Sam McCue
In
Wisconsin rock history, Sam McCue is the legend to beat. As any aging greaser
can tell you, In the pre-Beatles '60's, rock 'n' roll in Milwaukee was spelled
"L-E-G-E-N-D-S". The Legends, with front man McCue, were the first band to truly
rock Beertown. Their singles "Say Mama", "Bop-A-Lena" and "Lariat" went to the
top of the charts in Milwaukee. They were the first local rock band to nail a
national record contract, getting signed by Capitol. Every weekend they held
court over the spacious dance floor at Muskego Beach. And they helped inspire a
generation of local musicians to make music their living. By any reasonable
standard, Sam McCue is the godfather of Milwaukee rock.
In 1964, McCue left to take an opportunity as lead guitarist and band
leader for the Everly Brothers. McCue traveled all over the world, worked
on a national musical variety TV series, and met and played with such rock
royalty as Carl Perkins, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, and Johnny Cash.
