1923 – 2003

Sam Phillips

American businessman, record executive, record producer and DJ (1923–2003)

songwriterrecord producerentrepreneur
Born
1923-01-05, Florence
Died
2003-07-30
Birthplace state
Alabama

Biography

Sam Phillips was born in Florence, Alabama on January 5, 1923. A songwriter, record producer, and entrepreneur, he founded Sun Records and Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, where he produced recordings by Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, and Howlin' Wolf. In 1969 he sold Sun to Shelby Singleton. He died on July 30, 2003.

Occupation

Sam Phillips is recorded as a songwriter, a record producer and a entrepreneur, born in Alabama (1923–2003).

Connections to Alabama

Sam Phillips was born in Florence, Alabama in 1923. Explore other notable figures from Alabama, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from AlabamaAlabamahistory ›Historic sites in Alabama
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Florence

Sam Phillips came from Florence. A full Aubrey report on Florence pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Florence report
Or see a real report first

More notable figures from Alabama

Other historical figures born in Alabama, ranked by historical prominence.

Helen Keller
Helen Keller
American deafblind author, political activist, lecturer, scholar (1880-1968)
Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks
civil rights activist
Harper Lee
Harper Lee
American novelist (1926–2016)
Jesse Owens
Jesse Owens
American track and field athlete (1913–1980)
Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole
American singer and jazz pianist (1919–1965)
Edward O. Wilson
Edward O. Wilson
American biologist, naturalist, and writer (1929–2021)
Louise Fletcher
Louise Fletcher
American actress (1934–2022)

Frequently asked about Sam Phillips

Who was Sam Phillips?
Sam Phillips was American businessman, record executive, record producer and DJ (1923–2003), born in Alabama (1923 – 2003).
When and where was Sam Phillips born?
Sam Phillips was born on 1923-01-05 in Florence.
When did Sam Phillips die?
Sam died on 2003-07-30.
What was Sam Phillips known for?
Sam Phillips is recorded as a songwriter, a record producer and a entrepreneur.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your locationView a free sample report