Sam Phillips the first investors in Holiday Inn, a motel chain that was about to expand to a nationwide franchise; he became involved with the chain shortly after selling Elvis Presley's contract to RCA, for $35,000, which he multiplied many times over the years with Holiday Inn. He also created two subsidiary recording labels, Phillips International Records and Holiday Inn Records. He owned the Sun Studio Café in Memphis. One location was in the Mall of Memphis. Phillips and his family founded Big River Broadcasting Corporation, which owns and operates several radio stations in the Florence, Alabama, area, including WQLT-FM, WSBM, and
Casbah Recording Studio bands such as Breakfast with Amy, Fluffy, and EXIT, and speed-metal bands such as The Crucified. Tragically, Chaz Ramirez died on Wednesday, Dec 2, 1992, following an accidental fall, after years of shaping some of the most memorable and widely heard rock music to have come out of Orange County. He was 39 years old. Following the passing of Ramirez, Social Distortion began leasing the space, where they continue using the studio for practicing and recording new material. St. James recently opened a new Casbah recording studio in downtown Fullerton—a Pro Tools equipped digital studio offering recording, mixing, and mastering