Nashville may get a lot of attention for being a music hotbed around these parts, but there’s a soul and a vibe to Memphis that’s all its own. That soul will be on full display at the end of January, when a pair of musicians with Memphis roots will find themselves at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards in New York. And they won’t just be taking in the spectacle—they’ll be vying for statues.
ThankGod4Cody and Teddy Walton were responsible for some of 2018’s hottest music, and they’ll be looking to make Memphis proud at the Grammys. These two producers are just the latest to carry on a long tradition of Memphis music-makers.
Deep roots
No stranger to the Grammys, Ike Turner made a name for himself in Memphis before earning nationwide notoriety. His first recording, “Rocket 88,” is considered by many to be the earliest rock ‘n’ roll song. Hailing from Clarksdale, Mississippi, Turner arrived in Memphis in 1952 and found work as a session musician for such stars as B.B. King. Before he debuted on the national stage in the 1960s, Turner worked as a talent scout of sorts, discovering another Memphis treasure: Bobby Bland. Turner was twice awarded a Grammy and nominated another three times.
Speaking of Bobby “Blue” Bland, this local legend had the distinct honor of being enshrined in both the Blues Hall of Fame and the Memphis Music Hall of Fame. Renowned as a lyrical storyteller, Bland landed in Memphis at the age of 17 and started singing with local gospel groups. It wasn’t long before he found himself down on Beale Street, rubbing elbows with B.B. King and Junior Parker. Bland received the Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1997.
Another singer who achieved fame shortly after arriving in Memphis was Otis Redding, who caught his big break in 1962 when he gave a bandmate a lift to the Stax Records recording studio. At the end of the session, Redding was allowed to cut two tracks—one of which, “These Arms of Mine,” became one of his biggest hits. It was at the Stax studio that Redding recorded “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay” in December 1967. Three days later, his plane went down near Madison, Wisconsin, causing his untimely death at the young age of 26. In addition to being inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 1998, Redding was posthumously awarded the Grammys for Best R&B Male Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song in 1969, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 1999.
New school
With those soulful roots as a backdrop, ThankGod4Cody made a name for himself with his work on Sza’s album “CTRL.” Sza is 2018’s most nominated female artist, earning nods for Best New Artist, Best R&B Performance, Best R&B Song, Best Urban Contemporary Album and Best Rap/Sung Performance.
In the Best Rap/Sung Performance, Sza will get some competition from Goldlink, produced by Teddy Walton. Walton has also earned credits for working with Kendrick Lamar and A$AP Rocky— and like ThankGod4Cody, Walton was born and raised in Memphis.
Looking to keep up with the Memphis music scene? Check this out!
You might also be interested in: Memphis Music: A Brief History of Memphis Music
