Sun Records
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Sun Records has been the name for four 20th century record labels.
SunRecord45.jpg
The most famous Sun Records (fourth label to bear the name) was based in Memphis, Tennessee starting operations on March 27, 1952. Founded by Sam Phillips, Sun Records was known for giving notable musicians such as Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, and Johnny Cash their first recording contracts and helping to launch their careers. Although, before those days Sun Records was recording Black artists. Sam loved Rhythem and Blues and wanted to get Black music recorded for a White audience. It was Sun producer and engineer Jack Clement who discovered and recorded Jerry Lee Lewis while owner Sam Phillips was away on a trip to Florida.
The music of many Sun Records musicians helped lay part of the foundation of late 20th century popular music and rock and roll and influenced many younger musicians, particularly the Beatles.
For a more detailed discussion, see the article on the label's owner, Sam Phillips.
The first Sun Records were single-sided disc records put out by the Crystalate Gramophone Record Manufacturing Company Ltd of Kent, England, from about 1905 to 1910. (The same company would later produce records under the name Imperial).
A nearly contemporaneous label was produced in the United States by the Leeds & Catlin company, about 1905-1907.
The third Sun Records was produced by the Sun Record Company of Toronto, Canada in the early 1920s. Many or all of the masters pressed were leased from the USA based Okeh Records.
Quotation
- Yeah, I was just thirteen, you might say I was a
- Musical proverbial knee-high
- When I heard a couple new-sounding tunes on the tubes
- And they blasted me sky-high
- And the record man said every one is a Yellow Sun
- Record from Nashville
- And up North there ain't nobody buys them
- And I said, but I will
- "Nashville Cats" by John Sebastian of the Lovin' Spoonful errs in the location of the label