For release: October 18, 2011
For press information, contact Curt Guenther, 901-678-2843

Local author Preston Lauterbach will launch a three-day, multi-event look at the roots of rock and roll music, when he speaks at the University of Memphis on Thursday, Oct. 27, at 6:30 p.m. in the University Center Theatre.  He will be the keynote speaker for the event, which is sponsored by the U of M’s Marcus W. Orr Center for the Humanities and the Mike Curb Institute for Music at Rhodes College.

Lauterbach is the author of The Chitlin’ Circuit and the Road to Rock ‘n’ Roll, a groundbreaking book that traces rock and roll’s origins back to the sounds created by black musicians in the early part of the 20th century.  One critic said of the book, “This sprawling, fascinating history drops readers into a chaotic, dangerous, utterly vanished world. It turns out to be more vibrant than the standard rock ‘n’ roll mythology.” 

Lauterbach unearthed the buried pioneers of modern American music, and his book delivers fresh takes on such icons as B.B. King, Little Richard, and Ray Charles.  His keynote address will kick off a series of events across Memphis that will focus on the “Chitlin’ Circuit,” including panel discussions and a concert with Bobby Rush and the Bo-Keys.

The schedule of events is as follows:

Keynote Lecture by Preston Lauterbach
When: October 27; reception at 6 p.m., lecture at 6:30 p.m.
Where: University Center Theatre, The University of Memphis
Free and open to the Public

The Chitlin’ Circuit Symposium
When: October 28; student research presentations at 1 p.m., panel discussion featuring Bobby Rush and Preston Lauterbach at 3 p.m.
Where: Bryan Campus Life Center, McCallum Ballroom, Rhodes College
Free and open to the Public

Bobby Rush Concert featuring the Bo-Keys
When: October 28, 8 p.m.
Where: The Warehouse, 36 East G.E. Patterson Avenue
Tickets are available free to the Rhodes and University of Memphis communities through Rhodes Express.

Munch and Learn with Preston Lauterbach
When: November 2; noon
Where: Dixon Gallery and Gardens, 4339 Park Avenue
Please visit www.dixon.org

Sponsoring the series with the U of M’s Orr Center and Rhodes’ Mike Curb Institute are the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music at the University of Memphis and the Spence L. Wilson Chair at Rhodes College.

More information about this event and about any of the programs of the Marcus Orr Center is available online at www.memphis.edu/moch or by calling Dr. Aram Goudsouzian at 901-678-2520.