Roland E. Janes' Obituary
Roland E. Janes, 80, was born on August 20, 1933 and passed away on October 18, 2013. The Sun Records guitarist and longtime Phillips Recording Service engineer, died Friday afternoon at Methodist University Hospital. Originally from Brookings Arkansas, He spent the majority of his career and life in Memphis. He spent his early years at Brookings working in the timber industry with his father before moving to St. Louis for a time. He served his country in the Marines Corp. and after his service he made a name for himself in the music business when he became the staff guitarist at Sun Records for Sam Phillips. After a few years playing on the road with Jerry Lee Lewis and others, he returned to Memphis and opened his own studio, Sonic Recording Service, where he worked with and helped many to get started in the music business. For the last 30 plus years, he has worked as the recording engineer at Sam Phillips Recording Service for Knox and Jerry Phillips. He was preceded in death by his parents R.D. Janes and Mary Pearl Janes along with three brothers and three sisters. He leaves his loving wife of 54 years Betty Janes, along with his daughter Debra Shaffer (Eric), sons Jerry Janes, and Greg Janes (Regina), 8 grandchildren, Jesse Shaffer (Cathy), Rebekah Patterson (Joe), Rachel, Ben, Sara Shaffer, Bobby, Amy and Christopher Janes, three great grandchildren. Khy Brandon, Savannah, and Jeremiah Shaffer. The family will receive friends from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Monday, October 21, 2013 at Memorial Park Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, October 22, 2013 also at Memorial Park Funeral Home. Interment will be in New Hope Cemetery in Pollard, AR.
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