Video, Memphis Flyer

Reppin’ for Memphis: Q & A with Drumma Boy

Louis Goggans — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:38:59 -0500

Rap producers hailing from Memphis are largely known for bass-filled, dark-sounding, buck beats perfect for gangsta walking or jookin’ to, but they're not recognized for being influenced by famous composers like Ludwig van Beethoven and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

However, Christopher “Drumma Boy” Gholson was influenced by the aforementioned historical composers.…

Haslam Cautions Fellow Republicans at Lincoln Day Dinner

Jackson Baker — Sun, 19 May 2013 19:21:00 -0500

Governor Haslam at Lincoln Day

After exciting a surprisingly less-than-overflow crowd at this year’s annual Lincoln Day dinner by recounting the Republican Party’s successes in Tennessee — including the possession of two U.S. Senate seats, 7 or 9 U.S. House seats, and super-majorities in the state legislature — Governor Bill Haslam cautioned his listeners with a qualifier, preceded by a warning.

The “national situation” was different, he noted.…

Sister Myotis Announces Big Changes for the 30th Annual Ostrander Awards

Chris Davis — Thu, 16 May 2013 08:24:00 -0500

The Ostrander Awards, Memphis' answer to Broadway's Tony Awards turn 30 this year, and a big change is being made to better celebrate the Memphis theater community and this important milestone. I could tell you all about it but it will be a lot more fun if you clicked on this special video message from Sister Myotis, who returns to host this year's ceremony.…

Mystery Play: Sister Myotis has big news and she won't share

Chris Davis — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:17:00 -0500

Not yet anyway. But if Sister says it's big, y'all better all believe.…

Cohen Hits Passage of House Bill on Overtime

Jackson Baker — Thu, 09 May 2013 09:02:00 -0500

Billed by its sponsors as “The Working Families Flexibility Act” and characterized by opponents as “The Bosses Flexibility Act,” H.R. 1406 narrowly passed the majority-Republican U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday by a vote of 223 to 204.

The bill, technically an amendment to the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, a New Deal measure, is given no chance of passage in the Senate, and it is also opposed by President Obama, who has indicated he would veto it if need be, and by organized labor.…

Elements of Dewey Phillips' WHBQ sound booth have been salvaged and stored

Chris Davis — Wed, 08 May 2013 20:59:00 -0500

Renovation has begin on the Hotel Chisca, where WHBQ's "Red, Hot, & Blue" disc jockey Dewey Phillips first introduced the world to Elvis Presley, and rock-and-roll. Working with a skeleton crew of volunteers filmmaker turned preservationist Mike McCarthy removed glass, and acoustic tile from the booth where Phillips conducted the world's first Rock-and-Roll interview.…

Sound Advice: Patrick Dodd Comes Home

J.D. Reager — Tue, 07 May 2013 16:30:12 -0500

This Thursday, May 9, The Poplar Lounge will host a special "welcome home" party of sorts for Memphis blues singer and former contestant on NBC's The Voice, Patrick Dodd.

Dodd, a longtime fixture on Beale St.…

Memphis musician Sid Selvidge dies after a struggle with cancer

Chris Davis — Thu, 02 May 2013 16:53:00 -0500

Sid Selvidge had a goal. He once told a reporter that he wanted to celebrate his centennial singing on the stage at the Levitt Shell.…

On Time: Love and War are waged in Donald Margulies' "Time Stands Still."

Chris Davis — Wed, 01 May 2013 14:32:00 -0500

Talk about ballsy moves. Time Stands Still playwright Donald Margulies opens the second half of his politically-savvy play with a spot-on diatribe against the frustrating cultural function of politically-savvy plays.…

Countdown: The 2012-2013 Season's Top Ten Moments

Chris Herrington — Wed, 01 May 2013 13:04:00 -0500

I wanted to put this up in the meager time between the end of the regular season and the beginning of the playoffs, but was too bogged down. With a two-day break before Friday's Game 6 and coming off a rousing win last night in Los Angeles, let's take a moment to remember some of the high points of what was an eventful and thoroughly enjoyable regular season.…

Fincher: 2nd Amendment Aimed at Government

Jackson Baker — Wed, 01 May 2013 11:01:00 -0500

Fincher at Range USA

Amid the nonstop sound of gunfire from practice rounds in firing lanes on the other side of the wall from where he spoke, U.S. Rep. Stephen Fincher (R-8th District) delivered a ringing endorsement of gun rights Monday night, speaking to members of the Northeast Shelby Republican Club at Range USA.

During a question-and-answer period following his brief prepared remarks, Fincher was asked for his views on gun issues by Shelby County Commissioner Terry Roland, whose “Second Amendment Preservation Resolution,” intended to “prevent Federal infringement on the right to keep and bear arms,” will be voted on by the Commission at its Monday night meeting.

Fincher responded, “You saw a couple of weeks ago gun control could not get passed through the Senate?…

High School Musical Award Nominees Announced for 2013

Chris Davis — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:48:23 -0500

Everything you need to know about the HSMAs in one convenient video.

Winners will be announced Thursday, May 23rd at 7:00 p.m.…

The Possum Has Left the Building: George Jones (September 12, 1931 — April 26, 2013)

Chris Davis — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:40:29 -0500

George Jones, known as the Cadillac of Country Music because of his vocal range and nuanced phrasing, has died.

While looking back over past articles I stumbled across a piece I'd written prior to Jones' 1998 appearance at The Mid-South Fair. And while I may have overstated my point when I said he ignored Rock-and-Roll completely (some great Rockabilly cuts for Starday say otherwise), it's a fun read touching on the good, the bad, and the ridiculous.…

Game 3: Grizzlies 94, Clippers 82 — Big Trains From Memphis Get Chugging

Chris Herrington — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 01:47:40 -0500

The Grizzlies saved Saturday.

Needing three victories over the final four games, winning this series against the Los Angeles Clippers is still a heavy lift.…

Houses Divided

Jackson Baker — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0500

with VIDEO clips from last day of session by Jackson Baker Back in the days of the old Solid Democratic South (roughly, the 100-year period from the end of the Civil War to the civil rights revolution), such political disputes as existed below the Mason-Dixon line were either factional within Democratic ranks or were based on local or personal or occasionally ideological rivalries. This was especially the case in border-state Tennessee, where the switch-over from Democratic to Republican control was later in coming than in the Deep South (though ultimately just as profound and sweeping).…

RIP Richie Havens

Bruce VanWyngarden — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 08:56:00 -0500

We'll miss him. What a man. What an artist.…

Alleged Ricin Letter Writer Also Does Prince Impressions

Bruce VanWyngarden — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 08:00:00 -0500

As Jackson Baker reported Wednesday, a Corinth, Mississippi, man — Paul Kevin Curtis — was arrested on charges he sent letters poisoned with the chemical ricin to President Obama and Mississippi senator Roger Wicker.

Subsequent reports indicate that Curtis was also an Elvis tribute artist.…

Hustle & Flow: Q & A with Al Kapone

Louis Goggans — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:58:28 -0500

If there was a table designed exclusively for the forefathers of Memphis rap, Alphonzo “Al Kapone” Bailey would be among the artists seated at the head. With the release of several albums and compilations, he’s managed to sell thousands of units independently, and is viewed as one of the most respected artists within the underground rap movement.…

Dance Fever: New Ballet Ensemble is back with another edition of SpringLoaded

Chris Davis — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:46:00 -0500

If it's Springtime it's New Ballet Ensemble time. And if there has ever been a time for New Ballet Ensemble, it is now.…

Q & A with DJ Paul of Three 6 Mafia

Louis Goggans — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 11:44:57 -0500

You can’t mention pioneers within the Memphis and Southern rap scene without name-dropping Three 6 Mafia. One of the most legendary Southern rap groups in history, the collective has sold millions of records throughout the years by delivering hit after hit.…

Memphis' Valerie June Wins Fans at ACM Awards

Bruce VanWyngarden — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 13:24:00 -0500

Memphis singer/songwriter Valerie June got some national television exposure Sunday night on the Academy of Country Music awards show. Singing harmony behind country star Eric Church, June created a buzz, as the Internet lit up with people searching to discover who she was.…

Local Web Series Headshop Premieres

Chris Herrington — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 13:55:00 -0500

Craig Brewer's $5 Cover was the canary in the coal mine, and another MTV production, Savage County, followed. This weekend, a new Memphis-shot web-based film series premieres in the form of Headshop, a series that follows nine characters whose lives intersect around a local headshop where a new designer drug is being sold.…

Some Things to Worry About

Bruce VanWyngarden — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 12:57:00 -0500

Wednesday morning is meeting day around these offices. The Flyer's out on the street and the staff gets together to go over and critique the issue and plan for the upcoming weeks.…

Q & A with Big Sant

Louis Goggans — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 11:35:00 -0500

“Bitch, I ain’t no hype man!” Big Sant passionately spits in the beginning of his first verse, as well as on the chorus of “Holdin’ My Nuts,” one of the tracks off his mixtape, MFxOG.

With the recent success of his protégé and fellow-Meridian, Mississippi native, Big K.R.I.T., Big Sant was viewed by those unfamiliar with his musical efforts as nothing more than a hype man for the Def Jam Records-signed artist.…

What's Ron Ramsey Got in Store for You? Let the Man Who Steers Tennessee's Legislature Tell You Himself...

Jackson Baker — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 07:51:00 -0500

The video of this candid exchange between Capitol Hill reporters and the man who is arguably calling most of the shots in Tennessee state government begins as Ramsey is explaining why he seems to be rushing to get through the current session — something that isolated (and intrepid) members of his own Republican Party have dared to complain about.

The video ends as Ramsey is explaining why it really isn't necessary for Tennessee voters to vote on nominating candidates for the U.S. Senate — an idea which may shortly find itself on the way to being state law.

In between, Ramsey....Well, see and hear for yourself.…