"Million Dollar Quartet" cast members, from left, Daniel Durston, Austin Honke, Peter Oyloe and Taylor Gray. (Courtesy) 

The musical “Million Dollar Quartet” was inspired by a jam session involving Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis that took place in 1956 at the Sun Records studio in Memphis, Tenn.

Many people know about the four famous superstars and their their music. The play, which is coming to the University of Texas at Tyler’s Cowan Center on Feb. 12, also pays tribute to the contributions of the lesser-known Sam Phillips, the head of Sun Records, who influenced the careers of all four singers.

In the touring show, Sam Phillips is played by Texas-born actor Andy Ingalls

“When I friend of mine asked if I would like to audition, I had not seen the show. I had never heard of Sam,”  Ingalls said.

After he won the part, Ingalls set out to learn more about the influential music producer by reading Peter Guralnick’s biography of Phillips, “The Man who Invented Who Rock ‘n’ Roll.”

“It’s a wonderful biography,” Ingalls said during a phone interview. “I found him completely fascinating.”

Ingalls studied video and audio of Phillips to capture what he calls Phillips’ “elevated” Alabama drawl.

“He spoke in a very particular way,” he said. “I do an approximation of his accent.”

The story of “Million Dollar Quartet” is set in Phillips’ Sun Records recording studio.  Ingalls, as Phillips, provides the narrative that holds the story together.

 During monologues, Phillips explains his relationship to each of the famous singers. In the play, Phillips wants to re-sign Johnny Cash to a new contract, but Cash has already signed on with a bigger music label.

“Million Dollar Quartet” won a Tony for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical and received nominations for Best Musical and one for Best Book of a Musical. 

In most performances of this touring production, actor Daniel Durston plays Presley, Taylor Gray plays  Lewis, Austin Hohnke plays Perkins and Peter Oyloe becomes Cash.

Tiffan Borelli plays Elvis’ girlfriend and also sings.

The actors must be true to their characters, sing like the famous icons and play instruments.

The musical includes Elvis’ “That’s All Right” and “Hound Dog,” Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” and “I Walk the Line,” Perkins’ “Blue Suede Shoes” and “See You Later Alligator,” and Lewis’s “Great Balls of Fire” and “Real Wild Child.”

“They are fantastic,” praised Ingalls of the cast.

Ingalls grew up in Houston and received training in music and acting in both Houston and New York City. He has had roles in “Peter and the Starcatcher,” “Right You Are!”  “Love, Anton” and “Twelfth Night.”

Ingalls said he has developed a deeper appreciation of the music of the four superstars.

“They were heavily influenced by early blues and went on to have a big impact (on music),” he said. “You can still hear that influence in modern pop and jazz and rock.”