Music of the Deep South

With such a high concentration of stars originating from one area, it's caught up in the passion and fire that's been such an influence on the many raw-talented artists who made their name here.

Elvis Presley is one of the USA’s greatest ever musical exports. Born in Mississippi in 1935, his family later moved to Memphis, where a mixture of pop, country, R&B and gospel gave the young Elvis an eclectic musical education. He was signed in 1954 - aged only 19 - and by ‘56 was an international sensation. The King, as he became known, brought about such a change in the music listened to in the South - and far beyond - that he is most certainly one of the 20th century’s most influential musical figures.

Each year, thousands of fans make their way to his former home, Graceland, Memphis, to get a snapshot of his life and see the stunning array of iconic exhibits. The bars of his former city are alive with the sounds of Rock ‘n’ Roll, and you won't have to look very hard to find an old fashioned jukebox or tribute act blaring out his classics - truly enough to get you all shook up.

Nashville, Tennessee is the undisputed home of country music. The city that has been the stomping ground of stars like Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash remains to this day the beating heart of the country & western sound. The world’s longest-running live radio show is one of country music’s best events; held every week since 1925, the Grand Ole Opry has had every country star from Dolly Parton to the Dixie Chicks tread its boards. This one hour ‘Live Barn Dance’ is so popular with our customers that we include it in several of our tours - it really is a must.

Back on the streets on Nashville, the Country Music Hall of Fame is rightly a highlight of many people’s time in the south. It's country music at its very best, and is as much an education in the genre's catchy rhythms as it is a local folk museum. Once seen it is never forgotten - partially because all of the windows are arranged to make the building look like a piano!

Whether you're a fan of the honky-tonk bars of Nashville’s Lower Broadway district, or a disciple of good old Rock n’ Roll, the Deep South is an exhilarating, magical and fascinating place - and that's without even mentioning the Jazz down in New Orleans and the Mississippi.

Become a groupie on one of our tours, and you'll be singing and dancing your way down memory lane.