Sun Studio, Memphis (must see)

Sun Studio is one of Memphis’s essential music landmarks, known worldwide as the “Birthplace of Rock ’n’ Roll.” It stands on Union Avenue in the historic core of Memphis, housed in a modest brick structure that began in 1950 as the Memphis Recording Service. Founded by producer Sam Phillips in the same building as the Sun Records label, the studio occupied a former auto repair shop.

Inside, the studio offers an atmosphere focused on the deep musical past of Memphis. The permanent displays trace the succession of legendary artists who shaped the world, beginning with B.B. King and Howlin’ Wolf and continuing through the landmark recording of Jackie Brenston’s “Rocket 88,” widely cited as one of the first rock ’n’ roll records.

The central recording area is located on the ground floor of the building and often feels like the emotional heart of the tour. It reveals the foundations of the “Sun Sound,” from Elvis’s first recordings in 1954 to the famous “Million Dollar Quartet” session of December 4, 1956. To find this highlight, walk into the centre of the live recording room and look for the small “X” marked on the floor. As you are standing there, you are in the exact position where Elvis Presley stood to record his breakout hit “That’s All Right” in 1954.

Along the ceiling and walls, original acoustic tiles remain from Sam Phillips’s early experiments in sound engineering. After founding the studio, Phillips installed these distinctive fibreboard tiles to dampen sound and create the echo that helped carry Memphis music to the rest of the world. The original insulation and small holes in the tiles are still visible overhead, showing how the room was shaped to capture the raw, immediate energy of the musicians. Original 1950s light fixtures continue to illuminate the space where Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash once stood.

Other notable pieces include the 1950s control room and authentic recording equipment, including the original microphone used by Elvis Presley. To find these, look through the glass partition separating the live room from the technical booth; look for the vintage RCA mixing console and the tape machines where Phillips sat to capture history. The studio also hosts a collection of photographs, memorabilia, and video interviews.