Two Southern Hotbeds of Music
For this blog I thought it would be interesting to compare two Tennessee cities that are 212 miles apart (a three-hour drive) and are roughly the same size. In 2017 the population of Nashville, the state capital, was 665,967 while Memphis was 652,231.
Another feature they have in common is an all-consuming love of music. Memphis is renowned for its vibrant blues scene while Nashville is the home of country. And because of this, both welcome many visitors every year. The numbers are impressive: 11.7 million for Memphis, 14.5 million for Nashville.
Soul music is the heart and soul of Memphis
But there are also differences: Memphis is 65% black, 27% white and 8% Hispanic while Nashville is 30% black, 59% white and 11% Hispanic. Also, Nashville residents are more likely to be college educated than those in Memphis or the rest of Tennessee.
In spite of their incredible interest in music there’s a glaring difference when one looks at the number of businesses operating recording studios. Sadly, Memphis has exactly one while Nashville has 65.
All of the above is a general overview of these two hotbeds of music – now, let’s take a closer look at each of them.
WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT MEMPHIS?
This city, which sits on the Eastern bank of the Mississippi River, is known as the home of the blues and birthplace of rock-n-roll, with its iconic Beale Street entertainment, star-studded Sun Studio artists (Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Charlie Rich, Roy Orbison, and Carl Perkins) plus Presley’s larger-than-life Graceland estate.
The city of Memphis in the U.S. was founded on May 22, 1819 and was incorporated on December 19, 1826. It was named after one of the oldest and most important cities in ancient Egypt that was situated on the banks of the Nile.
WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT NASHVILLE?
Nashville is located on the shores of the Cumberland River and is known as Tennessee’s “Music City.” It was founded in 1779 and is named in memory of Francis Nash, an American Revolutionary War hero.
It has two of the most famous music venues of all-time: the Grand ole Opry and the Ryman auditorium. It is referred to as the country music capital of the world. The Grand Ole Opry is the longest continuously running live radio program in the world. It has broadcast every weekend since 1925 or a whopping 94 years!
It’s said that you haven’t eaten like a true Nashvillian until you have enjoyed “a meat and three” which is simply this: order one meat (fried chicken, country ham, beef, country-fried steak, meatloaf or pork chops) and three side dishes from a list such as: mashed potatoes, creamed corn, green beans, macaroni-and-cheese or spaghetti. This is often served with cornbread and sweet tea.
Food in Nashville has been described as “glorious vittles served with the utmost informality” and it’s also associated with soul food (sweet potato pie, peach cobbler, black-eyes peas, catfish and collard greens).
CLICK HERE for “Nobody Knows When You’re Down and Out” as sung by the great blues singer Bessie Smith.
CLICK HERE for “I Fall to Pieces” by country/western songstress Patsy Kline.
AN IDEA for the denizens of Memphis and Nashville – why not visit New Orleans for Christmas? Stay at the Rathbone Mansions and celebrate the holidays in a new and different way.
Shaun Nelson-Henrick