August 16

[Ron Brand]

It's a memorable day for me. Not only did I get married to the initial Mrs. Brand on that day, but it was also the day Elvis died. It made it that much easier to remember my anniversary, for the short time that lasted.

I was fortunate enough to see Elvis' last show in Austin a few months before he died. Even shook the King's hand.

[Mr. Happy]

It's a memorable day for me. Not only did I get married to the initial Mrs. Brand on that day, but it was also the day Elvis died. It made it that much easier to remember my anniversary, for the short time that lasted.

I was fortunate enough to see Elvis' last show in Austin a few months before he died. Even shook the King's hand.

RB, I saw two of his last shows, may be even his second and third to last shows, in Alexandria, Louisiana.

[ybbodeus]

I was getting a haircut across the street from Graceland that day. We left 30 minutes before the ambulance arrived, per the Barber. 

My Dad sold The King a few houses for his Mafia members and for his girlfriends.  Vernon lived on our street, and my Mother, a junior high teacher, tutored two of his half-brothers. 

I have several great Elvis stories. I'll share some of them at the pre-game Saturday. Can't make the game but wanna see some of the SnS'ers, regardless of whether or not they want to see me.

[Mr. Happy]

I was getting a haircut across the street from Graceland that day. We left 30 minutes before the ambulance arrived, per the Barber. 

My Dad sold The King a few houses for his Mafia members and for his girlfriends.  Vernon lived on our street, and my Mother, a junior high teacher, tutored two of his half-brothers. 

I have several great Elvis stories. I'll share some of them at the pre-game Saturday. Can't make the game but wanna see some of the SnS'ers, regardless of whether or not they want to see me.

I'm not going to the game, but I'd love to read some Elvis stories. And I'm sure that the SnS crowd will be happy to see you.

[Ron Brand]

RB, I saw two of his last shows, may be even his second and third to last shows, in Alexandria, Louisiana.

You must have seen the night right after the one I saw.

It was a Sunday night, probably January or February, when they announced that he'd be coming to town on the 10 p.m. news. I think it was the lead story. I was by no means the world's biggest Elvis fan but I was a fan of sorts - it was pretty hard to not be an Elvis fan, really. I called a friend of mine and we hatched the plan that we'd camp out for the tickets that were going on sale in the morning. My parents were OK with it so we drove down to Municipal Auditorium and I think we were 8th or so in line.

It was a pretty amazing night for lil' ol' me. Freezing shit cold, and of course all we had were the shirts on our backs and jeans, no coats or blankets or food or drinks or anything, because we were idiots. We shivered and made our own fun until 3 or 4 in the morning, then the girls who had been flirting with us beckoned us over to share their blanket tent.

I ended up with 4th row center, surrounded by an endless tide of 40something women, screaming and squealing with every move he made. It was a show like we didn't get in Austin, the whole Vegas-style revue. I've got a really awful sounding bootleg of the show that I've listened to a couple of times. Tonight I discovered that we witnessed his final performance of 'Steamroller Blues,' for whatever that's worth.

[Ron Brand]

I have several great Elvis stories. I'll share some of them at the pre-game Saturday. Can't make the game but wanna see some of the SnS'ers, regardless of whether or not they want to see me.

I hope I get to hear them, I'm sure it'll be fun.

[chuck]

I saw Elvis at the Rodeo in the Astrodome.

ybbodeus, did you know any of the Box Tops guys or anyone involved with Stax?

[Mr. Happy]

I saw Elvis at the Rodeo in the Astrodome.

ybbodeus, did you know any of the Box Tops guys or anyone involved with Stax?

I liked both the Box Tops (Soul Deep was my favorite song by them) and all of the stuff on Stax, particularly Rufus Thomas, Sam & Dave and the Bar-Kays, but I loved most of their other artists. When I was in high school, on a convention visit to Memphis, I scaled a wall and risked suspension from school to go see the Bar-Kays live. I snuck out and back into the hotel without getting caught. It's a wonder that I wasn't killed at the auditorium. It was a much rougher crowd than I was expecting, being a wet behind the ears country bumpkin.

[ybbodeus]

I was just a kid, obviously, but the mom of one of my carpoolers was the executive assistant of THE MAN at Stax. Mrs. Drew said Isaac Hayes actually helped them say whom they should or should not market.  He knew who the fuck-ups were. He said the Bar-Kays were worth the risk. Major league. Coke heads.

Once and only once she set it up for him to show up at a Memphis Eye-talian institution, Pete and Sam Bamnarito's, for her son Scott's birthday party.  The lowlight of the party was my trying to tell his friends that I had lost my virginity with Colleen Bitwell when I was 7 and she was 8.

To this day I have a problem with one of the nicest guys I ever met being Mr. Big in Escape From New York.

Funky Chicken, Happy?

[Mr. Happy]

I was just a kid, obviously, but the mom of one of my carpoolers was the executive assistant of THE MAN at Stax. Mrs. Drew said Isaac Hayes actually helped them say whom they should or should not market.  He knew who the fuck-ups were. He said the Bar-Kays were worth the risk. Major league. Coke heads.

Once and only once she set it up for him to show up at a Memphis Eye-talian institution, Pete and Sam Bamnarito's, for her son Scott's birthday party.  The lowlight of the party was my trying to tell his friends that I had lost my virginity with Colleen Bitwell when I was 7 and she was 8.

To this day I have a problem with one of the nicest guys I ever met being Mr. Big in Escape From New York.

Funky Chicken, Happy?

I'll see your Funky Chicken and raise you a Can Your Monkey Do the Dog?

[ybbodeus]

"I'm just talkin' 'bout Shaft...errrrr...Rufus."

For what it's worth, I believe the most underappreciated band of the 60's and 70's might be War.  Their gem, Spill the Wine, with Eric Burden, might be my favorite song of all time.

I loved Bill Withers' song Use Me, Three Dog Night's cover of Randy Newman's Mama Told Me Not to Come (and Liar).   I also think Bread's Guitar Man was beautiful. Bad Company's Shooting Star harkens back to that one.  Sue me, I liked 'em.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I've been to Memphis, used to go often in the late 80s and early 90s. The only musicians I ever met were Tav Falco and Greg Cartwright.

[juliogotay]

I have a brother-in-law that grew up near Graceland. He said young Elvis would often play touch football with the area kids on Sundays when in town.

[Duke]

The Continental Club does an Elvis tribute show on Aug. 16th every year.  On his birthday as well. Lots of fun those.

[Ron Brand]

Isaac Hayes truly was The Man. How cool.

I got in the car this morning to go to work and I didn't want to hear Stiff Little Fingers for the third time in 24 hours, and everything else I had didn't click, so I went with the odd one out in the stack. I always, always believe that when I'm listening to it, I'm probably the only one in the entire world listening to it at that time. I have never brought it up in conversation and had anyone even know it existed, much less that they were familiar with it, but it's one of the coolest records I ever owned. I think I've even written a little bit about it on this site.

Booker T and the MGs, McLemore Avenue.

I got to thinking about guitarists while it was playing, and how everything Steve Cropper did was drenched in soul. I wonder if he can even hit a single note that doesn't sound soulful and southern.

Last night I got to see about ten minutes of some live Elvis from '71 or '72, with that incredible band behind him. James Burton is such a master of the guitar. He always seems so effortless and tasteful, just amazing. One of the clearest examples of what I can't stand about Bruce Springsteen is a moment in that Black and White Night video where Springsteen is playing alongside Burton, and Bruce takes a single-string lead that...he...is...wrenching...out...of...his...guitar...and...all...his..heart...oh...so...hard...to...get...it...out...

Meanwhile, Burton is four-finger picking right behind him, never looking down at the guitar, content to let The Star be out in the front while he does his job and enjoys the playing.

McLemore Avenue. Pick up the new remastered version, you'll be very happy.

[Guinness]

McLemore Avenue. Pick up the new remastered version, you'll be very happy.

This is one of those records I've been meaning to get for ages, so I just did.  Thanks for the rec.  I bought the remaster with the bonus tracks, looking forward to hearing it.
Of course, I use iTunes, and lately it takes a dozen attempts to download properly and then I usually get an error message when trying to play back the music that I'm not authorized to play it, so I have to delete it and redownload it...I seriously hate iTunes (and apple as a result), but I have so much music in it that I'm stuck with it.

Anyway, thaks again Ron.
I also picked up Elvis' first album (the one that London Calling copied) recently and was pretty happy with it.  I love those old records where you can really hear the room when your listening to it.

[subnuclear]

That was his first collection for RCA Victor. His Sun Recordings came first and are really great.

[chuck]

Booker T and the MGs, McLemore Avenue.

Excellent call.

I once saw them and Al Green on the same day. That was something else.

[ybbodeus]

Chuck, I neglected to respond about The Box Tops. No, I never got to meet them.  The only reason I had any familiarity with Stax was because of the carpool I mentioned earlier--my buddy's mom worked for Mr. Stewart and later Mr. Bell. 

She always talked about the musicians that basically worked and lived there.  They had as good a studio band as anyone ever had. Steve Cropper bought the biggest house in our neighborhhod. It was next to my girlfriend's house. He turned the huge basement in that hujse to a jam room.  Cars would show up there and not leave for days.e

[chuck]

The Memphis music scene of the 60's and into the 70's is one of the most... you know, I was going to provide all sorts of platitudes and so on and they are surely all applicable but I'll just say the most interesting (to me) in the history of American popular music.

[Taras Bulba]

Isaac Hayes truly was The Man. How cool.

I got in the car this morning to go to work and I didn't want to hear Stiff Little Fingers for the third time in 24 hours, and everything else I had didn't click, so I went with the odd one out in the stack. I always, always believe that when I'm listening to it, I'm probably the only one in the entire world listening to it at that time. I have never brought it up in conversation and had anyone even know it existed, much less that they were familiar with it, but it's one of the coolest records I ever owned. I think I've even written a little bit about it on this site.

Booker T and the MGs, McLemore Avenue.

I got to thinking about guitarists while it was playing, and how everything Steve Cropper did was drenched in soul. I wonder if he can even hit a single note that doesn't sound soulful and southern.

Last night I got to see about ten minutes of some live Elvis from '71 or '72, with that incredible band behind him. James Burton is such a master of the guitar. He always seems so effortless and tasteful, just amazing. One of the clearest examples of what I can't stand about Bruce Springsteen is a moment in that Black and White Night video where Springsteen is playing alongside Burton, and Bruce takes a single-string lead that...he...is...wrenching...out...of...his...guitar...and...all...his..heart...oh...so...hard...to...get...it...out...

Meanwhile, Burton is four-finger picking right behind him, never looking down at the guitar, content to let The Star be out in the front while he does his job and enjoys the playing.

McLemore Avenue. Pick up the new remastered version, you'll be very happy.

I watched that last night.  I liked what he was doing with that "big band" thing in his later years but, man, I don't think anyone or anything will ever top Elvis of those rockabilly years.

[strosrays]

The Memphis music scene of the 60's and into the 70's is one of the most... you know, I was going to provide all sorts of platitudes and so on and they are surely all applicable but I'll just say the most interesting (to me) in the history of American popular music.

I saw Chilton several times, met him twice. Though later, not with Big Star, which would have been my wish.

Speaking of Al Green, another underrated guy from that scene, at least the fringes of it, was Syl Johnson.  Not a talent approaching Green's level, but he put out some good stuff in the early 1970s.

Re: the Memphis scene, I agree with you.  Also, the late 1960s Detroit's rock/soul/funk scene always fascinated me, the whole mixing of styles and even genres thing, Iggy and George Clinton and Mitch Ryder and the MC5, etc., with Motown going on, as well. My favorite "little known" scene was the Miami sound, early to mid-1970s, mostly on TK/Glades. Not just the disco, the McRaes and KC, but also Benny Latimore and Timmy Thomas and Betty Wright and Little Beaver, etc.

Finally, I love it that we're talking 1970s R&B/soul. Lately I've been listening a lot to my old Swamp Dogg LPs, and fucking loving it. What great music, back in those days.

[Ron Brand]

I saw Chilton several times, met him twice. Though later, not with Big Star, which would have been my wish.

I saw him several times too. He was always great, even did a few Big Star tunes but the word we'd always gotten was that he was a prickly SOB and I'd have felt like a fool meeting him. I can imagine the exchange at its best being like Chris Farley meeting Paul McCartney, so I never even tried.

I'm such an idiot.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I can imagine the exchange at its best being like Chris Farley meeting Paul McCartney, so I never even tried.

That was me the night I met Dave Davies. I was the biggest idiot on the planet. I couldn't think of anything cool to say, I think I muttered, "I have all y'all's albums, you're one of my favorite guitar players" or something as inane. He smiled and said thank you. Then there was an awkward silence before I thought to say, "great show tonight." He nodded and thanked me again. And that was it.

[Mr. Happy]

The Memphis music scene of the 60's and into the 70's is one of the most... you know, I was going to provide all sorts of platitudes and so on and they are surely all applicable but I'll just say the most interesting (to me) in the history of American popular music.

The 50's weren't too shabby either. See, Sun Records.

[chuck]

I saw Chilton several times, met him twice. Though later, not with Big Star, which would have been my wish.

I first saw Alex in the mid 80s, maybe 1984. I saw him a number of more times in the 80s and early 90s and then a lot in the mid-90s when he went on a relative frenzy of touring, at least on the east coast. I saw him a time or two with the guys from the Posies in their version of Big Star.

When I first saw Alex in the 80s I didn't really get what he was doing. I love all of Big Star of course but it took a little while before I caught on to what he was trying to do musically post-Big Star and before I realized what a fucking great guitar player he was. I used to love those mid-90s shows when he'd play his take of all sorts of weird and obscure R&B, surf, odd arrangements of various standards and a surprise every now and then like Michael Jackson's Rock With You. And maybe, just maybe you'd get a single Big Star song. He had a great band, Ron Easley and Richard Dworkin. I learned a lot from those guys.

I am proud to say that I got pretty friendly with Alex after a while. He knew who I was and was always surprisingly willing to let me hang around him. I think a lot of that comes from my being a six of hearts. (Hearts are invariably niiiice peeeeople, he'd say.) Alex had come across a system of associating each day of the year with a card in the deck. Your birthday thus corresponds with a card and, to a nut like Alex, that conveys a great deal of significance. Any time he'd meet someone he would always ask them their birthday and then immediately tell them what card they were. It was obvious that he felt like he could basically size up someone right away from this exercise. Maybe he could.

http://www.metasymbology.com/whatsyourcard.html

[Mr. Happy]

I first saw Alex in the mid 80s, maybe 1984. I saw him a number of more times in the 80s and early 90s and then a lot in the mid-90s when he went on a relative frenzy of touring, at least on the east coast. I saw him a time or two with the guys from the Posies in their version of Big Star.

When I first saw Alex in the 80s I didn't really get what he was doing. I love all of Big Star of course but it took a little while before I caught on to what he was trying to do musically post-Big Star and before I realized what a fucking great guitar player he was. I used to love those mid-90s shows when he'd play his take of all sorts of weird and obscure R&B, surf, odd arrangements of various standards and a surprise every now and then like Michael Jackson's Rock With You. And maybe, just maybe you'd get a single Big Star song. He had a great band, Ron Easley and Richard Dworkin. I learned a lot from those guys.

I am proud to say that I got pretty friendly with Alex after a while. He knew who I was and was always surprisingly willing to let me hang around him. I think a lot of that comes from my being a six of hearts. (Hearts are invariably niiiice peeeeople, he'd say.) Alex had come across a system of associating each day of the year with a card in the deck. Your birthday thus corresponds with a card and, to a nut like Alex, that conveys a great deal of significance. Any time he'd meet someone he would always ask them their birthday and then immediately tell them what card they were. It was obvious that he felt like he could basically size up someone right away from this exercise. Maybe he could.

http://www.metasymbology.com/whatsyourcard.html

I'm an Ace of diamonds. Very interesting.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I'm an Ace of diamonds. Very interesting.

Must be something to that. Mr. Happy, Adolph Hitler, Pope John Paul II, Ellen DeGeneres, and myself; five peas in a pod.

[Ron Brand]

Well now. Me, Buddy Guy, Scarlett Johanssen and Rodney Dangerfield are Jacks of Hearts.

[strosrays]

I saw him several times too. He was always great, even did a few Big Star tunes but the word we'd always gotten was that he was a prickly SOB and I'd have felt like a fool meeting him. I can imagine the exchange at its best being like Chris Farley meeting Paul McCartney, so I never even tried.

I'm such an idiot.

I didn't get to know him, like chuck. We had mutual friends, is all. This was, like, 1979, 1980 . . . He was boozing a lot back then, apparently; and I was always agreeable to going with the flow, so . . . I recall our conversations as being pleasant, but I couldn't really tell you what we talked about.

[austro]

Well now. Me, Buddy Guy, Scarlett Johanssen and Rodney Dangerfield are Jacks of Hearts.

I am the Ace of Spades. I'm not sure that's good.

[Ron Brand]

I am the Ace of Spades. I'm not sure that's good.

Unless you're Lemmy in a really great disguise, I'm keeping my eyes wide, wide open around you, Ace.

[chuck]

Alex insisted that he'd discovered this system in a book called Secret Science of the Rosicrucians which he'd bought at some sort of religious/mystical bookstore on West 57th Street. But as far as I can tell this book does not exist and the card science has nothing to do with Rosicrucianism. I tried for years to track down the book or at least find some reference to the system. Then they invented the internets and whaddaya know, here it is. I'll never know how Alex learned the system I guess. Actually, you know, that may not be true.

Back in 1994 or so I had a friend named George who was crazy so we all called him Crazy George. CG worked in a Borders bookstore out in Tyson's Corner if I recall correctly. One day I called the store and talked to of his co-workers; I'll call her Kristen. One of my friends later dubbed her Kristen Cries During Everything. I asked KCDE about Secret Science of the Rosicrucians. She looked, they of course didn't have it. Shortly thereafter I found myself at a party with CG, ran into KCDE and we eventually began going out. If it isn't already obvious that one should not in fact go out with anyone CG introduces you to I'll bring that into sharper relief. I sat bolt upright in bed one morning as I realized out of the blue that KCDE was the subject of many stories I'd lately been hearing. Her older (sane) sister was a close friend of a good friend's wife. Older sane sister would talk about all of the outrageous things happening in the life of her lunatic sister (KCDE) and these stories were good enough to make it to me. Of course the stories were mixed in with descriptions of how older sane sister liked to be tied up for sex but not penetrated so I did have to filter the information some.

Anyway, KCDE had been living in New Orleans. She had a boyfriend there and her lunatic antics were enough to where eventually his co-workers literally pitched in and bought her a one-way ticket somewhere else. A one-way ticket to my life, it turned out. I eventually bought her a one-way ticket out of my life but I'll save those details for another time.

So KCDE has a New Orleans connection, obviously. Not three months ago she wrote me saying that she'd been in New Orleans recently and had met Laura Chilton, Alex's widow. That they would have friends in common and that they would meet is the most normal thing in the world to me. OF COURSE KCDE knows Laura Chilton, how could she not?

All that by way of saying I guess I could find out from Laura what the hell book all this came from.

KCDE is a nine of diamonds.

[strosrays]

Alex insisted that he'd discovered this system in a book called Secret Science of the Rosicrucians which he'd bought at some sort of religious/mystical bookstore on West 57th Street. But as far as I can tell this book does not exist and the card science has nothing to do with Rosicrucianism. I tried for years to track down the book or at least find some reference to the system. Then they invented the internets and whaddaya know, here it is. I'll never know how Alex learned the system I guess. Actually, you know, that may not be true.

Back in 1994 or so I had a friend named George who was crazy so we all called him Crazy George. CG worked in a Borders bookstore out in Tyson's Corner if I recall correctly. One day I called the store and talked to of his co-workers; I'll call her Kristen. One of my friends later dubbed her Kristen Cries During Everything. I asked KCDE about Secret Science of the Rosicrucians. She looked, they of course didn't have it. Shortly thereafter I found myself at a party with CG, ran into KCDE and we eventually began going out. If it isn't already obvious that one should not in fact go out with anyone CG introduces you to I'll bring that into sharper relief. I sat bolt upright in bed one morning as I realized out of the blue that KCDE was the subject of many stories I'd lately been hearing. Her older (sane) sister was a close friend of a good friend's wife. Older sane sister would talk about all of the outrageous things happening in the life of her lunatic sister (KCDE) and these stories were good enough to make it to me. Of course the stories were mixed in with descriptions of how older sane sister liked to be tied up for sex but not penetrated so I did have to filter the information some.

Anyway, KCDE had been living in New Orleans. She had a boyfriend there and her lunatic antics were enough to where eventually his co-workers literally pitched in and bought her a one-way ticket somewhere else. A one-way ticket to my life, it turned out. I eventually bought her a one-way ticket out of my life but I'll save those details for another time.

So KCDE has a New Orleans connection, obviously. Not three months ago she wrote me saying that she'd been in New Orleans recently and had met Laura Chilton, Alex's widow. That they would have friends in common and that they would meet is the most normal thing in the world to me. OF COURSE KCDE knows Laura Chilton, how could she not?

All that by way of saying I guess I could find out from Laura what the hell book all this came from.

KCDE is a nine of diamonds.

I think at one time or another, the Rosicrucians have been blamed for just about everything. Sort of like the Knights Templars and Freemasons.

Anyway, awesome. That is about 1/3 of a Series Preview, right there.

For awhile, I had a succession of girlfriends apparently cut from a similar cloth as your KCDE.  At the time, I found mental instability in a girlfriend somehow alluring - or, at least, not a deal-breaker - and rather welcomed chaos and dissonance into my personal life, it made me feel good to have everything blowing up around me all the time. Although, as I matured, at some point I began to see the value of some peace of mind here and there. I am assuming you are the same.

Terrific story, chuck. Can't wait for the next installment.

[ybbodeus]

The Memphis music scene of the 60's and into the 70's is one of the most... you know, I was going to provide all sorts of platitudes and so on and they are surely all applicable but I'll just say the most interesting (to me) in the history of American popular music.

There were two Memphis guys whom many there thought were going to get big--Keith Sykes and Robert Johnson--but they didn't pan out. Sykes made more off Jimmy Buffet's cover of his Volcano than he did from his own recordings.  Still will put up Keith's Love to Ride as a classic party song, right up there with The Romantics What I like about you, in terms of songs from that era.

Guys, I hope I don't let down you Elvis story anticipators, but it might be a booger and a bear to get down there today. I won't piss and moan about my dilemma here--nor will I if I show up--but I'll try to break off an hour just to worship at the SnS alter (trough?).

[chuck]

For awhile, I had a succession of girlfriends apparently cut from a similar cloth as your KCDE.  At the time, I found mental instability in a girlfriend somehow alluring - or, at least, not a deal-breaker - and rather welcomed chaos and dissonance into my personal life, it made me feel good to have everything blowing up around me all the time. Although, as I matured, at some point I began to see the value of some peace of mind here and there. I am assuming you are the same.

Precisely.

[BizidyDizidy]

Must be something to that. Mr. Happy, Adolph Hitler, Pope John Paul II, Ellen DeGeneres, and myself; five peas in a pod.

What do you know, I'm an ace of diamonds too.

[Mr. Happy]

What do you know, I'm an ace of diamonds too.

Awesome! I like sharing something in common with Blessed Pope John Paul II, Wayne Gretzky and Paul Newman. Hitler? Not so much.

[Bench]

Awesome! I like sharing something in common with Blessed Pope John Paul II, Wayne Gretzky and Paul Newman. Hitler? Not so much.

Yeah. Hitler was a vegetarian. Fuck that guy.

[strosrays]

Yeah. Hitler was a vegetarian. Fuck that guy.

One nut.

[NeilT]

I think at one time or another, the Rosicrucians have been blamed for just about everything. Sort of like the Knights Templars and Freemasons.

Anyway, awesome. That is about 1/3 of a Series Preview, right there.

For awhile, I had a succession of girlfriends apparently cut from a similar cloth as your KCDE.  At the time, I found mental instability in a girlfriend somehow alluring - or, at least, not a deal-breaker - and rather welcomed chaos and dissonance into my personal life, it made me feel good to have everything blowing up around me all the time. Although, as I matured, at some point I began to see the value of some peace of mind here and there. I am assuming you are the same.

Terrific story, chuck. Can't wait for the next installment.

It would only be a good series preview if the club did something crazy like fire the manager and the first base coach because the club is losing.  Oh, wait . . .  I'm pretty sure, by the way, that I'm a three of diamonds.

[ybbodeus]

Isaac Hayes truly was The Man. How cool.

Today is his birthday.Wonder what the Stax Museum is doing to honor him.

[Ron Brand]

I don't know, but they are having a special exhibit about Wattstax. Folks my age might remember this.

[Ron Brand]

Today is his birthday.Wonder what the Stax Museum is doing to honor him.

I still haven't been to the Museum, but I've got to go. The first time I went to Memphis, in 1987, the place was nearly condemned. The old theater was a wreck and even the marquee outside was broken and leaning. At the same trip I went to the Lorraine Motel, 75% of which was also run down and just this side of collapsing but they did have the stairwell and the block of rooms along with MLK's restored just how they were in 1968, and you could walk on the balcony and go into the rooms. That was very moving, but I was mostly touched by the granite plaque mounted on the door with the inscription, "Behold, here cometh the dreamer. Let us slay him, and we shall see what will become of his dream."

I'm so glad that both of those places have been restored and can be visited by people to see part of our history.

[Mr. Happy]

I still haven't been to the Museum, but I've got to go. The first time I went to Memphis, in 1987, the place was nearly condemned. The old theater was a wreck and even the marquee outside was broken and leaning. At the same trip I went to the Lorraine Motel, 75% of which was also run down and just this side of collapsing but they did have the stairwell and the block of rooms along with MLK's restored just how they were in 1968, and you could walk on the balcony and go into the rooms. That was very moving, but I was mostly touched by the granite plaque mounted on the door with the inscription, "Behold, here cometh the dreamer. Let us slay him, and we shall see what will become of his dream."

I'm so glad that both of those places have been restored and can be visited by people to see part of our history.

+1