Well I am finally home and rested and took care of some home issues before sitting back down and reflecting on the last two days of music and travel. I also did a lot of shopping at the merchant tables, man I brought home two bags of stuff like vinyls! I was kind of sad they sold out of shirts at the showcases and I missed getting one, but I did get a poster. Yeah, I had to save vacation time this year and I couldn’t come out for the entire weekend..sadly.
I did have a wonderful time in Memphis and I’m going to re-post the live blog I did, instead of re posting all that show info. This is more a short article to include the hotel I stayed at and a few GREAT PLACES I went to eat at while I was in Memphis.
It was gorgeous weather but it rained both days in fact on my trip home it rained so hard I had a three hour delay getting back to the Palace for the Dallas Moore and Craig Gerdes show. Several wrecks going home and stalled traffic, and oh yeah I stopped at McKay’s used record store (They sell new too). I highly suggest stopping there it’s basically TWO HUGE FLOORS of music, books and movies at cheap prices.
I briefly stopped in Waverly by the river at the Loretta Lynn’s gift shop and because of my short allowed time there I didn’t stop at the ranch. But I did however stop and absorb some of the history there of Miss Lynn’s past, and even though she is up in age, she remains one of Country Music’s most active Legends today.
I stayed at the Days Inn At Graceland, which is off Elvis Presley Blvd across the street. They have a pretty cool tourist attraction there for Elvis fans complete with a guitar pool and gift shop. It was pretty reasonably priced however the staff was ABSOLUTELY FRIENDLY…actually EVERYONE from the city was beyond friendly to me. The room was clean and spacious and helped me enjoy my trip, I would defiantly stay there again, and use it as my “go to” hotel for any return trips.
The Guesthouse At Graceland was gorgeous and even though I didn’t stay there so I’m not sure how nice the rooms were, I can say the ballroom and other amenities were beyond nice. The only thing I thought was a weird policy was the way to purchase drinks in the lobby, you had to wait in two different lines to complete a drink transaction. BUT I do NOT think that was of any control of the Ameripolitans, and it was a venue rule. I only drank cokes, as I pretty much stopped drinking totally, but I felt bad for the hundreds of my peers that were drinking there.
It was totally an overwhelming experience to say the least, with that many industry people all in one area, it was almost like R.O.P.E only in Memphis. I mean I literally spent an hour going from group to group socializing, while trying to maintain my live blog I had going. This was truly a difficult function to totally absorb in every fashion, with so much going on at once.
MOST IMPORTANTLY was this fact: HISTORY IS RESPECTED AND UPHELD HERE as tonight Legends were appreciated like Mr. Lloyd Green and his contributions to Legends like Mr. Charley Pride as he played on many of Charley’s studio albums. Mr. Fluke Holland was loved on as were many other Sun Records contributors, stories were told like HOW W.S. Fluke Holland was given his nickname. Mr. Jimmy Van Eaton was also honored tonight, having contributed to many of the Sun Records recordings..perhaps more than anyone here tonight.
Mr. Dale Watson and Miss Danielle Colby hosted one hell of a program here tonight with live performances by SO MANY people tonight, like I previously stated there was SO MUCH to take in, and was so much fun that I cannot wait for 2019. In case you missed it here is a copy of my LIVE BLOG from this week at the Graceland Guest House.
Folks we JUST GOT started here tonight and they introduced tonight’s hosts Mr. Dale Watson and Miss Danielle Colby. They played a gorgeous version of America The Beautiful. They are explaining the program and what is to transpire here.
8:15PM Mr. James Hand is performing “In The Corner By The Table”.
8:18PM Miss Danielle is introducing Miss Nikki Lane and she is performing “Viva Las Vegas’.
8:25PM Miss Rosie Flores is here, Mr. Dale is telling us about her Cowpunk and Bakersfield influences.
Mr. Levi Dexter is here presenting the Honky Tonk Female and the winner is Miss Brennen Leigh.
8:27PM Miss Danielle is with Mr. Dale introducing Asleep At The Wheel, and they are playing “Get You Kicks On Route 66′.
8:34PM Mr. Dale And Mr. Ray are performing ” Feeling Haggard” off their duet album.
8:40PM Mr. Jake Penrod and Miss Nikki Lane just announced Luke Bell as Honky Tonk Male winner!
8:42PM Mr. Dale is loving on Tillford Sellers, who couldn’t make it tonight. He is watching from heaven.
8:43PM Motel Mirrors is performing right now.
8:48 The Reeves Brothers just won Honky Tonk Band of the year.
8:53PM Mr. Unknown Hinson is playing right now.
8:55PM We are announcing the Outlaw Female Winner being presented by Miss Bonnie Montgomerey and the
winner is…….Nikki Lane.
8:58PM Mr. Jesse Dayton and are presenting the Outlaw Male Award and the winner is Cody Jinks.
9:14PM Junior Brown is presenting the Pioneer Of The Sound winner Mr Lloyd Green.
9:22PM Mr. Lloyd Green is playing Jukebox Charlie and Just between You And Me. He played on the
studio albums of both songs and MANY MORE!
9:48PM We are back from intermission, with beer jokes.
9:50PM W.S. Fluke Holland and others are remembering Mr. Sam Phillips and Sun Records.
10:00 The Humna Jukebox Mr. Sleepy Labeef is playing songs now.
10:03 Mr. Jesse Dayton is up right now talking about a story on Crooke And Chase, and how he
got to record with Waylon and Cash. He is playing Big River.
10:16PM Mr. Jason D Williams is tearing the place apart with two drummers!
Mr. Joshua said as Mr. Dallas Moore would say this was a righteous rendering
He broke it. Absolutely AMAZING drum and full band number.
10:21PM The band is STILL JAMMING and tearing the roof off this place!
10:28PM Mr. James Intveld is here. Wonderful man with AWESOME Music.
We are learning about the Elvis Sun Records material.
10:36PM Mr. Dickey Lee is here, who is the last original Sun Records artist alive.
He wrote “She Thinks I Still Care” and others. He is playing right now, some of the
greatest music I have heard in a LONG TIME is here tonight.
10:44PM Mr. Big Sandy is here! I LOVE him in fact he was the first person I ran into when I
arrived in Memphis. Same hotel. He is playing a Carl Perkins song.
10:51PM Mr. Dale declared Memphis as “Ground Zero” for independent music, and before the Outlaw movement
Mr. Sam Phillips created true independence for local music.
10:55PM Mr. Ricky And Mr. Gunner Nelson are playing “milk Cow Blues”. Their father Ricky Nelson wrote the song
and Elvis had a hit with it.
11:00PM Mr. Robert Gordon has called up Sam Phillips family, to tell more stories and accept the 2018
Legend award winner Sam Phillips. His son accepted the award tonight. He is telling stories
about his father, who said the secret to Rock And Roll, is reaching deep down inside of you
and pull it out of your asshole.
11:07PM Mr. Chris Casello and Miss Brennan Leigh are now presenting The Ralph Mooney Award winner
and the winner is…..Chris Scruggs.
11:12PM Mr. Chris is THANKING so many REAL heroes of music. HE IS the real deal.
11:15PM As Mr. Dale is introducing all of the house band they are moving on to
award the venue of the year. There are SO MANY GREAT venues nationwide.
And the winner is….Sportmen’s Tavern.
11:20PM Mr. Jason Galaz is presenting Festival Of the Year Award with Miss Cheryl Desiree
and others. And the winner is……The New England Shake Up.
11:24PM Mr. James Riley is presenting Ameripolitan DJ of the year….and the winner is…
WB Walker!
11:28PM Mr Jim Heath AKA Reverend Horton Heat is now performing.
11:41PM Mr. James Intveld and Mr. Big Sandy are presenting the award for Western Swing Female.
And The Winner is…..Miss Sophia Johnson.
11:44PM Mr. Gunnar Nelson and Miss Katie from Asleep At The Wheel are now presenting the award for
Western Swing Male….And the winner is Mr. Billy Mata.
11:47PM Mr. Big Sandy and Miss Sandy Walker are presenting the Western Swing Group of the year
And the winner is…..The Carolyn Sills Combo.
11:57PM Miss Lara Hope and Mr. Sam Phillips Jr. are announcing the award Rockabilly Female
And the winner is…Miss Bailey Dee.
12:00PM miss Celine Lee and are presenting the Rockabilly Male award…and the winner is Mr. Al Dual.
12:00AM The Rockabilly Group of the year are The Go Getters.
Right down the road was a local pizza place called Exline’s Pizza, which had a TERRIFIC pizza with chopped meats and fresh vegetables on it. The meats were under the cheese and at first I thought my order was wrong, until I checked into this further. I also had an appetizer which was also equally good, the food was terrific.
The next day on Wednesday I checked out of my hotel, and began my ride home BUT FIRST I stopped at The Commissary for barbecue ribs and pulled pork shoulder. This location is in the Germantown area, however it has a crazy parking situation going on, the food was FABULOUS.
NIKKI LANE, BAILEY DEE, THE GO GETTTERS & MORE TAKE HOME
AMERIPOLITAN MUSIC AWARDS IN MEMPHIS CEREMONY
(MEMPHIS, TN) – In a night filled with incredible musical performances, artists in rockabilly, western swing, outlaw country and honky tonk music were honored at the fifth annual Ameripolitan Music Awards at the Guest House at Graceland in Memphis.
The awards were the ultimate cherry on top of four days of music and festivities in Memphis. Here is the complete list of winners and honorees.
2018 Honky Tonk Female
Brennen Leigh
2018 Honky Tonk Male
Luke Bell
2018 Honky Tonk Group
The Reeves Brothers
2018 Western Swing Female
Sophia Johnson
2018 Western Swing Male
Billy Mata
2018 Western Swing Group
The Carolyn Sills Combo
2018 Rockabilly Female
Bailey Dee
2018 Rockabilly Male
Al Dual
2018 Rockabilly Group
The Go Getters
2018 Outlaw Female
Nikki Lane
2018 Outlaw Male
Cody Jinks
2018 Outlaw Group
Whitey Morgan and the 78’s
2018 Ameripolitan DJ
W.B. Walker
2018 Ameripolitan Venue
Sportsmen’s Tavern
2018 Ameripolitan Festival
The New England Shakeup-Up
2018 Ameripolitan Musician
Chris Scruggs
2018 Keeper of the Key
Reverend Horton Heat
2018 Founder of the Sound
Lloyd Green
The Master Award
Brian Setzer
The Legend Award
Sam Phillips
ABOUT AMERIPOLITAN AWARDS
The Ameripolitan Music Awards were created to benefit and acknowledge artists whose work does not readily conform to the tastes of today’s “country” or other music genres and organizations. It also provides fans with a means of finding these artists and their music. Ameripolitan – This thought provoking word is intended to be an invitation to discuss the future of the music that is important to so many of us. By leaving the hopelessly compromised word “country” behind and exclusively using the term “Ameripolitan,” our intention is to reestablish this music’s own unique identity, elevate its significance and help reinvigorate it creatively. Also, because of our place in history, we have the privilege and responsibility to pass a great musical tradition on to future generations who will otherwise have no direct connection to this music. The Ameripolitan Music Awards began in 2014 in Austin, Texas. The fifth annual event will be held in Memphis, Tenn., in February of 2018.
