Sam Phillips, born Samuel Cornelius Phillips (January 5, 1923 – June 30, 2003), was a record producer who played an important role in the emergence of rock and roll as the major form of popular music in the 1950s. He is most notably attributed with the discovery of Elvis Presley, and is associated with several other noteworthy rhythm and blues and rock and roll stars of the period. Image File history File links Sam_phillips2. ... Image File history File links Sam_phillips2. ... January 5 is the 5th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... Rock and roll (also spelled Rock n Roll, especially in its first decade), also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... Elvis Aron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), often known simply as Elvis and also called The King of Rock n Roll or simply The King, was an American singer, musician and actor. ... Rhythm and blues (also known as R&B or RnB) is a popular music genre combining jazz, gospel, and blues influences, first performed by African American artists. ...

Phillips was a native of Florence, Alabama and a graduate of Coffee High School. Florence Florence city is the seat of Lauderdale County which is situated in the northwest corner of the U.S. state of Alabama. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

The "Memphis Recording Service" and Sun Records

In the 1940s, Phillips worked as a DJ for Muscle Shoals, Alabama radio station WLAY-AM. According to Phillips, this radio station's "open format" (of broadcasting music from both white and black musicians) would later inspire his work in Memphis. Muscle Shoals is a city located in Colbert County, Alabama, USA. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 11,924. ... Official language(s) English Capital Montgomery Largest city Birmingham Area  Ranked 30th  - Total 52,419 sq mi (135,765 km²)  - Width 190 miles (306 km)  - Length 330 miles (531 km)  - % water 3. ... WLAY-FM is a Country radio station in the Florence/Muscle Shoals, AL market that operates at 103. ...

On January 3, 1950, Phillips opened the "Memphis Recording Service" at 706 Union Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee, which also served as the studios for Phillips' own label, Sun Records, through the 1950s. In addition to musical performances, he recorded events such as weddings and funerals, selling the recordings. is the 3rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Memphis (disambiguation). ... Label of the fourth Sun Records Sun Records has been the name for four 20th century record labels. ...

Phillips recorded what some—notably music historian Peter Guralnick—consider the first rock and roll record: "Rocket 88" by Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats, a band led by 19-year-old Ike Turner, who also wrote the song. The recording was released on the Chess/Checker record label in Chicago, in 1951. From 1950 to 1954 Phillips recorded the music of black rhythm and blues artists such as James Cotton, Rufus Thomas, Rosco Gordon, Little Milton, Bobby Blue Bland, and others. Blues legends such as B.B. King and Howlin' Wolf made their first recordings at his studio. Peter Guralnick is a music critic and historian of American popular music. ... There are many candidates for the title of the first rock and roll record. ... Rocket 88 is a rhythm and blues song from 1951. ... Rocket 88, a rhythm and blues song from 1951 claimed by Sun Records owner and pioneer rock and roll record producer Sam Phillips as the first rock and roll song. The record was credited to Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats, but the band did not actually exist. ... Izear Luster Turner (born November 5, 1931) is an African American musician (piano, guitar), bandleader, talent scout and record producer, best known for his work with his former wife Tina Turner. ... Year 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... James Jimmy Cotton (born July 1, 1935 in Tunica, Mississippi), is an American blues harmonica player, singer, and songwriter who is the bandleader for the James Cotton Blues Band. ... Rufus 1990 album for Alligator Records, That Woman Is Poison! Rufus Thomas (March 26, 1917 – December 15, 2001) was a rhythm and blues and soul singer from Memphis, Tennessee, who recorded on Sun Records in the 1950s and on Stax Records in the 1960s and 1970s. ... Rosco Gordon (April 10, 1928 - July 11, 2002) was an African American blues singer and songwriter. ... Milton Little Milton Campbell, Jr. ... Bobby Blue Bland (born January 27, 1930) is an American singer and was an original member of The Beale Streeters. ... Riley B. King aka B. B. King (b. ... Chester Arthur Burnett (June 10, 1910 – January 10, 1976), better known as Howlin Wolf or sometimes, The Howlin Wolf, was an influential blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player. ...

Elvis Presley

Although much has been written about Phillips' goals, he can be seen stating the following: "Everyone knew that I was just a struggling cat down here trying to develop new and different artists, and get some freedom in music, and tap some resources and people that weren't being tapped." ^[1]

Elvis Presley, who recorded his version of Arthur "Big Boy" Cruddup's That's All Right (Mama) at Phillips' studio, met that goal, and became highly successful, first in Memphis, then throughout the southern United States. For the first six months, the flip side, Blue Moon Over Kentucky, his upbeat version of a Bill Monroe bluegrass song, was slightly more popular than "That's All Right (Mama)." While still not known outside the South, Presley's singles and regional success became a drawing card for Sun Records, as singing hopefuls soon arrived from all over the region. Singers such as Sonny Burgess ("My Bucket's Got A Hole In It"), Charlie Rich, Junior Parker, and Billy Lee Riley recorded for Sun with some success, while others such as Jerry Lee Lewis, BB King, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, and Carl Perkins would become superstars. Elvis Aron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), often known simply as Elvis and also called The King of Rock n Roll or simply The King, was an American singer, musician and actor. ... Thats All Right (Mama) is the name of the first song released by Elvis Presley. ... For the retired NBC News correspondent of the same name, see Bill Monroe (journalist). ... Albert Sonny Burgess is a guitarist and singer of rockabilly, present at its inception and still performing today. ... Charlie Rich (December 14, 1932 - July 25, 1995) was an American musician, songwriter, and pianist. ... Junior Parkers style influenced early rockabilly artists, such as Elvis Presley. ... Billy Lee Riley was born on October 5, 1933 in Pocahontas, Arkansas, USA. He is a legendary Rockabilly-musician, who worked at Sun Records and who was rediscovered by Bob Dylan in 1992. ... Jerry Lee Lewis (born September 29, 1935), also known by the nickname The Killer, is an American rock and roll and country music singer, songwriter, and pianist. ... Riley B. King aka B. B. King (b. ... It has been suggested that Johnny Cash family be merged into this article or section. ... Roy Kelton Orbison (April 23, 1936 – December 6, 1988), nicknamed The Big O, was an influential American singer-songwriter, guitarist and a pioneer of rock and roll whose recording career spanned more than four decades. ... Carl Lee Perkins (April 9, 1932 – January 19, 1998) was an American pioneer of rockabilly music, a mix of rhythm and blues and country music that was recorded most notably at Sun Records in Memphis beginning in 1954. ...

Despite this popular regional acclaim, by mid 1955 Sam Phillips' studio experienced financial difficulties, and he sold Presley's contract in November of that year; RCA Records' offer of $35,000 beat out Atlantic Records' offer of $25,000. Through the sale of Presley's contract, he was able to boost the distribution of Perkins' song 'Blue Suede Shoes', and it became Sun Records' first national hit. RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony BMG Music Entertainment. ... Atlantic Records (Atlantic Recording Corporation) is an American record label, and operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Warner Music Group. ... For other uses of Blue Suede Shoes, see Blue Suede Shoes (disambiguation). ...

Phillips is credited with teaching production to Presley who used this knowledge into his career with RCA Victor. Although Steve Sholes was credited as the official producer of Elvis after his move to RCA, it was Elvis who in reality, produced most of the music, using what he had learned from Sam Phillips. Born: Feb 12, 1911 in Washington, D.C. Died: Apr 22, 1968 in Nashville, Tennessee One of the most influential producers in postwar music. ...

Phillips had an open style and insightful guidance that seemed to allow musicians, especially Presley, to search and feel their way to a point to where they would perform beyond Phillips' and their own expectations. He also seemed to have a sense for when the artist was about to reach the point of their best performance. Phillips recorded looking for a feel, not technical perfection. Phillips told Elvis that the worst thing he could go for was perfection. Phillips was always seeking what he called the perfect/imperfect cut. This meant that it was not technically perfect, but perfectly conveyed the feeling and emotion of the song to the listener and gave the song a living personality, partially due to it being technically imperfect.

Phillips innovated while recording Elvis. Most recordings at the time gave substantially more volume to the vocals. Phillips pulled back the Elvis vocals, blending it more with the instrumental performances. Phillips also used tape delay to get an echo into the Elvis recordings by running the tape through a second recorder head. RCA, not knowing the method that Phillips had used was unable to recreate the Elvis echo when recording "Heartbreak Hotel". In an attempt to duplicate the Sun Records sound, RCA used a large empty hallway at the studio to create an echo, but it sounded nothing like the echo that Phillips had created at Sun Records. For the Whitney Houston song, see Heartbreak Hotel (Whitney Houston song). ...

Elvis did not have a band when he arrived and Sun Records. It was Sam Phillips who decided that little was needed to augment Elvis' vocals and rhythm guitar. Phillips chose two musicians, lead guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black to perform with Elvis. This choice of musicians proved to be inspired as this group along with drummer D.J. Fontana produced some of the biggest hits in rock 'n' roll history, even after Phillips had sold the Presley contract to RCA Victor. These included "Heartbreak Hotel", "Hound Dog", and "Don't Be Cruel". Winfield Scott Scotty Moore III (born December 27, 1931 near Gadsden, Tennessee) is a legendary American guitarist and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. ... William Bill Patton Black, Jr. ... Dominic Joseph Fontana (born March 15, 1931 in Shreveport, Louisiana) is an American musician best known as the drummer for Elvis Presley. ... For the Whitney Houston song, see Heartbreak Hotel (Whitney Houston song). ... Hound Dog is a twelve-bar blues written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and originally recorded by Willie Mae Big Mama Thornton in 1952. ... Dont be Cruel is a song by Otis Blackwell, which was recorded by Elvis Presley in 1956. ...

Phillips' pivotal role in the early days of rock and roll was exemplified by a celebrated jam session on December 4, 1956 which came to be known as the Million Dollar Quartet. Jerry Lee Lewis was playing piano for a Carl Perkins recording session at Phillips' studio. Johnny Cash was there listening, and Elvis Presley walked in unexpectedly, leading to an impromptu session featuring the four musicians. is the 338th day of the year (339th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Million Dollar Quartet is the name given to recordings made on Tuesday December 4, 1956 in the Sun Record Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. ... It has been suggested that Johnny Cash family be merged into this article or section. ...

Through savvy investments, Phillips soon amassed a fortune. He was one of the first investors in Holiday Inn, a new motel chain that was about to go national. He would also create two different subsidiary recording labels--Phillips International and Holiday Inn Records. Neither would match the success or influence of Sun, which Phillips ultimately sold to Shelby Singelton in the 1960s. Holiday Inn is a brand name applied to hotels within the InterContinental Hotels Group. ...

WHER

Phillips launched radio station WHER on October 29, 1955. Each of the young women who auditioned for the station assumed there would only be one female announcer position like other stations at that time. Only a few days before the first broadcast did they learn of the "All Girl Radio" format. Almost every position at the station was held by a woman.[1] See Whers ... is the 302nd day of the year (303rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar). ...

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

In 1986 Sam Phillips was part of the first group inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and his pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. In 1987, he was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. He received a Grammy Trustees Award for his lifetime achievements in 1991. In 1998, he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame, and in October 2001 he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at sunset. ... The Rockabilly Hall of Fame was established on March 21, 1997 to present early rock and roll history and information relative to the artists and personalities involved in this pioneering American music genre. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... The Grammy Trustees Award is awarded by the Recording Academy to individuals who, during their careers in music, have made significant contributions, other than performance, to the field of recording [1]. Through 1983, performers could also receive this award. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... The Blues Hall of Fame is a listing of people who have significantly contributed to blues music. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... This official history of the Country Music Hall of Fame skirts the scandals well-documented by veteran Music Row historian Stacy Harris. ...

Phillips died of respiratory failure at St. Francis Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee on June 30, 2003, only one day before the original Sun Studio was designated a National Historic Landmark. He is interred in the Memorial Park Cemetery, Memphis. For other uses, see Memphis (disambiguation). ... is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Sun Studio Sun Studio opened by rock pioneer Sam Phillips at 710 Union Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee, on January 3, 1950. ... Memorial Park Cemetery, located at 5485 Hacks Cross Rd in Memphis, Tennessee, was founded in 1924 by E. Clovis Hinds. ...

He is portrayed by Charles Cyphers in the 1979 film Elvis, Trey Wilson in the 1989 film Great Balls of Fire and by Dallas Roberts in the 2005 film Walk the Line. He was portrayed by Gregory Itzin in a 1993 episode of Quantum Leap entitled "Memphis Melody." Charles Cyphers (b. ... Elvis Aron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), also known as The King of Rock and Roll, or as just simply The King, was an American singer who had an immeasurable effect on world culture. ... Great Balls of Fire is a 1957 song by written by Otis Blackwell and sung by Jerry Lee Lewis. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Walk the Line is an Academy Award, Golden Globe and Grammy Award-winning film chronicling the life of Johnny Cash, American country singer. ... Gregory Itzin (born April 20, 1948) is an Emmy-nominated American film and television actor, best known for his role on the series 24. ... Quantum Leap is a science fiction television series that ran for 97 episodes from March 1989 to May 1993 on NBC. It follows the adventures of Dr. Samuel Beckett (played by Scott Bakula), a brilliant scientist who after researching time-travel, and doing experiments in something he calls The Imaging...

Notes

Reference

• Guterman, Jimmy. (1998). "Sam Phillips". In The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 414.

External links

• Official site
• Rock Hall of Fame
• Elvis Presley at Sun Studio