Sam Phillips
When a 28 year old man from Florence, Alabama settled in Memphis, Tennessee and opened up the Memphis Recording Service over 50 years ago, he only set out to make a living at what he enjoyed in sound and music. He didn’t know that he was destined to become one of the most celebrated innovative pioneers in the world. Sam Phillips, the ‘Father of Rock n’ Roll’ is credited for his contributions in music, radio and civil rights. Phillips is perhaps most known for launching the career of Elvis Presley. But there were more artists besides Presley whom he paved the way for stardom, such as Johnny Cash, Conway Twitty (Harold Jenkins), B.B. King, Carl Perkins, Rufus Thomas, Sonny Burgess, Roy Orbison, Howlin’ Wolf. Jerry Lee Lewis and a multitude other music legends.
“The Campaign has been running for 3 years now and its time to move on to the next level, Congress,” said Sam Phillips Commemorative U.S. Postage Stamp Campaign coordinator, Liz Scott. “We could keep the petitions going for another year or more and still get the support, but the stamp needs to happen now. The responses from the fans worldwide have been amazing and it has been a lot of fun getting to know some of them. If you are not a people person, one who has a bubbly personality, well organized, self-starter, enthusiastic, dedicated, an Elvis fan and a Sam Phillips music lover, there is no way that you can head a campaign of this kind,” said Scott. “Most of our supporters for the stamp have been the Elvis fans. They have been wonderful! Sam loved all of the fans of his artists, but he was particularly partial, I feel to the Elvis fans,” said Scott. Sam Phillips was a 1st class man; in everything that he did for our world and all humankind, he did it 1st class, and that is the respect that I run this campaign, with dignity and class.”
Currently on a petition website, there are 1403 signatures. Scott states that there are over 10,000 signatures total and that includes handwritten signatures the campaign has received. Linda Brown, Scott’s assistant, has been helping her sort through hundreds of pieces of fan mail and signed petitions since the summer. “Linda is a Godsend,” said Scott. She has helped me address and stuff envelopes with petitions and she is responsible for the Shoals Marriott Hotel and Spa’s tremendous support.” The Shoals Marriott Hotel and Spa, located on the banks of the Tennessee River in Florence (Alabama) dedicated one of their suites in Phillips’ memory two years ago. “The suite is really incredible. It has a jukebox that plays Sun music, a beautiful view of the river that Sam was inspired by and the bath cloths have Sam’s first initial for Phillips embroidered. It’s really cool! I hope to one day be able to have a vacation in this suite, it’s that comfortable,”
“The City of Florence is proud to help Liz Scott, Elvis fans and Sam Phillips fans in these efforts to get a postage stamp issued in the honor and memory of one of our city's greatest sons--Sam Phillips,” said former Florence City Councilwoman, Angie Pickens. Pickens has been assisting Scott with getting petitions out to the public and encouraging the city to support the Campaign’s efforts. “The stamp is important to the Heritage of Florence and Sam Phillips roots. It is to let his legacy live on. What better way to commemorate his life and accomplishments than with a stamp? Sam deserves it for finding all of the talent in our musical history which has influenced every genre of music at some level. I have helped and will continue to help until this stamp is a reality,” said Pickens
"Sam was an innovator, just like Einstein or an Edison,” said Kelvin Holly, a musician for Little Richard, The Drive By Truckers, The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, Jerry Lee Lewis, Lionel Ritchie, Tina Turner, T. Graham Brown, John Fogerty and a host of other talented artists. He remembers Phillips who was always looking for the imperfectly perfect. “He gave us the first ‘rock star’ really. There might not have been a Beatles or a Hendrix if it hadn't been for Sam Phillips. He really is the Father of Rock n' Roll. Sam was the real deal.”
Musician, singer and songwriter, N.C. Thurman, knew Phillips the last few years of Philips’
Diane Cash, who works with John Conlee Enterprises, remembers Phillips for his compassion and consideration towards people. “In 1999, I attended an Elvis tribute dinner,” remembers Cash. “Sam's table was near mine and throughout the evening there was a crowd around his table; everyone wanted to meet him and get an autograph. After dinner I waited for a brief opportunity to also meet Sam. He signed my dinner menu and I told him I worked for country singer John Conlee in Nashville. He immediately said that he liked John Conlee and said that he's different,” recalled Cash. “I had learned since first meeting Sam that he had worked at WLAC radio in Nashville for a brief time very early in his career. I worked with John at WLAC Radio before his singing career began. I told him that John and I had something in common and he looked up with great interest and asked me what that was; I knew I had peaked his interest. I then told Sam that he, John and I had all previous employment in Nashville at WLAC radio. He did not know that John Conlee had started out in radio. He was very surprised that I knew of his WLAC radio days and seemed pleased to know of the connection. It was a pleasure knowing Sam and I will never forget his kindness and the hospitality he showed me each time I was around him,” said Cash.
Scott states that the paper and online petition will be active until December 31, 2008. She says that the reason she has decided to make this deadline is so that she can get a final count of all signatures and then be able to focus on a trip to Washington D.C. to speak to Congress. “We need the U.S. Congress on our side; that’s very important,” said Scott. “Congress tells the Postal Service if a stamp is approved or denied. This is our chance to be heard. If our request is denied, then the Campaign will have to start all over from scratch, including with the signatures, because the signatures will be void,” stressed Scott. “Thousands of people have already taken a minute of their time to show their support. Time is very valuable to us all and I don’t believe the fans would want 3 years of hard work to be passed aside.”
A direct link is avaliable at http://www.myspace.com/
“I can’t think of anyone who is more deserving of a stamp than Sam Phillips,” said Mark Hoffman, co-author of ‘Moanin’ At Midnight: The Life and Times of Howlin Wolf.’ “He discovered Howlin’ Wolf, who was honored with a U.S. stamp several years ago. Sam was a giant, and I just wish I got to spend more time with him. I only met him once, and somehow, I thought he’d be around for a long time,” said Hoffman. “He didn’t even live to see our book come out, which was too bad, because he gave us a hell of a great interview for it.”
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
