Sun Studio, Memphis, Tennessee, USA

Sun Studio is a recording studio opened by rock-and-roll pioneer Sam Phillips at 706 Union Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee, on January 3, 1950.

Sun Studio: 706 Union Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee, USA

It was originally called Memphis Recording Service, sharing the same building with the Sun Records label business. Sun Studio is perhaps most famous for its role in the early years of Elvis Presley’s career.

Reputedly the first rock and roll single, Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats’ “Rocket 88” was recorded there in 1951 with song composer Ike Turner on keyboards, leading the studio to claim status as the birthplace of rock & roll. Blues and R&B artists like Howlin’ Wolf, Junior Parker, Little Milton, B.B. King, James Cotton, Rufus Thomas, and Rosco Gordon recorded there in the early 1950s.

People are waiting for the tour of the studio.  It is more of a museum than a studio presently.

Upstairs have musical equipment used in the old days.  The person in the picture is Sam, who started the studio.

Sam worked as a radio station DJ before starting the studio.  This station is how it looked when he worked as a DJ.

This equipment cuts a vinyl record after a recording session.

The old equipment and items used during the heyday of the studio.

Came down downstairs again, showing Marion Keisker MacInnes’s office.

Marion Keisker MacInnes was an American record producer. She was the first person ever to record the singing voice of Elvis Presley.

The next room to Marion’s office is the recording area.

The mike is the same mike Elvis and many other famous musicians used to record their music.  This is the exact location where Elvis recorded his music.

On the way back, I stopped by the Mississippi river.