rock and roll memphis

the day started at sun studios. sam phillips called it simply memphis recording service for the first couple of years, then realised it would be worth his while to set up a label, hence sun studio. this was a great visit - only a couple of rooms to go through but the guide was so full of stories and verve it's worth a visit. during the day it's a tourist attraction and by night still a working studio.

this photo of a photo is of the "million dollar quartet" - on december 4, 1956 happenstance brought the four musos, carl perkins, johnny cash, elvis presley and jerry lee lewis, into the sun studio where they shared an impromptu jam session. phillips recorded parts of it.

i'm going to graceland, graceland, graceland tennessee. apologies to paul simon for that bad rendition o a 1986 track. the first pic is one from a book because the gates never close during opening hours and people have signed their names all over the brick walls near the gates.

the house is smaller than i expected and focussed on family and small gatherings. for all it's decorating strangeness i really liked the building.

this was presley's parents room downstairs.

no one is allowed upstairs - so this is the closest we got. something to do with respecting privacy, though since he's not alive and no one lives there i'm not sure what the deal is.

the kitchen was renovated not long before elvis died in '77 - he decorated the house himself, the kitchen was not pretty. ha!

downstairs entertaining area, great stereo and lounge and plenty of tvs, taking care of business that one.

loved the billiard room. the walls and ceiling is pleated fabric. amazing and just a little claustrophobic.

apologies for the poor photos of the jungle room. this was so heavily tiki it was awesome. not my taste but i'd throw on my 60s cocktail dress and attend a party here any day.

out to the back to the house.

through the racquet ball court that was set up to house his awards and jumpsuits. that 70s elvis liked a jumpsuit or two.

then just behind the house and pool, elvis and his family are buried.

across the road from the house is the more tacky side of graceland. like i said, i liked the house, the other side, not so much. a bit gawdy and cheap and the food was bad.

elvis' cars on the other hand were awesome.

more jumpsuits. of course.

and you could own a replica of your very own if you want to shell out a few thousand. 

to quote joan jett, i love rock and roll.

a sunday in memphis

i was up and at 'em early this morning. nothing was open until 10. the hotel shuttle didn't start til 10, nor did the trolley cars. so it was a walk along main street to the nearest starbucks - honestly, it seemed to be the only thing open before nine in the morning.

so after a bagel and frapp (i continue the tradition wherever i go) - it was onto the rock and soul museum. fine music played throughout.

the photo below is of the first all-woman radio station - i'm not sure if only in tenneesee, usa or the world. i should look into this. ;) the woman right in front is/was married to sam phillips (of sun studios fame).

gotta love the excesses of isaac hayes.

the photo below was taken for my friend alan, who happens to be a gibson. perhaps not this gibson, but a gibson.

ains, this one's for you. no, it's not commemorating your birth date - though it should, it was for a date in 1934, something to do with winning the vote against the privatisation of energy. maybe in today's climate we should look more at the history. hmm....

old man mississippi. 

this motel below is part of the national civil rights museum and is where martin luther king was shot and killed in 1968. across the road is the main museum which delves into not only the civil rights of the usa but also touches on world-wide issues - parts were under renovation when i was visiting.

a late meal and more wandering around the strange streets of memphis. great run-down architecture and streets and friendly people.