Parents' Guide to

Sun Records

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Solid docudrama chronicles early days of famed record label.

TV CMT, Nickelodeon Drama 2017
Sun Records Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 17+

Based on 1 parent review

Janie P.
Janie P. Adult
April 28, 2017
age 17+

Great show! I love this show and recommend it to everyone!!!

Wonderful for all ages. Shows a time period that many of todays adults and children dont know about. Great show and an alternative to all of the reality tv.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Loosely based on the Broadway musical Million Dollar Quartet, and inspired by actual events, SUN RECORDS is a dramatic series about the recording studio that gave birth to rock and roll, and the historic jam session that took place there. It's 1952, and Sam Phillips (Chad Michael Murray) has opened a recording studio with the help of assistant Marion Keisker (Margaret Anne Florence) in Memphis, Tennessee. As they work at finding acts to record, young talented men like Elvis Presley (Drake Milligan), Johnny Cash (Kevin Fonteyne), and Jerry Lee Lewis (Christian Lees) are living their individual lives and developing their own sound -- until an unplanned jam session with musician Carl Perkins (Dustin Ingram) helps catapult them to stardom.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1):
Kids say: Not yet rated

This period drama is more entertaining than authentic, offering a stylized version of the historic events that led to the rise of rock music. It's organized as a series of vignettes telling the life stories of Sam Phillips, as well as Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash, while pointing to key moments and events that helped them evolve into music legends. It also showcases other figures in their professional lives, including Ike Turner (played by Kerry Holiday), Elvis' hustling manager Colonel Tom Parker (Billy Gardell), and radio disc jockey Dewey Phillips (Keir O'Donnell).

There's a lot of attention paid to recreating the overall look and feel of the era, which includes culturally integrated racism. It also consistently points to the influence of gospel and other African-American inspired-music on the genre. However, those looking for accuracy in the timeline will disagree with the creative license taken during the storytelling process. It also drags its feet when it comes to revealing how the trio comes together, and their actual launch towards stardom. No doubt that fans of early rock and roll will enjoy the overall viewing experience, but Sun Records needs a bit of fine tuning.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about rock and roll in Sun Records. Where does it come from and how has it evolved over the years? How did folks like Elvis become so famous, even though their music was unique for its time? Was it the controversies that surrounded the music and the people who performed it that mad so popular?

  • How did the racism of the 1950s and 60s influence early rock and roll? Do cultural and political issues of the time always influence music?

  • Sun Records offers an interpretation of what transpired during the years leading up to musical artists' successful careers. Should it be complete factual? If it isn't, should it be considered a work of fiction?

TV Details

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