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Musical Meccas — Memphis’ Must-See Musical Landmarks Maybe it’s the rhythm of the mighty Mississippi. Or a history of early struggles that gave birth to the blues. Or a maverick attitude that inspired a truck-driving young man to cut his first record and turn the world upside down. Whatever it is, it’s definitely Memphis, a place where blues, rock, gospel and soul all left an indelible mark. Composer, teacher, publisher and bandleader, W. C. Handy is credited as the first musician to document the raw, emotional lyricism of the blues. His modest Beale Street home-turned-museum may be small, but it is the axis upon which Memphis music turns. From Beale Street and blues came rock ’n’ roll, and ground zero for this pop culture explosion was Sam Phillips’ Sun Studio. Literally packed with memories and memorabilia, Sun Studio today gives visitors a chance to hear historical outtakes and experience the stories that put legends like Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis on the map. But no musical pilgrimage to Memphis would be complete without a trip down Elvis Presley Boulevard to the second-most-visited home in America. Now a historical landmark, Graceland continues to evolve as an attraction, allowing visitors to step back in time to see how Elvis lived –– by touring his private jets, personal automobile collection, the legendary Jungle Room, the Meditation Garden and much more. The Center for Southern Folklore shines a light on Memphis’ roots; this local outfit on Main Street celebrates the wonders, lifestyles, people, history and cultures of the South. The facilities here include the Folklore Store, which showcases original music, books and works by local artists, as well as an entertainment hall that features live jazz, blues, rockabilly, soul and gospel performances. And for the big picture, look no further than the Memphis Rock ’n’ Soul Museum. Crafted by the Smithsonian Institution — which in its quest to identify the roots of American music, found that all roads led to Memphis — the Rock ’n’ Soul Museum tells the story of the body of music that had the most influence on the culture and lifestyles of the world during the mid 20th Century to this day. With seven different galleries and over 300 minutes of information and songs, the Rock ’n’ Soul Museum offers a comprehensive Memphis music experience from the rural field workers and sharecroppers of the 1930s through the explosion of Sun Studio to Memphis’ musical heyday in the 70s. For more information, please contact |
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