Trod Bogs Sadly – Oddstray's Blog

May 4, 2016

Beale Street turned into a movie set, Memphis, TN

This was particularly wild as we had just shown up on Beale Street, and there was a ’30’s’ movie set right there. We ambled around out of camera shot for a while listening to tires screeching and gunshots. Then had lunch.

Self-declared ‘institution’ on Beale Street, Memphis, TN

Waiting impatiently to tour Sun Studios, Memphis, TN

My, that was coolio. Going around the studio where all my favorite childhood performers got their start. From Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, Charlie Feathers, Ray Harris, Warren Smith and Charlie Rich to Jerry Lee Lewis. We even got to behold the very microphone that Elvis was purported to use on his very first recording. It was the classic Shure ribbon microphone that made your voice sound deeper.

Then we went to the Stax studio museum. Performers there  included Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Carla Thomas, William Bell, Booker T. & the M.G.’s, Eddie Floyd, the Bar-Kays and  Albert King. A very different mix than Sun. Refreshingly different.

Archeological mound (Mississippi Mound Builder) at Chuckalissa Indian Village, near Memphis, TN

We stayed at T O Fuller State Park, which has an interesting history. It was the first African American campground in TN (and even to this day seems to have African American Rangers) created under  ‘Jim Crow’ era stuff. We don’t know whether this was the case when it was created, but the local sewage plant makes it stink to high deities. Other than the odor, it’s a lovely park.