Memphis, TN

We made yet another detour (it won't be the last!) from the mother road across the border to Tennesee (The Volunteer State, aka. The Dirty South). This is the actual door that Elvis, Johnny Cash, B.B. King and many others walked through to record their first hits at Sun Recording Studios! It was very hot (41°C) and a long walk, but very worthwhile.

Yes,this is one of the actual microphones that Johnny Cash and Elvis used. The studios themselves only comprise three rooms: the reception room, recording room, and performance space. This photo was taken in the same room as the Million Dollar Quartet, U2 and many others recorded their unique sound. Rock 'n' roll was invented in this room! It was really bizarre to look at the giant photo on the wall, and notice that the walls look exactly the same - because they are the same wall!

This was our tour guide, Cora. A dedicated fan, very enthusiastic and full of facts and information such as: the amplifier that Chester Burnett (a.k.a Howlin' Wolf) broke on his way to the studio, so filled it with paper - thereby becoming the first distorted guitar effect! Like most inventions, a result of an accident - but owner Sam Phillips (who later sold Sun Records to Nashville, and invested everything in the fledgling Holiday Inn chain - making more money out of hotels than 'Heartbreak Hotel' nyuk, nyuk!) liked what he heard.

The mark of a true fan - a signature tattoo. I'm not sure if she had any of the other artists - I was too meek to ask.

Morag found the Man-in-Black's seat. I'm not sure it's for real, as the souvenir shop was only built after the recordings.

We couldn't go to Memphis without visiting Graceland, the home of the King of Rock'n'Roll - Elvis Aron Presley.

Thank y'all very much.