Description: "The music that Phillips shaped in his tiny Memphis studio with artists as diverse as Elvis Presley, B.B. King, Howlin' Wolf, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ike Turner, and Johnny Cash introduced a sound that had never been heard before. He brought forth a singular mix of black and white voices unabashedly proclaiming the primacy of the American vernacular tradition while at the same time declaring, once and for all, a new, integrated musical world. With extensive interviews and firsthand personal observations extending over [the author's 25-year] acquaintance with Phillips, along with wide-ranging interviews with nearly all the legendary Sun Records artists, [this book provides a] portrait of an American original"--Back cover.
Review Quotes: "Guralnick wrote definitive biographies of Elvis and now does the same for Phillips, a visionary who gave voice to a rich and diverse culture long marginalized.... Essential reading for music fans."--Ben Segedin, Booklist (starred review)