I caught a documentary at midnight on PBS last night about the early 1950s roots of rockabilly, later known as rock and roll and now mostly simply rock.

Great performers were profiled, including Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, the Big Bopper and many of the men who ran the Memphis Clubs and studios who made it all happen.

Covers a very brief period of time (1956-1959, I think). Gives a lot of credit to one three-day performance of Elvis early in his career for influencing and revolutionizing the musical style of many others.

Claims to have lots of never-before-seen footage from vaults, as well as interviews with people who are now dead -- often long dead.

It was rivetting. If you have any interest in this early, geminal period of popular rock music, check your local public broadcasting station and see if you can catch it.