SAM PHILLIPS RECORDING STUDIO

RETURN TO MEMPHIS – new single from Teesside Rhythm & Blues singer & songwriter Emma Wilson

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Emma at BBC Radio 2 with Cerys Mathews December 2023

Magazine front covers, BBC Radio 2, awards, tours, record releases – this past few year Emma has been prolific. In 2023 she released ‘Memphis Calling’ recorded in Sam Phillips studio in Memphis, USA, earlier this year she talked about her third album ‘A Spoonful of Willie Dixon’. Recently she got in touch about her latest single…

I’m stablemates with American band Chris Wyze and the Tellers. We’re both signed for distribution with ‘Select-O-Hits’ in Memphis. Chris found out I was in Tennessee for a few days in September so asked me to co-write and sing a duet with him. We recorded ‘Hearts Blue Christmas’ at Royal Studios in Memphis with the Hi Rhythm Section.

At the end of the recording session producer Boo Mitchell said ‘We have an hour left“. Chris turned to me and said ‘Do you want to do anything?’ I’ve previously recorded with pianist Charles Hodges (who is part of the Hi Rhythm Section) on my record ‘Memphis Calling’ and we have a good friendship and work well together.

I asked Charles if he knew the song “What are you doing New Years Eve”? The track was written by Frank Loesser in 1947. I think I must have first heard the Lena Horne’s 1966 version as my Mum played a lot of her music when I was little.

Charles strolled over and started playing it so beautifully on the grand piano. That piano has been in the same position at Royal studios for decades. Goodness knows how many iconic songs it has featured on!

Charles and I spent about ten minutes getting a key to suit and having a run through, then he called Steve Potts to play some lovely light drums and then we taped it.

L to R – Charles Hodges, Steve Potts, Hubbie Turner, Emma Wilson, Boo Mitchell, Lina Beach, Chris Wyze and Leroy Hodges at Royal Studio, Willie Mitchell Boulevard, Memphis on 25 September 2025.

Along with promoting the single now Emma is already looking forward to 2026…Recently I won the UK Blues Challenge at Marshall Studios which means I go to Memphis in January to represent the UK in the International Blues Challenge and for the European Blues Challenge I go to Poland.

‘What Are You Doing New Years Eve’ is out on 21st November 2025 as digital download and a very limited run of CDs which are available from the official website >>>

Emma Wilson – award winning rhythm & blues singer from the UK

Alikivi   November 2025

EMMA SINGS THE BLUES – with Emma ‘Velvet Tones of Teesside’ Wilson

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Emma first appeared on this site back in 2019 talking about her influences in music and how she got started…

“It was ‘Aretha Now’ and ‘Aretha Sings the Blues’, both records shaped my development as a singer. I used to sit for hours listening to the songs on vinyl”.

Last Christmas as the sun went down on a cold, dark night I filled me hot water bottle, turned on the TV and watched an exhilarating performance by Aretha Franklin. The live concert from Amsterdam in 1968 was an absolute joy to watch.

In the packed audience the front row laid flowers for the Queen of Soul as Aretha ripped into (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction wiping away the painful memories I have of the Stones version.

With Aretha at the piano my mind flips back to Christmas Eve 1975. I was a 10 year old kid watching Freddie Mercury singing Bohemian Rhapsody on his white piano, the BBC were broadcasting a Queen concert from Hammersmith Odeon. Live events like these on the telly stood out as really special.

With fast cutting, crash zoom and whip pan camera shots, Aretha’s black and white film captures a danger – giving the concert an air of at any moment this could all fall apart. I can see why the show has acquired legendary status. Closing out at 35 minutes my only complaint was why so short?

Here we are in 2024 and life for Emma is coming at her fast, she kick started the year being pictured on the cover of Blues Matters magazine which features her new album ‘Memphis Calling’ recorded in Sam Phillips studio, USA.

“The studio breathes, it has an immense presence. The live room is awesome, beautifully designed. I let my emotions out on the recording” said Emma.

Check the article here > https://bluesmatters.com/ 

USA publications Downbeat and Living Blues have also featured Emma. Keeping the momentum up live dates see Emma hitting the North during March, first up is Bowness Bay Festival on 16th then Boom Club in Leeds on 23rd.  More gigs are planned during spring.

A gig in the North East is a quickie on the coast in May with an acoustic set at the Harbour View, Sunderland on the 23rd where you might see Emma on Roker beach plodging in the sea. For non-Geordie or Mackem speakers that’s when yer ankle deep in water.

More dates during summer are being fixed in the diary with venues lined up through to the autumn. Details to be released soon.

Download the album here >

https://EmmaWilson.lnk.to/MemphisCallingNE

For tour dates & ticket info check the official website here >

 www.emmawilson.net

Alikivi   March 2024