Elmwood Cemetery, no matter when you go, is never a dead scene — even its dead aren’t really dead all the time. And no, I’m not talking about ghosts or lost souls. I’m talking about Elmwood’s annual fundraiser, Soul of the City, where you can meet some of the cemetery’s residents in the flesh. This year’s event is all about music.
On these one-hour walking tours, which will be offered October 6th through 8th, guests will be guided along lit paths, from site to site, to hear the stories from Memphis’ best songwriters, producers, composers, and singers, including Wayne Jackson, Sid Selvidge, Jimmie Lunceford, Sister Thea Bowman, John Hampton, and Lillie Mae Glover. Plus, you’ll hear about the legend of Stagger Lee. “There’s a connection to Memphis and Elmwood, which I think is very interesting,” Kim Bearden, Elmwood’s executive director, says.
“We don’t always do a theme,” Bearden adds, “but we’re coming out of a really difficult couple of years. We decided we wanted to celebrate the finest of Memphis — our best export, which I think everyone can agree is our music.
“This year we’ve added a couple special touches,” she continues. “We’re going to have the music playing in the background. It’s going to be floating in the cemetery. It’ll make the stories being told even more relatable because so much of the music will be so recognizable.”
After the tour, guests can enjoy fare from Mempops on Thursday, Pok Cha’s Egg Rolls on Friday, and 9DOUGH1 on Saturday. Tickets cost $22 for adults and $18 for veterans, students, and seniors. Children under 12 get in free. Register online at elmwoodcemetery.org/soul-of-the-city-2022 or call 901-774-3212.
Soul of the City, Elmwood Cemetery, Thursday-Saturday, October 6-8, 5 p.m.-8 p.m., $18-$22.
