While the music industry has often been criticized as a boy’s club (and for good reason), women in Memphis have been at the forefront of various genres since the very beginning. In the 1930s, Memphis Minnie earned a reputation as one of the country’s most formidable guitar players, prompting blues legend Big Bill Broonzy to say that she could “pick a guitar and sing as good as any man I’ve ever heard.” In the 1950s, Cordell Jackson became the first woman to produce, arrange, engineer, and promote music on her own rock and roll label.
By: Ariel Taranski Are you wanting to celebrate Women’s History Month in Memphis, but you’re not sure where to start? Luckily for you, this city has some amazing upcoming events that you won’t want to miss. There are so many ways to honor women and celebrate them this month, right here in our city that’s…
I know people who feel most comfortable in dive bars. To be honest, I am one of those people. I’ve been guilty of looking for those divey music venues when I travel to a new city to find what the townsfolk are like. You know the bars… the music is louder than it should be,…
There’s no way our Women of Memphis Music playlist is definitive – even though it is literally four of songs written by and featuring Memphis women music-makers. Inevitably there are so many more that we missed, but that just helps to prove the immense impact Memphis women have had on our music scene – since the beginning! We’d love…
By Brianna Smith-Herman Tavis “Trendin” Harvey was born in Detroit Michigan and moved around a bit before settling down in Memphis with his mom, dad and younger sister. He attended Cordova Middle and High School and started at the University of Memphis before realizing it just wasn’t for him. Which led him to begin his…
By: Elise Herron Memphis is known for its monuments and museums honoring black history, but it’s also where many pivotal events took place. This month and any month, you can visit the sites where history happened and experience the local legacy of black activism and enterprise up close. Here are some places to pin. Universal…
After a long and unrelenting winter, it’s finally that time again! Every spring, Memphians and visitors alike come together to celebrate the return of warm weather and loads of live music opportunities. If you can find a combination of the two, even better. While we are still patiently awaiting spring concert announcements from some of…
By: Ariel Taranski Cover Photo Credit: Ashley Benham Photography If you had to describe Memphis in one word, first of all, could you? Secondly, which word would you decide is most important above all the rest? Memphis is so rich in history, diversity, life, community, that it’s hard to sum it up so easily. But…
By: Ariel Taranski Black History Month is a pivotal time in Memphis; not only because our city has been at the center of Black innovation and achievement for generations, but also because we still continue to see Memphis’ Black community influence worldwide culture today. However, part of the importance of this month shouldn’t be forgotten…
