Working the blues

There's always been a music industry in Memphis, but even in its heyday, it wasn't a huge industry. A part of that problem was big business - and big government - never saw the importance of the music industry. But that is changing. As the Memphis/Shelby County Music Commission moves forward, as work begins on the Gibson Guitar plant, and as negotiations continue on locating the Grammy museum here, a new level of music industry is shaping up in the city.

Local leaders - public and private - are re-examining what we define as the music business. It doesn't have to mean just studios or record labels. It means anything music-related, such as the recent Folk Alliance Conference, which attracted 1,500 folks to Memphis for five days. The success of the Folk Alliance Conference should show the city what can be done. Feedback from attendees was very positive. The hotel seemed to love the guests, and truly understand that this was a different kind of convention (guest rooms became showcase sites nightly). That success should bring more success, as our stories beginning on Page 4 point out.

And if you want to know how strong our local music scene is, look no further than the list of nominees for the Premier Player Awards, presented by the local chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. It would be an impressive list even for national honors, but this is just the local crop. The awards also recognize the diversity that makes up the music scene in Memphis, honoring everything from rap to rock to choirs. For all the details, see our story beginning on Page 5.

Speaking of talent, Susan Tedeschi is one of the brighter lights we seen on the blues horizon in some time. The Boston-area native has an amazing voice, and her Tone-Cool Records debut is getting a lot of attention. You can read about her beginning on Page 8.

As always, you get our calendar on Pages 10 and 11, BlueNotes on Page 12 and Record Reviews on Pages 14 and 15. And remember, our April issue will have the lowdown on the W.C. Handy Awards, Beale Street Music Festival, Mid-South Music Festival and much more.