Memphis Music.
No matter where you are on the globe, those two words are all you have to say to explain the special place you are from. That's because no city in the world has a more storied musical heritage.
And yet, great Memphis Music isn't just a thing of the past. It's being played here every day. Many of the pilgrims who journey to Memphis in search of music come face to face with a reality of today: the talent and creativity that gave birth to the Memphis Music heritage are still alive and well here.
To prove its point, Memphis Tourism Foundation produced in conjunction with Electric Room a special CD of Memphis music that connects our city's history with the new chapter being written today. To do this, contemporary performers are spotlight on a CD of timeless Memphis music reinterpreted by them.
The album was released June 4, 2008.
Among the stars on the CD and their songs are:
Amy LaVere with Olga and Jimbo Mathis - Defrost Your Heart (Charlie Feathers)
Joecephus and The George Jonestown Massacre - Mystery Train (Elvis Presley)
Soul Enforcers - What You See Is What You Get (The Dramatics)
William Lee Ellis - Fixin' To Die (Bukka White)
New Memphis Hepcats - Rhythm Is Our Business (Jimmie Lunceford)
Rind Stars - Feel (Big Star)
Johnny Lowebow - You Gotta Move (Mississippi Fred McDowell)
Groundspeak - Hip Hug Her (Booker T and the M.G.'s)
Sean Murphy Trio - Memphis Underground (Herbie Mann)
Eric Gales - Finger On Your Trigger (Albert King)
Rabid Villain - Goin' Down (Don Nix)
Noise Choir - The Mysterians (Jimmy Tarbutton and the Memphis Sound)
It's an outstanding tribute to some classic Memphis songs, but more importantly, it's an outstanding tribute to the bands that make this city the nation's hotbed of great, live music.
