Today's Post is a Guest Post by Sophie McGovern. Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi and Alabama are the places that gave rise to the USA's most celebrated musical traditions. Whether you're an Elvis groupie or a line-dance loving country fanatic, this region of America is where you will find the roots of your favorite music. USA tours offer the chance to visit all of these famous locations along with the classic venues and recording studios where some of the world’s most famous musicians have played. From jazz and blues to country and rock and roll, it all began here. (Photo "Memphis Skyline" by Leonard 23)
Nashville, Tennessee is the home of country, where iconic stars like Patsy Cline and Jim Reeves recorded their famous Nashville Sound hits. Honky tonk, blues, gospel and blue-grass all have roots in this area and can be heard spilling from bars and diners, playing late into the Nashville night. The Country Music Hall of Fame honors all of the stars who came from or recorded in the city. Memorabilia and artifacts include costumes, instruments and a stunning collection of photographs, with instillations documenting the rise and reign of country music royalty. (Photo "Beale Street, Memphis" by mdcarpe01)In the heart of Nashville, The Grand Ol Opry is the definitive country music venue with frequent live acts ranging from old greats to emerging stars. Originally a country music radio show, the Opry showcased old time fiddle and harmonica players as well as hoedown bands. It went on to offer a platform to many celebrated artists including Fruit Jar Drinkers and Crook Brothers before hosting acts in the 60’s such as Johnny Cash and the Everly Brothers.
Elvis fans from across the world make the musical pilgrimage to Memphis to visit the King’s birth town, Tupelo, and his famous home, Graceland. Every June the streets of Tupelo come to life for the Elvis Presley festival. Fans can also visit the church where he sang as a child and the hardware store where he played his first guitar. At Graceland you can peruse Elvis's classy collection of cars in the Elvis Presley Automobile Museum and take a look inside his private jets, Lisa Marie and Hound Dog II. The mansion is suitably extravagant and the museum offers insight into the man behind the music, documenting his extraordinary life. (Photo "Elvis" by lurba)Memphis has a long musical history from blues right through to rock. All this is archived at the Rock and Soul Memphis Museum, where you can take a tour through musical history from the days of BB King to those of Jerry Lee Lewis. Stars who recorded in Memphis are countless and include Johnny Cash, Otis Reading and The Memphis Horns.
Alabama is a living monument to musical history, where you can visit the recording studios in Muscle Shoals, the hit recording capital of the world. Loads of huge acts have recorded there including Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and The Rolling Stones. Visit famous recording studios and the Alabama Music Halls of Fame where there is a chance to record your own track in the style of the greats.
