Elmwood Soul of the City 10/7/2022

Crone Memorials is a sponsor of the Raymond James Soul of the City tour at Elmwood Cemetery which I visited on October 7, 2022.  

Eighty thousand people rest in Elmwood Cemetery. They created the world we inhabit. Gave us our culture.

And they made the music that the world knows us for.

This October, you can meet the songwriters, producers, composers, and singers of Elmwood Cemetery. They'll tell their stories from afternoon to evening from Thursday, October 6th to Saturday, October 8th.

Hear about Jimmie Lunceford's incredible accomplishments in teaching high schoolers Big Band music so well that they toured nationally, even performing in the Cotton Club. Listen to Sister Thea Bowman's glorious march towards Sainthood, and how she influenced Catholic church music. Walk through the sacred cemetery grounds, visiting our residents as their music floats by you. Grammy Award-winners, the legend of Stagger Lee, the beloved cook to a King, a sweet horn section, rock 'n roll, and the blues will be a part of the story we tell.

This incredible event happens only once a year. Begin your October festivities at Elmwood Cemetery.

Hostess welcomes us all to Elmwood Cemetery.

Wayne Jackson's story told by Dorothea Henry Winston
(Performed by Cathi Johnson)

"Stagger" Lee Shelton story told by Lady Lee Edge
(Performed by Sheena Barnett)

Sid Selvidge story told by Emily Sutton
(Performed by Virginia Pleasants)

Jimmy Lunceford story told by James Avadalis
(Performed by Kevin Rardin)

Mary Jenkins Story told by Grace Toof
(Performed by Cookie Hatchett)

Sister Thea Bowman story by Sister Constance
(Performed by Pam Rumage)

Beautiful Elmwood Cemetery

John Hampton story told by Lawson Treadwell
(Performed by Hal Perry)

Lilly May Glover story told by James Stewart
(Performed by Michael Pogson)

Another beautiful sky over Elmwood

PRESENTED BY RAYMOND JAMES

The Soul of the City Tour is being brought to you in part by the Crawford Howard Private Foundation.

Please help us thank and celebrate our generous sponsors. 

Presenting Sponsor

RAYMOND JAMES

Granite Sponsor

Crone Monument Company 

Last Stop Sponsor

Carol & Will Leatherman 

Gant Systems

Memphis Zoo 

Undertaker Sponsor 

Ellen & Kevin Rardin

Eclectic Eye

HHM Certified Public Accountants 

LaUna Brubaker

Sowell Realtors

Pallbearer Sponsor

Anonymous

Michael & Carolyn Fisher 

Nino & Charles Shipp

Mr. and Mrs. Michael C. Williams 

Baltz & Sons Concrete

Boyle Insurance Agency 

Pugh's Earthworks

Kat & Dave Schwartz

Gina Pickens

Kelly Drake

Nora & Dan Conaway 

Gravedigger Sponsor 

Nancy Dowling 

Henry Turley 

Lincoln's Costume Shoppe 

Sponsorship of the Soul of the City is also provided by the following dedicated Cradle Gardeners:

Kim Lane, Vicki & Dan Murrell, Lyn & Ted Bailey, Linda Smothers, Elizabeth Mills, Judy Card, Erin Hillis, Teresa Ward

 

Memphis Comics Expo 9/24/2022 - Fozzie!

Celebrating Jim Henson's birthday on September 24, 2022, the same day as Memphis Comics Expo, I dressed in my green Jim Henson Boyhood Museum t-shirt, topped off by a Kermit cap, and my Kermit limited edition Reeboks.  But, I took my Fozzie Bear replica along with me who, in the spirit of cosplay, was dressed in a Superman t-shirt and cape!

Several folks who know him asked where Muley was (at home, by the way, doing some writing, or drawing).  Still, there were some great smiling faces when they saw Fozzie.

I went with Martheus and Anakin Wade, Janet Wade's sister Sharon Dumer and her two kids Mara and Aayla, and of course Fozzie.  See the episode of Wade's World below at the 16 minute mark for Martheus' interview with Fozzie.

Photo by Lin Workman

In the video, he also interviews cartoonists Greg Cravens and Mike Norton.

Photo by Nicki Workman

Upon entering we ran into Deadpool with photos taken by harvtography.

Over at the Cause-Play Memphis booth, we ran into our good friends Garrett and Nikkie Dunnewold

Photo by Garrett Dunnewold

And ran into our friend Derrick Patterson, pictured here with Kermit and Peter Prankster of Tik Tok.

Photo by Derrick Patterson

Click the following images to see the photo's owners:

Muley Reads: Abner the Clown

What would you change about yourself if you could? Why would you make that change? What are things you love about yourself? What do others love about you? What do you love about others? Have you ever realized that you are perfect just as you are and don't need to change? Because YOU ARE!!

Contact Jeffrey to buy Abner the Clown for $25 + Shipping and Handling at https://jeffreybreslauer.com/contact (or on Amazon.)

Muley the Mule assisted by Kevin L. Williams www.muleythemule.com Music is Crazy Chicken by David Fesliyan. https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/donate Muley Reads is a series of videos starring Muley the Mule reading some of his favorite books - and we hope some of yours - wishing to inspire a love of reading, learning, imagining, and creation in children of all ages! And, as always, we love the books that communicate about people, animals, environment, love, and friendship. Some of Muley's special friends may even pop in to request a book. "Reading is fundamental!" Books add the fun, Muley adds "da mental!" Grab your family together, grab a snack or two, and sit back to relax while Muley Reads!!

50th Birthday Party Details

Though my birth was 11:09 am on August 20, 1972, the birthday party will be at 4pm on August 20, 2022.

August 20, 1972

The place will be at First Congregational Church, 1000 S Cooper Street, Memphis, TN 38104

(you can also GPS 973 Blythe Street, Memphis, TN 38104, for parking).

BRING NO GIFTS!  I literally have NO ROOM for anything; but I do ask that you please DONATE to the FOOD MINISTRY at First Congo which feeds many, many people in need.  I can't accept any gifts as I have no room at all anymore.  To see other charities that I support CLICK HERE.

There will be a sketchbook and art supplies for sketches, drawings, fun messages, 

Bring your good times, bring some food if you can.  

About 5:15 p.m., Muley the Mule and Friends will share a special presentation, and maybe some special guests.

EVERYONE IS INVITED!  I love my friends - the greatest gift a fella can ask for - and look forward to you being there with me as I end half a century on this planet and start the next 50 years.

Kevin in Memphis Voyager Magazine

 This online magazine represents the very best of Memphis, shining it in a great, positive way.  CLICK HERE to read the article.

Tasting/Unboxing French's Creamy Mustard Line

 A new line of mustard has been released by French's, a McCormick seasoning company.

Overall, the flavors are delicious, but the yellow mustard is very muted without that tart, tangy vinegar-y flavor they've been known for.

Check out the video and the photos below:

NOT Robert Johnson - The Fake Internet Photos

I wrote a letter to Robert Johnson's stepsister, Ms. Anderson, who, at this writing, is 96 years old and is author of the great book Brother Robert.  In that letter, I added a bunch of photos that circulate on the internet to get her opinion of them.

Are these photos Robert Johnson?  She stated, "There's only three known photos of Brother Robert left: the Hooks Brothers portrait, the photo booth portrait with the cigarette, and the photo I have which is on the cover of my book."

Photos shared are not copyrighted by me and you can look all that up on the internet.

There was one man who met with Robert's sister, Carrie, and took with him for a biography that never was written a photo of Robert Johnson with his nephew who was wearing a sailor uniform, it has since disappeared.  There may be a 5th photo according to one account; but, I don't have those details yet.

Robert Johnson has been claimed to be in the following photos and video screen captures; but, they are not him.  Either blues contemporaries have said it is not him, or bluesologists, people who claim to have known him.  Most importantly, his own sister has said, "These are definitely not him."

Nope.  Not Robert Johnson or the others listed.

Robert Johnson would have been about 5'10" tall by some accounts.

This guy is not Robert Johnson - the poster in the rear is from a movie in 1941, years after Johnson's death.  Plus, this guy isn't as sharp a dresser as Johnson would have been in public.

Once I have more information about some of these photos, I'll share that here.