Sun Studio

From left to right: Cowboy Jack Clement, unidentified, unidentified, Sam Phillips, and Billy Lee Riley standing around the Ampex tape machine. Then and now.

Remembering Sun session guitarist and producer Roland Janes on his birthday!🕊️

We lost longtime Sun Studio engineer/producer James Lott. If you recorded here during the 80s, 90s, or early 2000s you most likely experienced his kindness, patience, humor, and know-how. Our hearts go out to his family and friends.

C. for Cornelius. Sam Phillips signed a $75 month to month lease. That was considered to be a favor by the landlord who didn’t believe Sam’s crazy idea of a recording studio would pan out. Here we are 76 years later…

Former Sun Studio engineer Matt Ross-Spang demonstrating how Sam Phillips achieved that signature slap-back echo.🤘🏻

Elvis Presley - The Story Behind Sun Studio's Famous "Slap Back" Echo A Boy From Tupelo: The Complete 1953-1955 Recordings:Listen to El...

Remembering Howlin' Wolf on his birthday! A staff favorite. Here's a quote from Sam Phillips on recording Wolf. "He would sit there with those feet planted wide apart, playing nothing but the French harp, and I tell you, the greatest show you could see today would be Chester Burnett doing one of those sessions in my studio. God, what would it be worth to see the fervor in that man's face when he sang. His eyes would light up and you'd see the veins on his neck, and buddy, there was nothing on his mind but that song. He sang with his damn soul."

📸: Don Paulsen/Michael Ochs Archives

706 Union Avenue in the early 80s. The old Taylor’s restaurant was an Italian eatery for awhile. The Grisanti family has been a cornerstone of Memphis’ dining scene for over a century. As you can see, the studio hasn’t changed much.

Yesterday was a good day as we remembered our friend and legendary Sun Studio drummer JM Van Eaton with a brass note on Beale Street. JM was the beat behind some of Sun’s biggest hits including Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Whole Lotta Shakin.” He was also a founding member of Billy Lee Riley’s “Little Green Men.” A who’s who of Memphis music was in attendance including the son of Sam Phillips, Jerry Phillips. JM was such a cool cat. So many great memories of him hanging out with us in the cafe talking to fans and sharing stories. Always so generous with his time. We sure do miss him, but the beat goes on!

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out of 8 million listings just ranked #2 top attraction in the United States by TripAdvisor’s 2026 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best awards🏆🔥 Sun Studio is a living piece of Memphis history that has influenced modern music for decades! But that's not all👀 made #24 on this same list🥳 Love it when the world recognizes how amazing the 901 is! Click the link https://bit.ly/3RixzAB for more details on this honor🤩