Upstairs at a truly under appreciated, although absolutely sacred Memphis musical landmark, the infamous Ernestine and Hazel's on South Main Street in downtown Memphis Tennessee. Way back in "the day", Ernestine and Hazel's was originally a dry goods store with a brothel upstairs! In a highly segregated Memphis, E & H catered to the Black community. When Soul and R & B musicians came into town back in the 50's and 60's to record at studios such as Stax or Hi Records, they would often stay at Ernestine and Hazel's, which was only a few minutes away from the now famous Stax studios. Of course the original Stax Studios was torn down in the late 70's, but that's another story. They'd stay "upstairs", write songs, play music and party with "the girls" like there was no tomorrow, although tomorrow was often a session at the studios to record the music created the night before at Ernestine and Hazel's. As the story goes, Wilson Pickett came into town for a booked recording session at Stax, and Steve Cropper (guitar player for Booker T & The MG's) got together with him the day before only to discover Wilson had nothing in mind to record the following day. So, after a long night at E & H, they came up with two of his biggest hits: Mustang Sally & The Midnight Hour. Often the piano featured in this picture was pushed out in the hallway and various musicians would gather around with guitars, horns, harmonicas and such, and literally jam till dawn. Upstairs, every floorboard creaks, and the stairs are soft and crooked under your feet. The paint on the walls is peeling in a pattern that only happens after long, purposeful neglect. The windows are dirty, and people have written messages in the window dirt. The neon sign works, but it's got a little sizzle to it. The place smells like beer, grease, old wood, dirt, and sweat. Over the course of many decades, people have put in many hours of neglect, indifference, and utter disregard. The effect is absolutely stunning, artful, and unforgettable. The place is also quite haunted, although it's unclear as to who exactly haunts the establishment. But considering its colorful history, it comes as no surprise. The jukebox (best in Memphis) reportedly often plays on its own, and ghostly figures have been spotted in the bar. Marshall & I were there Friday night for a South Main Street Block Party, and after a few glasses of wine he decided he was ready for a visit to the sacred upstairs floor of Ernestine and Hazel's. As a student of Memphis R & B, to play on that old out of tune piano that has seen so much musical history over the decades had to be an incredible moving experience. Thanks for viewing. Make it a great day!