Soulsville was the name given to the neighborhood surrounding the Stax recording studio where dozens of soul musicians who created the first great golden age of Memphis soul music lived. But Tonya Dyson didn’t think that the Memphis music scene’s best days were behind it. The music and culture had changed—hip hop and slam poetry came to the forefront, and a new generation of musicians had added a “neo” to soul—but the spirit was still the same.
“The thing wasn’t that there was nothing to do in this city,” Dyson says. “It’s just that people didn’t know about it.” And so she founded Neosoulsville.com to get the word on out the positive, progressive, and funky aspects of Memphis music and culture. Since its founding, Neosoulsville has moved beyond just reporting on the scene to making it happen by booking and promoting shows and connecting artists and fans. Dyson’s inside connection to and passion for the music she loves is no accident. She is herself a fantastic soul singer who says she can’t remember when she wasn’t making music—which makes Neosoulsville yet another example of Memphis musicians doing it for themselves.
Beginning in the 1990s as the bassist for surf-rockers Impala, Scott Bomar has been at the forefront of Memphis music for more than a decade. The versatile musician, engineer, and producer has done extensive movie soundtrack work, bringing slinky soul-inspired sounds to such films as Craig Brewer’s 2005 breakout hit Hustle and Flow, the blues infused followup Black Snake Moan, Giancarlo Espositio’s directorial debut Gospel Hill, and the upcoming John Michael McCarthy exploitation epic Cigarette Girl. Bomar’s band the Bo-Keys doesn’t just ape the classic Memphis sounds of the 60s and 70s, members such as “Theme from Shaft” guitarist Charles “Skip” Pitts and Bar-Kays founder Ben Cauley are carrying on in the vein they started.
Bomar says he drew inspiration and advice from legendary producer Willie Mitchell when opening his own Eletraphonic Recording studio in Memphis’ burgeoning South Main Arts district. During the studio’s short existence, Bomar has recorded artists ranging from rap legend Al Kapone to punk sensation Jay Reatard, using a mix of digital and analog equipment to bring the Memphis sound into the twenty-first century.
Often overlooked in Memphis’ music history is its electronic music. It started out in the rave days of the 80s, hiding from police in abandoned warehouses and semi-legal house parties, and has grown steadily through the years into a thriving scene led by beat dropping DJs such as Mr. White and Sean OD.
The epicenter of Memphis electro is Dish, a restaurant and lounge located on the corner of Cooper and Young. Dish is a tapas-style restaurant by day, but after 9 it transforms into a dream disco, complete with a bed where tired dancers can lounge while nursing their cocktails. So remember, guitar slingers: your music may get more attention, but you’re still playing in a beer barn. At Dish, Memphis electronica has found a stylish home.
CREDITS
special thanks to
David Nestler
Mr. White
Robert Kalafat
Glenn Althoff
Sean O’Daniels
Chris Garcia
Sarah Bolton
music
“Hot Mess - Musaria (Songleader Remix)”
written by Sean O’Daniels
remix by Chad White
Where does the Memphis beat come from? The endless procession of great drummers that has powered the city’s sounds had to get their drums somewhere, and the preferred place for drummers in the know is the Memphis Drum Shop. This Midtown institution has more cymbals than you can shake a stick at, and an unbeatable selections of skins for every skill level. From the beginner to the expert to the rock god, anything a drummer wants to hit, they’ve got it. Even more amazing is their collection of vintage drums, many of which are signed souveniers from rock and soul legends.
But it’s more than just a store, it’s a center of education. Countless Memphis drummers got their first lessons here, whether they’re marching in the drum line or seated behind the kit. With a staff who is dedicated to the art of the beat, Memphis Drum Shop truly is “Drum Heaven”.
CREDITS
special thanks to
Jim Pettit
Cedric Keel
Isiah Rowser Jr.
Renardo D. Ward
Clifford Jackson Jr.
Parker Mulherin
Marshall Mulherin
Joe Mulherin
John G. Salazar
Jason F. Hatcher
Bill Frazier
Liberty Bowl Stadium and Fairgrounds
the Memphis Drum Shop
Every city of any size has a coffee shop with an open mic night where local talent can cut their teeth in front of an audience. Memphis’ version is the tiny Java Cabana, where kids from the scene get caffinated and experience a little bit of what their peers have to offer. The hideaway hangout for poets has become minorly famous in its own way, appearing in not only $5 Cover, but also Morgan Jon Fox’s breakout OMG/HaHaHa (Q&A with writer/director). The open-minded crowd and nurturing atmosphere makes open mic night one of the most interesting evenings in Memphis. From a knock-down, throw-out chess game to music you won’t find anywhere else in the city, there’s always something on offer at Java Cabana.
CREDITS
special thanks to
Mary A. Burns
Mallory Stafford
Michael T. Moore Jr.
Michael Downing
Kendall Dowell
the Warble
Alyssa Moore
Valerie Hopkins
Laurel T. Carrito
James C. Danie II
