MEMPHIS, Tenn. 鈥� Knox Phillips, the son of renowned music producer Sam Phillips and an enthusiastic ambassador of Memphis music who worked on records by Jerry Lee Lewis, Willie Nelson and John Prine during more than 50 years in the industry, has died. He was 74.
Phillips' brother, Jerry Phillips, told The Associated Press that his older sibling died Monday at home, with his wife. Knox Phillips previously suffered from cancer and battled serious illnesses in recent years, his brother said in a phone interview.
Knox Phillips had a friendly personality and a welcoming
鈥淗e was the ultimate Memphis music ambassador, a politician for Memphis music,鈥� Jerry Phillips said.
Phillips was instrumental in bringing a chapter of a National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences to Memphis in the early 1970s. He's also in the Memphis Music Hall of Fame.
His love of Memphis music began when he was a child.
Knox Phillips grew up at Sun Studio, the recording capital founded by his father, Sam Phillips. Some of American music's most popular artists 鈥� Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison and Lewis 鈥� recorded at the Memphis studio.
As a boy, Knox Phillips hung out at Presley's house. Later in life, he became a producer, engineer, studio owner and unabashed promoter of his father's legacy.
鈥淪ometimes, being in the shadow of somebody like Sam Phillips, it鈥檚 a little hard to get your own footing, you know?鈥� Jerry Phillips said. 鈥淏ut he was able to do that.鈥�
Phillips co-produced Prine's 1979 album 鈥淧ink Cadillac鈥� with his brother Jerry, according to a biography on the Memphis Music Hall of Fame's
鈥淜nox coaxed father Sam to the studio telling him that this guy鈥檚 voice was so bad, he鈥檇 love him,鈥� said the Hall of Fame's biography by author Robert Gordon.
He worked on the Amazing Rhythm Aces鈥� 鈥淭hird Rate Romance,鈥� a Grammy winner. Phillips also engineered parts of Willie Nelson鈥檚 鈥淪hotgun Willie鈥� and Jerry Jeff Walker鈥檚 鈥淢r. Bojangles.鈥�
He also worked on several albums by Lewis and, at Sam Phillips Recording Studio in Memphis, Phillips brought in producers and musicians like Jim Dickinson and Big Star's Alex Chilton.
Knox Phillips give musicians free studio time and financial help if they needed it, his brother told the AP.
鈥淗e never met a stranger,鈥� Jerry Phillips said. 鈥淗e always was more concerned with you than him.鈥�
Elvis Presley Enterprises CEO Jack Soden said Phillips promoted 鈥渁ll aspects of the Memphis music legacy.鈥�
鈥淲e are devastated by the news of the passing of our dear friend Knox Phillips," Soden said in a statement.
Adrian Sainz, The Associated Press
