As has been noted previously, Peter Guralnick’s biography, “Sam Phillips: The Man Who Invented Rock & Roll,” has been tagged for a film adaptation. Mick Jagger, one of the film’s producers, was seen in Memphis recently on a reconnaissance mission for the film, which is set to star Leonardo DiCaprio as Sam Phillips.
The long awaited two-part documentary on the King of Rock & Roll is finally here. Elvis Presley: The Searcher is now available on demand and streaming on HBO.
Big congratulations are in order for Sun Records alumnus Cowboy Jack Clement and Roy Orbison for their induction in to the Memphis Music Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony is taking place in Memphis, coinciding with the Music Cities Convention. Other legendary artists being honored include the Memphis Horns, Maurice White, Irvin Salky, Cassietta George, and Frank Stokes.
The Lewis Ranch has been Jerry Lee Lewis’ private getaway for decades, and now you can get a first hand look at the life of a rock ‘n’ roll legend. Located at 1595 Malone Road near Nesbit, Mississippi, the Lewis Ranch is a short drive from Memphis. Private, small-group tours are held Monday – Saturday from 10am to 4pm. Find out more information here.
Record Store Day, which began in 2008 and has been gaining traction ever since, is a worldwide celebrated event honoring independent record shops. “This is a day for the people who make up the world of the record store—the staff, the customers, and the artists—to come together and celebrate the unique culture of a record store and the special role these independently owned stores play in their communities.” (recordstoreday.com)
Tonight is the world premiere of CMT’s newest and highly anticipated music drama, Sun Records! CMT has brought the story of Sun to life! Every sound has a story, and we are very excited to see how all of the Sun legends are interpreted.
Actor Leonardo DiCaprio will play Sun founder Sam Phillips in the upcoming film adaptation for Peter Guralnick’s “Sam Phillips: The Man Who Invented Rock ‘N’ Roll.” The rights were acquired by Paramount Pictures. Producers include Jennifer Davisson, DiCaprio, Mick Jagger, Victoria Pearman, Steve Bing, Ian Montone, Rick Yorn and Peter Guralnick.
You may have heard about an upcoming television series to be aired by Country Music Television. In collaboration with Los Angeles based production team, Thinkfactory Media, “Sun Records” is CMT’s most ambitious project to date. As one can imagine, it takes place in Memphis and revolves around Sun Records in the 1950s when the birth of legends like Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ike Turner, BB King and others began.
The Phillips family have begun reviving Memphis International Records. Under the new direction, the plan is to release two to four albums per year. The first of which will be a Charlie Rich tribute album featuring performances by Charlie Rich Jr., Jim Lauderdale, Shooter Jennings, Keith Sykes, Will Kimbrough, the Malpass Brothers, Susan Marshall and more. Read more in the article from The Commercial Appeal.
The highly anticipated Sun Diner is slated to open in late 2016. The first and only 24-hour restaurant in Lower Broadway will serve up modern twists on traditional diner dishes in a vibey atmosphere.
