Where Elvis Recorded in Memphis

Visit Sun Studio in Memphis: A Guide for UK Music Fans

Sun Studio, at 706 Union Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee, is the small recording studio where Sam Phillips opened his Memphis Recording Service in January 1950, and where rock 'n' roll took shape. Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Howlin' Wolf and Roy Orbison all recorded here, and "Rocket 88" by Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats, recorded at the studio in 1951, is often described as one of the first rock 'n' roll records.

For UK music fans, it is the place where the music we grew up with began. Sun Studio is a National Historic Landmark, and it is still a working recording studio as well as a visitor attraction. At Travelling Time we have been taking music lovers to Memphis for nearly 30 years, and Sun Studio is a highlight of many of our Memphis itineraries.

The story of Sun Studio

Sam Phillips opened the studio on 3 January 1950 with the slogan "We Record Anything, Anywhere, Anytime." In the early 1950s he recorded blues and R&B artists including Howlin' Wolf and B.B. King, and "Rocket 88" was cut here in 1951.

In August 1953, an 18-year-old Elvis Presley walked in and paid to record a two-sided acetate disc, saying it was a gift for his mother. On the evening of 5 July 1954, during a late-night session with guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black, Elvis launched into Arthur Crudup's "That's All Right". Sam Phillips started the tape rolling, and Elvis's first single was born. Days later the trio recorded "Blue Moon of Kentucky" for the other side.

Elvis left Sun for RCA in November 1955, but the studio's story was far from over. Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Roy Orbison all recorded here through the 1950s. On 4 December 1956, Elvis dropped in while Carl Perkins was recording, Jerry Lee Lewis was on piano and Johnny Cash was in the building, and an impromptu jam session followed. A Memphis newspaper called it the "Million Dollar Quartet", and the name has stuck ever since.

Sam Phillips moved his operation to larger premises in 1959. The original Union Avenue building reopened in 1987 as Sun Studio, and later artists including U2 and John Mellencamp have recorded there.

How UK visitors can visit

Memphis is in the south-west corner of Tennessee, on the Mississippi River. Most UK visitors reach Memphis by a connecting flight through a major US hub. Sun Studio is open to visitors with guided tours running through the day.

You can plan the trip yourself, or join one of our escorted tours, where the guided visit to Sun Studio is already part of the itinerary and the travel between cities is taken care of. Some of our tours start in Memphis, while others begin in cities such as Nashville, New Orleans or Chicago before arriving in Memphis. Hearing the stories behind the studio from people who know them is a big part of what makes the visit special.

Visit Sun Studio with Travelling Time

These Travelling Time escorted tours all include a visit to Sun Studio.

Totally Tennessee: 12 nights. Memphis, Nashville, Pigeon Forge and Chattanooga, with a day visit to Brownsville and more. Sun Studio and Graceland on day 2. New dates coming soon. Register your interest on the tour page.
Memphis, Mountains & Music Cities: 11 nights. Nashville, Muscle Shoals, Pigeon Forge and Memphis, with a FAME Studios tour. Sun Studio and Graceland on day 8. Next departure 20 September 2027.
Music Cities - Southern Style: 14 nights. New Orleans, Memphis, Muscle Shoals and Nashville, with 4 nights in Muscle Shoals. Sun Studio and Graceland on day 4. Next departure 25 May 2027.
Southern Style: 12 nights. Nashville, Muscle Shoals and Memphis. Sun Studio and Graceland are included. New dates coming soon. Register your interest on the tour page.
Bourbon, Beale & Broadway: 10 nights. New Orleans, Tupelo, Memphis and Nashville. Sun Studio and Graceland on day 5. New dates coming soon. Register your interest on the tour page.
Soundtrack of the South: 13 nights. New Orleans, Orange Beach, Muscle Shoals, Memphis and Nashville. Sun Studio and Graceland on day 10. New dates coming soon. Register your interest on the tour page.
The Ultimate American Music Tour: 15 nights. Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Louisville, Memphis, Muscle Shoals and Nashville. Sun Studio and Graceland on day 9. New dates coming soon. Register your interest on the tour page.
Rock and Roll to Ragtime: 12 nights. Memphis, Austin, San Antonio, Houston and New Orleans. Sun Studio and Graceland on day 2. New dates coming soon. Register your interest on the tour page.
Midwest & More!: 12 nights. Memphis, Branson, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Dallas and Fort Worth. Sun Studio and Graceland on day 2. New dates coming soon. Register your interest on the tour page.
Rhythm, Roots & Cowboy Boots: 15 nights. Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, Houston and Memphis. Sun Studio and Graceland on day 12. New dates coming soon. Register your interest on the tour page.

Prefer to talk it through? Call us on 01738 643 737 or email info@travellingtime.co.uk. Arrive as a guest, leave as a friend.

While you are in Memphis

Graceland: Elvis's home and final resting place, 3764 Elvis Presley Boulevard. On every tour above, Graceland is visited on the same day as Sun Studio.
Beale Street: live blues, rock 'n' roll and soul in the evenings.
Stax Museum of American Soul Music: built on the site of the original Stax studio, a perfect companion to Sun's story.

Following the King Through Memphis

Elvis Presley didn't just live in Memphis — he shaped it, and it shaped him. From a shy teenager walking into Sun Studio to the global superstar recording at American Sound, Elvis's Memphis recording story is one of the greatest tales in music history.

Sun Studio: Where It All Began

706 Union Avenue — arguably the most famous address in rock 'n' roll history.

In the summer of 1953, an 18-year-old Elvis Presley walked into Sun Studio and paid $3.98 to record two songs as a gift for his mother (or so the story goes). Studio owner Sam Phillips heard something special. On July 5, 1954, during a casual jam session, Elvis launched into a loose, uptempo version of Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup's "That's All Right." Phillips hit record. Rock 'n' roll was born.

Key Elvis recordings at Sun Studio:

"That's All Right" (1954) — his first single
"Good Rockin' Tonight" (1954)
"Baby Let's Play House" (1955)
"Mystery Train" (1955) — his last Sun single before moving to RCA
The legendary "Million Dollar Quartet" session (1956) with Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash

Visit today: Sun Studio offers guided tours through the day. The studio still operates as a working recording space at night. Stand on the spot in the studio where Elvis recorded. It's a genuinely moving experience.

Tour tip: Our Totally Tennessee and Bourbon, Beale & Broadway tours both include Sun Studio visits.

RCA Nashville & Early RCA Sessions

After signing with RCA Records in November 1955 for the then-unprecedented sum of $40,000, Elvis initially recorded in Nashville at RCA Studio B (see our Nashville guide). Key early RCA hits like "Heartbreak Hotel" were recorded in Nashville, not Memphis.

However, Memphis remained central to Elvis's identity, and he would return to record some of his greatest work.

Graceland's Recording Legacy

While Graceland wasn't a traditional recording studio, Elvis did record demo sessions and rehearsals at his beloved home. The famous "Jungle Room" on the ground floor was used for recording sessions in 1976, producing tracks for the albums From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee and Moody Blue.

The Jungle Room sessions were remarkable — Elvis essentially turned his den (complete with its iconic green shag carpet and Polynesian furniture) into a professional studio, with equipment trucked in from Nashville.

Visit today: Graceland is Memphis's most-visited attraction. The mansion tour, now enhanced with iPad audio guides narrated by Elvis himself, includes the Jungle Room. The entertainment complex across the street houses his car collection, jumpsuits, and two of his aeroplanes.

American Sound Studio: The Comeback

By 1968, Elvis's career had stalled. Years of mediocre movie soundtracks had eroded his credibility. Producer Chips Moman at American Sound Studio (827 Thomas Street) changed everything.

In January and February 1969, Elvis recorded over 30 songs at American Sound — an astonishing burst of creativity. The sessions produced:

"Suspicious Minds" — his last US #1 single
"In the Ghetto" — a socially conscious masterpiece
"Don't Cry Daddy"
"Kentucky Rain"

These recordings are widely regarded as some of Elvis's finest work. The American Sound sessions proved that Elvis, given the right material and musicians, was still one of the greatest vocalists who ever lived.

Note: The original American Sound Studio was sadly demolished in 2017. A marker at the site commemorates its significance. There are ongoing campaigns to build a proper memorial.

Stax Records Connection

While Elvis never recorded at Stax Records (926 E. McLemore Avenue), the legendary soul label influenced his music enormously. The raw Memphis soul sound of Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, and Booker T. & the M.G.'s was woven into Elvis's DNA.

Visit today: The Stax Museum of American Soul Music is built on the original studio site and is one of Memphis's best museums.

The Complete Elvis Memphis Trail

Plan your Elvis pilgrimage:

Sun Studio — where it all began (706 Union Ave)
Graceland — his home and final resting place (3764 Elvis Presley Blvd)
American Sound Studio site — marker at 827 Thomas St
Lauderdale Courts — Elvis's teenage home, now with a recreated apartment
Stax Museum — the soul music that influenced Elvis
Beale Street — where teenage Elvis soaked up the blues
Overton Park Shell — site of his first major concert (July 30, 1954)

Experience Elvis's Memphis with Travelling Time

Our escorted tours take you deep into Elvis's world with expert guides who know every story. Popular options:

Totally Tennessee — includes Graceland, Sun Studio & Memphis
Soundtrack of the South — Memphis, Muscle Shoals & Nashville

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Frequently asked questions

Can I visit Sun Studio from the UK?

Yes. Memphis is reached by a connecting flight from the UK, usually through a major US hub. The easiest way to visit Sun Studio is on one of our escorted tours, where the visit is already part of the itinerary and your tour manager looks after the travel between cities.

Is Sun Studio worth visiting?

If you love Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, rock 'n' roll or the blues, yes. It is a small, atmospheric building, so it is the stories that make it special, and a guided visit brings them to life. It is a National Historic Landmark and still a working recording studio.

Which Travelling Time tours include Sun Studio?

Ten of our escorted tours include a visit: Totally Tennessee; Memphis, Mountains & Music Cities; Music Cities - Southern Style; Southern Style; Bourbon, Beale & Broadway; Soundtrack of the South; The Ultimate American Music Tour; Rock and Roll to Ragtime; Midwest & More!; and Rhythm, Roots & Cowboy Boots.

Are flights included?

No. Our escorted tours are tour-only, so flights are not included. Travelling Time can book flights for you as an extra, or you are welcome to arrange your own.

How big are the groups on your escorted tours?

Our escorted tours typically have 20 to 30 guests, and can run with as few as 8. The maximum is 50. Private groups can be any size.

Is my money protected?

Travelling Time is a Member of Protected Trust Services (6332) and as such all your travel arrangements are 100% financially protected. All of our air holidays and flights are protected by the Civil Aviation Authority (ATOL 7516).

If tour dates don't suit, we can also create a bespoke Fly Drive Plus itinerary that takes in Memphis and Sun Studio.