DEL.ICIO.USMemphis a mecca for rock and soul music lovers
For The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Blues and Beale Street have attracted visitors to Memphis for decades. But for some, a trip to Memphis is more than just a vacation; it’s a pilgrimage to pay homage to the birth of rock ‘n’ roll. They come to explore the complex history of Memphis music and the culture from which it grew at the triumverate of the city’s music-themed museums: Graceland, the Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum and Sun Studio.
Rock 'n' Soul Museum
Exhibits and museums in Memphis allow music fans to get an up-close glimpse of the history of rock ‘n’ roll.
Tennessee travel stories
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
- Photos: Travel / Southeast Galleries
- Latest deals!
- Back to: Travel | Southeast destinations
Graceland
Fascination with Elvis Presley’s classic American rags-to-riches story has inspired thousands of fans from all over the world to take the audio-guided tour of Graceland numerous times. Some seem to know every inch of the rock ‘n’ roll icon’s 14-acre estate. The famed jungle room with its over-the-top, Hawaiian-inspired décor and the TV room with the thunderbolt prominently painted on the wall are as familiar as a favorite Elvis song.
Now something new looms on the Graceland horizon. Devoted Elvis fans are all shook up over three new exhibits now on view featuring the most extensive display of never-before-seen memorabilia since Graceland opened in 1982.
• “Elvis in Hollywood” charts Elvis’ rise on the big screen and represents all 31 movies he made during his career. The denim jacket he wore when he rocked out in the 1957 film “Jailhouse Rock” is on display as well as costumes from “Viva Las Vegas” and other box-office hits. Movie scripts with Elvis’ handwritten notes and rare behind-the-scenes photos are a favorite portion of the exhibit for many fans.
• “Elvis Lives: The King and Pop Culture” reflects on the lasting impact Elvis had on pop culture in America and around the world. Anyone who ever carried an Elvis lunchbox to school will get a
kick out of the kitsch Elvis memorabilia.
• Additions to the Elvis Presley Automobile Museum at Graceland include a never-before-seen 1960 black Rolls-Royce and a 1969 Mercedes limousine featured in the 1972 film “Elvis on Tour.”
Sun Studio
At Sun Studio, Elvis fans can stand in the same spot where their idol recorded his first hit, “That’s All Right (Mama),” with legendary record producer Sam Phillips. The single that launched his career was born by accident when 19-year-old Elvis was auditioning for Phillips. After hearing Elvis sing several country ballads, the producer was underwhelmed by the unknown teen’s talent. To blow off steam during a break, Elvis grabbed his guitar and started clowning around singing “That’s All Right (Mama),” a blues song first recorded by Arthur Crudup. That was when Phillips knew he had found the fresh, funky sound that would turn the music industry on its head.
Elvis wasn’t the only music legend to get a start at Sun Studio. Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis also cut chart-topping hits here. In fact, the biggest hit ever produced at Sun was not an Elvis record. It was Jerry Lee Lewis’ 1957 sensation “Great Balls of Fire.” More recently, U2 recorded the album “Rattle and Hum” at the studio.
Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum
The Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum traces rock ‘n’ roll to its roots in blues, country and gospel and shows how the sound evolved over the years. Without the confluence of black and white musical styles in Memphis in the early 20th century, there may not have ever been an Elvis.
Through its Smithsonian Institution exhibition, the Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum explores how many musical pioneers overcame racial and socioeconomic barriers in the segregated South, bringing about not only a musical revolution but a cultural one as well.
A popular exhibit tells the story of Memphis radio station WDIA, the first black-formatted station in the country. It’s where a popular radio announcer, Riley B. King, sang and spun records. His on-air name, “Beale Street Blues Boy,” was later shortened to “B.B.” He has been known as B.B. King ever since.
There’s no doubt the king of rock ‘n’ roll was influenced by the king of the blues. In the 1950s and ’60s white teenagers, including Elvis, started tuning in to WDIA, preferring the raw, rough-edged sound to the “white” music on other stations. Elvis’ style was so shaped by talented black musicians that when his first single, “That’s All Right (Mama),” was played on Memphis radio station WHBQ, many listeners assumed he was black.
IF YOU GO
Graceland. Open daily, hours vary. $32-$27 adults, $29-$24 seniors and students, $15-$10 children 7-12. 3765 Elvis Presley Blvd., Memphis. 1-800-238-2000, www.elvis.com.
Sun Studio. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. Tours are every half-hour from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. $12 adults, free for children 4-12; children younger than 4 not admitted. 706 Union Ave., Memphis. 1-800-441-6249, www.sunstudio.com.
Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. daily. $10 adults, $7 children 5-7. 191 Beale St. Suite 100, Memphis; 901-205-2533,
WHERE TO STAY
The Peabody Hotel. Classic historic hotel. Rates start at $199. Free transportation provided to Graceland and Sun Studio. 149 Union Ave., Memphis; 901-529-4000, www.peabodymemphis.com.
WHERE TO EAT
Arcade. Open since 1919, the diner serves Southern-style meat and vegetables for lunch, and sandwiches and pizzas for dinner. 540 S. Main St., Memphis. 901-526-5757,
In tune with history: Visitors can learn more about the rich, vibrant background of the city that is regarded as the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll.
Services »
