Memphis The Musical

[Guest brummiemick]

I was in New York a few weeks ago and saw Memphis the Musical on Broadway. Based loosely on the story of a white DJ Dewey Phillips who helped bring black RnB into the mainstream and most famously was the first to break an Elvis Presley record on the radio. His on-air persona was described as "a speed-crazed hillbilly" I am sure many on here know of him but if you don't you may be interested to read more about him here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dewey_Phillips

https://www.mikesmemphistours.com/uselater/DeweyPhillips.html

Set in the early 1950's, the musical itself was very enjoyable from a song and dance perspective but also gave a good insight into the massive prejudice against Black musicians and reflects many of the topics here on Soul Source about the origins of Soul music etc. Essentially it tells the story of a white guy who loved black music and subsequently a black lady singer. He eventually becomes a famous DJ against the odds and she is signed by a major label. I wont try to tell the story as the links below do a much better job than I can. If ever it hits these shores I think many soulies would find it interesting not least because of the white guy loves black music theme but due to a fantastic solo acrobatic dance routine by one of the leading characters, the up tempo nature of the show and a number of good/OK songs such as:

Underground

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAKe_sgV9_g&feature=related

Steal Your Rock n Roll

Some Day

Colored Woman:

Everybody wants to be black on a Saturday night

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze22fN1fwcM&feature=related

Some of the lyrics could have been written for Soul lovers. Such as:

The Music Of My Soul lyrics

[...]

But I heard it through the alleys

It floated on the breeze

It burst out through the doorways

And it knocked me to my knees

It broke down all of my senses

And made me feel so home

See I was lost but now I found

The music of my soul

The music of my soul

About Memphis the Musical

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memphis_%28musical%29

https://www.memphismagazine.com/Memphis-Magazine/September-2011/Memphis-Meets-Broadway/

Edited December 6, 2011 by brummiemick

[Kris Holmes]

I saw this last year & although there were a couple of cool bits I thought it was pretty corny overall.