The Birthplace of Rock and Roll - Sun Studio in Memphis, TN - Randomland
Sun Studios in Memphis Tennessee is known as "The Birthplace of Rocknroll" and perhaps has more claim on the title than any other place on earth. Join Justin Scarred and professional Rock Journalist Tyler Evans as they randomly visit a piece of American Musical history.
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Just a few of the illustrious names that have recorded at Sun Studio: Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, Charlie Feathers, Ray Harris, Warren Smith, Charlie Rich, and Jerry Lee Lewis, as well as dozens of other legendary names in recent years such as Brian Setzer, John Mellencamp, U2, Chris Isaak, Ringo Star, and many more.
Read more about Sun Studios and Sun Records on Wikipedia;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Studio
Subscribe to Tyler Evans Rock Journalist; (videos forthcoming)
http://www.youtube.com/tylerrockjournalist
Transcript
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Tennessee I'm here by this blue
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Tennessee I'm here by this blue industrial look dumpster with my good
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industrial look dumpster with my good
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industrial look dumpster with my good friend Tyler Evans professional Rock
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friend Tyler Evans professional Rock
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friend Tyler Evans professional Rock journalist hi now this isn't any
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journalist hi now this isn't any
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journalist hi now this isn't any ordinary dumpster this dumpster is the
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ordinary dumpster this dumpster is the
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ordinary dumpster this dumpster is the dumpster for a very famous rock and roll
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dumpster for a very famous rock and roll
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dumpster for a very famous rock and roll building that's right you you guessed it
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building that's right you you guessed it
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building that's right you you guessed it we're here at Sun Studio the birthplace
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we're here at Sun Studio the birthplace
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we're here at Sun Studio the birthplace of rock and roll now you know I love
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of rock and roll now you know I love
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of rock and roll now you know I love inspirational stories stories about
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inspirational stories stories about
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inspirational stories stories about people like Walt Disney and various
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people like Walt Disney and various
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people like Walt Disney and various others who made their dreams come true
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others who made their dreams come true
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others who made their dreams come true who built something out of nothing and
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who built something out of nothing and
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who built something out of nothing and this building is one of the greatest
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this building is one of the greatest
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this building is one of the greatest examples of those kind of stories in all
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examples of those kind of stories in all
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examples of those kind of stories in all of Rock and Roll
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history in 1949 young Sam Phillips was
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history in 1949 young Sam Phillips was working here in Memphis as a pop radio
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working here in Memphis as a pop radio
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working here in Memphis as a pop radio de J A shrewd guy and a huge music lover
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de J A shrewd guy and a huge music lover
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de J A shrewd guy and a huge music lover Sam quickly noticed there was no
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Sam quickly noticed there was no
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Sam quickly noticed there was no recording studio anywhere near Memphis
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recording studio anywhere near Memphis
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recording studio anywhere near Memphis so he got the bright idea of starting
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so he got the bright idea of starting
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so he got the bright idea of starting the Memphis recording service his motto
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the Memphis recording service his motto
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the Memphis recording service his motto was we'll record anything anytime
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was we'll record anything anytime
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was we'll record anything anytime anywhere music concerts weddings even
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anywhere music concerts weddings even
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anywhere music concerts weddings even funerals a but Sam's true musical
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funerals a but Sam's true musical
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funerals a but Sam's true musical passion was the underground stuff you
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passion was the underground stuff you
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passion was the underground stuff you know what I'm talking about the
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know what I'm talking about the
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know what I'm talking about the blues I really like blues
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blues I really like blues
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blues I really like blues music I'm going to record
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music I'm going to record
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music I'm going to record by 1950 Sam had saved up enough pennies
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by 1950 Sam had saved up enough pennies
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by 1950 Sam had saved up enough pennies to fulfill his ambition of opening
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to fulfill his ambition of opening
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to fulfill his ambition of opening memphis's first real recording studio
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memphis's first real recording studio
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memphis's first real recording studio right here on Union Avenue here in
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right here on Union Avenue here in
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right here on Union Avenue here in lovely lovely Memphis this is the place
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lovely lovely Memphis this is the place
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lovely lovely Memphis this is the place we now know as the world famous Sun
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we now know as the world famous Sun
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we now know as the world famous Sun Studios now Sun Studios is world famous
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Studios now Sun Studios is world famous
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Studios now Sun Studios is world famous for very good reason my good friend
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for very good reason my good friend
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for very good reason my good friend professional Rock journalist Tyler Evans
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professional Rock journalist Tyler Evans
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professional Rock journalist Tyler Evans is here to tell us some of the people
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is here to tell us some of the people
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is here to tell us some of the people some of the illustrious names that have
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some of the illustrious names that have
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some of the illustrious names that have recorded here at Sun Studios Helen wol
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recorded here at Sun Studios Helen wol
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recorded here at Sun Studios Helen wol Johnny Cash Roy Orbison Jerry Lee Lewis
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Johnny Cash Roy Orbison Jerry Lee Lewis
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Johnny Cash Roy Orbison Jerry Lee Lewis others Carl Perkins Johnny London Johnny
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others Carl Perkins Johnny London Johnny
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others Carl Perkins Johnny London Johnny Cash Roy Orbison Howen wolf Jerry Lee
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Cash Roy Orbison Howen wolf Jerry Lee
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Cash Roy Orbison Howen wolf Jerry Lee Lewis Ike Turner a very young Ike Turner
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Lewis Ike Turner a very young Ike Turner
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Lewis Ike Turner a very young Ike Turner with his band wow others perhaps most
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with his band wow others perhaps most
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with his band wow others perhaps most famously this is the very Street where a
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famously this is the very Street where a
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famously this is the very Street where a young shy skinny boy from Tupelo
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young shy skinny boy from Tupelo
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young shy skinny boy from Tupelo Mississippi came to cut a record for his
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Mississippi came to cut a record for his
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Mississippi came to cut a record for his mother's birthday and that boy of course
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mother's birthday and that boy of course
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mother's birthday and that boy of course was the one the only Elvis
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was the one the only Elvis
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was the one the only Elvis Presley back then you only paid $4 to
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Presley back then you only paid $4 to
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Presley back then you only paid $4 to record two songs and you walked out with
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record two songs and you walked out with
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record two songs and you walked out with your record I've got $4 can I record
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your record I've got $4 can I record
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your record I've got $4 can I record some hit records just think that Elvis
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some hit records just think that Elvis
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some hit records just think that Elvis Aaron Presley actually touched this very
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Aaron Presley actually touched this very
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Aaron Presley actually touched this very doorknob unfortunately for Elvis the day
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doorknob unfortunately for Elvis the day
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doorknob unfortunately for Elvis the day he came in Sam Phillips was nowhere to
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he came in Sam Phillips was nowhere to
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he came in Sam Phillips was nowhere to be found but his secretary and business
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be found but his secretary and business
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be found but his secretary and business partner maryan kisker was she recorded
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partner maryan kisker was she recorded
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partner maryan kisker was she recorded young Elvis and she was very impressed
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young Elvis and she was very impressed
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young Elvis and she was very impressed but at the time Sam Phillips wasn't
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but at the time Sam Phillips wasn't
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but at the time Sam Phillips wasn't finally after a year Elvis's tenacity
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finally after a year Elvis's tenacity
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finally after a year Elvis's tenacity and stick tutiven paid off and Sam
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and stick tutiven paid off and Sam
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and stick tutiven paid off and Sam Phillips invited him in to try out with
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Phillips invited him in to try out with
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Phillips invited him in to try out with a couple of guys record a few songs but
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a couple of guys record a few songs but
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a couple of guys record a few songs but he didn't really like anything they were
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he didn't really like anything they were
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he didn't really like anything they were doing luckily at the last second they
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doing luckily at the last second they
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doing luckily at the last second they started goofing around and playing
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started goofing around and playing
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started goofing around and playing that's all right Mama which became
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that's all right Mama which became
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that's all right Mama which became Elvis's first hit later Elvis gained a
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Elvis's first hit later Elvis gained a
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Elvis's first hit later Elvis gained a lot of weight and moved
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lot of weight and moved
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lot of weight and moved here after Elvis became a smash
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here after Elvis became a smash
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here after Elvis became a smash sensation Sam Phillips was able to hire
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sensation Sam Phillips was able to hire
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sensation Sam Phillips was able to hire even more artists such as Johnny C to
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even more artists such as Johnny C to
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even more artists such as Johnny C to produce hit after hit for Sun Records he
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produce hit after hit for Sun Records he
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produce hit after hit for Sun Records he eventually ended up selling Elvis's
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eventually ended up selling Elvis's
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eventually ended up selling Elvis's recording contract for a whopping a mega
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recording contract for a whopping a mega
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recording contract for a whopping a mega the ultimate Lottery prize of
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$35,000 which in today's dollars is a
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$35,000 which in today's dollars is a whopping 285 trillion 65 billion 400
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whopping 285 trillion 65 billion 400
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whopping 285 trillion 65 billion 400 after expanding his operations so much
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after expanding his operations so much
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after expanding his operations so much Sam Phillips needed to move to a bigger
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Sam Phillips needed to move to a bigger
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Sam Phillips needed to move to a bigger location so this lovely historic
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location so this lovely historic
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location so this lovely historic building sat empty
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building sat empty
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building sat empty neglected forlorn luckily in the 1980s
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neglected forlorn luckily in the 1980s
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neglected forlorn luckily in the 1980s some of the members of the class of 1955
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some of the members of the class of 1955
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some of the members of the class of 1955 recording under the name the Class of 55
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recording under the name the Class of 55
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recording under the name the Class of 55 recorded another hit record here and
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recorded another hit record here and
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recorded another hit record here and brought a lot of much needed publicity
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brought a lot of much needed publicity
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brought a lot of much needed publicity to Sun Studios which reopened the next
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to Sun Studios which reopened the next
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to Sun Studios which reopened the next year 1986 and started giving tours today
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year 1986 and started giving tours today
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year 1986 and started giving tours today Sun Studios is open for business every
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Sun Studios is open for business every
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Sun Studios is open for business every day and they still record bands here at
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day and they still record bands here at
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day and they still record bands here at night when you come to Sun Studios one
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night when you come to Sun Studios one
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night when you come to Sun Studios one of their wonderful tour guys takes you
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of their wonderful tour guys takes you
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of their wonderful tour guys takes you on a fantastic tour through the small
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on a fantastic tour through the small
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on a fantastic tour through the small upstairs Museum next door on this visit
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upstairs Museum next door on this visit
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upstairs Museum next door on this visit we were part of a particularly exciting
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we were part of a particularly exciting
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we were part of a particularly exciting Group after a few minutes of acquainting
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Group after a few minutes of acquainting
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Group after a few minutes of acquainting yourself with the fantastic and
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yourself with the fantastic and
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yourself with the fantastic and fascinating history of Sun Records
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fascinating history of Sun Records
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fascinating history of Sun Records you're LED through Mary and kiser's
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you're LED through Mary and kiser's
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you're LED through Mary and kiser's reception area and into the original
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reception area and into the original
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reception area and into the original rock and roll Sanctuary Sun Studios
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rock and roll Sanctuary Sun Studios
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rock and roll Sanctuary Sun Studios itself everything about this room is
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itself everything about this room is
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itself everything about this room is original from the floor panels to the
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original from the floor panels to the
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original from the floor panels to the ceiling tiles the Vintage equipment on
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ceiling tiles the Vintage equipment on
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ceiling tiles the Vintage equipment on display has been used by everybody from
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display has been used by everybody from
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display has been used by everybody from Jerry Lee Lewis notice the burn mark
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Jerry Lee Lewis notice the burn mark
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Jerry Lee Lewis notice the burn mark from a cigar on this p piano to you two
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from a cigar on this p piano to you two
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from a cigar on this p piano to you two these marks on the floor represent the
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these marks on the floor represent the
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these marks on the floor represent the position of Elvis Presley and his band
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position of Elvis Presley and his band
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position of Elvis Presley and his band when they recorded their first single
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when they recorded their first single
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when they recorded their first single this is the room that produced the sound
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this is the room that produced the sound
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this is the room that produced the sound of classic rock and roll at the end of
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of classic rock and roll at the end of
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of classic rock and roll at the end of the tour they bring out this microphone
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the tour they bring out this microphone
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the tour they bring out this microphone which is the last remaining mic used by
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which is the last remaining mic used by
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which is the last remaining mic used by Elvis Presley and countless other Sun
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Elvis Presley and countless other Sun
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Elvis Presley and countless other Sun recording artists that's right Elvis he
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recording artists that's right Elvis he
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recording artists that's right Elvis he sang on this he caressed this microphone
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sang on this he caressed this microphone
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sang on this he caressed this microphone normally something like this would be in
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normally something like this would be in
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normally something like this would be in a giant glass case somewhere but one of
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a giant glass case somewhere but one of
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a giant glass case somewhere but one of the last things that Sam did before he
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the last things that Sam did before he
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the last things that Sam did before he passed away was donated to us with The
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passed away was donated to us with The
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passed away was donated to us with The Specific Instructions that everyone's
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Specific Instructions that everyone's
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Specific Instructions that everyone's always allowed to touch it to hold it to
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always allowed to touch it to hold it to
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always allowed to touch it to hold it to have fun with it take pictures with it
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have fun with it take pictures with it
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have fun with it take pictures with it so make sure if you are ever coming
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so make sure if you are ever coming
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so make sure if you are ever coming through Memphis to put Sun Studios at
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through Memphis to put Sun Studios at
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through Memphis to put Sun Studios at the top of your list and make some time
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the top of your list and make some time
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the top of your list and make some time to enjoy the sights the sounds and the
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to enjoy the sights the sounds and the
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to enjoy the sights the sounds and the smells of Rock and Roll
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smells of Rock and Roll
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smells of Rock and Roll History I wonder if Johnny Cash was a
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History I wonder if Johnny Cash was a
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History I wonder if Johnny Cash was a big recycler it's all we got for you
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big recycler it's all we got for you
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big recycler it's all we got for you today tell next time I'm Justin this is
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today tell next time I'm Justin this is
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today tell next time I'm Justin this is Tyler Evans Rock journalist and we'll
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Tyler Evans Rock journalist and we'll
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Tyler Evans Rock journalist and we'll see you back in randomland bye-bye
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[Music]
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[Music] by I really like blues
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by I really like blues
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by I really like blues music I'm going to
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music I'm going to
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record
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record [Music]
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[Music] [Applause]
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[Applause]
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[Applause] here on my mixing
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here on my mixing
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here on my mixing [Music]
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[Music] board a grapefruit