Fresh Air, Peter Guralnick, Sam Phillips, and Scotty Moore

By: Terry Gross

Narrated by: Terry Gross

Music writer Peter Guralnick, Sun Studios founder Sam Phillips (who died last night in Memphis at age 80), and guitarist and record producer Scotty Moore on this archive edition of Fresh Air. Music writer Peter Guralnick, in part one of his biography of Elvis Presley, Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley, tells much of the story of Elvis' life and people who knew him then. It attempts to portray Elvis' human side, rather than the mythical figure he has become. Sun Studios founder Sam Phillips died today in Memphis at the age of 80. He was revered as one of the leading catalysts in post-WWII American music. As a record producer in the 1950s and '60s, his recordings launched the careers of Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis, and that's just to name a few. Guitarist and record producer Scotty Moore was Elvis Presley's first guitarist and manager, and one of the early influences of the rock guitar sound. He co-wrote an account of his work with the King of Rock 'n' Roll, entitled That's Alright, Elvis. (Original Broadcast Dates: October 4, 1994, March 16, 1994, and July 29, 1997)Want more Fresh Air?

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