New music scholarship honors Charlie Rich

" Charlie's music had nothing to do with fashion or categories. It was just about the music. "

Staff Report

Charlie Rich's name will live forever in Memphis because of his great musical contribution. And now, thanks to the efforts of several people and groups, Rich's contribution is even greater. It includes a scholarship in his name at the University of Memphis.

Showtime Networks Inc., the Sam Phillips Music Organization, Sun Records, the Rich Family and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences have jointly established the Charlie Rich Memorial Music Fellowship.

The fellowship will honor a music student whose talent, ambition and goals reflect the spirit of the late singer and his drive for musical excellence. The groups contributed $10,000 to establish the scholarship.

The fellowship was announced in early May at a ceremony at Sam Phillips Recording Service studio on Madison Avenue. Rich was the first person to record in the studio when it was built in 1960, and he recorded his last album there as well.

"Charlie would have really loved this," said author and friend Peter Guralnick. "Charlie's music had nothing to do with fashion or categories. It was just about the music. He was dedicated not just to the notes, but the truth behind the notes. If this fellowship inspires one person, it will truly honor Charlie Rich."

Sam Phillips, who first recorded Rich, joined Guralnick in noting how much the fellowship would please Rich.

"This would be Charlie's ultimate dream," Phillips said. "Memphis music was very special to Charlie."

The scholarship idea was born at the time of Rich's death last year. It was when Showtime started work on the film Moonshine Highway that the idea received a big boost. Knox Phillips, one of Sam's sons, worked with Showtime to provide music from the Sun Records catalog for the film, the first time the Sun catalog has been used in a film.

In exchange for a reduced royalty rate from the Phillips Music Organization, Showtime donated to the scholarship fund. NARAS donated the first $1,000, which came from ticket sales to B.B. King's Birthday Bash donated by Northwest Airlines.