Legendary record producer Chips Moman dies at the age of 79

MEMPHIS, TN (WMC) - Best known for his role in producing Elvis Presley's biggest hits "Suspicious Minds," "Kentucky Rain," and "In the Ghetto," at the old American Studios, Chips Moman has died at the age of 79.

Lincoln Wayne "Chips" Moman died a day after his 79th birthday.

He went into hospice care on his 79th birthday Sunday and died at 5 p.m. Monday in LaGrange, Georgia.

Moman was a record producer as well as a guitarist and songwriter. In September 1985, Moman convinced Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins to return to their roots at Sun Studio and his old American Recording Studio, which once stood at Chelsea and Thomas, and record the "Class of '55 Memphis Rock & Roll Homecoming."

"Chips Moman was the best record producer in the history of Memphis," friend George Klein said. "He produced the biggest seller to ever come out of Memphis: "Suspicious Minds" sold 40 million for Elvis. Chips produced that, produced all his other big hits, you know. People were coming from all over the country, Dusty Springfield was coming here and Pet Clark was coming here."

A Shelby County Historical Marker was placed in 2014 at the spot where American Studios once stood.

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