Memphis – A Town with Something for Everyone!
Memphis is the birthplace of rock-n-roll. Thoughts bring to mind a young white rock-n-roller, singing songs in a new way – a way he heard in the black churches. With that, rock-n-roll was born. Although critics said it wouldn’t last, rock-n-roll has persevered and become a staple of American music. Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis both paved the way for others when they recorded at the famous Sun Studio in Midtown Memphis. Sun Studio still offers tours to the faithful looking to see where it all started. If you are a fan of the King of Rock-n-roll, you can take in a tour of Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley. The graffiti left on the gates lets you know how many visit this shrine each year. You can see Graceland just as it was when Elvis died in 1977 and tour Meditation Gardens where you will find the graves of Elvis, his parents, grandmother and a plaque for his twin brother who died at birth.
Not many towns can lay claim to one type of music, much less two or three, but Memphis can. It became known as the Home of the Blues when W.C. Handy wrote the first blues song there is 1909. Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf and B.B. King dragged themselves up out the poverty of the Mississippi Delta to Beale Street and became legendary artists. B.B. King has a club on Beale and often plays on his own stage. On any given weekend, you will find young hopefuls or seasoned veterans playing in W.C. Handy Park or any corner they can find. Beale Steet literally reeks of the blues as you can hear the music blocks before you get there. If you have time, stop by the nearby historic Peabody Hotel and see the famous Peabody Ducks who march to the lobby fountain each day at 10:00 am and 5:00 pm.
During the 70’s, Stax was the home of many fabulous soul singers. When Isaac Hayes wrote and recorded “Theme to Shaft” at Stax in 1971, he had no idea he would be honored as the first African-American to win an Oscar for Best Musical Score. Other artists who recorded for Stax include Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett and even comedians Bill Cosby and Richard Pryor. While the studio has been long closed, a museum to honor the artists has been erected on the site of the old studio. Exhibits include “Funky Films & Soundtracks of the 70s,” “Soul Learning,” and the Soul-a-thon 2005 in August.
Each May, Memphis celebrates another country and its culture in a festival called Memphis in May. This month-long celebration includes film, dance and music performances from the honored country. The middle of May is the famous Barbecue Cooking Contest, the largest in the world. Over 90,000 pig aficionados gather by the river for three days to sample the best barbecue in the world. At the end of May, the Beale Street Music Festival offers three days of music, fun and food over thirty-three acres. There are four main stages manned by the best in R&B, blues, rock and soul music. This year’s festival will feature Bowling for Soup, Seether, Nelly, Los Lonely Boys, Jerry Lee Lewis, Billy Idol, and the James Cotton Blues Band among others. Finally, the last event of Memphis in May is the Sunset Symphony. Set along the banks of the Mississippi River, the Sunset Symphony is a favorite family all-day event. At sunset, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra strikes up to play music including the favorite “Old Man River” sung by James Hyter. The finale is a massive fireworks display over the river.
If you are hungry, Memphis is the place to go! Memphis barbecue is considered the best in the world. But don’t expect to see beef barbecue – Memphians know real barbecue only comes from pork. The most famous barbecue restaurant is Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous. Locals and visitors love it for the atmosphere as well as the ribs. The wisecracking waiters are loud and boisterous and the antiques hanging from the ceiling are so plentiful, you won’t be able to take them all in on one visit. Other notable barbecue restaurants in town are Neelys in Midtown, Gridleys (several locations) and Corkys. If you are not in the mood for barbecue, try some good old down home cooking. The Cupboard serves up fried chicken, turnip greens, mashed potatoes smothered in homemade gravy and cornbread. If you are still hungry after all that, try the apple pie a la mode! Due to Memphis’ diverse culture, you will also be able to find the best in Chinese, Japanese, Italian and Mexican.
If you feel like taking a small trip, visit Tunica, Mississippi. A mere 20 miles south of downtown Memphis, you will find one of the largest gambling sites in America. Ballys, The Grand, Fitzgeralds, Harrahs, Horseshoe and Hollywood are some of the nine casinos located there and offer both slots and gaming tables such as blackjack and poker. Each casino has a luxurious hotel attached and most have a concert hall. Hardly a weekend goes by without performances by comedians, musical acts or boxing events. There are golf courses, fitness centers, day spas and outdoor activities like boating, fishing and skeet shooting.
As you can see, Memphis has much to offer. When you go, take your time to enjoy the town and the southern hospitality of its people.
