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3. Johnny London: “Drivin’ Gradual”
Two years after opening the studio, Phillips launched his personal label, Solar Information, from the identical constructing. Though Solar would grow to be finest identified for churning out rock and rockabilly singles, his first launch was this casually cool jazz quantity by 16-year-old alto saxophonist Johnny London.
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4. Elvis Presley: “It is All Proper”
An 18-year-old Elvis Presley first appeared at Solar Studio on July 18, 1953, to report two demos; legend has it that he needed to present his mom a recording of him singing as a birthday current. Phillips quickly realized Presley’s potential and enlisted him for subsequent classes. This sultry and soulful rendition of Arthur Crudup’s 1946 blues tune. “That is All Proper, Mama” was Presley’s debut single – and an immediate sensation.
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5. Johnny Money: “I Stroll the Line”
In 1954, impressed by Presley’s success, {an electrical} equipment salesman and aspiring musician named Johnny Money auditioned for Phillips at Solar Studio. The next yr, Solar Information launched Money’s debut single, “Cry Cry Cry” which grew to become a minor hit. In 1956 nonetheless, he discovered actual success with this tune, his first No. 1 on the nation charts. Possibly you’ve got heard it earlier than?
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6. Carl Perkins: “Blue Suede Footwear”
On the finish of 1955 Presley is leaving Solar for a extra profitable cope with RCA Victor – that means Phillips’ label might actually need a success. Thankfully, Solar’s first million-selling single got here in January 1956: Carl Perkins’s light rockabilly traditional Blue Suede Footwear, which he wrote himself. Presley’s personal model would grow to be a good larger and extra indelible hit, however out of respect for his former label and good friend Perkins, he delayed its launch till that August in order to not compete with Perkins’ model within the rankings.
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7. Jerry Lee Lewis: “Entire Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On”
After signing to the label in late 1956, Jerry Lee Lewis rapidly grew to become each a prolific studio session pianist—he performed on Perkins’ hit “Matchbox,” amongst many different singles—and an rising Solar solo artist. His breakthrough was this fiery rockabilly quantity from 1957, a transforming of a tune first recorded two years earlier by Big Mabel. One other unforgettable Solar single from Lewis, “Great Fireballs”, was launched later in 1957.
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8. Roy Orbison that includes Teen Kings: “Ooby Dooby”
Roy Orbison was one other music icon who made a few of his earliest recordings at Solar, though his profession did not take off till he signed with Monument Information in 1959. Recorded along with his warm-up band the Teen Kings in 1956, the sunshine, edgy “Ooby Dooby” discovered a younger Orbison emulating Presley just a few years earlier than he perfected his signature darkish, dreamy ballad fashion.
