Paramount has landed peter guralnicks book about sam phillips with leonardo dicaprio set to play the sun studio founder. As colorful and energetic as the music itself, its a oneofakind book for anyone who. The long shadow of sun records founder sam phillips would have been a hard thing for any son to escape. That was the year sam phillips, then president of sun records, closed the old studio where hed recorded elvis, johnny cash, jerry lee lewis, b. The rise of elvis presley and accompanies his landmark sam phillips biography of the same title.
Prior to that, sun had concentrated mainly on africanamerican musicians because phillips loved rhythm and blues and wanted to. Sam phillips, the founder of sun records in memphis, is frequently. Theres a good argument to be made that he is also one of the most important figures in 20thcentury american culture. Sam phillips and the rise of sun records, birthplace of rock n roll the record producer had a singleminded vision and a knack of catching lightning in a. The author cannot hide his hero worship of the flawed sun records. Samuel cornelius phillips january 5, 1923 july 30, 2003, better known as sam phillips, was an american 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 was the founder of sun records and sun studio, in memphis, tennessee, where he produced recordings by elvis presley, roy orbison, jerry lee lewis, carl perkins, johnny cash, and howlin wolf. Sam phillips and his sun records label discovered some of the biggest artists of all time including johnny cash, jerry lee lewis, howlin wolf and ike turner. Although guralnick admits that his use of invented in his books title is an overstatement, he makes it clear that sam phillips exerted considerable influence on rocknroll, in recording sessions spurring and steering his seminal artists through. Sam phillips soon abandoned blues recording and concentrated on this new music, called rockabilly. Peter guralnick talks sam phillips the boston globe. King to the long nights in the studio with elvis and jerry lee. Sam phillips the man who invented rock n roll lp sun. Sun records and sam phillips soon became a dying breed in a day and age of rock music becoming a big business.
With todays technology virtually anyone can go into a recording studio and make a perfect record. Samuel cornelius sam phillips january 5, 1923 july 30, 2003 was an american record producer who played an important role in the development of rock and roll during the 1950s. Meet man who discovered elvis in essential sam phillips book. King, johnny cash, jerry lee lewis and elvis presley, and how his tiny label, sun records of memphis. He was the founder of sun records and sun studio, in memphis, tennessee.
It is fascinating that this small, low tech sun studio produced so much amazing talent and music. The troubled genius who catapulted elvis to stardom. Etpt by sarah essary 2222017 meet margaret anne florence the actress who plays marion keisker, sam phillips dedicated assistant in the. Chad michael murray right plays legendary producer sam phillips in sun records. In his new book, sam phillips, music writer peter guralnick profiles the founder of the sun records label. June 1945 phillips moves to memphis, taking a job as an announcer and maintenance and broadcast engineer at. The man who invented rock n roll was curated by peter guralnick last train to memphis. There is an excellent 400page book in this 661page biography of sam phillips, the legendary creator of sun records and the man who was central to the. The focus is limited to their time at sun records, with some discussion of their sun records career, and so those seeking a full history of elvis, johnny cash, roy orbison and others will. Leonardo dicaprio has signed on to produce and star in an upcoming, stilluntitled biopic about sun records founder sam phillips, the rock pioneer who produced landmark records by elvis presley. How sam phillips invented the sound of rock and roll. The music that he shaped in his tiny memphis studio with artists as diverse as elvis presley, ike turner, howlin wolf, jerry lee lewis, and johnny cash, introduced a sound that had.
I spent a credit for this one and i wouldve spent a hundred. Sun records is an american independent record label founded by producer sam phillips in memphis, tennessee in february 1952. A new biography touts his influence on artists such as elvis presley and jerry lee lewis. The definitive hits volumes 1 and 2 and sun records.
Top rock biographer peter guralnick tells the story of sun records founder sam phillips in a new book. 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 it was lightning in a bottle, all in a ragged little building called the memphis recording service, and a. Although best known for her behindthescenes role as wife and mother to americas first rock n roll family her husband, sam, was the visionary progenitor of sun records, and her sons knox and jerry continued the tradition, she possessed a creativity of her own that found expression. Sam phillips, the founder of sun records in memphis, is frequently remembered for a single sound bite. Carl perkins was on the verge of major stardom with blue suede shoes, but was involved in a serious automobile accident which left him unable to cash in on his popularity. Sam phillips and sun records, the farmhand who went from. Leonardo dicaprio to play elvis producer sam phillips. Guralnicks new book about sun records founder sam phillips has just been published. Cmt after rocket 88 became a hit, phillips explored the treatment again, even though the science hadn. Leonardo dicaprio to play music icon sam phillips in movie about sun. It follows phillips from his small town roots, through his early days as a memphis radio announcerdj, engineer and promoter.
Biography of sam phillips, the legendary record producer whose sun records label in memphis, tn, produced records by such rock icons as. New biography illuminates life of sun records founder sam phillips authorpop music historian peter guralnick in culver city on nov. In 1969, phillips sold his 80% interest in sun records, formally putting his glory days behind him. You can also view the first page and second page of one of these letters below.
Phillips recording looks much as it did at its grand opening in 1960. Leonardo dicaprio to play music icon sam phillips in movie. If i could find a white man who had the negro sound and the negro feel, i could make a. 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.
With johnny bragg, johnny cash, jack clement, rosco gordon. The author cannot hide his hero worship of the flawed sun records founder who discovered elvis. Becky phillips the wife and caretaker of sam phillips and marion keisker, sams assistant and the first person to ever record elvis presley. These tracks are a handpicked selection of sam phillips productions that illustrate phillips unique sounds and sense approach to recording and his cosmic genius. Sam phillips, the man who invented rock n roll by peter. But the runner up, and perhaps just as compelling a piece of theater, came a few years later, when sun records founder sam phillips, fresh off induction to the rock and roll hall of fame, walked. But knox phillips found a way to bring his own beatific light to memphis. Last train to memphis brings us the life of sam phillips, the visionary genius who singlehandedly steered the revolutionary path of sun records. Sun was the first label to record elvis presley, charlie rich, roy orbison, jerry lee lewis, carl perkins, and johnny cash. The music that he shaped in his tiny memphis studio with artists as diverse as elvis presley, ike turner, howlin wolf, jerry lee lewis, and johnny cash, introduced a sound.
Knox phillips, tireless champion of memphis music and son. The first page of this letter dated july 29, 1954 to nate duroff of monarch record manufacturing company from sam c phillips appears in the 2012 bookcd project called elvis presley a boy from tupelo the complete 19531955 recordings, chapter 4 page 26. Sam phillips, elvis and the invention of rock n roll cnn. A native of florence, phillips was a musical visionary who founded sun recording studio. New biography illuminates life of sun records founder sam phillips.
New biography illuminates life of sun records founder sam. Sam phillips very drunk on david letterman 1986 youtube. Robert santelli the big book of blues a biographical encyclopedia. Much of the planet has heard what phillips recorded during the 1950s as proprietor of sun records. Biographer portrays sun records sam phillips as a man.
From the author of the critically acclaimed elvis presley biography. Knox phillips, memphis music champion and son of sam. West newbury few people have heard the name sam phillips. Imagine how crazy life was for sam phillips in 1955. Should have been a much shorter book as it rambled quite a bit. No one who knew becky phillips could fail to be inspired by her quiet dedication. Sam phillips, the father of rock n roll, exclusive video.
Sam phillips sun records the history of rock and roll. King, howlin wolf, elvis presley, jerry lee lewis, johnny cash, carl. Npr morning edition sam phillips, the legacy of sun. Sam phillips is not just one of the most important producers in rock history.
The man who invented rock n roll is a compelling dive into the life of a colorful music industry pioneer. Biography examines life of sun records sam phillips cbs. King and howlin wolf to open a new studio two blocks north. Sam phillips tells the story of the founder of sun records. Biographer portrays sun records sam phillips as a man with a purpose. Sun records on cmt the women behind the label youtube. It became the first big hit for sun records and changed sam phillips life. Sam phillips, the legacy of sun records 2001 interview and profile news of the death of sun records founder sam phillips, who died wednesday at 80, was met internationally with sadness and a great deal of respect for his achievements. This book has been optioned for a movie starring leonardo dicaprio as sam phillips.
The man and the mistakes that invented rock n roll. Even after phillips sold sun, he kept the new studio. Peter guralnick is best known for his two bios on elvis presleywhich are incredible reads on the rise what goes up and fall must come down of the. Sun records founder sam phillips relished imperfections. He is most notably attributed with the discovery of elvis presley, and is associated with several other noteworthy rhythm and blues and rock and. Sam phillips right with elvis presley, bassist bill black middle and guitarist scotty moore at the sun studio in 1955. Sam and elvis were kindred spirits because elvis was into all the records my dad was recording, jerry phillips recalls,b. This is the book on sam phillips, sun records, elvis presley, johnny cash, carl perkins and on and on that ive been waiting for. Sam phillips and his sun records in memphis launched careers of artist including elvis presley, johnny cash, carl perkins, jerry lee lewis, ike turner and b. These cds are actually fun to listen to even if you pass on the book.
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