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Memphis is the birthplace of several of the most important musical forms of the 20th century, yet Nashville stole the Tennessee limelight with its country music. Ask the average American what makes Memphis special, and he or she might be able to tell you that this is the city of Graceland, Elvis Presley's mansion. What they're less likely to know is that Memphis is also the place where the blues, rock 'n' roll, and soul music were all born. Memphis is where W. C. Handy put down on paper the first written blues music, where Elvis Presley made his first recording, and where Otis Redding and Al Green expressed the music in their souls. Many fans of American music (and they come from all over the world) know Memphis. Walking down Beale Street today, sitting in the Sun Studio Cafe, or waiting to pass into the almost holy aura of Graceland, you're as likely to hear French, German, and Japanese as you are to hear English. British, Irish, and Scottish accents are all common in a city known throughout the world as the birthplace of the most important musical styles of the 20th century. For these people, a trip to Memphis is a pilgrimage. U2 came here to pay homage and wound up infusing their music with Americana on the record and movie U2: Rattle & Hum. Lead singer Bono, recently interviewed for the city's new Soulsville museum, called the city's musical heritage "extraordinary." So come visit Memphis, once home to some of the greatest musicians of the last century. And while music is obviously what makes Memphis great, there are other attractions as well. The Mud River Museum offers a fascinating tour of the history of the Mississippi. And Chucalissa explores the remains of what was once a great Native American civilization that lived along the banks of that same river. With casinos and amusement parks just outside it's borders Memphis offers something for everyone. |