Before we get to the music, though, let me start with a preamble: when you visit to Memphis (or if you live here), I highly recommend that you make it a priority to see the National Civil Rights Museum. If you have more time after that, then soak up some Memphis music!
The home and final resting place of Elvis Presley, Graceland is a major tourist draw for Memphis. In case you don't know, it has a big mansion, airplanes, and other Elvis stuff. I haven't actually been inside/on a tour, but DF has, so I asked him about it. He thinks that if you are an Elvis fan, or are just interested in Elvis, you would probably like it. But he does not recommend paying full price for admission. Try to find a coupon or something because even the cheapest ticket is nearly $40 for an adult!
On the anniversaries of Elvis' birth and death, there are special events at Graceland that allow some level of free access. Also, you can see the house and planes from the street (at least you could last time I was there - there's construction going on these days that might have changed the scene). They have an extensive gift shop for all your Elvis memorabilia needs. I got a cool "Viva Las Vegas" water bottle that I managed to hold onto for more than a year before I lost it! (that's quite a record for me)
Of all the Memphis music attractions, I'd say this one was my favorite. Sun Studio considers itself the birthplace of rock and roll. Many famous musicians, like Elvis and Johnny Cash, made records there.
When you visit, small groups of people go on a guided tour. The guide tells you about all the exhibits of recording equipment and other items. (We did this tour a couple years ago so I've forgotten the details, but I still have a positive emotional memory of the experience.) You also get to actually go into the studio where history was made and stand on the spot with a microphone where so many famous people have stood!
This museum is gigantic! If you're really into soul music, you could easily spend 4+ hours there. It's a self-guided tour, after you watch an introductory video. Stax Records was a label started in the early 1960s by a brother-sister team. They bought an old theater and turned it into a recording studio. Although they didn't intentionally set out to break down racial barriers (the owners were white), they wound up recording a lot of Black artists and ushering in the birth of soul music. Many artists who recorded there were Memphis locals.
For a variety of reasons, the studio went out of business and was demolished in the 80s. But it's been rebuilt and is now a museum including such noteworthy items as Isaac Hayes' custom Cadillac :)
If you are in the neighborhood around lunchtime, check out the Four Way. Their turnip greens are delicious!
This was my least favorite of the museums - not because there's anything wrong with it, but just because it seems to repeat stuff you see/hear at other museums. So I guess that means if you're visiting Memphis briefly and only have time for one musical stop, this would be good.
I liked that they give you a personal audio device so that you can walk around the exhibits and listen to stories and musical recordings. As the name implies, you learn about the history of rock and soul music - in Memphis and beyond.
Memphis is home to a Gibson guitar factory. I'll just mention this one briefly because it's also downtown, close to Rock 'n' Soul. We took the factory tour awhile back and, while it was interesting, I would only recommend it if you're really into guitars...or hand-crafted manufacturing.
You know the song "Walking in Memphis"?
Walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale
Before we moved here, I had no idea what that song even said. Now I know that Beale St. has a long and storied past. I can't really do it justice in this post. It was primarily an African-American part of town during the days of segregation. Now it's an integrated place to party, well-known for its live music and freely flowing alcohol. It's not really my scene these days, but if you're in town, you should at least walk by so you can say you've seen it.
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