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" There are more good musicians in Memphis than anywhere, but it`s more good musicians with less to do than any other place. "
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By Norm Shaw
The old line about school teachers (Those who can, do; those who can`t, teach) could be applied to music critics as well. Those who can play, do. Those who can`t, write about it. Larry Nager, who has been the music writer for The Commercial Appeal the past four years and is leaving this month, was an exception. Nager can play. And play really well. It is Nager`s passion for music that has made him such an integral part of the music scene in Memphis and why he will be sorely missed. I should say right up front that Larry is friend of mine. I`ve gotten to know him well since he moved here from Cincinnati, and I value his opinions. As a journalist for the only daily newspaper in town, he has had to remain objective. But since he`s leaving, BlueSpeak thought it would be a good idea to ask him what he thought of Memphis after four years. Among the best things he`s seen is the resurgence of the Downtown area. "It has been great to see Downtown coming back," he said while eating a plate of fried chicken from Ellen`s Soul Food on South Parkway. "I was surprised when we moved here how little was going on Downtown and on the riverfront." Nager said he`s also pleased that the city as a whole - from politicians to residents - are finally taking note of Memphis` music heritage. "There is a different attitude toward the music, more acceptance," he said. "They are finally realizing it is something important. However, they have yet to translate that into action." And that lack of action frustrates Nager. He notes that city Mayor W.W. Herenton attended high school with Booker T. Jones and county Mayor Jim Rout went to school with Duck Dunn and Steve Cropper, three fourths of Booker T. and the MGs. The mayors don`t seem to grasp, though, how the music heritage can translate to big business for the city. "It`s like Roby Cogswell said at the (Memphis/Delta Music) Heritage Conference," Nager said of the Tennessee Folklore director. "The heritage has value. It is a valuable resource. "Memphis is unique. It is distinctly itself. And that makes it valuable when all else is alike. That`s what people want. Something unique, authentic. For some, going to B.B. King`s on Beale is enough. For others, there`s Junior Kimbrough`s juke joint. Memphis has both. You can go to both in the same weekend, and go to Al Green`s church in between." What Memphis lacks is planning for the future, in Nager`s opinion. "There is a lack of vision in Memphis, of how to get to (the next level)," he said. "Beale Street is just floating along. Beale hasn`t really changed in the four years I`ve been here. Memphis has all the raw materials here. They just need to be lined up and moved forward." Despite its shortcomings and frustrations, Nager said he will definitely miss Memphis. It is, above all else, a music town. And as a musician and music writer Nager said some of his favorite memories are of performances and performers. "Keith Sykes` Songwriters Showcase is great," Nager said of the semi-regular shows. "It strips away all the showbiz aspects. It is a direct expression, and you don`t see that much anymore." Memphis provides audiences with an intimacy few other cities can match, he said. Seeing B.B. King in his club, Tom Petty in the Orpheum or most any show at Mud Island are special nights. "Mud Island is a real gem," he said. "There are several intimate, small venues. And that is really special." Ultimately, though, the roller-coaster ride continues. For all the good, there are equal parts bad. The highs are very high, and the lows just as low. That may be the overriding memory Nager takes from Memphis` music scene. "There are more good musicians in Memphis than anywhere," he said. "But it`s more good musicians with less to do than any other place. There are more musicians, but less industry. And that`s a bad thing in the end."
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