He invested the money in new white talent, notably Perkins and Cash, as well as the country singer Charlie Rich. After a lengthy theological discussion, it was Phillips who finally persuaded his piano session player, the pulpit-bound Jerry Lee Lewis, to cut Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On in 1957.
Another target of his advice was Fidel Castro, who had been ridiculed by the press on his visit to New York in 1960. Phillips had a certain empathy with those damned by the moral majority and, after a few drinks, decided to call Havana. He eventually pummelled the operator into connecting him with Castro's bemused brother.
"Raul," he said, "you tell Fidel the next time he comes to America he can come to Memphis, Tennessee, and stay with Sam C Phillips. Then maybe we can straighten things out."

Sam Phillips obituary Telegraph UK