Menu

"Short stories and travel reports from my life adventures around the globe".

Travel Report: Memphis Nostalgia.

Memphis Nostalgia Beale Street painting by Stephen Hudson

Memphis Nostalgia.

May 2007 & May 2009.

It felt good to finally get out of the damn car. Ok, the journey from Nashville had only actually taken four hours. But hey, I’d never enjoyed car journeys. Plus I was simply itching to get to grips with Memphis. Stretching my legs and taking in my surroundings, I remember smiling to myself as a light breeze washed over me from The Mississippi River. “Memphis, kid” confirmed Jon, with a nonchalant shake of his car keys.

Memphis Nostalgia The Mississippi River.

Memphis Nostalgia.

The Mississippi was almost perfectly still that afternoon, not a hint of activity. Strolling down the promenade, we soon came across a grand old vessel belonging to Memphis Riverboats. These guys offer the best cruises in town, particularly if one wants to go down the dinner and live entertainment route.

The Memphis Queen Riverboat.

Memphis Nostalgia.

They’ve been doing Mississippi cruises since the early 1960s. Mr. John Lozier, referenced on the boat, was the company’s first captain. He oversaw thousands of cruises for over twenty years before passing away in 1988 after a two year battle with cancer. He was just forty five years old.

Memphis Nostalgia Ride the Ducks.

Memphis Nostalgia.

I may have been tempted by a Memphis Riverboat Cruise, had we not already made other plans. As it turned out, we’d decided to go waaay more lowbrow with tickets for Ride The Ducks. Our chariot that day was The Duckmobile, an amphibious vehicle that served as a bus for the city centre sights, then a boat for some cruising along The Mississippi.

Memphis Nostalgia.

Memphis Duck Tour May 2007.

The Wacky Quacky Ducky Tour.

That duck tour a was fun albeit touristy experience. While boarding, we received a duck mouthpiece that made a quacking sound when you blew on it. Man, I think I still have that thing in storage somewhere.

In any case it was cool to chug through the city picking off major landmarks. We passed the Memphis Music Hall of Fame and The Stax Museum of American Soul. Completing a trio of iconic musical spots, the duckmobile pulled up outside Sun Studio, where a pair of benched visitors gave us a playful wave.

Memphis Nostalgia Sun Studios.

Memphis Nostalgia.

Known as “the birthplace of rock n’ roll”, this legendary recording studio dates back to 1950. Opened by pioneering producer Sam Phillips, this is where the likes of Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Howlin’ Wolf all came to cut some of their best records.

Sam Phillips with Elvis Presley.

Sam Phillips with Elvis Presley.

These days you can take tours of the old joint, which still operates as a nighttime recording studio. They charge $200 an hour if you wanna come and lay down some tunes. On my second Memphis visit, I made do with a lemonade in their ground floor cafe.

Sun Records in Memphis 2009.

Memphis Nostalgia.

Eventually, the Duck Tour ended up riverside, rolling down a stone ramp towards the muddy waters. Sliding in, up went the wheels and suddenly we were cruising, quickly leaving the street far behind.

It was pretty calm out there on The Mississippi. Until, that is, our driver asked us if we’d ever heard of the river’s famous flying fish. We had not. “Ok guys, let me show you” he said, with a mischievous grin.

The Mississippi River.

Memphis Nostalgia cruising The Mississippi River

Memphis Nostalgia.

Thus our captain began whirring the duck boat around in circles, encouraging us all to “hold on folks!” His skulduggery soon created a whirlpool effect in the water and then… BAM.. I found myself hit square in the chest by a flying fish!

Memphis Nostalgia Flying fish Mississippi River

Memphis Nostalgia.

It was slimy… it was stinky… it was hilarious for everyone except myself. Still, kinda impossible not to see the funny side once I got over the initial shock. A fun end to what had been an enjoyable tour.

While writing this article, I discovered that Ride The Ducks was permanently shut down in March 2019 following a fatal accident in Branson, Missouri. The incident saw 14 people drown on Table Rock Lake when high winds and thunderstorms capsized the duck boat.

Ride the Ducks.

Feeling somewhat quacked out, we headed to Beale Street, “the official home of the blues”. Established in 1841, the street became one of America’s most thriving areas for African American culture and business.

Beale Street Memphis Tennessee.

Memphis Nostalgia.

Photo courtesy of Jeremy Atherton.

Between 1910 and the 1940s one of America’s most exciting music scenes unfolded here, with the likes of Louis Armstrong, Muddy Waters, and B.B. King all playing on Beale Street. Their music helped develop the famous Memphis Blues Sound, a heady concoction of declamatory vocals backed by banjos, mandolins, harmonicas, kazoo and… later… electric guitars.

Beale Street.

The Blues Trail from Mississippi to Memphis

Memphis Nostalgia.

Today this legacy lives on in the zillion blues bars situated on Beale Street. At night the entire area explodes into life, though it was delightfully peaceful when I first arrived on that sleepy afternoon.

Memphis Nostalgia Enjoying a Big Ass Beer on Beale Street

Memphis Nostalgia.

I didn’t mind this at all. In fact, it allowed us to sit peacefully and soak up the feel of the place. Grabbing a table outside Rum Boogie Cafe, Jon ordered a round of Big Ass Beers. Looking out across Beale Street, I tried to imagine the scene when, in 1968, the city’s sanitation workers marched in protest of their abysmal working conditions.

Sanitation workers March on Beale Street 1968

A very different looking Beale Street in 1968.

They did so in full view of The National Guard, who stood with rifles and bayonets at the ready. Adding to an already tense atmosphere in the city, the workers’ had the full support of Martin Luther King. Unfortunately, the demonstration played out as a precursor to his assassination just a few days later.

Margaret Fowler Beale Street Memphis

Memphis Nostalgia.

It seems strange to transition from The Civil Rights Movement to American Idol, but here I go. At the next bar I ended up chatting to a boisterous woman by the name of Margaret Fowler.

We had barely gotten past the “Where are you from?” chitchat and she was already telling me all about her recent success on Season 6 of the popular singing competition. Heck, she’d even brought an incredibly tatty old magazine feature to prove it. Just in case I’d doubted her story.

Memphis Nostalgia.

Margaret Fowler American Idol.

Margaret Fowler.

According to several articles I found online, Margaret had an excellent audition singing Aretha Franklin’s Chain of Fools. However, when she registered for the competition, she listed her age as 26, when she was in fact 50.

Once the judges uncovered this, she was eliminated from the competition. Nevertheless, the show invited her to return and take part in the season finale. Sadly, I’ve read that Margaret passed away in 2017.

Memphis Nostalgia A. Schwab 1876.

Memphis Nostalgia.

When exploring Beale Street, it would be unforgivable not to pop your head into A. Schwab, a general goods store dating back to 1876. This is the oldest building on the street which, until 2011, had been owned and run by generations of the Schwab family.

Me And A Guy Named Elvis Jerry Schilling

Memphis Nostalgia.

Inside I found a quirky range of tourist memorabilia, as well as clothing, hats, candles, toys and a large soda fountain. After some browsing, I came away with a paperback copy of Me and a Guy Named Elvis by Jerry Schilling. The author was a key member of the so-called Memphis Mafia and a lifelong friend of Presley’s. It’s a riveting, highly recommended read. 

Memphis Nostalgia.

Elvis impersonator Beale Street Memphis

Memphis Nostalgia.

With the afternoon light fading, Beale Street began filling up. There were couples, groups of drunken guys, police officers and buskers. At some point I met a local performer who called himself Elvis Priestly. He definitely had the King’s distinctive talking voice down. Moreover, he assured me, he’d be putting on “a hell of a show” that night at The Blues City Cafe.

Memphis Nostalgia The Masqueraders live on Beale Street

The Masqueraders.

Hence we were soon settling down at a table in anticipation of Mr. Priestly’s performance. While waiting, we got to enjoy an absolutely fantastic soul outfit called The Masqueraders. Billed as one of the longest-lived yet little known groups in soul music history, these guys have been performing live across the country since the 1960s.

In 1968 they had a minor hit with I Ain’t Got To Love Nobody Else. Over the years, they also contributed backing vocals for stars such as Wilson Pickett, Arthur Conley and The Box Tops. By the early noughties The Masqueraders had become fixtures at the blues bars of Beale Street.

The Masqueraders.

The Masqueraders America's Got Talent

Memphis Nostalgia.

In a twist that surely nobody who was familiar with their story saw coming, in 2017 they enjoyed some of the biggest exposure of their careers after appearing on America’s Got Talent. Their stunning performance of Sam Cooke’s A Change is Gonna Come was a huge hit with Simon Cowell and the panel. The Masqueraders subsequently progressed to the quarter finals of the competition.

Blues City Cafe Beale Street.

Memphis Nostalgia.

I’ll never forget that night listening to them perform on Beale Street. And it was made all the more memorable when Sam Hutchins jumped down off the stage to dance with a bunch of us. Much, much respect.

Elvis Priestly live at Blues City Cafe Memphis

Memphis Nostalgia.

I wish I could say the same for Mr. Elvis Priestly. It had been fun chatting to him out on the street, but his actual show that evening wasn’t amazing. After a few very wobbly numbers, we decided to move on.

Memphis Nostalgia Graceland Tour.

Graceland.

On my second day in Memphis it was off to Graceland for a tour of Elvis Presley’s stunning mansion. He bought the place, along with 14 acres of private farmland, in March 1957 for just over $100.000. The name Graceland actually dates back to a previous owner, whose daughter was called Grace.

Fan graffiti at Graceland in Memphis.

Memphis Nostalgia.

The King lived at Graceland for just over twenty years. And he certainly spared no expense in remodelling and expanding the place to his precise requirements. Take the exceptionally kitsch Jungle Room, for example, with its stone waterfall, mossy green carpet and white ceramic capuchin monkeys made in Italy.

Memphis Nostalgia.

Touring Graceland Elvis Presley's former home

The Jungle room (top) and main Living Room at Graceland.

Elsewhere, in the main living room, one can admire/be appalled by the fifteen foot white sofa, peacock stained glass windows and baby black grand piano.

And then there’s the billiards room and the so-called Trophy Building, that houses all his awards, in addition to the swimming pool in his father’s bedroom. In between, in the seemingly endless hallways, stand glass exhibits of his personal items. Like this prized collection of guns, pictured below.

Memphis Nostalgia Elvis Presley's gun collection

Memphis Nostalgia.

Outside, in the Meditation Garden, it was a sad and surreal moment to come face to face with the great man’s grave. Elvis died in the bathroom at Graceland on August the 16th 1977. He had suffered a heart attack at the tender age of 42. He lies in a plot alongside his mother Gladys, father Vernon and grandmother Minnie Mae. There’s also a memorial stone for his stillborn twin brother, Jesse Garon.

Elvis Presley's grave at Graceland Memphis

Memphis Nostalgia.

My visit to Memphis had been great, but all too brief. Happily, I managed to return just a few years later with a pair of old friends from home. Naturally this meant a second night out on Beale Street.

Memphis Nostalgia.

Beale Street by night May 2009.

Back on Beale Street.

This time I hung out at B.B. King’s, arguably the city’s most famous blues club. It opened in 1991 under the ownership of B.B. King, a pioneering Memphis Blues singer. Known as The Beale Street Blues Boy as a young man, and later The King of the Blues, B.B. King made over forty albums between 1957 and 2008.

Considered one of the world’s greatest ever electric guitarists, he was one of the most prolific tourers in American history, performing over 200 concerts a year well into his 70s.

B.B. King's Company Store Beale Street Memphis

Memphis Nostalgia.

On the night of our visit, we enjoyed an intense live set from Preston Shannon, a respected Memphis-born artist famed for his brand of grooving, danceable blues.

Indeed I remember my friend Steve jumping up from our table and knocking out some serious dance moves of his own while Shannon performed some impressive teeth-playing on his guitar. Sadly, I see Shannon died in January 2018 after a battle with cancer.

Memphis Nostalgia Preston Shannon live at B.B. King's

Preston Shannon.

On day two of trip two, my comrades set off for Graceland to see Elvis’ famous house for themselves. This left me with the opportunity to explore downtown Memphis on foot. Resolving to stay away from Beale Street, my wanderings soon took me to The Lorraine Motel, where Martin Luther King was assassinated on April the 4th 1968.

The Lorraine Motel.

Lorraine Motel Memphis Martin Luther King.

Memphis Nostalgia.

King had come to Memphis just a few days earlier to support the struggles of the city’s African-American sanitation workers. Tensions were especially high due to the discovery of two workers, Echol Cole and Robert Walker, who’d been found crushed in the back of a garbage-compacting truck.

Martin Luther King Memorial Memphis

Memphis Nostalgia.

King was leaning over the balcony railing of room 306 chatting to Reverend Jesse Jackson when he was suddenly shot in the face from across the street. An ambulance swiftly transferred him to St. Joseph’s Hospital, but he was pronounced dead a short while later.

James Earl Ray Martin Luther King's killer

James Earl Ray.

The man convicted for King’s murder, a racist criminal by the name of James Earl Ray, pleaded guilty in order to avoid a jury trial and possible death sentence. Today the Lorraine Motel stands as part of the city’s National Civil Rights Museum

New Daisy Theatre Memphis.

Memphis Nostalgia.

I really enjoyed my Memphis exploring that day. My stroll took me past the legendary New Daisy Theater, a live music venue since 1936. Al Green, John Lee Hooker, Prince, Nirvana, Alanis Morissette and Oasis are just some of the acts to have played here. In 1997 Bob Dylan rented the place out to shoot video footage for his album, Time Out of Mind.

Memphis Nostalgia.

The Peabody Hotel in Memphis.

The Peabody Hotel.

I also stopped by the gorgeous Peabody Hotel, a luxury Italian Renaissance style structure opened in 1925. I’ll make no bones about it, if I make it back to Memphis a third time, this is where I’m staying!

That afternoon, I popped in simply to catch The Peabody Ducks, five resident mallards who undertake the daily journey from their rooftop home down to the lobby via the elevator. Led by the hotel’s committed duckmaster, they then waddle to the lobby’s grand fountain for bathing and general merriment. Much to the delight of watching guests!

Memphis Nostalgia The Peabody Ducks

Memphis Nostalgia.

Photos courtesy of Tony the Tiger (top) and Roger Schulz (bottom).

This charming tradition began in the 1930s when then General Manager Frank Schutt returned from a hunting trip with three live English call ducks. He found it amusing to leave them in the hotel fountain, which proved popular with the guests. Over the years, a number of celebrities have stood in as guest duckmasters, including Kevin Bacon, Joan Collins, Stephen Fry and Oprah Winfrey. 

Folk Alliance South Main Street Memphis

The Folk Alliance.

Towards the end of the day, I stumbled across The Folk Alliance, a nonprofit folk music and arts store on South Main Street. I was idly browsing through their records when a striking painting on the wall grabbed my attention. It was a beautiful portrait of Beale Street, with children breakdancing in front of B.B. King’s. From the moment I saw it I knew I wanted to take it home.

Memphis Nostalgia.

Memphis Nostalgia painting of Beale Street Stephen Hudson

Memphis Nostalgia.

“Oh that’s not really for sale”, explained the guy at the cash register. “It was kind of a donation”. But I wasn’t to be swayed. Was there any way at all he could contact the artist? There was… he did… and after a brief exchange its creator said the painting could be mine for $200. After a moment with myself I happily handed over the cash.

Stephen Hudson Memphis artist.

Shotgun Memphis house by Stephen Hudson.

The painter is a local man called Stephen Hudson. Described by some as “The da Vinci of Memphis”, he’s made quite a name for himself producing works that capture the spirit of the city’s historic buildings, riverfront and The Mississippi Delta.

I was delighted at having secured the painting. However, I remember feeling distraught when British Airways lost it during my flight route back to Brussels. Luckily, it turned up several days later and is one of my favourite travel mementos.

Leighton Travels travel reports short stories.

For more on my adventures around the country, check out my travel articles from across The USA.

I’ve been living, working and traveling all over the world since 2001. So why not check out my huge library of travel reports from over 30 countries.

Leighton Travels logo travel reports and short stories.

41 Comments

  • Little Miss Traveller

    I loved reading about the Peabody ducks and their daily trips down the lift escorted by the Duckmaster! Overall, Memphis looks an interesting place to visit and one I knew little about until reading your detailed travel report. Marion

    June 28, 2021 - 9:28 am Reply
    • Leighton

      Thanks Marion. Memphis has a really special vibe, so I was sad to read that much of the city has fallen on hard times in recent years. Outside of Beale Street and the central tourist sites, it can be a little rough in areas, as I found out during my walk to the Folk Alliance. Hope you have a great week ahead.

      June 28, 2021 - 9:35 am Reply
  • nickreeves

    Great post, as ever, Leighton.
    Well done on the Beale Street painting – undoubtedly a steal at $200 and (I would imagine) one of the few unique momentoes to be found in Memphis!
    Y’all come back real soon, y’hear.

    June 28, 2021 - 9:46 am Reply
    • Leighton

      Ha ha thanks Nick and I appreciate you digging deep into your inner Tennessean there.

      June 28, 2021 - 10:10 am Reply
  • wetanddustyroads

    Wow, what a jam-packed post … which I’ve thoroughly enjoyed! You’ve captured it all – happy moments (love that ‘big ass beer’ 😉), sad moments and just meeting so many interesting people … can one say: ‘Only in America’!

    June 28, 2021 - 11:05 am Reply
    • Leighton

      Yeah, Only In America sums it up pretty well. So many characters, a rich history, great music, quirky ducks and an all-round old school vibe all contribute to Memphis’ unique appeal. Thanks for reading!

      June 28, 2021 - 11:12 am Reply
  • kagould17

    A trip(s) to remember Leighton. So much to see and do. Yeah, we did the Ride the Ducks tour in Seattle with the kids. I do not recall if I was more scared of riding down the interstate or barely floating on Lake Washington….and we had our young boys with us. Thanks for sharing. Allan

    June 28, 2021 - 2:36 pm Reply
    • Leighton

      Interesting to hear you had your own Ducky adventure Allan and, like me, lived to the tell the tale. Thanks for visiting Memphis through my eyes.

      June 28, 2021 - 4:24 pm Reply
  • Memo

    I never realized you were an art collector. I’d say you made an excellent decision to buy it. We had two separate trips to Memphis cancelled by events beyond our control so I was anxious to read of your visits. We had planned on visiting the museums but not the duckboat buses. After your experience with the fish I’m glad I missed them. Your fish is a silver carp, and invasive species they are working hard to keep out of the great lakes. I’d heard they had reconstructed the Jungle Room – Elvis had removed it to put in a recording studio that he used on several albums. Appreciate your sharing your memories.

    June 28, 2021 - 4:06 pm Reply
    • Leighton

      Art collector would be pushing it, ha! But I do have maybe a dozen paintings from various locations worldwide. All gathering dust now in storage boxes. Thanks for the fish info, I wouldn’t have had a clue. Sorry to hear you never made it to Memphis, what were the circumstances?

      June 28, 2021 - 5:12 pm Reply
      • Memo

        Parental health problems that were more important than Elvis. Now we’re are no longer within visiting distance without it being a major trip so it probably won’t happen. That’s why I appreciate traveling vicariously with you.

        June 28, 2021 - 5:23 pm
  • grandmisadventures

    Fantastic tour of Memphis! Visiting Graceland has been at the top of my Tennessee bucket list for ages. I’m hoping the next long weekend will finally make it happen.

    June 28, 2021 - 5:22 pm Reply
    • Leighton

      Thanks for visiting through my eyes. Hoping that there aren’t too many restrictions on Graceland. Looking forward to hearing about your trip.

      June 28, 2021 - 5:26 pm Reply
  • Monkey's Tale

    You certainly met a few interesting characters and had unusual tours. What was the reason for the ducks?

    June 28, 2021 - 9:35 pm Reply
    • Leighton

      Hey, thanks for reading. Are you asking why the ducks were in the hotel? I think you may have missed the paragraph about the old general manager who first brought ducks back from a hunting trip.

      June 28, 2021 - 9:43 pm Reply
      • Monkey's Tale

        Sorry, no I meant the duck tours. It doesn’t seem to go with my imagination of Nashville. Seemed too Walt Disney or something.

        June 28, 2021 - 11:58 pm
      • Leighton

        Ah, that was just a franchise thing for a bunch of U.S. cities that had rivers. It was very touristy and, as it turned out, pretty dangerous. Still, we had fun with it that afternoon.

        June 29, 2021 - 12:01 am
      • Monkey's Tale

        Oh, I’d never heard of it, and now I guess I’ll never expereince it – which is ok.

        June 29, 2021 - 12:02 am
  • Rebecca

    Memphis for me is synonymous with Elvis Presley and blues music. Aside from liking maybe one or two songs from the King himself, I never had much interest delving deeper into his legacy, let alone visit Memphis, for that reason. But your travel report goes to show that there’s a lot more to Memphis than just Elvis, and it really is an underrated entertainment hub for quality music and fun!

    June 29, 2021 - 5:39 am Reply
    • Leighton

      Thanks Rebecca, I think that much of Tennessee can be filed in the ‘underrated’ cabinet. Glad you enjoyed the tour.

      June 29, 2021 - 9:39 am Reply
  • thehungrytravellers.blog

    Another fascinating music history tour, not surprised you went back for a second helping. There was a fatal “duck” (dwk) tour on the Thames a few years back too, those things are obviously not the safest!

    June 29, 2021 - 4:17 pm Reply
    • Leighton

      I’m embarrassed to say I didn’t even know they had a duck tour company in London! Thanks for reading, plenty more coming from The U.S. over the next week.

      June 29, 2021 - 4:31 pm Reply
  • Klausbernd

    Thanks for sharing your trip around Memphis with us. Interesting. Although we lived in the US for quite a time we never made it to Memphis.
    Wishing you all the best
    The Fab Four of Cley
    🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

    June 30, 2021 - 11:03 am Reply
    • Leighton

      Ah, thanks so much for reading and dropping me a line. Where in The U.S. were you based?

      June 30, 2021 - 11:05 am Reply
      • Klausbernd

        We were based near Burlington/VT but we worked in Montreal. In our last year in North America we travelled a lot to collect inspiration and data for a book.
        We loved most New England and Alaska. Nevertheless we were happy being back in Europe again.

        June 30, 2021 - 1:19 pm
      • Leighton

        Sounds great. Thanks again for showing an interest in Leighton Travels. I’m going to check out your blog soon.

        June 30, 2021 - 1:59 pm
  • 100 Country Trek

    Love this tour. Memphis is a great place that you took us through . We were there but didn’t take the Duck Tour. Graceland was an interesting site to see.

    June 30, 2021 - 12:02 pm Reply
    • Leighton

      Graceland certainly is an experience. One of the world’s unique and surreal travel sights. Thanks for reading and contributing to the thread!

      June 30, 2021 - 12:30 pm Reply
  • Nic

    I absolutely loved this post. Thank you for sharing these experiences, you covered so much and such an engaging way. The paintings are fantastic – I’m really glad you didn’t lose it, what a shame that would have been. I am sure though, if I found that painting, I probably wouldn’t be handing it out to the “lost and found” 😇🤫

    June 30, 2021 - 10:48 pm Reply
    • Leighton

      Ha ha thanks Nic for your kind words. Glad you enjoyed seeing Memphis through my eyes.

      June 30, 2021 - 10:57 pm Reply
  • rkrontheroad

    Thanks for taking us along on this musical tour. You found some quirky spots! And paid your respects to ML King, Elvis, and BB King along the way. I enjoyed reading all your little details, as always.

    July 3, 2021 - 7:36 pm Reply
    • Leighton

      Appreciate the kind words Ruth. It was so much fun reliving this trip through the blog.

      July 3, 2021 - 7:45 pm Reply
  • Toonsarah

    Memphis is definitely on my travel wish-list and this post has just confirmed its place there! I’d love to visit Graceland and Beale Street in particular. Your painting is great, although I think I like ‘Shotgun Memphis house’ even more 🙂

    July 5, 2021 - 10:37 am Reply
    • Leighton

      Thank you Sarah, if I ever get a home and settle down that painting will have a prime spot somewhere.

      July 5, 2021 - 11:03 am Reply
  • Marie

    A great roundup ….. I love the photos but REALLY love those paintings!!!

    July 6, 2021 - 8:39 pm Reply
    • Leighton

      Ahh thanks Marie. You can check out his Facebook page and an art site that sells his paintings.

      July 6, 2021 - 8:46 pm Reply
      • Marie

        Will do….

        July 6, 2021 - 8:53 pm
  • salsaworldtraveler

    This is a wonderfully descriptive and interesting tour of Memphis, TN. The Memphis Chamber of Commerce thanks you I’m sure. I’ve never spent any time there but your post makes me want to change that.

    Your visit to the MLK assassination site brings back vivid memories. Robert Kennedy was in Indianapolis making a brief campaign stop that evening. I was in the crowd in a Black neighborhood when he broke the news and made an impromptu speech that is considered one of his best.

    July 8, 2021 - 4:38 pm Reply
    • Leighton

      Wow! That is just incredible. How old were you at the time?

      July 8, 2021 - 6:07 pm Reply
      • salsaworldtraveler

        I hate to give away my secrets, but I was 15. Before Kennedy spoke I saw police with rifles with telescopic sights taking positions on rooftops in the area. That was a clue that something unusual was going on.

        July 9, 2021 - 4:15 am

Leave a Reply

%d bloggers like this: