The iconic guitar sign outside the original Sun Studio, Memphis, TN. Opened in January 1950 by record producer Sam Phillips, it played a vital role in the early years of rock’n’roll.

The record most widely recognised as the very first rock’n’roll single, “Rocket 88” by Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats, written by Ike Turner, was recorded here in March 1951, with Ike on keyboards. Other artists who recorded at Sun Studio during the near-ten years it operated include Howlin’ Wolf, B.B. King, Rufus Thomas, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis and, most famously, Elvis Presley, who recorded his first hit in the studio, a cover of Arthur Crudup’s “That’s All Right”, on July 5th 1954. He also recorded his next four singles at Sun, including both "Good Rockin' Tonight" and "Baby Let's Play House", before his new manager 'Colonel' Tom Parker succeeded in buying out his Sun contract so he could sign for RCA.

Phillips eventually relocated to larger premises in 1959, but the studio reopened under new management in 1987, since when it has been used by U2, Def Leppard, Ringo Starr and Bonnie Raitt, amongst others