Sam Phillips opened Sun Studio on January 3, 1950, as the Memphis Recording Service, at 706 Union Avenue.
Elvis Presley recorded there in 1953 and 1954. Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Howlin' Wolf and B.B. King also recorded there. Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats recorded Rocket 88 there in 1951, often cited as the first rock and roll single.
On December 4, 1956, Presley, Lewis, Perkins and Cash had an impromptu session that was later called the Million Dollar Quartet. Sun Studio became a National Historic Landmark on July 31, 2003 and is still used by recording artists.