Memphis, with its flourishing acoustic blues scene based in Beale Street, also developed an electric blues sound during the early 1950s. Sam Phillips' Sun Records company recorded musicians such as Howlin' Wolf (before he moved to Chicago), Willie Nix, Ike Turner, and B.B. King.J. Broven, Record Makers and Breakers: Voices of the Independent Rock ʹnʹ Roll Pioneers Music in American Life (University of Illinois Press, 2009), pp. 149-54. Other Memphis blues musicians involved with Sun Records included Joe Hill Louis, Willie Johnson and Pat Hare who introduced electric guitar techniques such as distorted and power chords, anticipating elements of heavy metal music.Robert Palmer, "Church of the Sonic Guitar", pp. 13-38 in Anthony DeCurtis, Present Tense, Duke University Press, 1992, pp. 24-27. . These players had an influence on early rock and rollers and rockabillies, many of whom also recorded for Sun Records. After Phillips discovered Elvis Presley in 1954, the Sun label turned to the rapidly expanding white audience and started recording mostly rock and roll.V. Bogdanov, C. Woodstra, S. T. Erlewine, All music guide to the blues: the definitive guide to the blues (Backbeat Books, 3rd ed., 2003), pp. 690-91. Booker T. & the M.G.'s carried the electric blues style into the 1960s.
memphis with its flourishing acoustic blues scene based in beale street also developed an electric blues sound during the early 1950s sam phillips' sun records company recorded musicians such as howlin' wolf (before he moved to chicago) willie nix ike turner and bb kingj broven record makers and breakers voices of the independent rock ʹnʹ roll pioneers music in american life (university of illinois press 2009) pp 149-54 other memphis blues musicians involved with sun records included joe hill louis willie johnson and pat hare who introduced electric guitar techniques such as distorted and power chords anticipating elements of heavy metal musicrobert palmer "church of the sonic guitar" pp 13-38 in anthony decurtis present tense duke university press 1992 pp 24-27  these players had an influence on early rock and rollers and rockabillies many of whom also recorded for sun records after phillips discovered elvis presley in 1954 the sun label turned to the rapidly expanding white audience and started recording mostly rock and rollv bogdanov c woodstra s t erlewine all music guide to the blues the definitive guide to the blues (backbeat books 3rd ed 2003) pp 690-91 booker t & the mg's carried the electric blues style into the 1960s