Memphis - The Kingdom of the Blues

The " Kingdom of the Blues " is situated without doubt in Mempis/Tennessee! Finally the city has to indicate legendary kings equal two. Not only the ' King of Rock'n roll ' Elvis Presley, which established themselves with Graceland here his residence, but also still the extremely vital ' King of Blues' B.B.King.

To " muddy, muddy River ", the Mississippi, is been appropriate for Memphis today a modern city with approximately 600,000 inhabitants.
Memphis is predominantly ' black city '. Two thirds of the population are African Americans. Their meaning as quasi capital of the Rhythm and Blues, but did not conditionally only lead in the past also to numerous problems.
Acquaintance masses it had the black population, also after termination of the civil war more than one hundred years ago, not even easily their entitled demands regarding same rights within the areas education to intersperse social and workstations.
Thus roll mainly in the 60's of the previous century, a climate from hate and intolerance for the wedding of the Rock'n. In rebellions and race riots the voltage accumulated for a long time unloaded itself. And as the outstanding black civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King was shot on 4 April 1968 with an appearance in the Lorraine motel in Memphis by a white assassin, threatened a country-wide civil war.
Fortunately the predominant part of the Americans of black skin colour decided at that time for the peaceful penetration of their demands.
In the 80's reorganized Memphis at much expenditure the slum city center. Enterprises, hotels, business and Music club returned again and the Beale Street, one of the cradles of the Blues, were not torn off, but were not restored. Today Memphis is again a loading city, in which black and white, Blues and Rock'n roll again live door at door.
Blues fans should reserve themselves October for an attendance in Memphis. Then here the Blues Music Week takes place, and the city is full from meetings and the large ones of the scene. High Point is national those Blues Music Awards Show.
(information, meeting plan and reservations: Blues Foundation, 174 Beale St., Memphis, TN 38103, Tel. 527-2538)

Worth seeing in Memphis