Blues music became popular among Memphis bands in the 1920’s. At that time, Beale Street was alive with musical activity and street performers had a showcase for their talent. Also around this time, jug bands gained popularity and organization in Memphis—including names such as The Memphis Jug Band, Cannon’s Jug Stompers, The Three Js, and Jack and Kelly’s Jug Band. Among the most popular on Beale Street was the Memphis Jug Band, who also played at other Memphis landmarks, such as Handy’s Park, the Peabody Hotel, and at local country clubs and private parties.
Memphis artists commonly used guitars and banjos to accompany their vocals; however the emerging use of jugs and other homemade items during that time became widespread. Jug bands, which centered on the main role of jug player, used jugs and other modified goods to create their unique sound. Some common items included:
- Spoons
- Stovepipes
- Washtubs
- Comb and tissue paper
- Gourd guitars
Other simple instruments used by the jug bands included banjos, harmonicas, and kazoos. The actual jugs were composed of stone or glass and the player would blow into the lips of the jug, expressing different notes by adjusting their lip tension. After World War II, the face of the Memphis blues scene changed by the addition of electrical instruments and the urbanization of the town.
Some of the Memphis artists that were an active part of the post-war blues era included Willie Nix, Ike Turner, and B. B. King. On Beale Street, Memphis bands and solo artists would flock to the multiple recording studios to get their chance at stardom.
Today, studios like Ardent Studios and Royal Studios continue to make the dreams of many Memphis artists and the sounds of many visiting superstars a reality. The Memphis music culture has been enduring for more than a century and continues to do so today.