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Sun Records played a vital role in the history of rock & roll. Join Sam Phillip’s family & friends, Jerry Phillips, Halley Phillips, Peter Guralnick and Ben Vaughn, as they reminisce and tell stories about the iconic record label during this virtual interview with Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Vice President of Education and Visitor Engagement, Jason Hanley. Get your copy of ‘The Birth of Rock ‘n’ Roll: The Illustrated Story of Sun Records and the 70 Recordings That Changed the World’ here.

Rock ‘n’ roll legend Ian Hunter returns with star-studded new album Defiance Part 1, featuring Johnny Depp, Joe Elliott (Def Leppard), Billy F Gibbons (ZZ Top), Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters), Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses), Todd Rundgren, Slash (Guns N’ Roses), Jeff Tweedy (Wilco), Robert Trujillo (Metallica), Waddy Wachtel (Stevie Nicks, Keith Richards), Brad Whitford (Aerosmith), Dane Clark (John Mellencamp), Billy Bob Thornton & J.D. Andrew (The Boxmasters), Dean DeLeo, Robert De Leo & Eric Kretz (Stone Temple Pilots) and includes some of the final recordings by the late, great Jeff Beck. Listen to the album and purchase on vinyl here.

We’re celebrating 70 years of the release “Mystery Train” with a Mystery Box giveaway! Little Junior Parker and the Blue Flames released “Mystery Train” on Sun Records in 1953 and Elvis Presley released his single in 1955. To be entered, stream our “Mystery Train” playlist, and follow the Sun Records profile on Spotify. Contest ends May 19.

Watch the new music video for “Defiance” featuring Slash and Rob Trujilo here

We celebrated Sam Phillips’ 100th birthday with his son, Jerry Phillips, at a special event held at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. To celebrate, Jerry Phillips told stories of the legendary Sun Records and growing up around rock and roll icons such as Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, and many more. The event also included a tour of the Sun Records/Memphis Recording Service exhibit at the museum, which has now re-opened after renovations from flooding at the adjacent Municipal Auditorium.

Rock ‘n’ roll legend Ian Hunter has announced the release of his landmark new album, DEFIANCE PART 1, arriving via the Sun Records label on Friday, April 21, 2023. Pre-orders are available now HERE.

We’re giving away a 70th Anniversary box set with all 12 of the 70th anniversary vinyls and the new book “The Birth of Rock ‘N’ Roll!” 🎉 Enter for your chance to win now through December 12th here: tnspk.co/sfb11w

“The Sun Records family is saddened to hear about the passing of Jerry Lee Lewis. The last man standing of the Sun Records’ icons, Jerry Lee Lewis was a cornerstone of the elite group that launched Rock and Roll in the 50’s. He was an individual who always did it his way, with his famous slogan “I am what I am.” He will be remembered as one of the greatest original rockers of the 20th century. As the music industry and fans mourn his passing, we find comfort in knowing that Jerry Lee will join his departed Sun Records colleagues in keeping “Good Rockin’ Tonight” active throughout the universe.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (October 27, 2022) – “Where Rock and Roll Was Born!” – Tuesday night, the independent publishing powerhouse Primary Wave Music in partnership with Gibson—the iconic American instrument brand– celebrated the 70th Anniversary of Sun Records at the Gibson Garage in Nashville. The evening was filled with performances of past hits from Sun Record artists throughout the 70 year history of the label. Tash Neal began the all-star event with a performance of “Iko Iko” and “Mystery Train,” Hannah Dasher performed “Hey Good Lookin’,” and Meghan Linsey took the stage for “That’s Alright (Mama),” Kristian Bush followed with a performance of “King of the Road” and “Boppin’ the Blues” with Benji Shanks of Blackberry Smoke, and the legendary Emmylou Harris performed a heartfelt duet of “Love Hurts” with Chris Isaak. Finally, Chris Isaak sealed the evening with a performance of “Great Balls of Fire” and “I Forgot to Remember.”

In Memphis, Tennessee, in the 1950s, there was hard-edged blues playing on Beale Street, and hillbilly boogie on the outskirts of town. But at Sam Phillips’ Sun Records studio on Union Avenue, there was something different going on– a whole lotta shakin’, rockin’, and rollin’.