Beale Street is the go-to place for those looking for a diverse taste of the best in Jazz and Blues from all over the country. There really is no other place in the United States that folks can immerse themselves in the sights, sounds, and history of this uniquely American music culture. A few are a close second, but none quite as dedicated to the tradition of the Blues.
Entrepreneur Robertson Topp first developed this part of downtown Memphis in the 1840s, apparently named for a now forgotten Mexican-American War hero. Positioned perfectly from the beginning, running east from the Mississippi River, it acted as a focal point for trade on one end and as a location for associated affluent merchants on the other end of the 2.9 km stretch. History demonstrates repeatedly that merchandise is not the only thing traded in these scenarios; more often than not, these locations are a center for the exchange of innovation, ideas, and music.
In just a few short years, musicians traveling up and down the river between New Orleans to Chicago started performing on what was then Beale Avenue. They entertained merchants and their customers, quickly making Beale the place to be for good live music, and unknowingly ensuring the spread of Blues across the entire nation. It did not happen overnight though, and there were a few obstacles.
Memphis was pounded by yellow fever epidemics during the 1870s, which led the city to forfeit is charter in 1879. Around this time, Robert Church purchased some land around Beale and paid the city to create Church Park, which became a singular cultural area that blues musicians would gather. One of the most important features in this was an auditorium that could seat as many as 2000 people.
By the time the 1900s rolled around clubs, restaurants and shops dominated the landscape of Beale. It hosted some of the greatest names in Jazz and Blues known. WC Handy, Louis Armstrong, Muddy Waters, Albert King, Memphis Minnie, BB King (the Beale Street Blues Boy), Rosco Gordon, and Rufus Thomas, George Washington Lee, are just a few of the folks that helped make Beale Street “Home of the Blues.”
In 1966 it was established as a National Historic Landmark and officially declared “Home of the Blues” in 1977 through an act of Congress. In spite of all of this attention and attempts at preservation, Beale was a virtual ghost town throughout that time, as the result of a disastrous urban renewal program that wiped out much of the surrounding neighborhoods. Aggressive and locally funded conversation efforts by Beale Street Development Corporation during the 1980s paved the way to ensure continued preservation and future development of this landmark.
The Blues once again attract folks to Memphis from all over the world. Millions make the pilgrimage to visit the Home of the Blues, just as we did on our way to Arkansas via Tupelo on this trip, as Elvis did, oh so long ago.
Annual festivals and outdoor concerts fill the city with music every year at events like the Beale Street Music Festival. Food and drink is plentiful too, with restaurants serving up some of the finest Southern BBQ east or west of the Mississippi.
Trying a different spot every time, one of the best has always been Alfred’s on Beale, which is in the old Stax Records building. Other spots worthy of a visit are the Blues City Café and Silky O’Sullivan’s, which has quite a fantastic open-air experience. Great food, service, and music on Beale abounds.
Planning a Beale Street trip depends on the travelers though. The street tends to swell with partiers, and as the night progresses, so does their state of inebriation. We have never had an issue, but it is not likely the best place for children after dark. Take the little people during the day and enjoy the food and the culture, but find a sitter for them in the evening, so you can have a little adult fun.
Further Reading …
