BSC is proud to expand its mission and introduce ILTM – a new weekly video series filmed in culturally relevant spaces. I Listen to Memphis is about Memphis music today, the musicians who make it, and the places and culture that fuel it. We are here to inform, inspire, and share the best of Memphis music.

Want an early look at next week’s video before anyone else? Join ILTM!

Hunter’s Chapel Church has ministered to the Como, MS community from this same spot for more than 175 years. On the headstones in the cemetery on it’s southern side you’ll see familiar names like Strickland, Turner, and Boyce – families synonymous with the sounds of the North Mississippi Hill Country going back generations. Music has been at the heart of the church’s ministry since the beginning. The Hunter’s Chapel Male Chorus recently celebrated a remarkable milestone – the group has been making a joyful noise for over a century. The Hunter’s Chapel Singers sang with church member “Mississippi” Fred McDowell on his landmark gospel record, Amazing Grace, recorded in 1966. McDowell, Napolian Strickland, Otha Turner, Jesse Mae Hemphill, RL Boyce, and many more pioneers of the North Mississippi sound shared these pews on Sunday mornings.

The Wilkins family is a strong contender for being the “First Family” of Memphis music. Patriarch Rev. John Wilkins has served from the pulpit of Hunter’s Chapel for over 3 decades. The family’s talents branch throughout the Memphis gospel world. His daughters, Tangela, Joyce, and Tawana, his grandchildren, and even great grandchildren are all involved in the music ministry of local congregations. It should come as no surprise then to learn that Rev. Wilkins’ father was Rev. Robert Wilkins, a first generation bluesman who, after witnessing a murder while performing on Beale Street in Memphis, gave up the secular world, became a minister, only recording sacred music from that day forward. Rev. Robert Wilkins became a favorite of young, white, blues musicians during the folk revival decades later. In 1962, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards named their band after one of Rev. Robert Wilkins’ songs. And they paid tribute to Wilkins by recording his song, “Prodigal Son.”

Director – Christian Walker
Produced by Waheed AlQawasmi “WA Films”
Cinematographer – Jordan Danelz
Camera Operator/Editor – Jared B. Callan

Special thanks to Pigeon Roost Collaborative and Inherent Media.

 

BSC is proud to expand its mission and introduce ILTM – a new weekly video series filmed in culturally relevant spaces. I Listen to Memphis is about Memphis music today, the musicians who make it, and the places and culture that fuel it. We are here to inform, inspire, and share the best of Memphis music.

Want an early look at next week’s video before anyone else? Join ILTM!

Marcella Simien and Spooner Oldham are back with us for an incredible encore performance! If you missed their previous installment, check it out right here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fgc63wa1CP0

This time, they perform the timeless Memphis hit, “I’m Your Puppet.” Written by Spooner and Dan Penn, the song reached the top of the charts in 1966 as performed by James and Bobby Purify, earning them a Grammy nomination along the way. The following year, local garage band The Box Tops, led by a precocious, 16-year-old Alex Chilton, were working with Spooner and Penn at Chips Moman’s American Sound Studios in Memphis. The group recorded their own timeless take on the song, including it on their debut album, Neon Rainbow/The Letter.

http://www.marcellaandherlovers.com/

http://www.rockhall.com/inductees/spooner-oldham

http://pandhcafe.com/

Director – Christian Walker
Produced by Waheed AlQawasmi “WA Films”
Cinematographer – Jordan Danelz
Camera Operator/Editor – Jared B. Callan

Special thanks to Pigeon Roost Collaborative and Inherent Media.

BSC is proud to expand its mission and introduce ILTM – a new weekly video series filmed in culturally relevant spaces. I Listen to Memphis is about Memphis music today, the musicians who make it, and the places and culture that fuel it. We are here to inform, inspire, and share the best of Memphis music.

Want an early look at next week’s video before anyone else? Join ILTM!

Don Bryant is Memphis music personified. Steeped in the musical traditions of the church and street corner jams in South Memphis neighborhoods. Fronting vocal groups for WLOK broadcasts as a child. As a teen, the musical phenom was the frontman for Willie Mitchell’s band at night and he wrote hit songs for Mitchell at Royal Studios during the day. One of those hits, 1973’s “I Can’t Stand The Rain,” he co-wrote with Hi Records’ newest signee, Ann Peebles. The duo married the following year and Don’s career as an artist took a backseat to behind-the-scenes production work and to supporting his wife’s burgeoning career. But, he never stopped singing and, in 2017, he took to the studio and crafted his first record in almost 50 years, Don’t Give Up On Love.

 

https://www.fatpossum.com/artists/don-bryant/

 

Memphis’ music reputation was built on blues long before gospel or soul, so it’s no surprise that real-deal blues is still the thing in neighborhood joints throughout the Memphis area. Perhaps the most well known of these nightspots is Wild Bill’s, a long standing, North Memphis institution on Vollintine Avenue that’s been serving up hot music and cold, 40 oz. beers for 30 years. Some of the South’s biggest blues artists have cut their teeth within these walls. Wild Bill’s is a must for anyone looking for an authentic, Memphis blues experience.

 

http://wildbillsmemphis.com/

 

Director – Christian Walker
Produced by Waheed AlQawasmi “WA Films”
Cinematographer – Jordan Danelz
Camera Operator/Editor – Jared B. Callan

Special thanks to Pigeon Roost Collaborative and Inherent Media.

BSC is proud to expand its mission and introduce ILTM – a new weekly video series filmed in culturally relevant spaces. I Listen to Memphis is about Memphis music today, the musicians who make it, and the places and culture that fuel it. We are here to inform, inspire, and share the best of Memphis music.

Want an early look at next week’s video before anyone else? Join ILTM!

HEELS is a two piece out of Memphis TN. What started as an acoustic folk punk band is now the mightiest “two friends playing whatever they want” band in Memphis. Brennan writes lyrics that will make you want to fall in love or punch the person next to you. Josh’s drums hit hard and frequently. The only thing that equals their harmonies is their banter.
Their songs are upbeat, catchy and dynamic. They are always entertaining live. They are good boys.

http://www.heelsmemphisband.com/

When we first started dreaming up the ILTM project, the Buccaneer Lounge was always in the mix. From the very onset, it was sort of a given. It would have been impossible to represent the Memphis music world without it. The Bucc was singular in many ways, first and foremost for the nearly irrational level of passion and loyalty Bucc regulars had for the nautically-themed dive bar. Then there are the countless shack-shaking shows that are seared into the memories of Memphis music fans. Some of the best shows you’ve never seen by the best bands you’ve never heard of (and a few you have) went down at the Bucc. We couldn’t imagine ILTM without The Bucc.

But tragedy struck. Well, a lot of things struck. Hard times. Closure. A couple of hasty re-openings. Rumors. Back taxes. Then late last year the Bucc burned to the ground. Undeterred, the ILTM team soldiered on and we captured this live performance in the rubble and ashes.

 

Director – Christian Walker
Produced by Waheed AlQawasmi “WA Films”
Cinematographer – Jordan Danelz
Camera Operator/Editor – Jared B. Callan

Special thanks to Pigeon Roost Collaborative and Inherent Media.