Editing Elvis Presley (section)

=== Sun Records and Early Career (1954–1955) ===

In 1953, Presley walked into the [[Memphis Recording Service]] — the public-facing studio of [[Sun Records]] — to record a personal acetate as a gift for his mother. He made little impression at the time, but studio manager Marion Keisker noted his voice and kept his name on file for producer [[Sam Phillips]].

In July 1954, Phillips brought Presley together with guitarist [[Scotty Moore]] and bassist [[Bill Black]] for a recording session. After a frustrating evening of unsuccessful takes on ballads, an informal run-through of [[Arthur Crudup]]'s ''That's All Right'' captured an energetic, unpolished excitement that Phillips recognized as something new. The track was pressed and sent to local DJ [[Dewey Phillips]] (no relation to Sam), who played it repeatedly on his ''Red Hot & Blue'' radio show after listeners called in enthusiastically.

The recording paired ''That's All Right'' with [[Bill Monroe]]'s bluegrass number ''Blue Moon of Kentucky'', performed in an uptempo rockabilly style. The blend of Black and white musical traditions — played with raw spontaneity — formed the foundation of what would become rock and roll. Presley recorded five singles for Sun between 1954 and 1955, establishing him as a regional sensation on the country touring circuit.