Memphis, Tennessee. I’m going to Graceland“. The lyrics of the song by Paul Simon are based on his own road trip to the Graceland mansion, the home of Elvis. Simon himself drove from Louisiana to Memphis, Tennessee along Route 61 to help him deal with the heartbreak after the collapse of his marriage to the actress Carrie Fisher.
We of course want to travel for Graceland for happier reasons. To celebrate the life and music of the King of Rock and Roll – Elvis Presley.
In some ways there can’t be a better time to visit Graceland. The Gate of Graceland will reopen on 21st May and with social distancing in place that means visitor numbers are reduced to a quarter of the pre-Covid number. This means no jostling with other tourists to see everything.
Graceland isn’t just a house there is so much to experience. First and top of any visitors list is this is where Elvis lived. You feel like he could be just around the corner. See his wide range of costumes he wore on stage including the famous 68 comeback concert stagewear. Don’t miss out on seeing the famous pink Cadillac and wonder at his wall of gold records.
For music enthusiasts, the Memphis area has a number of attractions that music lovers will enjoy visiting.
Known as “The Birthplace of Rock n’ Roll”, the Sun Studio which is about 6.5 miles from Graceland is the where Elvis walked in and recorded “My happiness” in 1953.
When it was known as the Memphis Recording Studio, B.B. King recorded here. In 1951 Ike Turner and Jackie Brenston recorded “Rocket 88”, widely regarded by many as the first rock n’ roll recorded ever recorded.
With the Elvis connected in mind, on December 4th 1956, he was part of an impromptu jam session with Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins.
The studio is open for 40 minute guided tour 7 days a week from 10am to 5.15pm
The Stax Museum of American Soul Music is about 5 miles away from Graceland, this will be a must venue if you like Soul music but in particular that of Issac Hayes and Otis Redding. It is located on the original site of the Stax Records studio in Memphis and contains over 2000 items of memorablia and artifacts, including stage costumes, musical instruments, vintage recording equipment used at Stax, records and photographs. The museum is closed on Mondays.
Finally the Memphis Rock n’ Soul Museum, tells the story of music in the region from the rural field hollers and sharecroppers of the 1930s, to the musical heyday of Memphis in the 70s.
The museum is located in Beale Street, one of the most famous music streets in America and is widely regarded as the heart of Memphis’s blues scene. Many legendary musicians, including B.B. King, performed there.
Fun Fact: Memphis is included in the lyrics of more songs than any other city in the world!