Memphis Music Stuff for the Travelin' Music Buff
Elvis and dj
Center for Southern Folklore, 209 Beale: Featuring photo exhibits "Memphis Music: From Handy to Soul" and "Taylor Made Pictures," images of African-American life in Memphis from the 1920s to the 1950s. Regular showings of the award-winning film All Day and All Night: Memories from Beale Street Musicians. Gift shop; coffee and beer bar. Call for live music schedule and information on special programs and tours. Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Wednesday; 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Thursday; 10 a.m.-1 a.m. Friday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday. Call 525-3655
Delta Blues Museum, 114 Delta Ave., Clarksdale, Miss. Historic instruments, vintage photos, period recordings and original art, such as a life-size figure of bluesman Muddy Waters. "All Shook Up: Mississippi Roots of American Popular Music." 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. (FREE) Call (601) 627-6820.
W. C. Handy's Memphis Home & Museum, 352 Beale and Fourth: Memphis home of the Father of the Blues, birthplace of legendary Beale Street Blues and St. Louis Blues. For admission and hours, call 527-3427.
Orpheum TheatreThe theater has occupied the southwest corner of Main and Beale since 1890. The original opulent Victorian structure called the Grand Opera House became part of the nationwide Orpheum theater chain after the turn of the century. The original building burned in 1923 but was rebuilt in 1928.
Memphis Music Hall of Fame, 97 S. Second (across from The Peabody): "A Century of Memphis Music" exhibits photos, rare recordings and video presentations. Open 10 a.m. seven days a week. Admission: $7.50, $5 students. Call 525-4007.
Blues City Tours, 164 Union: Three-hour bus tour to landmarks. Adults $15, children $9, plus tax. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Also, a shopping tour. Plus casino tour, $15 (adults only) includes $10 back in coins and a free all-you-can-eat buffet. Leaves at 10 a.m., 2 and 7 p.m. Call 522-9229.
Downtown Elvis-Style. Walking tour (30+ sites, about 3 hours) of Elvis's Memphis. 10 a.m. Saturdays. Cost: $10 plus 50 cents trolley fare. Meet at Elvis statue on Beale. Call 274-7187.
Graceland, 3764 Elvis Presley Blvd.: Gravesite free daily 7-8:30 a.m. (6-7:30 summer months); then becomes part of mansion tour. Ticket office hours: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Tours and attractions open until visits completed. Mansion tour includes several rooms, grounds, Elvis's trophy building, original business office and racquetball building. Admission: mansion tour $10, $9 seniors 62-older, $5 for age 7-12; free to age 6-younger. Separate tickets for Elvis Presley Automobile Museum, Lisa Marie jet and JetStar planes and Sincerely Elvis exhibition. Platinum Ticket: mansion tour and all attractions - $18.50, $16.65 for seniors 62-older, $11 for children 7-12; children 6-younger free. School tour and group (15+) discounts. Wheelchair accessible except for two mansion rooms and on-board plane tours. Call 332-3322.
Grayline Tours, 3677 Elvis Presley Blvd.: Three-hour city tour; stops at Sun Studio, Beale Street, The Peabody; drive by Graceland, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, The Pyramid, Mud Island. Adults $16; kids age 5-11, $8. Call 346-8687.
Full Gospel Tabernacle (Al Green's church)787 Hale Road 901-396-9192
You'll know if Al is preaching by checking the parking lot. If you see his
Rolls Royce, he's preaching. Plan on staying awhile!
The Pyramid, 1 Auction Ave. at Front: Tours available daily. Admission $4; seniors and children age 4-11 is $3; free to younger than 4. Call 521-9675.
Sun Studio, 706 Union: The studio where Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis made music history. Tours 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. Adults $7.50; free to kids 11-younger. Call 521-0664.
Bluesville Museum, Horseshoe Casino, Robinsonville, Mississippi
Jerry Lee Lewis's Ranch1595 Malone Rd., Nesbit, Mississippi: You can tour Jerry Lee's current home with the the piano-shaped swimming pool M-F, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $20 per person, children under 7 $10. Nesbit is a short drive south of Memphis and is surrounded by the scenic Mississippi countryside. Group rates are available. Please call for reservations or more information: JKL Enterprises Inc. Phone 601-429-1290 Fax 601-429-9830
Other Stuff You Might Like
National Bird Dog Museum, Tenn. 57 in Grand Junction: Artifacts, memorabilia of people and bird dogs. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday. Call (901) 764-2058 or 878-1168. (FREE)
Coors Belle Hospitality Center, 5151 E. Raines: Tours of Coors Brewing facility noon-4 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. Call 375-2100. (FREE)
Historic Elmwood Cemetery, 824 S. Dudley: 144-year-old, 80-acre cemetery with Victorian monuments; unofficial city cemetery with city founders, 19 Confederate generals, Kit Dalton, yellow fever victims. Office hours, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday; office closed Sunday. Grounds open 7 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. Brochure, map and an audiotaped tour are available during office hours. Call 774-3212. (FREE)
Memorial Park Cemetery-Crystal Shrine Grotto, 5668 Poplar (at Yates): Built in the '30s of rock and quartz crystals, grotto scenes depict events in Christ's life. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily. Free. Groups should call before visiting. Call 767-8930, ext. 110.
Memphis International Motorsports Park, 5500 Taylor Forge, Millington: Call for schedule. Amateur and pro drag racing. Admission $4 Thursdays, $8 Fridays. Gates open 5 p.m. (901) 358-7223.
Mud Island, 125 N. Front: Cultural, educational, historical and recreational aspects of the Mississippi River. Mississippi River Walk, museum, Memphis Belle Pavilion (extra charge for museum and pavilion). General admission: $4, age 12-59; $3, seniors, children, handicapped; free to kids 3-younger. Call 576-7241.
The Peabody, 149 Union: Visit the South's grand hotel lobby and view the march of The Peabody ducks daily at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Call 529-4000.
Southland Greyhound Park, 1550 Ingram Blvd., West Memphis: Year-round greyhound racing with pari-mutuel betting. Open 6 p.m., 7:30 p.m. post-time nightly except Wednesday and Sunday. 1 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Call 735-3670.
National Ornamental Metal Museum, 374 Metal Museum Drive: Changing exhibits of architectural metal work, decorative arts. Working blacksmith shop. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission $3; senior citizens (age 62+), students with valid ID and children age 5-18 is $2; free to age 4-younger and museum members. Call 774-6380
SYNOPSIS OF MEMPHIS MUSIC HISTORY:
1900 - W.C. Handy, Father of the Blues, becomes a fixture on Beale St. "Memphis Blues" is best known song.
1920-40 - Jug bands such as Beale St. Sheiks, Cannon's Jug Stompers, and the Memphis Jug Band combine the blues with country and ragtime.
1930-50 - Furry Lewis, Bukka White, Robert Wilkins and Memphis Minnie take acoustic blues from Memphis to Chicago; Jazz hits Beale St. in the form of Big Band leader Jimmie Lunceford and pianist Phineas Newborn Jr.
1950-60 - Sam Phillips records Elvis and ushers in rock and roll. He also records Howlin' Wolf, B. B. King, Ike Turner,Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison.
1960-70 - Stax Records records Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Wilson Pickett, Booker T. & the MGs, Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas, Isaac Hayes and the Staple Singers.
1970-80 - Hi Records records Al Green, Ann Peebles, Otis Clay, and Syl Johnson
Other Artists Who Have Recorded in Memphis: ZZ Top, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Snoop Doggy Dogg, U2, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Jonny Lang, Luther Allison, Collective Soul, Steve Earle, Sonic Youth, Rolling Stones
Email: erdoc@ipa.net
