Music! Music! Music!
Can you tell me how to get to Beale Street?
From "The Memphis Blues" to "Blue Suede Shoes," from W.C. Handy to Jerry Lee Lewis -- the roots of American music run deep through this city. Memphis hosts several notable music events throughout the year, such as the Beale Street Music Festival and the Annual National Labor Day Weekend Blues Bash (beginning September 2), but you needn't wait for a special occasion to experience music Memphis-style.
Memphis music, ground zero Beale Street
Beale Street is paved with golden oldies. Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, B.B. King, Otis Redding, Carl Perkins, Al Green, Junior Parker and many others left their musical footprints here. But the Beale Street legend began with W.C. Handy -- known as the Father of the Blues -- whose turn-of-the-century house at 352 Beale Street is open to the public as a museum. For information, call (901) 522-1556.
Or drop in for dinner with the King -- the flagship Elvis Presley's Memphis (a restaurant and nightclub) just opened at 126 Beale Street. The two-story dining palace comes complete with velvet-draped stage and a menu including fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches. "Priscilla (Presley) said to us the other day, 'This is Elvis,'" says club operator Michael Graves. "The essence of Elvis is alive and he is here."
- Phone: (901) 527-6900
- Elvis Presley's Memphis
B.B. King's Blues Hall, the Beale Street Walk-of-Fame (brass notes in the sidewalk commemorating great Blues artists), nightclubs, barbecue joints and restaurants brimming with Southern goodies such as fried chicken and catfish round out the Beale Street experience. The Center for Southern Folklore at 209 Beale Street offers tours of Beale Street for a $2 contribution.
- Beale Street tours: (901) 525-3655
- Beale Street history: Memphis Guide
Roots of rock Sun Studio
706 Union Avenue
There's a Sun Studio on Beale Street, too, but the one on Union Avenue is the original -- opened by Sam Phillips in 1950. Many of the royalty of early rock 'n' roll including the King himself launched their careers here. Though open to the public for tours during the day, Sun still functions as a working studio by night.
- Phone: (901) 521-0664
- Sun Studio
Top of the pops Memphis Music Hall of Fame
97 South SecondMemphis music thrives in nightclubs and bars, but for an historical perspective, nothing matches the Memphis Music Hall of Fame. "We have (exhibits on) all the early blues guys ... over 200 instruments owned and played by Memphis musicians, thousands of photographs, thousands of rare records ...," says curator John Montague, listing just a few of the items in the 7,000-square-foot space. The museum also boasts a collection of Elvis memorabilia second only to Graceland's -- including the sole guitar Elvis ever signed (Montague says it was a gift to the King's karate instructor).
- Phone: (901) 525-4007.
Six-string heaven Gibson Guitar Company
Near Beale StreetThe Gibson Guitar Company is setting up shop within earshot of the street its product rocks on a regular basis. In addition to manufacturing facilities (which will be open for tours), the 75,000-square-foot building will house the Smithsonian Institution's "Rock 'n' Soul Social Crossroads," a permanent exhibition examining Memphis' social and cultural transformation through its music. The plant is scheduled to open next spring.
Great Halls of Fire Jerry Lee Lewis Ranch
Nesbit, MississippiA pink, vintage Cadillac with fins might be an appropriately stylish way to get to Jerry Lee Lewis' ranch outside of Memphis, but pretty much any ride will do -- the house is just a short drive from town. For $15 a piece (adults), visitors can see "The Killer's" piano-shaped pool and all his gold records, as well as personal memorabilia. Reservations are required.
- Phone:(601) 429-1290
Related sites:
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Museum-o-rama | Memphis Links
King Calendar | For Little Elvises
Meet Me in Memphis
Graceland Tour de Force | Jumpsuits Across America
Destination: Elvis
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