Memphis Day Highlights Music

For our third Memphis Day, we celebrated Memphis music heritage and explored the impact that our hip-hop, blues, rock, and soul sounds have had on the world.
 
A morning panel, moderated by Instructor in Music Matt Tutor ’91, featured heavy hitters on the Memphis music scene, including Memphis-born rapper Al Kapone (Alphonzo Bailey), Memphis-born producer, performer, and innovator IMAKEMADBEATS (James Dukes), and two-time Grammy-nominated producer, songwriter, arranger, and artist Kurt “KC” Clayton.
Other sessions featured a concert by the Stax Music Academy Legacy Band and Executive Director at Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum John Doyle. Stephen Lee, founder and artistic director of the Memphis Jazz Workshop, brought jazz musicians to play for students. (Learn more about programs for students at memphisjazzworkshop.org.)
 
Classes broke into smaller groups to meet with a host of community outreach speakers who walked students through what they can do now and later in their lives to better the 901. They included Suzanne and Larry Busby, directors of the Memphis Society of St. Vincent de Paul; Terri Dulaney, volunteer coordinator at Room in the Inn; David Bingham, director of The Way at St. John’s United Methodist Church, and LaDell Beamon, executive director at Heal the Hood Foundation of Memphis.
 
The music portion of the day concluded with a concert by the Memphis Sound Collective, led by Tutor, highlighting Memphis music progression. Featured artists included Jerome Chism, Vince Johnson, Al Kapone, and Singa B.
 
Fun and games followed, with giant inflatables, graffiti art, an instrument “petting zoo,” a recording studio, and 3-on-3 basketball. Then students were dismissed to head to the Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum and the FedExForum Arena, where the varsity basketball Owls defeated University School of Jackson, 41-38. Later, Beg To Differ sang the national anthem before the Grizzlies - Houston Rockets game. 

It was a great day and a great way to celebrate the "Memphis" in Memphis University School!

See photos from the campus events HERE.
Back

List of 45 news stories.

Memphis University School

6191 Park Avenue  |  Memphis, TN 38119  |  Main: (901) 260-1300