It was announced today that Marty Lacker will be honored by receiving a Beale Street Blues Note, the equivalent of a Hollywood Walk Of Fame Star this coming Sunday, November 7 at 5: PM.
Also receiving a Blues Note at the same time will be Chips Moman, the acclaimed record producer who produced Elvis' 1969 sessions at American Studios,Memphis. Moman is also noted for producing over 100 other big hit records by a number of major artists.
Lacker started his entertainment career in radio in 1957 and a few years later his former high schoolmate, Elvis Presley, asked Marty to work for him. Marty was with and close to Elvis for 20 years and served as his right hand man for a number of years as well as being his Co-Best Man at his wedding.
However, it was not really his association with Elvis that has brought this honor to him but his years after leaving Presley's payroll to become a vital part of the Memphis and National Music Industry. In 1967 Lacker started Pepper Records at which time he discovered Rita Coolidge and produced her first couple of hits for her. While at Pepper he also produced some young R&B groups with the help and songs of his close friends Isaac Hayes and David Porter.
Shortly after, Lacker was solely responsible for Elvis to return to Memphis to record for the first time in 14 years when Lacker convinced Elvis to record with Chips Moman and his American Studios Rhythm section. resulting in "Suspicious Minds" and "In The Ghetto' as well as other hits. It was a few months after that Moman asked Lacker to run American Studios for him which he did for a couple of years before opening his own company,Mempro,Inc. serving the entire Music Industry.. While at American, Lacker became one of the leaders of the Memphis Music Industry and produced, directed and wrote three highly successful Memphis Music Awards Shows featuring many of the big named artists who recorded in Memphis at the time as well as attended by most of the executives of the national music industry.
Lacker also co-founded the Memphis Chapter Of NARAS (Grammys), as well as founded the original Memphis & Shelby County Music Commission,(1972) and was its first Chairman. He also was Chairman of Memphis Music,Inc., the official organization of the entire Memphis Music Industry.
It is for those accomplishments and others that Lacker was named today, July 29,2010 as one of the honorees to have his name embedded on a Blues Note in the sidewalk of world famous Beale Street in Memphis. The dedication ceremony date will be held in the next few months.
Here's a brief list of Lacker's accomplishments.
Marty was with and close to Elvis Presley for 20+ years, a number of them he was his right hand man as well as co-best man at his wedding. Marty had attended the last year of high school at Humes with Elvis.
Marty spent a couple of years as a DJ and program Director in radio prior to that.
Marty left Elvis’ payroll in late ’67 as he was tired of traveling but he continued to handle special projects for him and also was with him every evening when he was in Memphis until late ’76 and also went on some tours with him and to Vegas and the Aloha Special.
In ’67 Marty started a record company for Pepper Tanner Co. in Memphis and discovered Rita Coolidge and produced her first couple of hits. He recorded her at American Studios in Memphis. In ’69 Marty was solely responsible for and persuaded Elvis to record with Chips Moman at American Studios that resulted in his recording career back on track with number one and top ten hits for the first time in five years. “Suspicious Minds”, “In The Ghetto”, “Don’t Cry Daddy”, “Kentucky Rain” and two platinum albums. Shortly after that Chips asked Marty to be the VP and General Business Manager of American Studios which he accepted. Through the next couple of years Marty handled negotiations and contracts with some of the major artists who cut at American.
Marty soon became one of the leaders of the Memphis Industry and was the co-founder of the Memphis NARAS chapter. You’ll find his name on the Chapter Charter. He also served as an alternate member of The National Board Of Governors and represented the Memphis chapter at the one and only NARAS Governors meeting in Memphis during the 70’s.
In 1972 Marty conceived the idea and was The Chairman Of The Board of the first government appointed Memphis and Shelby County Music Commission in ‘72 and wrote, directed and produced three highly successful Memphis Music Awards Shows attended by just about
every President and execs of the major recording companies in the country including Clive Davis and Jerry
Wexler as well as most major trade papers.
After opening his own company Marty worked closely with all the studios and music industry in Memphis as well as national labels.