mario monterosso
On July 8, 1954 Dewey Phillips introduced Elvis to Memphis (and subsequently the world) when he played “That’s Alright (Mamma)” during his Red, Hot and Blue show on radio station WHBQ broadcasting from the Chisca Hotel. Sixty-five years later to the day, Mario Monterosso entered the hallowed space of Sun Studio to record “Steady Girl” and “Waiting for a Beer” for Black & Wyatt records. Mario (lead vocals and lead guitar) was accompanied by Steve Clark (upright bass) and Aaron Mlasko (drums). Rob Haynes played piano on “Waiting for a Beer.” The] 7” record was released on January 16, 2020 with a show that evening at Hernando’s Hideaway. Hear the original “Steady Girl” by Heathens on Bandcamp HERE
reviews + articles
One of the great recent moments in Memphis music history was the discovery (by collector Frank Bruno) of an acetate by a little-known group of Memphis teenagers, recorded at Sun in its heyday. The tracks, two takes of the song "Steady Girl," by the Heathens, were originally shelved by Sun, but released last year by the Black & Wyatt label.
The greatness of the tracks was not due to any virtuoso performances, nor any achievements in song craft, but rather to the infectious, unhinged teen energy that still springs from the vinyl six decades later. Bruno calls it "the first garage rock recording of all time," and he may be right. But the real magic is in the mania of the band, who collectively stomp through the song with abandon — and little regard for conventions of arrangement or tempo. - Memphis Flyer | READ
Mario Monterosso, though he’s a transplant to Memphis, recorded this single at Sun Studios. The finesse in Monterosso’s approach to rockabilly is considerable next to the unpolished youth hump of The Heathens, but the man has experience playing with Tav Falco, so there’s nary a trace of fraudulence in his outpouring. In fact, the honky-tonk gusto of “Waiting for a Beer” suggests that had Black and Wyatt not issued this 7-inch, it could’ve eventually found a home with Chicago’s Bloodshot label.
But instead, it came out on Black and Wyatt as run by two Memphis pediatricians whose foremost gift to the world is in helping kids get well and stay healthy. Kudos for that. But in operating a record label in their spare time, they’re improving the quality of life of numerous music lovers in their hometown and beyond, and that’s worth celebrating, too -The Vinyl District | READ
Monterosso came to Memphis wielding a guitar, he found a home on Beale. Many have marveled at this newcomer’s playing with the likes of Dale Watson or John Paul Keith and wondered what his story could be. It’s a tale of the fascination a boy had with the music of the American South. - Memphis Flyer | READ
podcasts + interviews
MONTEROSSO MEETS MEMPHIS: ITALIAN GUITARIST FINDS A HOME | READ
“With foreigners and asylum-seekers now becoming the objects of some folks’ daily two-minute hate, it’s worth noting the value of immigrants in the Memphis music scene. Guitarist Mario Monterosso has been in Memphis more than two years, but he’s not the first Italian to seek a fortune in the Bluff City.””
Mario at Sun Studio
