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Published: July 21st 2020
Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” – Plato
Our latest adventure takes us to a very special place if you're a fan of certain genres of music. We were safely "isolating" on the beach in Florida when the call came in ... would Dave like to work at a pediatric hospital ..... in Memphis? This was too much to pass up, both professionally and because of the special types of music in this city.
Memphis is a very special place and is aptly titled the “
Home of the Blues” is located in the southwest corner of Tennessee and sits on the mighty Mississippi River. Deep in the heartland of America, rich in history, Memphis is a stone’s throw to both the Arkansas and Mississippi borders. Memphis is so much more than just the blues.
Memphis has music in its soul, in its soul, in its soul. Memphis is not only home to da Blues, but Rock N’ Roll, jazz, R&B, gospel, and soul. As music fans we are excited to live in Memphis, even if it is for a short time to walk the streets where the musical roots took hold. In a later blog we will introduce you to Beale Street but for now we
share museums of importance. We do this mainly because of the pandemic, which has all but closed down Beale Street and all the music venues. Sad, but it also allows us to take our time and learn so much more about how this music took its shape and helped to shape the world of music as we know it.
“The Blues tells a story. Every line of the music has a meaning.” -John Lee Hooker
Sun Studio This is the place where Elvis got his start. An iconic museum by day and recording studio by night —what a fantastic idea! Yes, it still actively used as a recording studio. The guides share a wealth of musical history that keeps you smiling and your foot tapping as they play song after song as they share details of a multitude of happenings through the years.
Sam Phillips was the founder of Sun Records and he recorded the likes of Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Charley Feathers, Ray Harris, Warren Smith, B.B. King, Ike Turner, James Cotton, The Prisionaires, and many more. Many other stars have recorded there in recent years including Ringo Starr and Bono. In his own way, he was a music visionary, but more so,
Issac Hayes
Hot Buttered Soulhe saw that music could see its way through racial barriers. He was a strong advocate for racial equality and it showed in the way he produced the artists.
Sun records is a small studio on hallowed ground. The walls are lined with photos of artist and famous guitars and amps ring the studio. X’s marked the floor where various famous artists stood while they made recording history. One can sense the music vibrations as you stand where artist laughed, played and rocked their way into history. You can actually hold the microphone that was used by so many artists over 60
years ago….including Elvis. This place is a must see for all serious music fans.
“The Blues are the roots and the other music are the fruits. It’s better keeping the roots alive, because it means better fruits from now on. The Blues are the roots of American music. As long as American music survives so will the Blues.” -Willie Dixon
Memphis Rock N’ Soul Museum This museum is the only Smithsonian museum not located in our nation’s capital, but the fact that it is a Smithsonian says it all. The exhibits take you through the history of music in this corner of the world, from the humble beginnings in the cotton fields and churches and the influence of country music and the sounds from Appalachia. The museum’s exhibits are extremely well-done and the self-guided tour allows you the time
Sun Records
So many, including Elvis recorded here. to soak in all this rich history. We were incredibly impressed with the wide swath of history this building contains.
Memphis Music Hall of Fame We recommend you save your time and money as this one was not worth it. It seems as if they ran out of ideas and memorabilia when they were pulling this museum together. For us, the most interesting thing we learned was how Roy Orbison’s image with his sunglasses got started. In 1963, Roy was touring with the Beatles, he left his regular glasses on the plane and decided to wear his sunglasses while performing…. history was made and he continued to wear the sunglasses. It also helped Roy out, as he was basically a very shy man.
The signage for the few displays is in odd locations close to the ground. It made for difficult reading if you are wearing bi-focals. LOL. Aging rockers should be considered in placement of these signs.
Stax Museum of American Soul Our enthusiasm for this museum equals that of the Rock N’ Soul. Stax was ground zero for a musical sound like no other. The amazing assortment of recording artists from Memphis and
Robert Johnson
Supposedly sold his soul to the devil at the Crossroads. the surrounding areas is a veritable list of some of the all-time R&B greats. If you hear the tune “Green Onions” in your head, this is where it all started. The house band was Booker T & The MGs. They were on a vast majority of the hits we know, from artists including Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Ike and Tina Turner, Wilson Pickett and Albert King among others. Steve Cropper, Donald “Duck” Dunn, Al Jackson made up the band and they could really bring the sound. In addition was the great song writing talent around, including the great Isaac Hayes. Most people remember him from the musical soundtrack “Shaft,” but he was also a prodigious song writer as well. This museum houses his gold-plated 1972 Cadillac, which is one “bad ass” ride.
Graceland No tour of the Memphis area music museums would be complete without a visit to this place. As we approached the famous home of the pelvis-thrusting Elvis Presley, we wondered what we would find? Elvis was known to be a bit flamboyant , passionate, – larger than life…. and Elvis had lots of money so….what would our impressions be when we walked away?
B.B. King
Some say The King of Blues. While Elvis was alive and living in Graceland people would drive by trying to get a glimpse. It is a stately old home built in the 1930’s with a long driveway that prevents you from getting a good look from the street. As we approached we saw tall white pillars that make a statement of elegance and the grounds are peaceful. Elvis made some additions to the home over the years and now it has 23 rooms, 17,000 square feet located on 13 acres but seemed smaller to us.
As it turns out visiting during Covid restrictions turned out to be a blessing. Graceland had only been reopened for a short period of time and social distancing allowed us to enter as a group of 9. Everyone was allowed to enter individually with their group so within our group of 9 were a family of 4, a group of 3 and us. Our docent did not rush us through the house. We had plenty of time for photos and questions. Visitors are not allowed in the upstairs to see the bedrooms and maybe that is why the house didn’t feel like 17,000 square feet as we didn’t see a
large portion of the house.
Remember Elvis has been dead 43 years (he passed at the age of 42) and so time stood still in this house. It has been preserved as he left it. The decorations and colors were very 1970’s, shag carpet abounds and yet many rooms had a homey, welcoming and a lived-in feel. One could certainly tell this was his home and provided him comfort. We were told that he entertained all the time and it wasn’t unusual to have several visitors a day and night but they were not allowed in the upstairs of the house. Upstairs was his sanctuary from the world. Some rooms were smaller than expected but remember the house was built in the 1930s. No telling what kind of remodeling would have taken place if Elvis had lived another 30 or 40 years. Elvis had at least one television in every room. It was most definitely a house for entertaining.
There were several buildings on the property for an office, stables, a pool and more. They told us stories about the family riding horses and driving an army golf carts. I guess it wasn’t unusual for friends and family
to take off down the road in front of the house on golf carts. We would have enjoyed seeing that.
After touring the home, they shuttle you back to the museum where you can wander through room after room of Elvis memorabilia, his cars, boats, golf carts and finally his two airplanes. The “King” had a lot of money and knew how to spend it.
Jimmy Buffet once said, “Elvis was the only man from Northeast Mississippi who could shake his hips and still be loved by cops, rednecks and hippies.” Jimmy was most certainly correct.
All these museums have brought us both knowledge and joy. They have shown us the richness of Memphis-style music and how even more than fifty-five years ago, music could bridge the racial gap, even in the south. We hope that soon the music venues will re-open, so we can drink in the music that make Memphis so special…….
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Marsha
non-member comment
Memphis music museums
Enjoyed the tour with you, especially the cars! Still in quarantine here in Edmonds. Be safe.?. MM