Phillips, Sam, 1923-2003
Variant namesSamuel Cornelius Phillips (January 5, 1923 – July 30, 2003) was an American record producer. 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. Phillips played a major role in the development of rock and roll during the 1950s, launching the career of Presley. In 1969, he sold Sun to Shelby Singleton.
Phillips was the owner and operator of radio stations in Memphis; Florence, Alabama; and Lake Worth Beach, Florida. He was also an early investor in the Holiday Inn chain of hotels and an advocate for racial equality, helping to break down racial barriers in the music industry.
| Role | Title | Holding Repository | |
|---|---|---|---|
| referencedIn | Center for Popular Music Vertical Files | Center for Popular Music, Middle Tennessee State University | |
| referencedIn | Colin Escott Collection | Center for Popular Music, Middle Tennessee State University | |
| referencedIn | Stephen Lacy Collection (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Library and Archives). Stephen Lacy Collection, 1957-1984, undated | Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives |
| Role | Title | Holding Repository |
|---|
Filters:
| Relation | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| associatedWith | Cash, Johnny, 1932-2003 | person |
| associatedWith | Howlin' Wolf, 1910-1976 | person |
| associatedWith | Lewis, Jerry Lee | person |
| associatedWith | Orbison, Roy | person |
| associatedWith | Perkins, Carl, 1932-1998 | person |
| associatedWith | Presley, Elvis, 1935-1977 | person |
| associatedWith | Singleton, Shelby | person |
| creatorOf | Sun records | corporateBody |
| Place Name | Admin Code | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | TN | US | |
| Florence | AL | US |
| Subject |
|---|
| Occupation |
|---|
| Radio broadcasters |
| Record Executive |
| Sound recording executives and producers |
| Activity |
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Person
Birth 1923-01-05
Death 2003-07-30
Americans
English
