In the early 1950's Sun was a small recording studio owned by the legendary Sam Phillips. He was a radio engineer who wanted to record Black blues artists from the region who had no place else to record in the South. In 1951 at Sun Studio Phillips recorded what some people consider the first rock and roll record: "Rocket 88," by Jackie Brenston and the Delta Cats, with Ike Turner on piano. Many Black and White artists got their start at Sun including Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash. Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, Charlie Rich, B.B. King, Junior Parker, Rufs Thomas, Conway Twitty, Jerry Lee Lewis and Howlin' Wolf. Sun recorded and released Elvis Presley's first record, "That's All Right," in July, 1954. On December 4, 1956 the so-called "Million Dollar Quartet" of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis joined in a legendary impromptu jam session at Sun Record's one-room sound studio. There is a famous photo of the event with Elvis sitting at a piano surrounded by the other three. Tours of the studio occur during the day. The Studio is available for recording at night. Some of the more contemporary artists who have recorded at Sun Studio are: Ringo Starr, John Fogerty, Tom Petty, U2, Michelle Shocked, the Indigo Girls and Bonnie Raitt.
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