Sitting in the booth this evening, we heard quite a racket coming from outside. We emerged to find this local drill team running through the streets, playing hide and seek. We asked them to show us their stuff and were treated to a spectacular show.
Leave a Comment 
On Saturday nights here in Memphis, we’ve been going to a juke joint called the Blue Worm. Judy from the Center for Southern Folklore turned us on to this neighborhood hangout, located in an abandoned strip mall, and it’s become our favorite place to relax, shoot pool and hear some good music.
The same folks are there every week, dressed to the nines and busting elaborate moves on the dance floor. The house band includes members of Memphis’ Daddy Mack Blues Band, a drummer named William Faulkner and Dr. Steve, a research geneticist who doubles on sax. They play a mean version of the Electric Slide in addition to a repertoire of blues standards.
After the Blue Worm closed this Saturday, our last in Memphis, we hung out next-door at club owners Betty and ‘Sippi’s place. Bluesman Wilroy Sanders (above) showed musically inclined facilitator Nick Yulman some licks and, with Halloween just around the corner, accused all present of being vampires. Thanks to guitarist extraordinaire James Bonner for the ride home and the wonderful music.
Leave a Comment
Memphis has welcomed many musicians and entertainers from New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Crescent City dancer, singer and bon vivant "Uncle" Lionel Batiste Sr. came by the booth to do an interview along with trombonist Charles Joseph. They sang a stirring version of "Dream Boat" and explained that in New Orleans, people "live to live". Special thanks to Kelley Edmiston for arranging and participating in the interview.
Leave a Comment
The world’s number one Elvis fan, Paul McCleod, resides In Holly Springs, Mississippi, midway between the King’s birthplace of Tupelo, MS and the seat of his empire in Memphis, TN. Here, he has created Graceland Too, a tribute to both Elvis’ legacy and his own consuming obsession. Every surface of the house, also Paul’s home, is covered with some sort of Elvis memorabilia.
Paul has every Elvis record, including an extremely rare one which Bill Clinton tried to buy for $250,000, but his passion goes much deeper than the music. He is building an approximation of the Jailhouse Rock set in his backyard and has binder upon binder cataloguing every appearance of, or even passing reference to, Elvis in a TV show or movie. Beyond this, he named his son Elvis Aaron Presley McCleod and plans to be buried in a replica of the rocker’s famous gold suit.
Last week we visited Graceland itself: an emotional rollercoaster of a tour culminating with a visit to Elvis’ final resting place. On the off-chance that the rumors are true and that Elvis is still with us, we left him a StoryCorps brochure in case he wants to tell his story.
One Comment
Just south of the Tennessee border is Holly Springs, Mississippi. Upon pulling into town, we came across a trio of abondoned institutional buildings. Never ones to pass up a creepy, crumbling facade, we had to explore.
On the second floor of one building was this auditorium.
One Comment
Here in Memphis, TN we’re parked downtown on South Main Street. Beautiful old trolleys clang past the booth every five minutes or so: Memphis’ (semi) rapid transit system.
Right across the street is the Center for Southern Folklore, a wonderful organization devoted to documenting and preserving Southern folk art, music and traditions. Above, Facilitators Maisie Tivnan and Nick Yulman hang with the Center’s Executive Producer, and Queen Bee, Judy Peiser. There could be no finer guide to the city or partner-in-crime in collecting its stories. Judy and her amazing staff operate on the principle that everyone is a king and the Center celebrates such small wonders as handmade quilts, peach cobbler and a farmer who taught his hogs to say grace.
Leave a Comment
It is the end of the tour for Facilitator Rani Shankar, pictured here with cofacilitator Nick Yulman. She’ll return home to Brooklyn, NY and continue to facilitate at StoryCorps’ New York Booths.
Rani passes the microphone to new East Booth Faciltator Maisie Tivnan.
Leave a Comment
