The History of Sun Records: The Birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll

Memphis, Tennessee

Founded by Sam Phillips in 1952, Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee became one of the most influential recording studios in American music history. Phillips built his label from modest storefront and a simple idea: that everyone would love the raw energy of the blues, gospel, and country that he heard regularly in the south.

While there’s some debate about whether Elvis or Ike Turner made the first rock & roll song, there’s no question Sun was responsible because both were recorded at the studio. As the area talent continued to pour into Sun, Memphis rock n roll was born.

Sun started out as a studio only, not a label. But when Sam was forced to send away what he called his “greatest discovery”, he was inspired to expand into Sun Records.

It was one of the earliest greats to step into the studio, Howlin’ Wolf, that changed Philips’ direction forever. Wolf’s booming, earthy voice and towering presence embodied the Mississippi Delta blues, but without a label to record him on, Sam sent Howlin’ Wolf to Chicago’s Chess Records to make history — and decided he would never lose an opportunity like that again.

In just a few months, it turned out to be a wise move when he met a young man with slicked hair who wanted to play like Arthur Crudup.

In 1954, an unknown truck driver named Elvis Presley came through the door and transformed Sun’s destiny and his along with it. His rendition of Arthur Crudup’s “That’s All Right,” backed by Scotty Moore and Bill Black, fused blues and country in a way that sounded fresh, exciting and most of all, new. Those early Sun singles—“Blue Moon of Kentucky,” “Good Rockin’ Tonight”, catapulted Elvis to stardom and made Sun a household name.

In short order, the other pieces began falling into place. Johnny Cash wandered in asking to play with his two sidemen, wearing all black because that’s all the trio had that matched. “Cry Cry Cry” and “Folsom Prison” brought Cash’s trademark freight train rhythm to the world. A teenage Jerry Lee Lewis followed, his fiery high energy piano pounding produced two of his greatest hits right off, “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” and “Great Balls of Fire.” Finally, rockabilly hero Carl Perkins rounded out the core roster, crafting “Blue Suede Shoes” and defining the rockabilly style that still influences generations of guitarists.

Together, these artists made Sun a crossroads where black blues, white country, and gospel rhythms collided into a new sound called Rock n Roll. The little brick studio on Union Ave may have been small and unassuming, but the records Sun cut seeded the revolution of rock ’n’ roll and forever altering the course of popular music.

Eventually, Sam Philips sold Elvis’ contract (for a record high value), followed later by the label and studio. Philips went on to be the earliest investor in a little Memphis hotel with dreams of copying their quality, reliable stays all over the country: Holiday Inn.

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