My upfront apologies for a rare time to boast over here in Memphis.  Aside from delayed and lackluster road response, we fared pretty well from the latest storm of the century.  In the wake of said storm, we put on a show last night that was magical from the start. I was reminded that the singer/songwriter world that is often taken for granted, is in fact the root of all music.  

Raised on the greats in and around the Motor City, music was a fabric of my upbringing and my exposure to radio stations at a young age made me appreciate it more than I imagined.  My father would often bring me along when he cut commercials and some of our closest family friends were in the media.  Again, this is an overview as I back into where we are now.

When we fast-forward to 2010-11, I found myself working at an iconic TV Station in Nashville that had lost it's identity in the community but for one night, everything changed.  Nashville flooded while my daughter and I were at a Jimmy Buffett Concert at Bridgestone Arena. In the aftermath, Vince Gill held a telethon that raised over a million dollars and everyone was there.  From Allison Krauss relieving me of phone duty to introducing Keith Urban to Larry Gatlin, I realized anything was possible.  My time in Nashville was brief, but many friendships were made that I cherish to this day.  My chance meeting with The Godfather of Americana, Billy Block was one such friendship that changed my life. In a 4-5 year span I would regularly attend his shows back in Nashville and we collaborated on a talent show for seniors that I'd like to revive one day.

In early 2015 I texted Billy, who was in hospice care at the time at the end of his cancer battle: “I may be crazy but am about to sign a lease on a space to do songwriter nights here in Memphis.”  His response read “Go for it, you'll be a tremendous succcess.”  The man who gave so many future stars a chance passed away a week or so later. Again, getting to my point.

Last night, in temperatures similar to those exactly 11 years to the day when we started South Main Sounds, the spirit of all those that came before us was revived.  Three separate acts graced our stage and the room filled up with folks that found hope in a former art gallery on Main Street.  This is why we do it.  This is why they do it.  It's a pouring out of your soul and an affirmation that your efforts, money and heartache are worth it all.  

Finally, after approximately 400 shows, South Main Sounds has stepped away from being an unheralded underdog and can claim it's place among the elite songwriter venues.  Thanks to the musicians that create the magic and the fans that fuel it, we are proud to have survived and perhaps thrived.  In my experience, The Bluebird, The Listening Room and The Commodore Grille are the havens in Nashville and I'd add Saxon Pub in Austin to the list as well.  But remember, South Main Sounds is not a singular place.  We represent and promote all of Memphis Music and honestly it reaches much further than that.  We are a product of everyone and every place that starts with an idea and watches it grow into something that matters.

See you next weekend for two big shows and we can't wait!