Lincoln Wayne "Chips" Moman (June 12, 1937 – June 13, 2016) was an American record producer, session guitarist and songwriter whose work shaped popular music in the 1960s and 1970s. He is remembered for founding the influential American Sound Studio in Memphis, producing landmark sessions for leading artists, and co-writing a Grammy-winning country-pop standard. He was born in LaGrange, Georgia, and began a musical career that combined studio leadership, arranging and hands-on musicianship.
Early life and career
Moman—born Lincoln Wayne Moman—grew up in the American South and established himself first as a guitarist and studio musician. In the 1960s he worked with the prominent Memphis soul label Stax Records, gaining experience in rhythm-and-blues production and session organization. Those years introduced him to the techniques and musicians that later formed the backbone of his own studio approach.
American Sound Studio and production work
In the late 1960s Moman opened American Sound Studio in Memphis and later operated in Nashville. There he assembled a tight group of session players and engineers who became known for turning out hit records across pop, country and soul. As a producer he worked with a broad range of performers and helped guide careers as well as individual recordings. Notable collaborations included work with Elvis Presley during the famous Memphis sessions, and productions for artists such as Bobby Womack, Carla Thomas and Merrilee Rush. His studio was also instrumental in shaping the sound of the Box Tops, who scored major chart hits under his guidance.
Songwriting, musicianship and style
Moman wrote and co-wrote songs that were recorded by both soul and country artists. He is credited as a writer on material performed by singers like Aretha Franklin, James Carr and Waylon Jennings, and he helped craft songs for pop vocalists including B. J. Thomas. One of his best-known compositions is the Grammy-winning country-pop hit "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song," which brought him industry recognition as a songwriter. In the studio Moman often contributed as a session guitarist and arranger, favoring a production style that blended soulful grooves with concise pop phrasing.
Notable recordings and artists
- Elvis Presley — produced during the Memphis sessions that revitalized his late-1960s output
- Bobby Womack — recordings that bridged soul and contemporary pop
- Carla Thomas and other Stax-era vocalists
- Merrilee Rush and the Box Tops — chart hits produced at American Sound Studio
- Songs recorded by Aretha Franklin, Waylon Jennings and James Carr
Legacy and later life
Moman's influence is visible in the many hit singles and albums that came from his sessions and the careers he helped shape. He won songwriting accolades, including a Grammy, and remained active in music through various studio projects and performances. Later in life he returned to his hometown region; Moman died from complications of emphysema in LaGrange, Georgia, on June 13, 2016. For further reading about his career and recordings see a selection of sources and archival material available through industry and regional music histories (producer profile) and award records (Grammy information). Additional entries and session listings can be found in label histories and artist biographies (biographical notes) and contemporary accounts of studio activity (recording sessions).
His work exemplifies the role of the producer as both creative partner and practical organizer: combining songcraft, musicianship and studio leadership to create records that crossed genre boundaries and remain part of the popular-music canon. For archival collections and discographies, consult specialized resources and regional music archives (Stax) and (American Sound Studio), as well as artist-focused materials (B. J. Thomas) and sessionographies (health and obituary notices).