Monday, December 16, 2013

Musician’s Hall of Fame Grand Opening

Picture of Bobby W., Reggie, and Allen Reynolds at the Nashville Musician’s Hall of Fame Grand Opening. This was taken several months ago but it’s still great to see them up and running again! Check out the life-sized photo taken in the sixties during Elvis’s sessions at American.

http://www.musicianshalloffame.com/2013-grand-opening/

Bobby Wood, Reggie Young and Allen Reynolds

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Respect Yourself – The Rise and Fall of Stax Records

 Interview Robert Gordon, Author Of 'Respect Yourself Stax Records And The Soul_2013-12-15_20-23-10

Here are a few links about Robert Gordon’s book Respect Yourself – The Rise and Fall of Stax Records.

Links to two excellent interviews:

http://www.tavissmileyradio.com/robert-gordon-the-rise-and-fall-of-stax-records/

http://www.npr.org/2013/11/16/245398700/the-soulful-swinging-sounds-of-stax-a-look-back

Article about Stax written by Robert Gordon:

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/shows/stax/essay1.html

Brief excerpt from the above article:

The success of Stax had everything to do with its new location, an old movie theater on an unassuming corner, McLemore Avenue and College Street, in South Memphis. The neighborhood was transitioning from white to black and most of the label's early stars simply walked in the front door and were given auditions by the open-minded and open-eared founders. The new location had been discovered by guitarist Chips Moman, who was then Jim Stewart's right-hand man. In less than a decade, he would be running one of the most successful labels of all time, American, where hits were recorded on everyone from Elvis to Neil Diamond, Dusty Springfield to Herbie Mann. It's likely Moman was drawn to the area because Hi Records, then having instrumental hits with the Bill Black Combo (and later home to Al Green), was located about a mile away, also in a converted movie theater. 

Historical Marker approved for American Sound Studio & Poplar Tunes Record Shop

Picture

http://www.elvispresleyfansofnashville.com/2/post/2013/10/historical-marker-approved-for-american-sound-studio-poplar-tunes-record-shop.html

Mike Freeman, member of the Shelby County Historical Commission, reports that the commission recently voted to approve an American Sound Studio marker at Chelsea and Thomas. According to Mike, the dedication ceremony date should take place in the Spring of 2014.  

By the way, Mike has a new blog with lots of great posts about Memphis music. Have a look!

http://michaelwfreem.blogspot.com/

Mike Freeman’s Flickr Photos

Memphis historian Mike Freeman has a great Flickr site – lots of photos related to southern history and with plenty of music-related collections. Pictures of American Studio site can be found here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikesmemphistours/sets/72157632549381148/

Plastic Products and Other Music Places - a set on Flickr - Pale Moon_2013-12-15_10-52-22

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Spooner Oldham Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2009 Induction

An oldie-but-goodie featuring Spooner being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame:

image

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGQiPUTu3z4

Mandy Barnett Brings Back “Blue Blue Day”

Mandy Barnett Brings Back “Blue Blue Day”  cmtedge.com - Pale Moon_2013-12-14_13-22-22

http://www.cmtedge.com/2013/11/05/mandy-barnett-brings-back-blue-blue-day/

From the site:

Celebrated for portraying the title role in Always … Patsy Cline at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Barnett befriended Gibson when she was an aspiring singer in her 20s. Now she’s now honoring the Country Music Hall of Fame member by surrounding herself with studio all-stars like guitarist Harold Bradley, pianist Hargus “Pig” Robbins, harmonica player Charlie McCoy, steel guitarist Lloyd Green and drummer Gene Chrisman.