Musical Territory

Loving the musical heritage in the southeast! I have been able to causally wander through some incredible places honoring the

birthplaces, schooling, careers, travels, awards and contributions of many great American musicians … I didn’t have a grand plan and I know I’m not done yet, but I have learned some fascinating tidbits and seen some fantastic costumes, instruments, and other accoutrements… time to share some documentation of this dense and diverse cultural history.

Fair warning that my musical exploits on this trip do NOT include attending concerts etc - just dog friendly visiting 😎

New Orleans, LA …home to legions of legends; and this training ground. Excited for my friend Nancey that is just starting a new job here at NOCCA. https://www.nocca.com/jon-batiste-making-a-joyful-noise/

Alabama Music Hall of Fame - near the Muscle Shoals studio museum - includes a fancy selfie station by the “Alabama Band’s” bus … fun to walk through and see the tight quarters and small bunk beds. It is a wonder they didn’t have daily fistfights. I hesitate to even think of what stories the carpet holds.

So many great exhibits of costumes and memorabilia with origin stories, linkages, friendships, competition, tribulations… not easy to pick which ones to capture, but this touches me as I realize it has been over 30 years since I saw The Blind Boys of Alabama @George on the Gorge with Tammy and Carole Ann!

i’m not sure it matters which artist this Cadillac belonged to (of course it was Hank). Provided here as just one example from one genre of the extensive ability of Americans to express useless excess artistically.

https://www.alamhof.org/

I really enjoyed being exposed to the range of musical styles and heritage linked to the State of Alabama

After a relatively short minivan drive from Oxford, Mississippi - The Bankhead family toured me through Clarksdale - in the MS River ‘Delta’ (this designation didn’t quite suit my macro geomorphic interpretation, but it definitely suits the local terrain changes to too FLAT and the oppressively, hot humid weather )

There is a burgeoning music history preservation effort, and a downtown revitalization live music tourism scene.

Although I couldn’t take any photos inside, I was thrilled to wander through the Delta Blues Museum. https://www.deltabluesmuseum.org/

So many great stories and information about some of my favorites, Charlie Musselwhite and John Lee Hooker in particular!

Next 🛑 Memphis and Beale Street!

Pretty limited options for things that Clio could participate in, but we still had fun window shopping and enjoying the calmand quiet of a daytime visit.

Frankly (& according to reputable sources, including our Park Ranger), we were not adequately armed for an evening visit.

About midway between Memphis and Nashville the small city of Brownsville has a special museum (natural and agricultural history as well as music legacy)…

Tina Turner’s childhood school (relocated from a few miles away) and beautiful exhibition.

And they have the last home of a local Bluesman, Sleepy John Estes … who performed from late 1920s up to his death in 1977!

Nashville TN is our current spot and it’s been really fun to stay downtown in a hotel, walk about and get a taste of the (apparently) typical wild weekend celebrations.

Poor weather today and I’m under the weather, so I doubt we’ll get a chance to visit inside the country music Hall of Fame or Grand Ole Opry - this spot might need a return visit.