Arts-Music

Originally coined “Satellite” in 1957, Stax Records is largely to thank for the gift of Memphis soul, or the Memphis sound.

The Memphis Botanic Garden enhances lives by connecting people with nature and fostering an appreciation for our environment. Throughout the month of August, the organization will help connect Memphians with local artists in their city.

To get there, drive 40 miles south down Highway 61, until the hills suddenly drop onto the flat, rich plain…

Thanks to B.B. King’s relentless touring schedule – appearing in 342 shows in 1956 – he was known worldwide as…

The first blues song I heard growing up on Atlanta college radio was “Cross Road Blues,” 1936, by genre progenitor Robert…

Opened in 1945 when there were not many other African-American-owned businesses in Indianola, Club Ebony has succeeded through three owners…

Before 1895, Dockery Plantation was, like much of the Delta at the time, a swampy tangle of gum and cypress…

When the Grammy board searched for the most appropriate location to build its first museum outside L.A., they could have…

Working as newspaper reporters in 1978 in Greenville, Mississippi, David Saltz and I jumped on a last-minute media invite to…

Levitt Shell hosts 50 concerts each year, with performances by national and international touring acts. You will not want to miss these artists playing at the Shell’s concert series this summer in Overton Park:

The annual Beale Street Music Festival runs from May 3-5, with performances by Dave Matthews Band, The Killers, Gary Clark Jr. and Cardi B. It gives Memphians a chance to see some of music’s biggest acts perform in Tom Lee Park.

Since 2015, The Collective (or CLTV) has worked to empower black artists throughout Memphis. However, the nonprofit has never reaped the benefits of having its own space.

Blues music is a uniquely American art form. Every year, The Blues Foundation aims to keep this style alive through the International Blues Challenge. The multi-day event has been going on all week and is one of the world’s largest gatherings of blues musicians.

Winter will be upon us soon, and for Memphis music fans this means the chance to see some prominent acts come to town. Don’t miss these three concerts in early 2019:

We all know Bev Johnson’s distinctive, husky voice, which has been gracing Memphis’ airwaves for over 40 years. Next year, the broadcasting legend will become the first African-American woman inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame.

The Memphis Music Hall of Fame recently inducted seven new members, including Aretha Franklin. Have you heard of the other six inductees?

If you’ve walked the streets of Memphis lately, you’ve probably noticed the artwork that has been appearing on the sides of buildings throughout the city. As it turns out, these murals are no accident. They’re all part of an effort by the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art to bring selected works beyond the museum’s walls.

The Indie Memphis Music Festival aims to create community through film and support independent filmmakers in Memphis and throughout the world. Past attendees have included Chris Parnell of “Saturday Night Live” fame, as well as Memphis native Ira Sachs.

America’s most iconic street is gearing up for a new tradition. On Oct. 20, the first quarterly Beale Street Artcrawl will take place. Established this year, Beale Street Artcrawl provides a marketplace for visual artists, helping them reach new audiences. Founded by Memphis photographer and arts advocate Victoria Franklin, the art events will also feature performances by local musicians.

On Sept. 15, the Germantown Performing Arts Center (GPAC) kicks off its 2018-19 concert season with a show by beatboxing legend Bobby McFerrin. But the superstar vocalist isn’t the only big act to take the stage at GPAC in the near future.

The National Civil Rights Museum’s popular outdoor concert series is back again, bringing another month of free soul, jazz and oldies music to Memphis.

At the end of the month, Pure Memphis Music Series returns to Old Dominick Distillery. On August 23, singer-songwriter Harlan T. Bobo kicks things off with a performance co-hosted by Memphis Slim House.

When someone mentions Memphis, what thoughts come to mind? If you said “blues music,” you’re probably in the majority. Here are some of the best places to see the blues in the Bluff City:

The annual Bluff City Art and Poetry Slam is back for its fourth year this weekend at the Cordova Library. On Saturday, June 30, local artists between the ages of 13 and 30 will come together to showcase their talents – including everything from painting and photography to poetry and the spoken word.

Six decades into her career, Dolly Parton still proves she is up for new artistic challenges.

Memphis, it’s time to support your local urban music artists. The 26th annual Juneteenth Urban Music Festival starts on June 15. If you’re wondering about the meaning behind the name, Juneteenth is actually a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.

Getty Images, Oath and the National Disability Leadership Alliance have partnered to launch a new album called The Disability Collection.

2018 is a big year, as it marks the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination in Memphis. Since April 1, the Pink Palace Museum has been showing an exhibit honoring the late civil rights leader.

Take your art with a splash of soul when the Urban Art Commission hosts the Bring Your Soul Block Party outside of its new Crosstown offices on April 26.

For years — and now, more than ever — the bold, abstract prints, which originated in African tribes, have been worn by people of all races and cultures. Memphis’ Brooks Museum of Art is highlighting these designers and African culture with African-Print Fashion Now! A Story of Taste, Globalization and Style.