Sun Studio
National Historic Landmark · Memphis, Tennessee
A single storefront room at 706 Union Avenue where Sam Phillips opened the Memphis Recording Service in 1950 with a sign offering to record anything, anywhere, any time. Ike Turner's band cut Rocket 88 here in 1951, a record with a serious claim to being the first rock and roll record; Elvis Presley walked in three years later to pay for a demo; and on 4 December 1956 Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis were in the room together in a session that became known as the Million Dollar Quartet. It is still a working studio at night.
706 Union Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee, 38103, United States
Tours on the half hour, generally from 10 AM to 5:15 PM daily, lasting about 45 minutes and standing throughout. Under-fives not admitted. Closed to visitors in the evening, when it operates as a working recording studio. Closed on major holidays.