Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee

Opened in 1950 by rock & roll pioneer Sam Phillips, Sun Studio is an iconic Memphis, Tennessee landmark. Originally known as the Memphis Recording Service, the building was also shared by Phillips' independent Sun Records label. Sun was the first company to record Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, and Johnny Cash, earning this small studio its legendary status for rock & roll, country, rockabilly, and blues fans around the globe.

Touring this studio, not unlike Motown in Detroit or FAME in Muscle Shoals, you're instantly overwhelmed by the history connected to such an unassuming space. To stand where Elvis, and numerous others, recorded their first singles makes the early days of rock & roll look so humble. And yet, you only need to drive a few miles to Graceland to see what a difference a few decades made. Memphis's Sun Studio is an incredible slice of music history to explore.  

"Million Dollar Quartet". An impromptu jam session broke out between Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, and Johnny Cash at Sun Studio on December 4, 1956. Often noted as a seminal moment in rock & roll history, the session was recorded and captured four artists together who were radically changing the landscape of popular music in the 1950s.

Inside the iconic studio.

Front office of Sun Studio.

Top 6 Photo Essays of 2021

Last year I released over 125 new photo essays spanning a variety of unique destinations. After review, here were the TOP 6 most popular releases based on web traffic on the Editing Luke site in 2021. As always, thank you for the incredible support.

6. Santa Cruz, California | Surf Culture

Photo essays of Santa Cruz, California included spotlights on Surfers at Steamer Lane, the Wharf, Beach Boardwalk, and Surfing Museum.

5. Ford Piquette Plant in Detroit, Michigan

This photo essay highlighted the factory where the Ford Model T was born.

4. Rebuilding Notre Dame in Paris, France

This photo essay showcased the reconstruction of Paris' iconic cathedral.

3. Inside Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee

A look inside Elvis' iconic estate in Memphis.

2. Exploring the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California

A photo essay from inside the home of the Academy Awards.

1. Neon of Shinjuku in Tokyo, Japan 

An evening under the neon lights of Shinjuku was the most viewed photo essay of 2021.

Elvis Presley's Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee

Elvis may have left the building, but that hasn't stopped countless fans from visiting Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee each year. As one of the most popular homes in the United States, the former estate of Elvis Presley is now a museum, archive, national historic site, and shrine to the life and music of this undisputed rock and roll legend. 

The house was built in 1939, however it was on March 19, 1957 that Elvis Presley bought the property for $102,500. Situated on a 13.8 acre wooded estate, the southern Colonial mansion used to be on the outskirts of Memphis, but as the city grew it became surrounded by other properties. Today, as amazing as it is, Graceland is at the center of what can only be described as an unapologetic tourist trap dedicated to The King.  

Elvis would call Graceland home for two decades, before his untimely death here in 1977. Recognizing the enormous upkeep costs, Graceland was opened for public tours on June 7, 1982. He, along with his parents, Gladys and Vernon, and his grandmother, are all buried in the Meditation Garden on the property. 

Graceland remains a fascinating look into the life of Elvis Presley. From the kitsch 1970's decor of the Jungle Room to the upholstered ceilings in the pool room to the three televisions that Elvis would watch in his media room, the home is well kept and locked in time. Only the upstairs remains off limits. Still, there's no place better than Graceland to appreciate the man who revolutionized rock and roll. Elvis Presley is still very much alive in Memphis. 

Elvis Presley at Graceland ca. 1957