7. Memphis Blues plus Rock 'n' Roll.

The 15 minutes it took from being on one plane from LA, just landed late in Fort Worth, Dallas, to disembark, race to the Skytrain, transfer into another terminal, check in and be seated in our new plane bound for Memphis completely absolved any previous frustrations of so many queues, lateness, and seemingly wasted time.
As we were last on, we were told to sit in the first seats we found, so upgraded ourselves to Premium Economy.  Life is good!!

Planes looking like cows around a milking shed. 

The impressive transfer at Fort Worth, Dallas, from one plane into another in a different terminal; all within 15 minutes.
The Skytrain runs like a slot car set, high up around the perimeter.   

Memphis is said to have been the birthplace of Rock and Roll as well as the Blues, and still lives up to this reputation.

Graceland and the Elvis experience gave us the chance to learn more about the one who is largely acknowledged for starting the whole Rock and Roll aspect of music, and bringing so many music types together.
We also watched videos of his rehearsals and concerts, and have a new found respect for his enthusiasm, attention to detail, and love of life.

The famed "Graceland"

Elvis had real class.
The peacock design in the lead lights, featured on so much clothing and other areas.
His TCB (Taking Care of Business) insignia also featured predominantly.  

The chandelier design is based loosely upon the chandelier we have over our toilet at home. 

The house sports 14 televisions.
Elvis had 6 TVs in this media room, as he had wanted to equal that of the White House. 

It took three men ten days to cut, pleat and hang the 350 yards of fabric to the billiard room walls and ceiling..
A woman would probably have completed the task in half a day. 

Elvis' final resting site with his parents and grandmother either side. 

It was then over the road, from Graceland, to the Elvis Experience featuring Elvis memorabilia to suit even the most avid Elvis fan.

Many of the King's twenty two cars are on display.
Two of his quotes were noted:
Life is too short for boring cars!
Ambition is a dream with a V8 engine! 

Pink!
The only colour for a Cadillac.

Most of the world's greatest musical performers paid tribute to Elvis, giving him praise for his massive musical influence. 

Countless costumes are on display teaching us all the importance of never discarding anything from the wardrobe.
Elvis can be seen leaving the building on the left. 

This is what kept him well grounded and in touch with his audience.
David Copperfield from our Las Vegas show could do with reading this!
Never get complacent with an audience or life!!

Some of the 36 movies in which Elvis starred.

Awards by the bucket load.
Even a Medal of Honour by the President and several awards from Australia. 

Sun Studio was where Elvis was first discovered, by a secretary who saw his natural skill and persona.  Roy Orbison lived upstairs above the cafe at Sun Studio; and virtually all the big names would simply drop in.  They would have been great times.
We toured the studio where Carrol got to play an air guitar, as well as use the microphone Elvis recorded with.

The cafe has kept the original decor and design, right down to some of the customers.
The staff were all evidently living the dream of being in such a place. 

Our swimming extraordinaire friend, Sharon, would not want to buy this original record, especially at $3,500.
Each time she races at carnivals she seems to break records. 

The Million Dollar Quartet.
L to R: Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash.
An impromptu recording session on 4th December, 1956, but not released until 1980.
The wall and ceiling panelling is original as per the photo.

One of the many museums to music in Memphis.
As we read "Hall of Fame", there has been a "Wall of Flame" back in Australia, where we have heard more than one million hectares of bush has been burned in the recent devastation.  

Lansky's is known as the Supplier to the King, having outfitted so many of Elvis Presley's very neat outfits.  The clothing still is so impressive.

An alternative to shopping at Lowes. 

Due to weight restrictions, the gold jacket was out the question. 

Three generations and still going strong. 

Beale Street is the birth place of music.  One side, Rock and Roll, the other, the Blues.

 Rock and Roll!!

All lights up at night.
The sound of music coming from all the venues was brilliant. 

Choice after choice of venues.  Many without cover charges. 

Something for the throne room. 

Bouncing tumbling busker.
 This athletic chap would line up volunteers to squat along the road, then tumble over them, before taking a bucket around to collect tips. 

Full flight over, landing on his feet at full pace. 

BB King's Blues Club gave us a great night out of food and musical talent.

BB King's in Beale Street where so much of the Blues started.
Police cars block off all cross streets in the area adding to the safety of all concerned.
The chap we saw arrested just after this photo was taken didn't have the same sentiment.
The men in blue stopped blues happening in the Blues District. 

Oh what a night!

A great place if feeling a little blue!
The blue sign to the right reads "Lucille"
Each one of BB King's guitars was named Lucille. 

Trams run from one end of Memphis to the other, with the fare being a minimum of a one dollar note. Any notes can be inserted, although no change is given.  It pays to keep a handful of one dollar notes as tips are required for almost every service encountered.

Still functioning relics of the past. 

Great varnish job.

We ended our time in Memphis with a walk across the mighty Mississippi into Arkansas giving a chance to experience different states of excitement almost simultaneously.

Arkansas 

Tennessee 

One of the world's great rivers.
A "dhow" heads upstream on the Nile with the great pyramid of Giza in the background. 

The Peabody Hotel in Memphis has a tradition of a Duck Parade daily, which brings people flocking from all over the world.

Great pomp and circumstance for the march of the ducks.
Marching into the pond at 11am and out again at 5pm; to and from their roof top Duck Palace.
Rumours that non-conforming ducks are marched into the kitchen is incorrect.
Duck has never been served in the hotel.

The current Duck Master in red.
The original Duck Master held the position for over 50 years.
He upheld his positive outlook on life despite occasionally feeling a little down. 

Our last day in Memphis coincided with Veterans Day, aka Remembrance Day.
The march took about forty minutes to pass, with so many veterans, armed forces, police, schools, bands and marching groups participating.

A motorcycle policeman writes out a traffic infringement for himself for illegal double parking his motorcycle.  

Many of the motorcycle police had their names printed on the panniers of their bikes.
This would aid identification of bikes in a police line-up. 

Budget cuts have seen some police Harley Davidsons replaced with push bikes.
This has an evident health benefit for the officers involved.   

Many of the marching groups had a burly cheerleader, evidently from the services,
singing out a military cadence call for all to respond and help keep in step. 

Great fashion never dates. 

Marching with the flag of Tennessee.
It was great to see so many young people marching. 

Our final Memphis sunset over the Mississippi.

Sunset over the Mississippi from the rooftop of The Peabody Hotel.
The big crane reminds us of our little Crane grandson, Isaac, who is now playing the piano before he can walk.
Isaac has already reached the standard of Don's piano playing after just 10 minutes on the piano.  

Next we head downstream on the American Queen as a cold front from the Arctic hits the States and follows us south.

Y'all keep well once more.
God bless, Cheers,
Don and Carrol.