Thursday 23 May 2013

Famous Artists from Memphis in Film and More

By Gary Kalona


Memphis, Tennessee is much more than just the home of many mythical country music stars. Memphis famous artists include a long list of stars from many facets of the performing arts. Memphis famous artists include the king of rock'n'roll, an Academy Prize winning actor, and a celebrated writer and historian.

Elvis Presley

One can barely talk of famous artists in Memphis without discussing one of the country's most famous sons. Elvis commenced a humble existence in Tupelo, Mississippi. He enjoyed singing from a young age and received his first guitar at the age of 11. Elvis, his mum and dad, and extended family moved to Memphis in 1948, where he attended the LC Humes High-school. Less than a year since graduation, Elvis recorded his first demo in 1953. By 1958, he was a favored vocalist, but Elvis put his career on hold to serve in the U.S. Armed forces until 1960. By his early death in 1975, Elvis starred in 33 films and sold over one billion records. Millions of loving fans from all around the world keep his memory alive and over 600,000 yearly tour his Graceland mansion home.

Morgan Freeman

One of the most famous artists from Memphis Mr. Morgan Freeman, who was born here and raised by his mom and motherly grandmother. Freeman developed a love of acting at the tender age of 12, when he won top honors after appearing in his school's drama competition. After graduating high school, Freeman served in the U.S. Air Force for 4 years. He went to Hollywood after his military discharge starring in an African/American performance of "Hello, Dolly!" in 1971. Morgan Freeman did not experience motion picture super stardom until the 1980s when he obtained his screen role in the movie "Brubaker". Many film opportunities followed, and Freeman enjoyed starring roles in "Driving Miss Daisy", "The Shawshank Redemption", and "Invictus". Morgan Freeman's recognizable, smooth voice also landed him many narration projects that encompassed the prize winning "March of the Penguins". Though he is amongst the famous artists from Memphis, he now lives in Mississippi, where he established the Rock River Foundation. His charity project donates millions of greenbacks for instructional projects.

Shelby Foote

Famous artists from Memphis include this historian and writer, who didn't achieve celebrity recognition till later along in life when he authored the three novel series "The Civil War: A Narrative", which were published from 1958 to 1974. Foote was born in Greenville, Mississippi. Foote's dad died when he was only 5 years old and he was raised by his single ma. His writing career started while attending the local highschool where he wrote and edited the school paper. Foote attended the University of North Carolina and wrote for the school magazine. Shelby Foote served as a captain in the U.S. Army and later volunteered for a quick stint with the Marines. After the war, he wrote for the Sat. Evening Post. His first novel, "Tournament", was published in 1949. Foote modeled the fictional tale after his late granddad, a plantation owner. Foote moved to Memphis in 1952, where he stayed till the time of his dying in 2005.




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