Perhaps preceding pioneers like Alan Freed and Murray the K, Dewey Phillips may have been the first DJ to play “black” or “R&B” music primarily for a “white” audience.
Dewey became so popular that competitor WMPS stopped scheduling an announcer when Phillips was on WHBQ. While WMPS played the “safe” popular hits of the day with an automatic record changer, Phillips would pitch cornmeal in his drawling shotgun rap between records by Laverne Baker and Muddy Waters.
Following the release of a yellow Sun record titled “That’s All Right”, a nervous Elvis Presley told Phillips he didn’t know anything about being interviewed. Phillips replied, “Just don’t say nothin’ dirty, son.” Dewey Phillip’s enthusiasm launched the careers of Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison and many others.
Like his proudest discovery, Elvis Presley, Dewey Phillips died at the age of 42 in September, 1968.
[Description and Aircheck from YESTERDIAL #11, © 1987,1998 The Aircheck Factory.]