Fresh Air, Remembering Sam Phillips with Peter Guralnick, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash

On this edition, Fresh Air pays tribute to Sam Phillips, the founder of Sun Records who died Wednesday at the age of 80. Terry Gross speaks with music writer Peter Guralnick and songwriter and singers Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash. Peter Guralnick is the author of a two volume biography of Elvis Presley: Last Train to Memphis and Careless Love. Carl Perkins was one of the performers Sam Phillips discovered and recorded in the 1950s. Perkins wrote "Blue Suede Shoes," the hit song sung by Elvis Presley, which became the first Sun label record to sell over a million copies. He also wrote the songs, "Matchbox," "Honey Don't," and "Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby" which have been recorded by the Beatles. Perkins is the pioneer of a style of music called Rockabilly, which is described as "a country man's song with a black man's rhythm." Johnny Cash is one of the performers Phillips discovered and recorded in the 1950s. Cash has been recording albums and performing since the 1950's. He has been inducted into the Songwriters, Country Music, and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame. (Original Broadcast Dates: October 4, 1994, October 29, 1996 and November 4, 1997)