Bobby, Cass Morgan (Mary Poppins, Ring of Fire) as Gladys Calhoun, Derrick Baskin (The Little Mermaid as Gator and Tony nominee Michael McGrath (Spamalot, Is He Dead?) as Mr. Simmons.

The Memphis ensemble includes Jennifer Allen, Brad Bass, Tracee Beazer, Kevin Covert, Hillary Elk, Bryan Fenkart, Dionne Figgins, Rhett George, John Jellison, Candice McCall, Sydney Morton, Vivian Nixon, John Eric Parker, Jermaine R. Rembert, LaQuet Sharnell, Ephraim Sykes, Cary Tedder, Danny Tidwell, Daniel J. Watts, Katie Webber, Charlie Williams and Dan'yelle Williamson.

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"In the smoky halls and underground clubs of the segregated '50s," press notes state, "a young white DJ named Huey Calhoun fell in love with everything he shouldn't: rock and roll and an electrifying black singer. Memphis is an original story about the cultural revolution that erupted when his vision met her voice, and the music changed forever."

Based on a concept by George W. George, Memphis features choreography by Sergio Trujillo (Next to Normal, Jersey Boys), scenic design by David Gallo, costume design by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Howell Binkley and sound design by Ken Travis.

Memphis is produced on Broadway by Junkyard Dog Productions, Barbara and Buddy Freitag and Kenny and Marleen Alhadeff with Latitude Link, Jim and Susan Blair, Land Line Productions, Demos Bizar Entertainment, Apples and Oranges Productions, Dave Copley, Dancap Productions, Inc., Tony Ponturo, 2 Guys Productions, and Richard Winkler in association with Linda and Bill Potter, Broadway Across America, Jocko Productions, Lauren Doll/Bob Bartner, Patty Baker, Dan Frishwasser, Loraine Boyle/Chase Mishkin, Remmel T. Dickinson/Memphis Orpheum Group and ShadowCatcher Entertainment/Vijay and Sita Vashee.