Genesis Publications: Books: Lew Allen: Elvis and the Birth of Rock

On November 23rd 1956, a 17-year-old boy from Cleveland, a keen photographer who worked for his high school newspaper, was invited to photograph Elvis Presley at the Cleveland Arena, Ohio. A labour strike at the three major newspapers in Cleveland meant that Lew Allen was the only photographer at the show.	ABOVE: Lew Allen (second from left) with his nephew Bob Shatten (left), guest editor Mike McCartney (right) and Brian Roylance (second from right). LEFT: Lew Allen is interviewed for his high school newspaper, 'Black & Gold'. Shown alongside is the only one of his pictures of Elvis they published.

It was Bob Shatten, Lew's nephew, who began the process towards this momentous book back in 1988 when Lew dug out some old contact sheets which had been gathering dust in his basement for years. Lew, Mike and Bob provide an entertaining and illuminating commentary to the photographs, describing their context and significance.
'This book is a milestone for me since it is the 50th anniversary of when I had the experience of a lifetime photographing Elvis and it's also the first time this collection has ever been seen by the public.' LEW ALLEN

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