By admin 
Introduction
In the history of rock and country music, few stories are as compelling as the earliest days of Conway Twitty, born Harold Jenkins, at the legendary Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee. Long before he became a household name, Twitty’s journey began in 1956 amid the echoes of a studio that had already launched icons like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis. At the time, Jenkins was an unknown, quietly experimenting with sound and carving a space for his distinctive voice, unaware that his demos would eventually form the foundation of a legendary career.
Sun Studio, originally called the Memphis Recording Studio and founded by Sam Phillips in 1950, was a crucible of innovation. By the mid-1950s, it had already shaped the trajectory of American music, producing artists whose names would become synonymous with rock and roll. For Jenkins, Sun was more than a studio—it was a proving ground. His earliest recordings, now nearly impossible to find in pristine condition, include his contributions to Roy Orbison records and other projects that remain essential for understanding his formative years. These tracks, some pressed in the fading 78 rpm format, reveal Jenkins experimenting with vocal phrasing and songwriting, hinting at the romantic and nuanced storytelling that would define Twitty’s later work.
Visiting Sun Studio decades later, in 2008, offers a glimpse of that history frozen in time. The studio itself, though remodeled, retains the aura of its past: walls adorned with images of legendary artists, the iconic neon “Sun Recording” sign, and vintage microphones that connect modern visitors to the very moments where magic happened. Among the stars immortalized there, Conway’s photograph is tucked modestly into the lower left, a subtle reminder of the humble beginnings of a man who would later dominate the charts.
Twitty’s first recorded contributions—like “Rock House” co-written with Roy Orbison, and other early tracks credited under Harold Jenkins—offer rare insight into his evolving artistry. Original Sun pressings, some worn from repeated plays, display details such as etched catalog numbers and side markings, providing collectors with physical proof of a pivotal era. Later reissues, including Sun’s Norton jukebox series and limited editions like the Cornelius Records pressing, preserve these early recordings while illustrating how Jenkins’ work transitioned from obscurity to recognition.
Ultimately, the story of Conway Twitty at Sun Studio is not merely about records or pressings; it’s about the genesis of a legend. It’s the story of a young artist quietly shaping his craft in a studio that had already birthed greatness, leaving behind a trail of demos and early recordings that continue to captivate fans and historians alike. These forgotten tracks are more than curiosities—they are the genesis of a voice that would forever change the landscape of American music.