A few short hours on the road and we were in Memphis. We headed straight for a major landmark, Sun Studios. The record label that started out as the Memphis Recording Studio, widely believed to be the birthplace of Rock 'n Roll. The studio where Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, and many many others first recorded songs. Its just a tiny little building and they have taken over the corner building next to it for a gift shop and a small upstairs museum where the tour guide shares the history of Sun with folks and where they have some of the original reel to reel equipment, as well as some instruments, clothes and other memorabilia from the performers that Sun recorded.
Then they led us down stairs and into the original building. It consists of three rooms - a small front office that served as a reception area and business office -
A control room in the back where the recording booth is (which we didn't get to go in because the studio is still used today and it has been modernized quite a bit). And in between the studio which still has all the original acoustical tile on the walls and ceiling. Its not a very impressive room except for the instruments, microphones and pictures on the wall that remind you of all the greats that have stood in this very room and recorded some amazing music.
Since the studio became active again and has been registered as a historic landmark many newer artists have come to record music there. For instance, U2 recorded "Rattle and Hum" at Sun Studios. As you can see by the above picture, they get their money worth out of each tour. There unfortunately wasn't much opportunity to get great pictures in the studio because they packed us in like sardines. The tour guide was pretty entertaining though and had great enthusiasm for the studio, the stories and the music. They played lots of samples of the music throughout the tour, so it was well worth the stop.
That night, on the recommendation of a few friends we choose to get our BBQ, not at BB Kings place as many suggest, but went instead to Charles Vergos Rendezvous Charcoal Ribs. I am so glad that we did. Andy and I completely stuffed ourselves with smoked sausage, dry rub ribs, and pork shoulder. It was amazing. I was so full, but I didn't dare leave any meat uneaten. I knew if I did I would have woken up in a cold sweat for weeks thinking of what I had left behind.
After dinner we waddled down to Beale Street and checked out a couple live blues bands in outdoor settings. Its hard to believe we started Thursday out singing on stage in Nashville and finished it stuffed with BBQ and hanging out on the streets where the Memphis Blues helped create Rock n Roll.
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