Tag: Elvis Presley

Sam Phillips, Sun Records celebrated

Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum celebrates Sam Phillips’ 100th birthday

by Preshias Harris

2023 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of one of the most influential people in the realms of virtually all popular music – country, blues, R&B, rock n’ roll and pop.  Sam Phillips was born January 5, 1923 in Florence, Alabama, but made his indelible mark on music in Memphis, Tennessee.

It was there, in 1950, that he set up the Memphis Recording Service and then Sun Records that would launch the careers of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and many more.

(L to R) Jay McDowell, Jerry Phillips talk at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum. Photo: Preshias Harris

In February, The Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum honored the legendary Sam Phillips at a special event marking what would have been his 100th birthday.  In attendance was Sam’s son Jerry Phillips who took the podium for an informal Q&A, led by the Museum’s multimedia archivist Jay McDowell.

Read my full story and interview at Center Stage Mag here.

Continue reading “Sam Phillips, Sun Records celebrated”

Still the King: Elvis at his best

‘Elvis: ’68 Comeback Special: 50th  Anniversary Edition.’

2018 marks the 50th anniversary of one of the most iconic events in the history of rock and pop music. The television event originally titled simply ‘Elvis’ soon became known as the ’68 Comeback Special.’  To mark the anniversary, Legacy Recordings/Sony Music has released ‘Elvis: ’68 Comeback Special: 50th Anniversary Edition.’

A personal note: Those who know me know that I am and always have been a huge fan of Elvis. I’ve been told that my office ‘looks like Graceland has been moved to Nashville’! So this new box set is really good news for me and all of his fans.

This 50th Anniversary Edition is much more than simply a re-release of the original taped TV show. It’s a 7-disc box set that includes the NBC-TV show, ‘Elvis,’ along with enough extra goodies to keep any Presley fan enthralled for days. A total of seven discs includes 2 newly mastered Blu-ray discs with all-known recordings and rehearsals from the RCA vaults and NBC’s videotapes, plus never-before released interviews and out-takes.

Elvis hints at frustration with his movies

It seems hard to believe now, but by early 1968, Elvis was depressed about the way his career seemed have plateaued. Critics and fans felt the same way.  Since January 1967, only two of his eight single releases had charted and didn’t even crack Billboard’s top twenty. He was churning out movie after movie with ever-weaker storylines and largely forgettable soundtracks. (The soundtrack album linked to the 1968 movie Speedway stalled at number 82 on Billboard’s album charts.) Continue reading “Still the King: Elvis at his best”