The Rock and Roll Trail - Episode One: Cairo, Illinois (Echosonic Amplifier)

Rock and Roll singer and historian Marcel Riesco takes you on his rock and roll trip. In this episode: Cairo, Illinois, home of the Legendary Echosonic Amplifier created and built by Ray Butts in the 1950s.
The Echosonic was used by guitar players like Scotty Moore (with Elvis Presley - you can see the Echosonic in many pictures with Elvis and even in the '68 Comeback Special), Carl Perkins (from 1957 on), Roy Orbison (1957-1958), Luther Perkins (Johnny Cash), Nashville guitar virtuoso Chet Atkins (early Nashville Sound)....and many more. Atkins used the Echosonic in the studio during the 1950s (listen to Roy Orbison's "Paper Boy," for example), and also on stage at the Grand Ole Opry. The amp gave these players that distinctive echo sound, a sound that was also mastered by Sam Phillips at Sun Records in Memphis (Memphis Recording Service).
Ray Butts built these amazing amplifiers, an electronics masterpiece, one by one. It had an endless tape loop in the back of it that gave the guitar a unique echo sound through the amp; a sound heard on songs like "Mystery Train" by Elvis Presley, "Mean Little Mama" by Roy Orbison, "Look at That Moon" by Carl Perkins...now these artists could also replicate the sound that Sam Phillips was creating in the studio live on stage.
Finding one of these amplifiers is now virtually impossible as only about 68 of them were made. This guitar amplifier is the certified Holy Grail of Rockabilly music and early sounds of rock and roll.
Thank you for watching and we hope you enjoy the video!
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Episode Two: Paducah, Kentucky
• The Rock and Roll Trai...

[@LIEUTENANTRene]

Hello to Belgium Marcel thank's for this visit

[@edwardkeefer2557]

I have watch some of the music you have on You tube, I like it Marcel. I have lived in ILLINOIS nearly all of my life, and I did not know that about Cairo. Never too old to learn something, you didn't know. Thanks man, and that is a great story, two of my favorite performers. And I am a fan of yours as well. Thanks again, you got any new music out brother. Just Saying

[@PrenatalApocalypseNow]

I stumbled across this while doing 'shrooms...bad mistake. Keep up the good work!

[@dennismccowan5375]

Locals pronounce it, Kay-row. Interesting video.

[@twinkletonerecords]

Yes, totally right! I even heard "Karrow" along the way.