College St.
, free birthday party begins at -Lauderdale Public Library, 350 N. Wood Ave., with piano concert by Christine Lovelace Gentry (Phillips' cousin); 11:30 a.
m. to noon, birthday cake; and noon to 1 p.m.
, "Conversations on Sam" hosted by Terry Pace, free; 8 p.m., concert by Eric Heatherly, Keynote Room, 310 North Pine St.
, , general admission tickets $20, premium table seating available.
, " to Music Row Live," radio simulcast/Internet Webcast, Holiday Inn, 4900 Hatch Blvd, , general admission tickets $10.
, "The Official Sam Jam" with Jimmy Hall, Keynote Room, general admission, $20; premium table seating available.
at Marriott Resort and Conference Center, 800 Cox Parkway S., , with acoustic music rooms open 6-8 p.m.
; 8-8:45 p.m., Mark Collie; 9-9:45 p.
m., Jason D. Williams; and 10 p.
m., The MuzikMafia with special guests, tickets $50. Tickets available at WQLT.
com, KIX96country.com and WSBM.com; by calling 764-8121; or 8 a.
m. to 5 p.m.
weekdays at Big River Broadcasting Studios, 624 St., . Like most sons whose fathers have died, Jerry Phillips wants to keep the memory of his dad alive.
And when your father is the man who single-handedly changed the face of music in America -- even the world -- a weeklong musical party seems like the best idea. The second annual Music Celebration honors the native who owned Sun Records in Memphis, Tenn., and launched the careers of Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and others.
The week's events coincide with ' birthday -- Jan. 5, 1923. He died in July 2003.
also owned radio stations in the . Big River Broadcasting, now owned by Jerry Phillips, is sponsoring the Music Celebration with help from the city of- . "Last year, every event of the Music Celebration was a sellout," said Nick Martin, Big River station manager.
"We had people come from Canada and England, too. This year, we've already sold tickets to people in Las Vegas as well as Tennessee,-Mississippi and throughout ." It's fitting that is celebrated in his hometown of , Martin and Jerry Phillips said, because that's where he got his feel for music.
"This is where he heard black music when he was growing up and where he got a lot of his inspiration," Jerry Phillips said. "He loved the area and considered it home." Nobody is profiting from the Celebration concerts, Martin added.
"We're doing this completely for the and to honor Sam's memory," Martin said. "If we make any money off of it -- and last year we only broke just about even -- we're plowing it back to make next year's Music Celebration bigger and better than ever. We want to build on it and grow every year.
" This year's performers include Eric Heatherly, a songwriter, guitarist and singer; Jimmy Hall, of Mobile, a Southern singer known for his work with Wet Willie; , Tenn., native and country-music artist Mark Collie and Jason D. Williams, a rock 'n' roll pianist who's been compared to a young Jerry Lee Lewis.
Headliner MuzikMafia, of Nashville, Tenn., is an eclectic group, said Jerry Phillips. "You never know who's going to show up when they play," he added.
MuzikMafia members include Big Kenny, John Rich, Jon Nicholson, Gretchen Wilson and others. In addition, there will be a "Rock Shop" room in the Marriott Convention Center Saturday selling -Music Celebration and entertainer-memorabilia. "Everybody needs to support this," Martin said.
"We want the to embrace the Celebration. You know, everybody in music today can be traced back to Sam and what he did at Sun." Planning committee member Terry Pace, of , agreed.
fitting musical salute," he said. "Sam was a prophet, a preacher and a pioneer. He believed so fervently in the value of the individual, in total freedom of expression and in the unlimited power of music," Pace added.
"Sam had a revolutionary vision, and he pursued it with absolute conviction and evangelical zeal. It was a spiritual calling for him. "He realized that the right kind of music -- honest, original music that sprang from the heart and soul -- could reach young people, break down social barriers and bring people together of all ages, classes and cultures.
" on this topic.
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