The story of elvis presleys band ken burke db 69522 chronicles the history of the blue moon boysthe memphis band that featured bassist bill black, guitarist scotty moore, drummer d. But after each days last tour has wrapped, the shrine gets back to its rootsas a recording studio. When visiting memphis, take a guided, 45minute tour of sun studio, the birthplace of rock and roll and the most famous recording studio in the world. The tiny sun studio at 706 union avenue in memphis, tennessee, may not have. Good rockin tonight is the history, in words and over 240 photographs, of sam phillips legendary storefront studio, from the early days with primal blues artists like howlin wolf and b. Elvis, jerry lee lewis, johnny cash and many others. King to the long nights in the studio with elvis and jerry lee. Back in the late 90s, i worked for a while as a tour guide at sun studio. Hotels near sun studio, tennessee in tn choice hotels. Sun studio is open 7 days a week as an attraction giving tours of the studio. King and elvis presley to johnny cash and jerry lee lewis. Starting in the early 1950s, sun s sam phillips recorded blues artists such as howlin wolf, bb king and ike turner, followed by the rockabilly dynasty of jerry lee lewis, johnny cash, roy orbison and, of course, the king himself who. Sun studio is located in a historic area of memphis known for its great live music scene and top museums.
Sun was the first label to record elvis presley, charlie rich, roy orbison, jerry lee lewis, carl perkins, and johnny cash. Climb aboard the nations only music bus and meet the guide, a professional beale street musician who will play and sing selections from the citys rich musical heritage, while entertaining with comedy, history and behindthescenes stories of favorite memphis personalities. Sun records is an american independent record label founded by producer sam phillips in memphis, tennessee in february 1952. The mississippi river, both a commercial boon and a recreational waterway, runs through the city and. The firm, the silence of the lambs, the client, before we were yours, the blind side. It took us around downtown memphis and all the major sites. This book by john floyd was one of the volumes we used to recommend to people who wanted to gain more insight into the history of that amazing place, often as in memphis, tennessee, in the 1950s, magic happened, a music and culture that, quite literally, changed the world. Sun records studio, memphis, tennessee library of congress.
Sun records founder sam phillips looks back at the memphis recording studios musical legacy in an interview with morning editions bob edwards. A music lovers mustvisit, sun studio helped birth the careers of legends such as elvis, jerry lee lewis, johnny. It has been said that if music was a religion, then memphis would be jerusalem and sun studio its most holy shrine. Sightseeing tours of memphis, tennessee, focus on the citys history and its natural wonders. May 16, 2016 here are some books about sun studio artists. Sun studio was opened by rock pioneer sam phillips at 706 union avenue in memphis, tennessee, on january 3, 1950. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. Having grown up in the 80s and 90s, its hard to imagine a world without rocknroll, but graham was able to demonstrate how groundbreaking sun and sam phillips were in their. Reviewed in the united states on july 26, 2015 this is a terrific book to read in conjunction with it came from memphis by robert gordon for an understanding of the memphis rockabilly scene in the mid. Sun studio memphis 2020 all you need to know before you. Inside, youll find an assortment of t shirts, caps, cds, books, and souvenirs to commemorate your visit.
On this guided studio tour, follow in the footsteps of jerry lee lewis and b. Bands book time, and you may have seen episodes of the sun studio sessions on your public television station. Unless youre a super fan and i do mean super of some americas greatest music artists of the 1950s, or youre my mothers age, you probably wouldnt know sun studio like you would, say, capitol records. Since she began working at sun studio in the summer of 2016, she has started adding some. Apr 16, 2015 it was of course elvis who changed what memphis meant to the world and to the rockandroll industry as well as gospel and country. According to tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience sun studio. World cafe for world cafes sense of place spotlight on memphis, tenn. If youre fan of music, theres plenty to see in memphis graceland, the gibson guitar factory, the stax museum, the the rock n soul museum, etc. The legendary sun studio in memphis a total out of body. Good rockin tonight and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle.
At sam phillips sun records studio on union avenue, theres something different going on. There are myriad stories of the musicians and staff at memphis recording services note that it wasnt called sun studio. The booksellers at laurelwood 387 perkins extended. This book was well received, and offered a great insight into the history behind the company. This musical memphis mojo bus tour begins on beale street, one of the most iconic streets in america.
Nov, 2017 growing out of the mississippi delta, the memphis blues have been transported worldwide by such ambassadors as b. About sun studio the historic memphis recording studio. Owner and recording engineer sam phillips first recorded, in the early 1950s, such local artists as elvis. Sun studio memphis all you need to know before you go. Please contact our studio engineer for more information. Rocks first baby steps were taken at the tiny sun studio by a group of artists who have inspired generations of musicians to follow in their beat. Sun records was the name of the record label that operated out of memphis recording, not all of them flattering and some of them downright crazy. Memphis recording service earned the title of birthplace of rock and roll in 1951 when jackie brenston and ike turner recorded rocket 88, a song with a heavy backbeat and a sound all its own. You can choose from 42 hotels and accommodations within a mile of sun studio, including these options. The original sun records logo was designed by john gale parker jr. Prior to that, sun had concentrated mainly on africanamerican musicians because phillips loved rhythm and blues and wanted to bring it to a white. Usatoday 10best named sun one of the worlds best musical attractions second only to memphis s graceland.
The legendary sun studio welcome to the birthplace of rock n roll. Filmmaker ken burns visits memphis ahead of documentary release. Heres why mick jagger met jerry lee lewis in memphis john beifuss, memphis commercial appeal published 1. Mar 26, 2019 part of burns stop in memphis included a private event at the sam phillips recording studio, only a short walk from the historic sun studio. This is a category about a place or building that is listed on the national register of historic places in the united states of america. Getyourguide uses cookies to give you the best possible service.
Sun studio may be the smallest of these venues, but the tour packs a punch that sets it apart from the others. Here, in recognition of our fortieth anniversary, we look at the many books with a memphis connection. Some of those connections are obvious while others may only. Npr morning edition sam phillips, the legacy of sun. Book your sun studio tickets online and skiptheline. Since she began working at sun studio in the summer of 2016, she has started adding some of her favorite sun songs to her music catalog. Sun studio is open 7 days a week as an attraction giving tours of the. Feb 25, 2019 a memphis love story, lost for 62 years, is discovered in sun studio record john beifuss, memphis commercial appeal published 6. This dusty storefront is ground zero for american rock and roll. The studio was originally called memphis recording service and shared a building with the sun records label. Sun studio is the very place where elvis, jerry lee lewis, b. In 1954, an unknown elvis presley, grabbed a mic and sang his heart out making sun the most famous recording studio in the world. After successfully outgrowing his memphis recording service sun studio, phillips opened sam phillips recording service in 1960. Elvis presley recorded his first song at sun studio, arguably the birthplace of rock and roll.
Mar 18, 2014 discover even more offthebeatenpath history of memphis. The success of rocket 88 helped fund the creation of sun records which phillips founded in february 1952. Book now with choice hotels near sun studio, tennessee in memphis, tn. Jun 22, 2016 in the history of rock n roll there cant be many more important places on the planet than this modestlysized building on the outskirts of memphis. King, johnny cash, roy orbison and countless other superstar musicians launched their illustrious careers. Sun records shared the same building as sun studio formerly memphis recording service. Sun studio has a unique opportunity to carry on the original sound that sam. If you continue browsing, you agree to the use of cookies. Lost sun studio record reveals a forgotten female trailblazer. Cspans local content vehicles lcvs made a stop in their 2018 lcv cities tour in memphis, tennessee, from september 1521, 2018, to feature the history and literary life of the community. As colorful and energetic as the music itself, its a oneofakind book for anyone who. Save time and money with our best price guarantee make the most of your visit to memphis. Her biggest influences range from billie holiday to hank williams sr. This memphis recording studio launched the careers of jerry lee lewis, johnny cash, and elvis presley.
Heres why mick jagger and jerry lee lewis were in memphis. Sun studio is a recording studio opened by rockandroll pioneer sam phillips at 706 union avenue in memphis, tennessee, on january 3, 1950. If elvis aaron presley hadnt come to sun studio in the early 1950s to record a song as a birthday present for his mother so the story goes, musical history today might be very different. Sun studio makes a comeback cover feature memphis news. Fontana, and vocalist elvis presley, who joined in 1954 at sam phillipss sun studio. Knowledgeable tour guides, who are rock n roll musicians or music engineers, will lead you through time and enrich you with so much information that you never knew about the big bang creation of rock n roll at the most famous recording studio. Step back in time at sun studio in memphis, tennessee. Stop by to take a guided tour of the studios headquarters and see equipment used to record some of the. King, johnny cash, roy orbison and countless other. Visit sun studio on your trip to memphis or united states. Wrvrs bill bannister takes underground memphis to the birthplace of rocknroll, sun studio.
Sun studio was opened by rock pioneer sam phillips in memphis, tennessee, on 1950. If by chance the manager of the studio should happen. Sun studio is known worldwide as the birthplace of rocknroll. Inspired designs on tshirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and more by independent artists and designers from around the world. Downtown boutique hotel hotel indigo memphis downtown. These are things that spring to mind when one thinks of memphis, tennessee, the former commerce and cotton hub on the banks of the mighty mississippi river. With great amenities and rooms for every budget, compare and book your hotel near sun studio, tennessee today. Located in downtown memphis, sun studio is open to visitors seven days a week from 10 a. Also stopped at sun studio early on the tour then took us back at 12. High quality sun studio memphis gifts and merchandise. The neighborhood is home to 69 hotels and other accommodations, so you can find something that works for your stay. It was originally called memphis recording service, sharing the same building with the sun records label business.
It is the discovery location of musical legends and genres of the 50s from b. King, and discover why the legendary studios are known as the birthplace of rock n roll. According to tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience sun studio. As soon as we close down daytime operations we open up for recording around 7pm. Sun studio memphis 2020 all you need to know before. Sun studio admission with guided tour 2020 memphis. Sure, our history is recorded in books, but we chose to press most of it into vinyl.
Today our goal is to spread the story of memphis history. The person operating sun studio today is matt rossspang, who was a germantown high student when he set his sights on the room that phillips opened as the memphis recording service in. May 29, 2014 the person operating sun studio today is matt rossspang, who was a germantown high student when he set his sights on the room that phillips opened as the memphis recording service in january 1950. Alabamaborn dj sam phillips opens his memphis recording service studio at 706 union avenue, the precursor to his sun records label. The birthplace of rock n roll and home to the million dollar quartet elvis presley, johnny cash, jerry lee lewis, b. Sun records studio where elivs presley got his break into the music business. King, howlin wolf, roy orbison, jerry lee lewis, and johnny cash. Graham was our tour guide and he did a bangup job of making the 50s come alive.