Blogging in Memphis
I got a bit busy and then the laptop got corrupted so I wasn’t able to get online until I backed up the laptop and then had HP do a full clean this morning.
I arrived in Memphis around noon on Thursday, October 29, 2015. My RV park is right next to the Graceland departure center (i.e., the gate in the fence across from my RV goes right into the Graceland parking lot). Whooo hoooo Not so Whooo hoooo, Google Maps took me into the Graceland parking lot (yes – me, the RV, and the Honda in tow) rather than the RV park 3 driveways back. Apparently happens all the time so with some maneuvering I was in my RV space, hooked up and walking to the Graceland ticket center.
Ticketing and a lot of the touristy displays are across the street from the mansion and they shuttle bus you over. The tour was worth the $ 45 but it isn’t so special that you’d do it twice. Oddly, the mansion isn’t really as large as you would expect. They reference 10,000 square feet when it was purchased and 17,000 square feet now. So I’d guess the mansion building itself is around 6000 to 8000 square feet (2 stories plus basement). The living room is roomy but not huge, there is a music room beyond the living room (see attached).
You only tour the first floor (living room, music room, dining room, kitchen, family room, and guest bedroom) and the basement (entertainment room and game room with pool table). The entertainment room is about double the size of a large family room plus a bar. It has 3 TVs and a screen with projection set up. Probably seats 20 (see attached).
Outback is a large yard with carport and they have added a back building where his business was managed. Elvis also added a racket ball building with an entertainment space. They also have a large building with all the gold records and memorabilia. The complete site is 18 acres and includes a horse setup. The whole tour took about an hour and was, as I said, worth the visit.
On Friday I hopped a shuttle bus to the Sun Studio tour and then on to Beale St. The Sun Studio tour is 45 minutes and really good. You get a lot of history beyond just Elvis as a client. Sam Phillips recorded some real greats – Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Howlin’ Wolf, etc. They have a little museum upstairs (which wasn’t part of the original Sun Studios) and half the tour is up there. Then you go downstairs to the small front office and the back room, the studio, that is probably 20’ x 30’ plus the control room. This studio is still used for recording at night. A lot of popular groups have used it, possibly to be tied to the history. It is pretty much original, walls and ceiling are white painted acoustic tiles like you might have used in a 1950s home family room. Floor is simple tile and the 3 marks are still there from where Elvis and the 2 musicians stood when the break thru recording was done. The tour guide told us that Bob Dylan came to visit once and simply walked in, bent down and kissed the X were Elvis had stood, and then left.
I’ve attached a photo of the “Million Dollar Quartet” (Elvis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis). The Elvis contract had already been sold so the fact that, as the 4 were just fooling around and jamming, Sam Phillips turned on the recorder was illegal.
It is a place of great music history.
Afterwards I went to the Museum of Rock n Soul. Well worth doing as they cover so much history, all the way back to the music of the sharecroppers in the south.
I spent the afternoon and night catching Blue’s groups on Beale St (no, not the Bechtel Beale St). I had some great Creole meals for lunch and dinner – Fried Green Tomatoes, Red Beans & Rice, Gumbo, and lots of Ghost River Ale. I had gotten a room just off of Beale St so I wouldn’t be limited to the shuttle bus back to the RV. Good thing because Beale St is an “open carry” location (drinks, not guns) and bar closing time is 5 AM. I crashed around 2 AM after an incredible day of music. I just love the Blues.
One last thing, I did find my way to the Peabody Hotel at 5 PM to watch the March if the Peabody Ducks. Maybe I can be a future Duck Master. http://www.peabodymemphis.com/ducks-en.html
I got back to the RV on Saturday around noon and spent the day, and Sunday, just kicking back. Not sure what I will do on Monday but might just continue kicking back.
Tuesday I head for Nashville. Whoooo Hoooo. More great music.
Retirement Escape 