Mike Brown

Stories/Essays: Memphis Music - Hear & Now

This is a day-in-the-life snap shot of the current breadth of activity within the Memphis music scene that accompanied a story about the business of Memphis music by Bob Mehr.  

  • PASSING THE TORCH:Saxophone player Lannie McMillan sparks up a cigarette during recording session at Royal Studios for local band Deering and Down. The storied studio, started by famed producer Willie Mitchell, stays booked months in advance with Willie Mitchell's son Lawrence {quote}Boo{quote} Mitchell behind the board. It's not uncommon in Memphis that children of music legends from the past are carrying the torch into the future.
  • FEELING THE SPIRIT:At times you can feel the floor shaking beneath your feet when the Greater Community Temple Choir performs during a Sunday service in East Memphis, where member Shawana Brasswell(right) feels the spirit during worship. The influence of gospel sounds and styles permeates all genres of music in Memphis.
  • PACKING THE CLUBS:Andre Stockard gets the crowd at B.B. King's Blues Club riled up from behind his B-3 organ on a Saturday night. According to the the Beale Street Merchants Association clubs on Beale employ roughly 200 local musicians on a regular basis with hundreds more that come for singular performances.
  • DIVERSIFYING THE SOUND:Jonathan Kirkscey, 34, has spent the last 11 years performing in the Memphis Symphony Orchestra but his versatility keeps him busy on all musical fronts. He is a member of the band Mouserocket, recently completed a film score for John Michael McCarthy and often performs with Harlan T. Bobo, Rob Junklas and Snowglobe, all this in addition to teaching cello at the Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.
  • PLAYING THE GAME:While the underground hip-hop culture in Memphis continues to thrive it's still a struggle to break out for independent artists like Yung Kee, who has found regional success. Kee, whose father is a trombonist for Al Green and Isaac Hayes, is a tireless self-promoter and entrepreneur working to make his dream of national success come true like a handful of other local acts including the 2006 Academy Award winning Three 6 Mafia.
  • WORKING THE SYSTEM:Jay Lindsey, 29, better known by the stage name Jay Reatard, started playing Memphis clubs in punk bands when he was only 15 years old. Since then he has released more than 70 records, some of which routinely fetch hundreds of dollars from collectors on eBay. Lindsey's ability to get industry executives to play into his hand is as impressive as his musical output. He recently signed a lucrative multi-album contract with Matador Records after being courted by Universal and Columbia.
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    • COGIC's Centennial Holy Convocation
    • Bold And Breezy - Spring Fashion
    • "I Love My Life"
    • Memphis Music - Hear & Now
    • Drama Queens - Spring Fashion
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