Day 7 Memphis to Clarksdale
The day started with a healthy breakfast followed by a brief discussion with a local tour guided who advised walking down Main Street to the National Civil Rights Museum and the Lorraine Hotel. It was really, really good and loads of info regarding how from the 15th century to the present day African Americans had been screwed over by the with man. From the outside the museum looks like it is the motel and they also have the house where James Earl Ray shot MLK on the balcony.
Onwards to Stax Records where Otis Reading and The Staples to name but a few were first recorded. After MLKs death it all changed however and color issues were everywhere. Jim Stewart founded it with his sister Estelle Axton in the Soulsville district of Memphis. Isaac Hayes was one of the recording artists there, check out his gold plated Cadillac below.
Onwards to Stax Records where Otis Reading and The Staples to name but a few were first recorded. After MLKs death it all changed however and color issues were everywhere. Jim Stewart founded it with his sister Estelle Axton in the Soulsville district of Memphis. Isaac Hayes was one of the recording artists there, check out his gold plated Cadillac below.
Eventually we left for Clarksdale stopping for lunch at Helena where Brad Adler joined us for lunch and never stopped talking. Still, Vic enjoyed his 15th consecutive Bloody Mary there and that was the main thing.
In Clarksdale we were greeted by Magical Madge ( married to Chilly Billy Howell and strong Trump supporter) and then got caught in a massive lightning storm soaking us to the skin. We ended up firstly at the Aussie chicks placed (Levons, named after her Great Dane) and later in the Old Roxy cinema and finally in the Shack Up Inn our of town after more Ribs at Abe’s. Frank felt there was a whole lesbian thing going on though later research by Eoin showed that a gay, black mayoral candidate was shot (albeit in 2013). The article wasnt clear on whether he was shot for being black or being gay, or both. Newspaper reports that Marco McMillan (34), was beaten, dragged, and set on fire, according to a statement from his family. A real charming aside.
After a long wait we saw Lightnin' Malcolm do his stuff. Mississippi Cyrus was also there, an interesting Cat. The accommodation arrangements in Clarksdale were arranged by Frank and were voted best for that day. Another job....done.
After a long wait we saw Lightnin' Malcolm do his stuff. Mississippi Cyrus was also there, an interesting Cat. The accommodation arrangements in Clarksdale were arranged by Frank and were voted best for that day. Another job....done.
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