Roots of Rock: Sun Studio, Memphis
‘Cause I walk the line….at the home of rockabilly and rock n’ roll, tiny Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee.
Kids who have only known music in digital formats downloaded from a computer are often intrigued by a visit here.
They’ll learn how producer and Sun Records owner Sam Phillips found amazing talent all over the South, then brought it to the microphone to record genre-busting music.
Even his use of drums in recordings was revolutionary for that time, because Deep South radio stations often would not play any songs that included drums because that made the music “too black.”
Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Howlin’ Wolf, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis all spent some of their early days recording at Sun.
Visitors can take a guided tour and learn all about it:
“Sun Studio is open seven days a week from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm daily. Tours are given at the bottom of every hour on the half hour starting at 10:30 and ending at 5:30. Sun Studio requires at least 1 to 1.5 hours. The tour ticket price is $9.50 per person, & children under 12 are free. We apologize, but due to the nature of our guided performance tour, children 3 & under are not allowed to take the tour. No reservations are necessary.”
Goodness gracious, great balls of fire.
Related Posts
Jeff from Sun says (April 13th, 2008 at 10:23 am)
Thanks for visiting!! We’re keeping the music alive with a new web video show called “Sun Studio Sessions” where we bring in today’s rising acts to perform live in that very room where Elvis, Johnny, Jerry Lee and so many others made such great music history. We have new songs posted every M, W and F and you can follow along on our new blog that is linked in the signature to this comment. If you get a chance do stop by to check it out, thanks!
Sheila Scarborough says (April 13th, 2008 at 8:37 pm)
Hi Jeff,
Wow, how cool to have someone from Sun Studio drop by Family Travel! I think it’s great that you are still involved in showcasing musicians, even today.
Everyone click on “Jeff from Sun” and go see the Sun Studio blog….
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April Carnival of Travelers: Local Attractions says (April 12th, 2008 at 2:21 pm)
[...] A. Scarborough presents Roots of Rock: Sun Studio, Memphis posted at Family Travel: See The World With Your Kids, saying, “Inside tiny Sun Studio, [...]