A Tour Of Possibilities

Carolyn Michael Banks

The Memphis Skyline

Beale Street, Memphis

Mississippi River

Mississippi River

Mississippi River

Blues Musician

Lorainne Motel

Tom Lee

Mississippi River

Slave Haven

Rosa Parks

Pridefully driving around Memphis, bragging on all things great that derive from the Bluff City, Carolyn Michael-Banks, founder of A Tour of Possibilities in Memphis, Tn. gives black history-focused tours. 

With blues playing on her radio, Michael-Banks, also known as Queen, takes visitors to sites of historical and cultural significance to African Americans.

She highlights the best things about our city.  But Queen does not sugarcoat the history.

Driving along Riverside drive, touting the majestic Mississippi River, the colorful bridges, the remarkable story of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Pyramid, our amazing musical history and Beale Street, she reminds her guests, “if this body of water could speak, I can only imagine the stories it would tell.” 

Looking over the river, Michael-Banks offers a view of the city from a different vantage point. “On this body of water, two commodities were transported that changed the economy of this area;” she says as her voice tone changes, she pauses “cotton and enslaved people. On this same river, many used to escape slavery as well.”

For two-and-one-half hours, she highlights black owned businesses and the contributions that African Americans have made to make Memphis a such a great and significant city. She boasts about our soul food, blues music and B.B. King, COGIC, Stax, Robert Church and Obama’s visit.

But the guided historical tour also does not hide the darker side of the city’s history including injustice, segregation and racism.

Queen reminds Chicagoans Maryann and Reginald Marsh, touring on this day, that in front of them is the location where Nathan Bedford Forrest once had “Fresh Negro’s For Sale.”  Woven through the ride that includes various wonderful landmarks, magical stories of inspiring people and popular Memphis attractions, she also tells of people who lived in fear of lynchings, of city riots, a civil rights struggle and the Martin Luther King assassination.

There’s no doubt about her love for the city.  What she loves to share most is a sense of hope, optimism and deep respect for the people that came before her, the people like Tom Lee, Rosa Parks, Danny Thomas and Ida B. Wells, “the people who saw things that appeared to be impossible, but made them possible, in spite of.”

That is why she has named her tour A Tour of Possibilities.

By Karen Pulfer Focht ©2024

Interview with Karen Pulfer Focht- Professional Photojournalist in Memphis

A street scene from Coney Island, New York By Karen Pulfer Focht ©2024

I was recently interviewed for Shoutout LA, a part of the Los Angeles-based Voyage Group of Magazines. They also published a few of my favorite photos, they asked me about parenting, about my mentors, the challenges I have faced and they asked about what I love about our city Memphis, Tennessee.

As they grow and spread their work to other cities and build community across the country, they ask their interviewees questions designed to spark meaningful conversations. Questions about life, work, love, parenting, finances, and more.

Here is a link to my interview.

Link to Shout Out LA Interview with Karen Pulfer Focht

Protect Our Aquifer Fundraiser

We all know Memphis has the best drinking water. It wins awards year after year. People are trying to protect it. Grammy-nominated Tracy Nelson, Shemekia Copeland, Loudon Wainwright, John Nemeth, and many others performed during Acoustic Sunday Live at First Congo Church, on Dec. 3, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. Protect Our Aquifer, which put on the fundraiser, is a grassroots non-profit working to protect the source of drinking water for Shelby County, Tennessee, and much of the Mid-South. The room was packed, and the music was fantastic.

Tracy Nelson and Shemekia Copeland duet Down So Low

For more information about the cause see https://www.protectouraquifer.org/

2023 Ameripolitan Awards

Visual Highlights from the 2023 Ameripolitan Music Awards

THE AMERIPOLITAN AWARDS ARE HOSTED BY DALE WATSON AND CELINE LEE

Each year, a mix of quirky and eccentric musical artists come together for a reunion and celebration with like-minded people in Memphis, Tennessee. Performers are honored and supported while having fun and sharing their music at the Ameripolitan Music Awards which are hosted by American Country singer and songwriter Dale Watson and his wife, singer Celine Lee. This year’s awards were held at the Guest House at Graceland Feb. 17-19th, 2023.

The event has been on hold for the past few years due to the pandemic but is once again in full swing.

You can find a list of the winners here.

Lucky for Memphians, the event is held right here in Bluff City and it offers hours of endless fun. Their four-day-long party rotates between Hernando’s Hide-A-Way and the beautiful Guest House at Graceland while celebrating Honky Tonk, Western Swing, Rockabilly, and Outlaw genres of music.

Spiffy dancers in their best attire, swing their way across the floor, inspired by some of the nation’s top artists. Vendors come from around the country selling boots, fringe jackets, belt buckles, and clothes, sometimes gently worn, authentic, top-notch vintage outfits. Sunday evening, after brunch and a few rounds of Chicken Sh*t Bingo at Hernando’s, the crowd moves back to the Guest House for the Awards.

All of this takes place just up the street from the home of Elvis Presley, Graceland.

Memphis has become a popular tourist destination, especially for those with a passion for music. With a rich musical history, Condé Nast Traveler named Memphis one of the 23 Best Places to Go in 2023 list and the 3 Best Places to Go in the U.S. in 2023 list.

Alex Greene from the Memphis Flyer did a story to preview the event. https://www.memphisflyer.com/full-schedule-for-ameripolitan-music-awards-released

Memphis Ukulele Flash Mob at the St. Jude Marathon 2022

There is just something about a bunch of ukuleles playing together that makes people smile. Each year, our Memphis Ukulele Flash Mob entertains the runners in the St. Jude Marathon. Often they are exhausted, they laugh, cry, smile, dance and some even stop to take selfies with us. It’s a wonderful thing to be a part of.

Runners raise millions of dollars to fight against rare forms of childhood cancer. https://www.stjude.org/get-involved/fitness-fundraisers/memphis-marathon.html

I love the story behind St. Jude and the founding of the hospital by Danny Thomas. Praying to St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of hopeless causes, Danny asked the saint to “help me find my way in life, and I will build you a shrine.” It is so inspiring to live in Memphis and see the fulfillment of the promise that Thomas made to St. Jude. It is always a powerful reminder to me, of how each of us has the power to change the world and be a blessing to others. https://www.stjude.org/directory/t/danny-thomas-founder.html

It was his wish that children are treated here for catastrophic childhood cancer, while families never receive a bill so that they can focus on their sick child instead of medical bills.

This video below from 2021 shows what our experience is like. A runner sees us and starts weeping. The event is always bittersweet.

An Evening with Elizabeth King: The Sacred Soul Queen of Memphis

ON THE SEASONED SIDE OF LIFE: Performance Highlights of Gospel Singer Elizabeth King at Crosstown, Memphis

Surrounded by amazing Memphis musicians, 78-year-old gospel singer Elizabeth King pours out her heart and soul while performing at Crosstown Arts in Memphis, Tennessee Aug. 27, 2022. She was accompanied by her daughters. King is experiencing a career resurgence after taking time out to raise 15 children. She has recently recorded on Bible & Tire Recording Company.

King tells the story of how she was “Touched by God” and how he changed her life forever.