Memphis Music: : Before the Blues

by Sharp, Tim

• ISBN13: 9780738544113
• ISBN10: 0738544116
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-04-18
• Publisher: Arcadia Pub

Summary

Memphis means music. That relationship was solidified in 1909 when W. C. Handy wrote the song "Mr. Crump" and later published it as the "Memphis Blues." As Handy's songs were sung and played in streets and music halls, a spotlight began to shine on a new mecca for innovation in music--Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis Music: Before the Blues surveys the people, music, and events that contributed to the rich musical life that emerged against the backdrop of the Civil War and yellow fever in the 19th century. The story is not just one of the building blocks to what has been called America's greatest export--popular music--but rather it is a story of ongoing innovation and creativity that came from a convergence of people of different cultures.

Author Biography

Tim Sharp Chair in the Fine Arts at Rhodes College in Memphis

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. 6
Introduction	p. 7
Memphis: A Musical Province of Germany	p. 15
Population, Affluence, and Leisure Time: A Formula for the Arts	p. 19
Civil War Changes the Tune	p. 35
Affluence Brings Musical Organizations, Itinerant Artists, and Educational Institutions	p. 49
The Years the Music Died	p. 63
Piano Dealerships Multiply in Memphis as Amateur Music Making Increases	p. 75
Music Making in Memphis Comes of Age	p. 85
No Turning Back	p. 91
The Blues Comes to Town	p. 105
Reflections on Memphis Music Before the Blues	p. 115
Bibliography	p. 124
Index	p. 126
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