Rockabilly Legend Makes Surprise Appearance at Rhythmz in Riley Park

Rhythmz in Riley Park concert-goers got a bonus Friday night, as rockabilly pioneer Jack Earls took the stage with scheduled performers Bones Maki and the Trebelaires.

Scott Freeman, who arranges the free Friday night concert series, said Earls was a recording artist with Sun Records in Memphis, TN in the 1950s, at the same time more well-known artists like Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Roy Orbison were just coming onto the music scene. He left Memphis and moved his family to Detroit, where he has lived since 1963, but still occasionally plays concerts in the U.S. and overseas.

Earls joined Craig "Bones" Maki on guitar, Erik "Spuds" Alderink on guitar, bass player Rudy Varner and drummer Loney Charles.