Day 7 – Memphis Soul

Sun Studio

I’m not exactly sure what Memphis Soul is but I’m pretty sure we experienced it today through both music and food. Our day started with two music related tours. The first was the Sun Records studio on Union Street, kind of at the edge of the downtown area. Sun Records was at its peak in the mid-50s and is the place where Elvis was discovered and did his first recordings. They also recorded Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, plus a lot of blues and Rock-a-Billy musicians. It was really pretty cool to stand in the actual recording studio where so many of the hits of the 50s were recorded. Our next stop was Stax Records, home to a lot of soul recording artists such as Otis Redding, Rufus Thomas, Isaac Hayes and many, many others. The tour was interesting but I think we preferred the Sun tour a little more because it was a little more in our time-frame.  

Isaac Hayes' Gold Plated Cadillac at Stax Records

Lunch today was at Gus’s downtown to sample their spicy chicken. The chicken was not as spicy as other places we have been, but for me it was the perfect blend. Absolutely delicious, tender and juicy.  After some time back at the hotel, we went to Charles Vergos' Rendezvous for dinner and to try their famous barbecue ribs. Rendezvous is one of the classic rib joints in Memphis and is pretty much hidden down an alley across from the Peabody Hotel.  Those were without a doubt the best dry rub ribs I have every tasted.  Even Jeanne, who isn’t a big fan of ribs, loved them. To top the evening, we went to the Orpheum Theater for a play. The Orpheum is one of the few remaining grand old theaters from the 20s. It an amazing place to see a play and we were very lucky to be in town when the touring company of “Memphis” was playing.