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What’s Memphis identified for? Loads truly! Situated on the banks of the Mississippi River within the southwest of Tennessee, Memphis is a soulful metropolis, identified for its gospel, blues and rock ‘n’ roll music. Guests can hint the historical past of those music genres by visiting the town’s numerous museums, together with the Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, Stax Museum of American Soul Music and the Blues Corridor of Fame.
Town can also be residence to Solar Studio, the place artists like Johnny Money, B.B King and Elvis recorded a few of their music. 8 miles south of Memphis lies the Graceland Mansion – Elvis Presley’s former residence – which has now been became a museum.
Let’s check out all of the issues that Memphis is legendary for, from meals and music to landmarks and well-known artists.
What’s Memphis Identified For?
Birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll
Memphis is also known as the “birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll”. Solar Information, a file firm in downtown Memphis, churned out chart-topping hits from artists equivalent to Elvis Presley (the “king of rock ‘n’ roll), Johnny Money, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis.
America’s Distribution Heart
Memphis is usually nicknamed “America’s Distribution Heart, as a result of the town is residence to the nation’s largest cargo and freight airport. International supply firm FedEx is headquartered in Memphis and a lot of distribution facilities are situated there, together with a Disney Warehouse And a Nike distribution heart.
Town occupies a strategic location in a flood-free zone on the Mississippi River and is a significant transportation hub, boasting one of many nation’s largest inland ports and a whole bunch of truck terminals.
Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis is residence of The Memphis Grizzlies – an American skilled basketball crew that performs within the NBA’s Western Convention Southwest Division. Their house is the FedExForum – a 805,850 ft² (75,000 m²) area able to seating 18,119 individuals.
The franchise started in 1995 as an NPA enlargement crew known as the “Vancouver Grizzlies” based mostly in Vancouver, British Columbia. The crew relocated to the U.S. throughout the 2000-2001 season and have been renamed the Memphis Grizzlies. At present, the Grizzlies are the one Memphis crew to play in any of the main North American sports activities leagues. They’re additionally the one skilled basketball crew within the state of Tennessee.
Dogwood Bushes
The dogwood is the official tree of Memphis and is a logo of the town’s resilience and its means to beat adversity.. Town has many dogwoods lining streets, planted on lawns, or rising wild in parks.
The Dogwood Pageant takes place every spring at Shelby Farms Park – a well-liked park situated simply exterior of downtown Memphis – and celebrates all issues associated to this stunning tree!
Dwelling of the Blues
Memphis is understood for being residence of blues music and spawned many well-known blues musicians, together with W.C. Useful, Memphis Minnie, Furry Lewis and B.B King.
B.B King first made an impression on the blues scene within the Forties when he performed on Beale Road with different well-known musicians. Though he handed away in 2015, his music nonetheless lives on and also you’ll see proof of his lasting affect all through the town. B.B. King’s Blues Membership on Beale Road provides reside music each night time, whereas Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum showcases all types of B.B. King memorabilia.
Peabody Geese
When visiting Memphis, be sure you pop right down to The Peapody Memphis to see the well-known Peabody geese parade. Again within the 1930’s, the lodge’s supervisor Frank Schutt and his pal returned from a weekend of looking with some reside decoy geese. They put the geese within the lodge’s fountain, they usually settled proper in. At present, the geese march to and from the fountain at 11am and 5pm.
What Meals is Memphis Identified For?
Catfish
“They’ve received catfish on the desk
They’ve received gospel within the air” – Marc Cohn, Strolling in Memphis
Memphis sits on the Mississippi River, which is a high spot to fish for catfish. Blue catfish weighing over 100 kilos have been caught from this river!
Catfish is among the most iconic meals in Memphis and may be present in quite a few eating places throughout city. It’s normally served breaded and deep fried, with fries on the facet. A few of the finest spots to seek out catfish embody A&J’s Catfish Station, Souls Fish Cafe and Flying Fish.
Barbecue
Along with catfish, Memphis can also be actually well-known for its barbecue. Most of the eating places are family-run, serving up brisket, ribs and scrumptious smoked meats served with sides like mac n’ cheese and crunchy slaw.
Among the many finest BBQ spots in Memphis are Corky’s Ribs & BBQ, The Bar-B-Q Store, Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous, Bain Barbecue & Bakery, and Arnold’s BBQ and Grill.
Well-known Sights in Memphis
Beale Road
Beale Road is probably the most iconic avenue in Memphis
Graceland
“Noticed the ghost of Elvis
On Union Avenue
Adopted him as much as the gates of Graceland
Then I watched him stroll proper via
Now safety they didn’t see him
They simply hovered ’spherical his tomb
However there’s a reasonably little factor
Ready for the King
Down within the Jungle Room”
Nationwide Civil Rights Museum
The Nationwide Civil Rights Museum is situated on the historic web site of the Lorraine Motel, the place Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968. The museum was based by the Lorraine Motel Basis and opened in 1991.
The reveals function artifacts from main occasions in American historical past, together with objects associated to slavery and Jim Crow legal guidelines; additionally they embody shows about civil rights leaders like Rosa Parks and Thurgood Marshall who fought for equality throughout the Fifties-Nineteen Sixties Civil Rights Motion. The museum’s focus is on telling tales about atypical individuals who participated on this motion–from activists to bystanders–and the way they have been affected by it as people or teams (e.g., Native People).
Memphis Pyramid
Town of Memphis was named after the traditional capital of Egypt and even has its personal pyramid, which is situated in Pinch District on the banks of the Mississippi River. The pyramid is 321 toes (98 m) tall with base sides of 591 toes (180 m), and was initially constructed as a 20,142-seat area. Not like the traditional pyramids of Giza, which have been fabricated from limestone rocks, the Memphis Pyramid is fabricated from metal and concrete, and took so much much less time to construct!
Till 2007 it functioned as a sports activities and leisure venue, however now incorporates a Brass Professional Outlets megastore, a lodge, a bowling alley, an commentary deck and numerous bars and eating places.
Stax Museum of American Soul Music
If you wish to be taught extra in regards to the music that made Memphis well-known and see a number of the devices that have been used, head to the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. The museum is situated in Soulsville USA–probably the most well-known neighborhood in all of Memphis. It was based by Isaac Hayes and his spouse Joan as a approach for them to honor their father who had been an artist at Stax Information earlier than his dying.
The museum options reveals on artists like Otis Redding and Isaac Hayes himself, together with loads of artifacts from those that carried out on the unique location on McLemore Avenue between 1968-1971 (when it was torn down). You can too participate in reside performances by native musicians throughout your go to!
Solar Studio
Solar Studio is a well-known recording studio that was based by Sam Phillips in 1950. Phillips was an area radio DJ who wished to open a recording studio in Memphis, Tennessee. The primary artists to file at Solar Studio have been Howlin’ Wolf, Ike Turner and B.B. King. In 1952 Johnny Money recorded “I Stroll the Line” at this legendary location!
Well-known Individuals from Memphis
Elvis Presley
A family identify world wide, Elvis Presley was dubbed the “King of Rock and Roll” and is taken into account one of many biggest music icons of all time.
He was born in Tupelo Mississippi however later relocated to Memphis together with his household on the age of 13. His former residence, Graceland, and died there in 1977 on the younger age of 42. He was laid to relaxation within the gardens of Graceland and
Morgan Freeman
Born in Memphis on June 1, 1937, Morgan Freeman is among the world’s biggest and best-known actors.
Well-known for his deep, soulful voice, he’s starred in all types of hit films, together with Million Greenback Child, Driving Miss Daisy, The Shawshank Redemption and The Bucket Listing. All through the course of his profession he’s gained quite a few awards, together with an Academy Award for Finest Supporting Actor in 2004.
Justin Timberlake
Pop star Justin Timberlake was born in Memphis in 1981 and grew up listening to nation and gospel music. He went on to affix boy band NSYNC in 1995, recording quite a few chart-topping albums and hit singles.
After the band’s breakup, Timberlake went on to take pleasure in a profitable solo profession and is taken into account one of the vital profitable male artists of all time. He’s gained ten Grammy Awards, 4 Primetime Emmy Awards, 9 Billboard Music Awards, and an entire host of different accolades.
A Ultimate Phrase…
So there you could have it – all of the issues that Memphis is understood for. In the event you haven’t visited already, you must! Pop in your blue suede sneakers, take a stroll down Beale Road, style some fried catfish and watch some reside soul music for a style of what Memphis is all about.
