The Million Dollar Quartet

On December 4, 1956, Elvis dropped by Sun Studios to visit Sam Phillips. Although Elvis was now a recording star with RCA, he was still close to Phillips, his old friend and mentor. 

At the time, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis were at the studio working together on some of Perkins' latest songs. When Johnny Cash happened to stop by, the four musicians started singing together.

Phillips knew he had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He called the Commercial Appeal, and they sent over a photographer. The result was the only performance of the “Million Dollar Quartet.”

The incident is still famous, and is the basis of a popular Broadway musical.

To learn more about Elvis and to see the jacket he wore when he was photographed with the Million Dollar Quartet, visit the Pink Palace exhibit Elivs at 21: Photographs by Alfred Wertheimer. 

To learn more about all of our region's history, visit the Pink Palace Family of Museums, their Facebook page, or http://www.memphismuseums.org.