Memphis

Memphis is a city in the state of Tennessee located by the Mississippi River, and has 652,236 inhabitants. Memphis is Tennessee’s second largest city after the capital Nashville. Among other things, it is an important river port because it has one of the world’s largest cotton and timber markets. Memphis has been an important place in American music history, and has played a significant role in the development of American popular music. The city is known as the home of the blues (Bale Street), and is the home town of a number of famous rock and roll artists such as Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley – as well as Elvis’ home Graceland (Store Norske Leksikon).

The well-known Sun Studio is located in Memphis where, among others, Elvis Presley recorded his first singles, «That’s All Right». Civil rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Martin Luther King was assassinated in Memphis in 1968, and the «Lorraine Motel» where the murder took place is today a memorial.

Norsk:

Memphis er en by i delstaten Tennessee som ligger ved elven Mississippi, og har 652 236 innbyggere. Memphis er Tennessees nest største by etter hovedstaden Nashville. Den er blant annet en viktig elvehavn mat at den har et av verdens største bomulls- og trelastmarkeder. Memphis har lenge vært et viktig sted i den amerikanske musikkhistorien, og har spilt en betydelig rolle i utviklingen av amerikansk populærmusikk. Byen er kjent som bluesens hjemsted (Bale Street), og er hjembyen til en rekke kjente rock- and roll artister som Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins og Elvis Presley – samt Elvis hjemsted Graceland (Store Norske Leksikon).

Det velrennomerte Sun Studio ligger også i Memphis hvor blant andre Elvis Presley spilte inn sine første singler, som for eksempel «That’s All Right». Borgerrettsforkjemperen og Nobels fredspris-vinner Martin Luther King ble myrdet i Memphis i 1968, og «Lorraine Motel» der drapet skjedde er i dag et minnesmerke.

SUN STUDIO

We visited «Sun Studio» both in 2014 and 2018, and took part in guided tours there both times. When you enter Sun Studio, it’s like the time has stood still for 60 years. There is a cozy little bar, a small jukebox and a small shop where you can buy souvenirs and more. You can buy entrance tickets for a guided tour in The Sound Studio itself and the recording rooms. Sun Studio was a recording studio/record company started in 1952 by Sam Philips. This studio is an important part of music history because the four great musicians, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash, gathered there for a jam session. which resulted in the music album, «Million Dollar Quartet». Sun Studio is absolutely worth a visit if you go to Memphis – especially if you are interested in blues or rock.

Norsk:

Vi besøkte «Sun Studio» både i 2014 og 2018 da vi var i Memphis, og var med på guidede turer der begge gangene. Når en kommer inn der er det som at tiden har stått stille i 60 år. Det er en koselig liten bar, en liten jukeboks og en liten butikk hvor en får kjøpe suvenirer med mer. Her får en også kjøpe inngangsbilletter til en guidet tur til selve lydstudioet og innspillingslokalene. Sun Studio var et lydstudio/plateselskap som ble startet i 1952 av Sam Philips. Dette studioet er en viktig del av musikkhistorien fordi de fire store musikerne, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins og Johnny Cash var samlet der til en jamsession. som resulterte i musikkalbumet, «Million Dollar Quartet». Sun Studio er absolutt verdt et besøk dersom en drar til Memphis – særlig dersom en er interessert i blues eller rock.

SUN STUDIO

RESTAURANT

SUN STUDIO RECORDING Sun Studio is a recording studio opened by rock-and-roll pioneer Sam Phillips at 706 Unione Avenue in Memphis, on January 3, 1950. It was orginally called Memphis Recording Service, sharing the same building with Sun Records label business. Sun Studio is perhaps most famous for its role in the early years of Elvis Presley’s career.

ELVIS PRESLEY – GRACELAND

In 2014 we were in Memphis for the first time, and we were looking forward to visiting Elvis’ home Graceland and staying at «Elvis Presley’s Heartbreak Hotel». Elvis is considered one of the most important cultural icons of the 20th century, and has often been called «The King of Rock’ Roll» or «The King». Graceland was Elvis Presley’s home from 1957 until his death in 1977, and he is buried on the property with his immediate family. In 1982 the property was opened to the public and it has become a major tourist attraction for his admirers. We took part in a guided sightseeing tour around the Graceland property where we got to enter the actual house where he and his family lived, the museum with all the records, see the stage outfits, cars, motorbikes and planes and more. It was a special experience to visit the beautifully decorated grave site on the property where Elvis is buried with his family.

When we traveled back in 2018, the plan was to stay at the same hotel as in 2014, «Elvis Presley’s Heartbreak Hotel», but this turned out to be closed. Instead, a new great hotel had been built, «The Guest House at Graceland» which we stayed at. A really great hotel that is absolutely recommended if you are going to Graceland. Likewise, a new large museum had been built as well as a reataurant – «Gladys’ Dinner» – named after Elvis’ mother. We absolutely recommend a visit to Graceland.

Norsk:

I 2014 var vi i Memphis første gang, og vi gledet oss til å besøke Elvis sitt hjemsted Graceland samt å bo på «Elvis Presley’s Heartbreak Hotel». Elvis regnes som en av de viktigste kulturikonene på 1900-tallet, og er ofte blitt kalt «The King of Rock’ Roll» eller «The King». Graceland var Elvis Presleys hjem fra 1957 til han døde i 1977, og han er gravlagt på eiendommen sammen med sin nærmeste familie. I 1982 ble eiendommen åpnet for publikum og det har blitt en stor turistattraksjon for hans beundrere. Vi deltok på en guidet sightseeingtur rundt på eiendommen Graceland hvor vi fikk komme inn i selve huset der han og familien bodde, i museet med alle platene, se sceneantrekkene, bilene, motorsykler og flyene med mer. Det var en spesiell opplevelse å besøke det vakre pyntede gravstedet på eiendommen der Elvis ligger begravet sammen med familien sin.

Da vi reiste tilbake i 2018 var planen å bo på det samme hotellet som i 2014, «Elvis Presley’s Heartbreak Hotel», men dette viste seg å være nedlagt. I stedet var det bygget et nytt flott hotell, «The Guest House at Graceland» som vi bodde på. Et virkelig flott hotell som absolutt anbefales dersom man skal til Graceland. Likedan var det bygget et nytt stort museum samt serveringsstedet «Gladys’ Dinner» – oppkalt etter Elvis mor. Vi anbefaler absolutt å ta et besøk på Graceland.

HOTELS We stayed at Elvis Presley’s Heartbreak Hotel in 2014. In 2018 we stayed at the new hotel Guest House at Graceland. Both hotels gave us an extraordinary hotels expperience in the heart of Elvis Presley’s Graceland.

GRACELAND 200,000 foot entertainment complex featuring museums, restaurants, gift shop, and more …

ELVIS’ RECORD COLLECTION AT GRACELAND Elvis’ personal record collection which includes more tha 2,000 singles and albums, is diverse: There’s rock’n roll, gospel. doo wop, country, soul, classical, Christmas tunes, jazz and much more.

ELVIS’ COLLECTION OF STAGE WEAR – featuring more than 100 pieces from Elvis’ archived collection of stage wear. During Elvis’ Las Vegas engagement in January/February 1970 he wore his first jumpsuit on stage. The ideas behind the jumpsuites Elvis wear on the stage was that he could move around onstage without worrying about getting his clothing snagged on something. The pisctures show some of his jumpsuits, the military uniform and Elvis and Pricilla’s wedding dress.

ELVIS’ CARS Elvis had a life-long love affair with automobiles, owning everything from pink Cadillacks to black Limousines. Here we have only few pictures of his car collection we saw in the Museum.

ELVIS’ AIRPLANE «LISA MARIE» Elvis purchased av 1958 Convair 880 in April 1975 and named it <lisa <marie after his daughter. He spent more than 800,000 Dollar having the jet remodeled. The jet feature a living room, conference room, sitting room, and private bedroom, as well as goldplated seatbelts, suede chairs, leather covered tables, 24 karat gold-flecked sinks and more. Elvis has also a smaller Lockheed jet Star, customized by Elvis with a yellow and green interior that was primarily used for taking Elvis’ manager and his staff from city to city on his concert tours. (graceland.com).

REASTAURANTS In 2014 and 2018 we drove in a Pink Cadillac from the hotels were we stayed – in 2014 at Elvis Presley’s Heartbreak Hotel and in 2018 at The Guesthouse of Graceland – to a restaurant nearby to have a great dinner. In 2018 we also visited Gladys’ Dinner for a burger.

THE MEDITATIO GARDEN AND GRAVES OF ELVIS AND HIS FAMILY One of the most sobering parts of visiting Graceland is the Meditation Garden, located behind the primary residence in the backyard. There lie the remains of Elvis, his parents Gladys and Veron, twin brother Jesse, grandmother Minnie Mae, his daughter Lisa Marie and grandson Benjamin.

BLUES CONCERT AT THE B. B. KING BLUES CLUB RESTAURANT

We were in Memphis in 2014 and in 2018 and both times we went on exciting tours around the city to see various attractions. Walking on Bale Street and listening to Blues music played in various pubs and street corners was particularly interesting. We also visited the BB King Blues Club where we listened to wonderful musicians playing the blues while we eat a better meal. We also visited the Memphis Rock and Soul Museum and the Hard Rock Cafe.

Norsk:

BLUESKONSERT PÅ RESTAURANTEN B. B. KING BLUES CLUB

Vi var i Memphis i 2014 og i 2018 og begge gangene var vi på spennende turer rundt i byen for å se på ulike attraksjoner. Særling interessant var det å vandre på Bale Street og lytte til Bluesmusikk som ble spilt på ulike puber og gatehjørner. Vi oppsøkte også BB King Blues Club hvor vi lyttet til fantastiske musikere som spilte blues mens vi spiste et bedre måltid. Vi var også innom Memphis Rock and Soul Museum samt Hard Rock Cafeen der.