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The fourth annual Sam Phillips Music Celebration enters its second day today, honoring the Florence native and world-renowned "Father of Rock 'n' Roll" who founded Sun Records and discovered Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, B.B. King, Carl Perkins, Howlin' Wolf, Roy Orbison, Charlie Rich, Rufus Thomas, Ike Turner, Little Milton and many other musical trailblazers.

Sam (who was born in 1923 and died in 2003) is the only multiple inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Blues Hall of Fame, Rhythm and Blues Foundation Hall of Fame, Country Music Hall of Fame, Rockabilly Hall of Fame and Alabama Music Hall of Fame. Monday would have been his 86th birthday.

Today I'll be moderating my annual panel discussion of Sam's life, music and influence and introducing a special Sam-related Screening Room presentation of a extremely unique film. Both events are free and take place at the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library, 350 N. Wood Ave., downtown Florence.

Tuesday, January 6:

Noon-1:15 p.m. -- "Conversations on Sam Phillips," a panel discussion featuring:

--- Original Sun Records/Memphis Recording Service drummer James Van Eaton, who became Jerry Lee Lewis' first drummer, playing on the Killer's all-time Sun masterpieces "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" and "Great Balls of Fire." James also worked in the studio with a number of other Sun artists, including Johnny Cash ("Straight A's in Love"), Roy Orbison ("Devil Doll") and Charlie Rich ("Lonely Weekends") and was a member of Billy Lee Riley's band, the Little Green Men ("Flying Saucers Rock 'n' Roll").

--- Singer-songwriter-guitarist Travis Wammack, whose hits as a recording artist include "Scratchy," "Easy Evil" and "Love Being Your Fool." Travis was Little Richard's lead guitarist for many years and has also been a session player for Bobbie Gentry, Clarence Carter, Candi Staton, Little Richard, the Osmonds and many others in Muscle Shoals and Memphis.

--- Alabama Music Hall of Fame executive director David Johnson, producer and engineer for Muscle Shoals recordings by Lynyrd Skynyrd, Clarence Carter, The Commodores, Percy Sledge, Kenny Price, Marty Raybon, Ruth Brown, Cliff Ellis and many others.

--- Sun Records and Phillips family historian Sally Wilbourn, Sam's longtime assistant, constant companion and closest confidante.

A previously announced panelist -- singer-songwriter-producer Billy Swan -- is under the weather and may not be able to join us. Swan is best known as singer-songwriter of the smash No. 1 single "I Can Help," producer of Tony Joe White's signature tune "Polk Salad Annie" and a member of Kris Kristofferson's touring band for more than 20 years.

1:30-2:30 p.m. The Screening Room: SHAKESPEARE WAS A BIG GEORGE JONES FAN: COWBOY JACK CLEMENT'S HOME MOVIES, a special showing of the offbeat but highly affectionate documentary on original Sun Records engineer and veteran Memphis and Nashville producer Cowboy Jack Clement, featuring Johnny Cash, John Prine, Jerry Lee Lewis, Kris Kristofferson, Bono, Charley Pride, George Jones, Waylon Jennings, Porter Wagoner, Dolly Parton and many others, plus a special tribute to the late Sam Phillips.

Elvis Costello called the Clement documentary "one of the funniest and most unique music films that I have ever seen." Directed and produced by filmmaker Morgan Neville (SAM PHILLIPS: THE MAN WHO INVENTED ROCK 'N' ROLL) and author Robert Gordon (IT CAME FROM MEMPHIS), SHAKESPEARE WAS A BIG GEORGE JONES FAN earned honors at the Tribeca Film Festival and the Audience Choice Award and Tennessee Independent Spirit Award at the Nashville Film Festival.

The celebration continues through Saturday and includes a special appearance by UNA graduate and Nashville recording artist Darryl Worley at Thursday night's Muscle Shoals to Music Row showcase, plus a headliner concert by Grammy-winning Muscle Shoals recording artist Delbert McClinton, original Sun artist Sonny Burgess and Jerry Lee Lewis-inspired piano showman Jason D. Williams on Saturday night.

For a complete schedule of events, visit Link.

Terry Pace
pillaroffire@bellsouth.net

"Remember, man, we're in the fun business. If we're not having fun, we're not doing our job." -- Cowboy Jack Clement
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