Million Dollar Quartet

Currently In: Bull Shoals
Leaving for Branson tomorrow

Johnny and I had both been to Graceland before.  So we decided to take a tour of Sun Studio instead. I learned so much more about Elvis' early years from this tour!

Here is the broadcast booth from WHBQ radio show at the Hotel Chisca in Memphis where DJ Dewey Phillips played the first Elvis record in 1953.  It was all up from there.

There were all kinds of artifacts from the early days of rock and roll.  I thought this cow hide guitar case belonging to Elvis was interesting.

After a quick review of the history of Sam Phillips and building his music business, we went down to the actual recording studio.  The floor is still marked where Elvis stood to make his first recordings.

Graham, our tour guide, told lots of stories.  And he was a good musician, too!

A famous photo of the  Million Dollar Quartet hangs on the wall in the studio.  Johnny Cash, Elvis, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis right here at Sun Studio.

Many artists have recorded in this studio and then they leave a gift.
These drums were left by U2.

This was Jerry Lee Lewis' piano.

Sam Phillips made sure the mic used by all the artists was not put behind a case so everyone can enjoy it.

He ain't nothin' but a hound dog!

After this experience we couldn't resist a drive to Graceland.  Not a tour, just a peek.
And the brick wall in front of the property where fans put their signatures.

Since it was such a nice day, we took a look at the other end of Mud Island where there is a River Park.

We walked along the Riverwalk - an exact scale model of the Lower Mississippi River.  It was designed by the Corps of Engineers and it about 5 city blocks long.    It has geographical and historical markers along the way. My photo doesn't do the magnificence of this attraction any justice at all.

The Riverwalk also has scaled representations of 20 cities along the Lower Mississippi. This is New Orleans.  The whole thing was very impressive.

Later in the day, we went back to Beale Street and the same music venue we had been to the previous day since it was so fun.  It was in full swing.

There was great people watching, too.

When we were in Hot Springs, we met a fun family from Memphis.  We called them during our visit to their city.  We met them on Beale Street at Silky Sullivan's and enjoyed The Diver. With 8 straws.

Johnny, Andy and Jake.

This is CJ, me and Mindy.
These people were so great - just an instant connection.  We hope to see them sometime in Chicagoland!