GRACELAND AND SUN STUDIOS

Prelude to blog. Sun Studios comes later but please click on SUN now. You don't have to read it yet, but the Home page will provide the appropriate background for this blog.


I'm not usually one to stay in expensive campgrounds - WAIT for gasps of surprise from my old friends -
But Graceland RV Park is within easy walking distance of Graceland and they provided free shuttles to downtown and Sun Studios.  AND Marlow's, a famous Bar-B-Que place provides transportation to their restaurant as well. I didn't plan to go there because I had a special place I wanted to take Carol. More about that later.

Graceland is a wonderful view into the life of Elvis before his decline.

 My first record purchase was "45 LP" from his first movie, "Love Me Tender."

In spite of reported sightings, we did not see Elvis. This is as close as we got.

Our "Platinum Tour" included the cars, motorcycles and airplanes.

Then it was wait for a bus and go to Sun Studios, the Birthplace of Rock and Roll.

 Andrew and I saw "Million Dollar Quartet" on Broadway and Carol and I just saw it in Las Vegas. For the two or three of  you who don't know the story, on December 4th, 1956 Elvis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis spent an afternoon jamming at Sun Studios. Elvis had already gone to RCA but the others were still under contract to Sun. The owner Sam Phillips was smart enough to leave the tapes running without telling the quartet.

A relatively new addition to the Sun Studios Museum - This is the radio booth of Dewey Phillips (No relation to Sam) who was one of the very first DJ's to play black artists and white artists playing black inspired music. He was the first to play almost all of Sun Studio's releases. Sun employees heard that the building was being torn down so they salvaged the entire booth.

The Cook Family Duet rehearsing in the actual studio where so much history was made. No one offered us a contract. I don't know if Carol was disappointed but as a bass player, I'm used to it. After all, the "Million Dollar QUARTET"  had two more people who remain in obscurity. The drummer, W. S. Holland and bassist, Carl Perkins brother Jay.

I had planned to take Carol to Rendezvous. I remember them having the BEST dry rub ribs in the world. And it would be fun to lead Carol down a back alley to a hole in the wall. 

BUT our only day in town was Monday and they are closed on Monday. THANK YOU Tinkerbell. Latest reviews are that it has gone touristy and lost a lot in quality.

So, back to the campground, call Marlowe's and ask them to come pick us up. A few minutes later they arrived in a pink stretch Cadillac. Didn't get a picture there, but here we are arriving at the restaurant.

AND their mascot is a pink pig Airstream. This was worth it even if the food doesn't live up to our expectations.

But oh my goodness, it did. Here is Carol's pulled pork.

And my rack of ribs with sides "on the side" because there's no room on the platter.

They are famous for their desserts too, so we HAD to go for it.

Maile - yes I spelled it right - was simply the icing on the cake. Friendly, helpful, full of life. The perfect compliment to a perfect day.

The limo was waiting to take us back to the campground where we collapsed in a food coma.

ONE DAY. But what a day.

Next is Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry.