Tad Pierson - Road Ethnographer

Jay Witherspoon Tad Pierson describes himself as a "road ethnographer." He owns and runs a small business in Memphis called American Dream Safari. What he does is carry around tourists to Memphis and the Delta in his '55 Caddy to experience Blues culture and the history of the Blues in the few places that those experiences remain to be had in an unadultered state. His business is called American Dream Safari for a reason. He exposes folks to people and cultures that they would otherwise never experience. (Click to enlarge) Tad Pierson, Waymon, and the Caddy in front of Gray's Lounge. That is, he'll take you to places like Gray's Lounge, a little joint off South Third, where the jukebox is 100% black soul, and more than likely, you and Tad will be the only white folks there (assuming you're white - most of his patrons are, but not all). And while that scenario might at first glance seem intimidating, Tad has never had a customer complain of a bad experience at the hands of skin color. On the contrary, both the patrons of Gray's Lounge, and Tad's customers usually wind up having a great time together over a few beers and games of bumper pool. Waylon, the owner and bartender at Gray's, is glad for the business, and Tad's customers are glad for the experience. And the thought that doesn't immediately leap to mind is that Tad and his customer are actually helping keep these types of places alive. Help that Beale Street doesn't need. Tad Pierson in the famed American Dream Safari '55 Cadillac. PHOTO COURTESY Dan Ball Yet Tad will be the first to willingly endorse Beale Street as a must-see for any music lover coming to town, although you can get to Beale Street without Tad. His destinations are the places that you would never have thought to visit by looking at brochures and posh websites. An example? Stovall Plantation, near Clarksdale, MS., where Muddy Waters lived and worked, and where Allen Lomax' Library of Congress recordings of him were made. In fact, you will hear the sounds of Muddy Waters from 60 years ago as you ride between the cotton fields, and also hear Lomax' interview with the legend as you pull up to the plantation cabins. With a 12-cd changer in the trunk of the Caddy to augment the experience and a cd collection sure to match his customer's interests, Tad provides much more than a superficial, commercialized look at the history of the people and their music. He delves into history with his patrons, and tries to create a unique and genuine experience every time. Sometimes it's mystical. Sometimes it's so emotional that his customers cry. Try getting that experience from a cruise or a bus tour. View Memphis Mojo's interview with Tad Pierson. (requires quicktime) As a tour guide... (1.7 MB) Better than it really sounds... (1.1 MB) The Rev. Al Green's church... (3.8 MB) Tad takes you off the beaten path. He helps each of his customers form their own personal vision of Memphis' and the Delta's music and history. As he said in the interview, "Every great journey needs to have great experiences, and that's what I try to provide." American Dream Safari doesn't provide a vacation from the world, but a deep savoring of the energy of people and places waiting behind the polished and heavily funded Beale Streets of the world. You won't regret the ride. To find out more about American Dream Safari, visit Tad's website at AmericanDreamSafari.com.