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Sam Philips Introduced Into Country Music Hall Of Fame

October 05, 2001 | People
Thursday night in a ceremony at the institution's new downtown address, Phillips along with 11 others joined the ranks of 74 performers, producers and founding music men who have been inducted into the Hall since it was established in 1961 by the Country Music Association. Phillips was delighted, especially that the Nashville status quo finally had come around to recognizing the impact country had on the energetic new genre - then dubbed rockabilly - that he forged at his groundbreaking Memphis studio and record label. Phillips and Sun Records launched the careers, after all, of several artists who would go on to have success in the country market, including Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Charlie Rich and 1980 Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Johnny Cash.


Phillips - who was among the first class of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees in 1986 - was one of two inductees proper at the gala event along with singing/songwriting legend "Whisperin''' Bill Anderson. Another 10 were added this year only to honor the hall's new home, which opened to much fanfare in May at 222 Fifth Ave. S.


Source:Reuters