Memphis is the perennial underdog. From the outside looking in, it shouldn’t have much to offer. Built on cotton farming and now airmail—FedEx has its global headquarters in the city and is the largest employer—it’s a city with humble roots, but both culturally and historically, it’s always managed to punch well above its weight.
And we’re not just talking about Elvis. Johnny Cash, Otis Redding, B. B. King, Roy Orbison, Isaac Hayes, Al Green, Jerry Lee Lewis, Aretha Franklin—all of these icons were either born in Memphis or kickstarted their careers there. And whether it’s Memphis that inspires the music—the soul—or the music inspires Memphis, it doesn’t matter—but there are few places I’ve been where the spirit of a city is so ever-present. Read more
You might also be interested in: Famous Memphis Musicians | Memphis Singers
