Died On This Date (July 30, 2003) Sam Phillips / Legendary Record Producer
themusicsover Sam Phillips
January 5, 1923 – July 30, 2003
As a producer, Sam Phillips was one of the key architects of early rock ‘n roll. What he helped create in his Sun Studios would become the foundation on which current popular music was built. Phillips opened his Memphis recording studio in 1950 to make records for his own label, Sun Records. One of his early recordings was Jackie Brenston’s “Rocket 88,” that many consider the first rock ‘n roll record ever. Other future legends he worked with were B.B. King, Bobby Blue Bland, Rufus Thomas and Howlin’ Wolf, whom he considers his greatest discovery. Of course most consider his OTHER “discovery” to be his greatest – Elvis Presley. Phillips recorded some of the biggest early records by some of the greatest names in rock history. They included hits by Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Ike Turner, and Roy Orbison. Sam Phillips died of respiratory failure at the age of 80.
Dick Buckley was a radio personality who, since 1956, hosted a popular jazz program that focused on jazz’s golden era, the ’30s and ’40s. His program, Jazz With Dick Buckley, ran on Chicago’s WBEZ from 1977 until his retirement in 2008. Buckley was known for having an exceptionally lush and deep radio voice and for having a vast knowledge of jazz. Dick Buckley was 85 when he died of complications from pneumonia on July 22, 2010.
New Orleans born, Ernie K-Doe was best known for his huge #1 hit, “Mother-In-Law,” released in 1961. A colorful performer, K-Doe was a popular draw in and around Louisiana for many years. During the ’80s, K-Doe hosted a popular New Orleans radio program. Ernie K-Doe passed away in 2001 at the age of 65.
Jackie Washington was one of those artists that was referred to as both a jazz and blues singer. Born in Ontario, Canada, Washington taught himself how to play the guitar at thirteen. This helped the family during the depression as he and his brothers began performing to earn extra money for their large family. During the late ’40s, Washington became Canada’s first African American disc jockey, hosting a jazz show on a Hamilton radio station. Washington’s career as a musician kicked into high gear during the folk revival of the ’60s, becoming a regular along Canada’s folk and blues festival circuits. Besides making several albums of his own, including four excellent titles for Vanguard Records, Washington appeared on recordings by such greats as 
Elmer Alley’s career spanned radio, television, cable television and the record industry, but he is probably best known as one of the creators of Nashville’s Fan Fair and Opryland. As a recording engineer, Alley worked on records by, among others,