Blues Workshop

Bartlett Music Academy Keeping Memphis Music and Music Education Alive!
By Derek Brookshire

Over a hundred years ago, Bartlett was a farming community known as a stage line depot on the way toward Nashville. Now it is a suburb of Memphis that has blossomed into its own beautiful city. It is a town close enough to Memphis to share the important legacy Memphis has in the music world. Seven years ago an academy in Bartlett was formed to further that tradition with the education of young musicians.

Memphis, a city whose heritage has been proclaimed the home of the blues and the birth place of rock ‘n’ roll, has been a haven for musical talent for the past century. There seems to be something almost magical about Memphis, a city that has mysteriously spawned the various cultural icons of music in blues, rock and roll, country and soul. From players such as Furry Lewis and B.B. King, to Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash, Memphis has had an impressive impact on all of modern music. Musicians from all over the south still come here searching for a way to express their talents. The people of Memphis often have overlooked the city’s diverse talent and much of the great Memphis musical tradition has all but been obscured up until recently by the nearsighted perspective in which this city has been viewed. Names such as Phineas Newborn, Memphis Slim, W. C. Handy, Rufus Thomas, and Jimmy Lunceford will sadly fade with time but deserve to be remembered alongside the more celebrated Isaac Hayes, Aretha Franklin and Otis Redding. Without music appreciation and history, even names like Al Green, Charlie Rich, Jerry Lee Lewis and Booker T. & the MG’s could disappear. But the music has never stopped. Memphis can’t recreate the past but it can secure a hold on the future. With such diverse talent as this city possesses, we can support the music of today. This can happen in so many ways, from going out and attending shows, to nurturing and guiding young talent, to preserving and studying Memphis’ collective contribution to the music world.

Bartlett Music Academy was founded in hopes of reminding Memphis of its musical past and promoting a strong and vibrant future. This happens every week on an individual basis with the instruction of nearly five hundred students that attend the academy. Students come from all over Shelby County to seek the instruction that the academy provides. With a staff of nearly twenty degreed and professional musicians, BMA is doing its part in focusing on the positive attributes of such a musically rich city. The academy also hosts clinics and workshops for students and the public to attend. Recently BMA has been grateful to have Memphis musicians such as Doug Wamble and world renowned musicians such as David ‘Fathead’ Newman and Clive Carroll come and host these clinics.

The academy intends to have more guests in the new year with William Lee Ellis being the first for 2009. Ellis is a Memphis based musician and writer who plays acoustic blues. He is the son of banjo composer Tony Ellis and the godson of bluegrass legend Bill Monroe. Ellis has earned a Master of Music in classical guitar from University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music. He is now attending University of Memphis, seeking a PhD in Ethnomusicology. Saturday, January 31, at 2 p.m. he will be giving a workshop on acoustic blues music. With his musical inheritance and his varied musical experiences and knowledge this is sure to be workshop worth attending. Cost for the workshop is $10 for Bartlett Music Students and $15 for the general public.

Bartlett Music Academy is located at 6757 Stage Road and can be contacted at 901-213-4262 for more information. You can also review their website at www.bartlettmusicacademy.com and Mr. Ellis’ site at http://williamleeellis.com/.