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Radio Engineer Sam Phillips opened up Sun Studio in January 1950 as the "Memphis Recording Service" to record blues greats in the South who had no where else to record. The Howlin' Wolf, Bobby Blue Bland, Rufus Thomas, Junior Parker, Joe Hill Louis, and Little Milton are some of the many greats who came to Sam's studio.
March 1951: Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats with Ike Turner as the band leader and piano player cut "Rocket 88" at Sun Studio. The song was #1 on the R&B charts and is considered by most historians to be the first Rock N' Roll song. The success of the song led Phillips to start his own record label in 1952, Sun Records.
In the following years Sam Phillips brought in an amazing array of talent:
an unknown trio, Elvis Presley, Scotty Moore, and Bill Black became the most sought after group in the country after recording 10 songs at Sun that fused country, gospel, blues and changed the world forever.
Carl Perkins, the king of Rockabilly, had Sun's first gold record: "Blue Suede Shoes" and became the biggest influence for the Beatles.
Johnny Cash was Sun's most consistent hit maker with great songs such as "I Walk the Line" and "Folsom Prison Blues".
Jerry Lee Lewis had Sun Studio's two biggest hits: "Whole Lotta Shakin" and "Great Balls of Fire" but more importantly made the piano a Rock N' Roll instrument.
Sam cut several cult rockabilly acts in this time as well, Charlie Rich, Warren Smith, Conway Twitty, and Billy Lee Riley.
Sam Phillips later retired from the business and the studio laid empty for almost 25 years, until 1985 when Carl, Johnny, Jerry Lee and Roy Orbison came back and cut a Grammy winning record "The Class of '55".
The record got people excited about Sun again and almost a year later U2 recorded and filmed most of "Rattle and Hum" there.
Today Sun Studio operates as an Attraction and a 24 track Recording Studio, catering to artists such as, Ringo Starr, Bob Dylan, Matchbox 20, Beck, Maroon 5, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Def Leppard, and John Fogerty.
Just recently Sun Studio was designated a National Historic Landmark, the only studio ever to hold that status.
