Sam Phillips Fame, and in 2012 he was inducted into the inaugural class of the Memphis Music Hall of Fame. Phillips died of respiratory failure at St. Francis Hospital in Memphis, on July 30, 2003, only one day before the original Sun Studio was designated a National Historic Landmark, and just over a month before the death of former Sun Records recording star Johnny Cash, on September 12, 2003. Phillips is interred in the Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis. Sam Phillips Samuel Cornelius Phillips (January 5, 1923 – July 30, 2003) was an American record producer who played an important role in
Sam Frazier Jr. at Gilley's was Gene Watson, a legendary country artist. Sam's first big foray in the blues arena came in 1987. Sam booked a session at Sound of Birmingham recording studios in Birmingham, AL and over a six-month period, he and studio owner/producer Don Mosley finished an entire album which was released on the "Blue Rock" label out of Torrence, California. In support of that release, Sam moved to California and appeared on showcases around the state. While in California, Sam also performed with Johnny Otis in "The Johnny Otis Revue". On a return visit to Birmingham, Sam met record producer