This whole experience started with a phone call last Saturday saying that our friends Darren and Allison from Las Vegas would possibly be in Memphis on my birthday to do a private show. I of course thought that this was all a joke, and he was trying to get back at us for surprising him on his birthday last February. Once we saw the email confirmation, we started to maybe believe that it would be true.
On Tuesday night we had started making arrangements to get to Memphis, just in case this was all true. We cancelled our Nashville reservation, and booked a room in Memphis.
Thursday morning started by waking up on Loretta’s bus, and opening birthday presents. (Happy Birthday to me). And no, we did not see any ghosts on the bus, although our campfire neighbors swore they saw Loretta when they stayed on the bus the night before us.
We headed west on I-40. We’re goin to Graceland, Graceland, Memphis, Tennessee.
We checked into the Comfort Inn and Suites ($64 USD) near the airport. We still didn’t believe that Darren and Allison would actually be in Memphis until we knocked on the door of their hotel room and Allison answered the door. They were staying at the Heartbreak Hotel (which is directly across the street from Graceland). They were in a very cool suite, decorated in black and red.
We’ve been to Graceland a few times before, but experiencing it with Darren (#1 Elvis Tribute Artist in the World) was a totally new experience. The tour was great, as always, with a few new things to see.
After the tour of Graceland, Elvis Automobile museum and Elvis’ custom jets, we did lots of good shopping at the mall across the street.
This whole trip started when Darren received an offer from Mike to perform for Mike’s parents 40th wedding anniversary. Darren had met Mike in Las Vegas after his show at the Stratosphere Hotel & Casino, and Mike pulled this show together in less than a week.
We headed to The New Daisy Theatre on Beale Street and met some VERY interesting people including Mike’s uncle Jerry Kattawar. Jerry is the #1 blues piano player, probably in the world,and has played with the likes of Ronnie Hawkins, Muddy Waters, BB King, and various members of The Band.
Mike was a very generous host, providing pizza and a show for 20-30 of his friends and family, in the 300 seat theatre he had rented out just for this show. Just because his Mom loves Elvis!
To indicate how generous Mike is … Mike’s daughter was on the TV show “My Super Sweet 16”. For anyone who has seen that show, you know what kind of $$$ we’re talking about.
Marion Deaton opened the show with a short tribute to Willie Nelson. This guy was phenomenal. He sounded and looked exactly like Willie.
Let me tell you … Darren’s show was THE BEST SHOW EVER (For real!). He performed two sets, and included all the big songs … “Lawdy Miss Clawdy”, “Sweet Caroline”, “Suspicious Minds”, “My Way”, “Hurt”, “American Trilogy”, and closed the show with “How Great Thou Art”. Mike’s parents (Barbara and Mike Sr.) loved the show, and so did the rest of the crowd.
After the show we Walked down Beale Street to the Blues City Cafe, with Mike and some of his friends and family. Beale Street was hoppin’ with bands and lots of people, even on a Thursday night. We were treated to a fabulous Memphis dinner of steak, ribs, etc. The steak was priced by the pound, so you can imagine how big these steaks were. The food was die to for, and the atmosphere was electrifying.
After stuffing ourselves, we walked back down Beale Street to Silky O’Sullivan’s where Silky personally greeted Mike and his gang at the door. This place is a bar with two piano players tonight. Darren was introduced to the crowd by Jerry, and then wowed the crowd with a version of “Big Boss Man”.
We were then treated to a fabulous display of the talents of Jerry on piano. He has the fastest left hand in the world … clocked at 93.2 miles per hour. This guy can play! Goodness gracious great balls of fire!
The evening ended with the four of us relaxing back at the Heartbreak Hotel and trying to figure out if this was all a dream.
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