My Influences

Sam C. Phillips

Sam Phillips opened his Memphis Recording Service in 1950. This would later become the world famous 'Sun Studio'. Elvis was the first of the 'big' acts to be discovered by Sam Phillips. Elvis first recorded a demo at Sun in 1953 and returned in 1954 to record his first single, 'Thats All Right Mama.'

This was when rock 'n' roll emerged. Not long after Elvis's success, many other artistes appeared at Sun, including Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Charlie Rich and Roy Orbison.

It is amazing to think that so many important artistes of music as we know it today, came out of the same little Memphis studio and all discovered by the same man, Mr Sam C. Phillips.

If Jerry Lee and Elvis hadn't been discovered, we probably wouldn't have had the Beatles or the Rolling Stones. Who knows what the world of music would be like without Sam Phillips.

It was a great honour for me to meet Sam at Jerry Lees birthday party. I asked Sam, 'What did you think of Jerry Lee's show tonight?' Sam replied, 'He is just as great as ever!'

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