The Rock ’n’ Roll Prophet of Memphis and the 40-Year Ride of Asleep at the Wheel.

If it wasn’t for Sam Phillips and his tiny little record label, at first staffed by two people, we would not know about Howlin’ Wolf, Ike Turner, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash or Jerry Lee

Sam Phillips: The Man Who Invented Rock ’n’ Roll
by Peter Guralnick (Little Brown)

Comin’ Right At Ya
by Ray Benson and David Menconi (University of Texas Press)

Sam Phillips, the man behind Sun Records was easily one of the most important figures in the history of American popular music. To put it simply, if it wasn’t for Sam Phillips and his tiny little record label, at first staffed by two people, we would not know about Howlin’ Wolf, Ike Turner, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Charlie Rich, among several others.

Phillips was a small town Alabama kid from a big family who struggled to make it through the depression. Even though times were hard, his family took care of those in need, something that stuck with him his entire life. On a trip to Dallas with one of his brothers and some friends to hear a preacher, they passed through Memphis and Beale Street lit a light in Sam he never forgot.