Sam Phillips: The Man Who Invented Rock 'n' Roll

By: Peter Guralnick

Narrated by: Kevin Stillwell

From the author of the critically acclaimed Elvis Presley biography: Last Train to Memphis brings us the life of Sam Phillips, the visionary genius who singlehandedly steered the revolutionary path of Sun Records.

The music that he shaped in his tiny Memphis studio with artists as diverse as Elvis Presley, Ike Turner, Howlin' Wolf, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash, introduced a sound that had never been heard before. He brought forth a singular mix of black and white voices passionately proclaiming the vitality of the American vernacular tradition while at the same time declaring, once and for all, a new, integrated musical day.

With extensive interviews and firsthand personal observations extending over a 25-year period with Phillips, along with wide-ranging interviews with nearly all the legendary Sun Records artists, Guralnick gives us an ardent, unrestrained portrait of an American original as compelling in his own right as Mark Twain, Walt Whitman, or Thomas Edison.

Critic reviews

New York Times Bestseller

One of The Washington Post's Notable Nonfiction Books of 2015

"Mr. Guralnick is a sensitive biographer who has landed upon a perfect topic in Phillips, the brilliant Memphis producer who, in the 1950s, recorded the earliest work of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Howlin' Wolf. This is vital American history, smartly and warmly told."—Dwight Garner, New York Times, Top Books of 2015

"Definitive...With Presley's story at its core, Sam Phillips: The Man Who Invented Rock 'n' Roll is in some ways the third volume [to] Guralnick's double-volume Elvis bio. What makes it more illuminating and arguably truer is seeing Elvis in the broader context of Phillips' career, [which was] in many ways a mission to transform [t]his nation's history of bigotry....You may come away born again."—Rolling Stone

"A book so thoroughly steeped in its subject that it is almost an autobiography in the third person.... 'This is a book written out of admiration and love,' Guralnick states frankly in an author's note. As such, it honors Sam Phillips elegantly, by devoting itself to the one subject Phillips seemed to admire and love as much as he did ­music: Sam Phillips himself."—David Hajdu, New York Times Book Review

"Lovingly crafted.... With crisp prose and meticulous detail, Guralnick gives Phillips the same epic treatment he previously employed in acclaimed biographies of Sam Cooke and Elvis Presley.... An astonishing feat.... It is difficult to imagine a more complete or poetic account of his life than this remarkable volume.... 'I didn't set out to revolutionize the world,' Phillips once told Guralnick in a moment of humility, but in this book [the author] convincingly argues that Phillips did just that."—Charles Hughes, The Washington Post

"Peter Guralnick isn't just a music writer or a biographer--he's one of the essential chroniclers of American popular culture, and his work illuminates some of the crucial components of our national identity: race, religion, fame, and the big business of having fun, among others. In this epic biography of Sam Phillips, Guralnick bears witness to the birth of rock and roll and the cultural revolution it inspired. It's not only an unforgettable portrait of an eccentric visionary, it's a testament to the power of ordinary people to change the world with nothing more than a beautiful idea and a handful of songs."—Tom Perrotta, author of The Leftovers

Awesome!

If you're a fan of 50's music this is a MUST. So much interesting and little known information. I loved it and listen to it over and over, THANK YOU Peter

My thoughts of this book loved it so much Especially hearing about his Elvis got his start

Enjoyed this book very much!
And even enjoyed the more after visiting the sun studios in Memphis tn and hearing what the tour guide talked about and hearing in the book!
Big fan of Elvis Presley !

Amazing book!!!

The author does an amazing job at capturing Sam Phillips and bringing him and his journey alive. The narrator was excellent. On to my next Peter Guralnick narrated ny Kevin Stillwell book!!!

a brilliant biography

Sun Records landed on me in a big way when I was around 8 years old. The first record I ever bought was Johnny Cash (Frankie's Man Johnny). I loved the Elvis Sun sessions (although they didn't have a name yet). But I lost interest in Elvis immediately after I saw Jerry Lee Lewis on TV. Peter Guralnick's biography of Sam Phillips told me exactly what was happening down in Memphis almost day-by-day while I was inventing the role of teeny-bopper in an industrial suburb of Toronto.

Guralnick has written a very detailed account of a complex man in exciting times in American, and world, culture. (Note: I believe in the power of rock 'n roll.) He's a brilliant biographer.

In a book this long, the narration is make-or-break. The narration of this book is excellent. Thank you, Kevin Stilwell, for making it possible for me to make it to the end. It took me a month, with breaks.

Notable passage: There are a number of passages describing the technical details of a recording session. The best to me is an hour-long description of Howling Wolf's first recording session: Sam Phillips and Howling Wolf in intense collaboration for hours and days in a little rickety building a few city blocks from the Mississippi.

A very wonderful book about the man who created Rock and Roll

When I first decided to purchase this book, I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. I never heard of Sam Phillips—but I once had a “Sun” record. This book describes Sam from the beginning to the end-and of course, everything in between. I liked the honest portrayal of Sam for who he was. I recommend this book for anyone who is interested in R&R and its roots like I am. Just beware that there is some salty language interspersed in the book. But overall, it’s a great listen/read.