One Photo; One Story: Microphone Of Kings

Tens of thousands of people most likely have a photo with this microphone.

The Shure 55, which still stands in the studios at 706 Union Ave. at the corner of Union and Marshall in Memphis, Tennessee. Sun Studios, home of Sam Phillips.

Legends sang into this, introduced in 1939 it is THE greatest microphone ever made. The one that launched an American musical revolution; It is known as the Elvis Mic. “The King”. If you tour Sun Studios they will let you pose with it.

Only a few singers made it into a legend, we can only hold it. The voices of Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash, plus other recordings by Ike Turner, Little Richard and BB King excited the elements, springs and foam of this beauty. Their voices shaped the course of Rock and Roll and influenced an entire nation.

Photographed during the weekend of March 18, 2000. My wife Kelly and I had seen Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band’s reunion tour at the Pyramid Arena, visited Graceland, and toured Sun Studios.