River City, TN June 2023

June 2023The Gents' Issue

As June ushers in new schedules and higher temperatures, we recalibrate. We find more activities outside, seek bodies of water to cool off in and relax into a different flow of our day to day. For the first month of summer, our Business Monthly highlights the bounty of local farmer's markets that make for a perfect summer Saturday morning.

We also celebrate fathers this month. Father’s Day provides a moment to recognize the crucial role of fathers and father figures in our lives. The importance of a father is tremendous! Fathers make countless differences in their homes and families. We celebrate the roles men play in our community, both micro and macro. From coaching a summer league team to launching a business, men move with strength and consistency.

As I reflect on fatherhood this month, many memories flood my mind. First, I am filled with gratitude for my dad. He spent countless hours coaching me and my siblings in lacrosse, football and basketball. He would move mountains to get home for dinner, just to sit and laugh with us. What strikes me most about my dad, and many dads I’ve come to know, is their delight in others’ victories. The way they cheer on their spouses, children, friends and family is unlike any other support I’ve witnessed. I’ve never seen a happier person than a dad at their child’s graduation or family member’s wedding. Fathers celebrate others daily, and every Father’s Day, I am reminded how much celebration they deserve in return.

Our Gents’ issue shines the light on men pushing boundaries in music, at home and in business. Their impact is apparent all around us. Let your father or a father figure in your life know how much he matters to you. And if you are a dad, let us be the first to say - thank you. You are invaluable to the people who know and need you and the community around you.  Happy Father’s Day!

June 2023

PUBLISHER

Christian Owen | christian.owen@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Lindsey Tonkin | lindsey.tonkin@citylifestyle.com

PUBLICATION DIRECTOR

Jeannie Tabor | jeannie.tabor@citylifestyle.com

PHOTO EDITOR

Sarah Bell, Sélavie Photography

PUBLICATION MANAGER

Katherine Garrott | kit.garrott@citylifestyle.com

MARKET AREA COORDINATOR

Malise Culpepper | malise.culpepper@citylifestyle.com

STAFF WRITERS

Amy Birdsong Golden, Margaret Ledbetter

MARKET SUPPORT MANAGER

Kim Lowrance

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore

DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Mindy Hargesheimer

ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson

WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell

AD DESIGNER Evan Deuvall

LAYOUT DESIGNER Andi Foster

KATHERINE GARROTT, PUBLICATION MANAGER @RIVERCITYLIFESTYLEMAGAZINE

Holly Loveland FNP

Tex Song DPM

Trey Hester MD

Tyler Fraser MD

Craft Food and Wine Festival

The 4th Annual Craft Food & Wine Festival benefiting Church Health will take place on June 25th. This cheese board-inspired festival showcases over 30 local foodpreneurs and chefs who provide handcrafted dishes. The indoor event is enjoyed on a lovely Sunday afternoon packed with delicious bites and paired with high-quality tastings of wine, cocktails and local brews, live music and entertainment. CityTastingExperiences.com

The (OG) Memphis Farmers Market

Since 2006, the MFM has provided fresh and local foods "ripe" in Downtown Memphis. The Market grew over the next several years, adding not only more produce farmers, but prepared foods and kitchen and garden artisans as well. The MFM strives to educate the community about eating local and making nutritious and food choices. Market days are Saturdays from 8 am to 1 pm, through October. MemphisFarmersMarket.org

Jones Orchard

If a little road trip is what you crave, try Jones Orchard in Millington, TN. For over seven decades, the farm has provided Memphians with fresh produce. They currently offer two roadside markets stocked with their seasonal fruits and homemade jams and everything they grow is available for customers to pick. Strawberry picking will wrap up this month but tasty blackberries, peaches, nectarines and plums will be ripe for your choosing throughout the summer.   JonesOrchard.com

Photography: Memphis Farmers Market

The rockin’ music lounge and bar.

The inviting dining room

ARTICLE BY AMY BIRDSONG GOLDEN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARAH BELL, SÉLAVIE PHOTOGRAPHY

An Original

INSIDE ROD HENSON’S HEIN PARK SALON

Rod Henson is a songwriter and salon owner. His backhouse does have a hair-washing bowl, but it functions as a music studio. So ladies, please don’t show up. While Henson works out of his eponymous East Memphis salon, his Hein Park Tudor home does act as a salon . But only when defined as “an assembly of guests in a fashionable household.”

Henson and his husband, Chad, moved from Germantown to the historic property in 2018. They were first attracted to the architecture of Hein Park and eventually fell in love with the true sense of community. “People take pride in their homes. It’s a walking neighborhood. We are connected both to Rhodes and the V&E Greenline.”

“As we walked through initially, I thought, I know how to live in this house,”  he says. His goal was to create defined, unique spaces in each room. His dining room table would fit perfectly, and there was room for a piano in the bar room. The formal spaces are all downstairs. This means upstairs: “My bed is unmade right now.”

It started as a restoration project, but not in the gut-job sense. Rod and Chad are only the fourth homeowners since the house was built. Everyone who has lived there has been an actor, musician or somehow affiliated with

the arts. The couple still uses two skeleton keys that open every internal door throughout the house. “The house was built in 1923, and I wanted to honor that,” he says. The previous owners took down all of the crown moldings. He would soon change that.

Rod tapped longtime friend and interior designer Cindy Owen for the move. “She helped me create continuity. I love color so much,” he says. “I needed her to connect the dots. Cindy has taken all my pieces and helped me elevate every room.” Rod selected Schumacher’s  Lotus Flower wallpaper in the entry foyer. It extends to the second-floor hall. “It was an investment. And then I learned it was created in 1923. It was my gift back to the house,” he quips.

“There were two things I always wanted in life as a gay man – a subscription to  Better Homes and Gardens and a formal living room,” he says. “And now I have both.”

The curved living room sofa is a family piece from Chad’s grandmother, Shorty, who owned a hair salon in Senath, MO. They recovered the zippy mauve piece in a moody blue. The room has a mix of art deco, mid-century and chinoiserie accents- which makes it feel like the inhabitants have grown up in the house from the beginning.

The music lounge and bar might house the most interesting pieces in the home. Rod has lugged the 66 Rock-Ola Jukebox to every crappy apartment he has ever lived in. Chad built the bar out of burned pine wood. An accent table made from a vintage marching band drum has found its home, too. A trophy case highlights Chad’s career as a third-generation race car driver and Sprint car owner.

Rod sold a baby grand piano to make room for a 1923 ( yes, 1923) American-made, red Naugahyde piano. He pulled into a Habitat for Humanity ReStore on a whim, thinking he would find some windows. The studded piece is now perfectly situated for songwriting and singalongs.

If this room description makes you think of Elvis, you are on to something. Actress Cybil Shepherd’s grandmother lived in the home. As the urban legend goes, Elvis would climb up to the second-story bedroom for a visit with Cybil. That room is now husband Chad’s current closet.

“A modern adaptation of an old home- it can be done right,” Rod remarks. “And these spaces now inspire all of my creative pursuits.”

“There were two things I always wanted in life as a gay man – a subscription to  Better Homes and Gardens  and a formal living room,” he says. “And now I have both.”

The entry foyer with Schumacher's Lotus Flower wallpaper.

“A modern adaptation of an old home- it can be done right,” Rod remarks. “And these spaces now inspire all of my creative pursuits.”

Rod with the 1923 American made piano.

The Smart Home, Simplified

ARTICLE BY JEANNIE TABOR

George Gattas is a local small business owner who loves technology and helping Memphians enjoy their homes to the fullest. George started his home automation firm, Gattas Home Innovations, in September 2019. “I was in medical sales for 27 successful years when I realized I was ready to make a change. I wanted to do something I loved and I figured I would make money and would look forward to getting up each day.”

A pandemic hit the nation six months after George opened his business and it turned out to be pivotal to his early success. “When COVID hit, I thought I was doomed. People weren’t going to work and I worried that they would not be interested at all in home automation. But the reverse happened. They were spending so much more time at home and realized that they wanted to be able to enjoy music and television easily.” Also, people were setting up home offices and meeting on Zoom calls. They needed to upgrade their networks in order to speed up their internet and wifi.”

George’s website (GattasHome.com) states that his company’s main goal is to simplify home systems to where the not so tech-savvy person can operate them with ease. “When I meet with homeowners I begin by asking about their needs and really listening. What is important is what they want, not what I want to sell them. I go into a lot of homes and they have all this technology, half of which they don’t need or understand how to work. It is not uncommon to find five remote controls on the coffee table.”

George offers a streamlined approach to home automation. His company provides audio visual installation, home networking and automation, video surveillance and outdoor lighting. And all of these services can be run and managed on a smart phone and with universal remotes, easily found at your local electronics store. “It used to be that you had to purchase a proprietary operating system for each of these services. There was one system to run your music and another for your TV, lighting, pool, security system, etc. If you had a problem, you had to contact the rep for that company, who might be in Nashville or Birmingham, and they would have to come out to fix the issue.”

George says that he is like the old Maytag repairman, the “loneliest guy in town,” because his customers simply don’t need the tech support that previous systems required. “In many cases, my clients are able to easily troubleshoot if they have an issue with their automation and they don’t need me at all.”

If they do need George, however, he is always available to help. Several clients confirmed that he answers their calls, even in the evenings and on weekends, and is able to share screens so that he can see exactly what the client is seeing. Walking them through the solution is generally easy to do, but he makes house calls as well if necessary. “I want my clients to enjoy listening to music and watching tv in their home, feel safe with security cameras and alarms and benefit from a strong network.”

“I want my clients to enjoy listening to music and watching tv in their home, feel safe with security cameras and alarms and benefit from a strong network.”

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GET IN LINE

ARTICLE BY MARGARET LEDBETTER PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARAH BELL, SÉLAVIE PHOTOGRAPHY

The Memphis Second Line Jazz Band is bringing a New Orleans-style sound to Memphis streets. A “second line” is a roving band of musicians on parade with dancing that follows behind them. With roots in West African traditions, second line bands began forming in New Orleans in the mid to late 19th century. The bands were made popular at what are now called Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs. At the core of the parade is the “main line.” This group is the band, the krewe or the club with which the band is affiliated. For funerals or weddings, the main line includes the funeral and wedding parties, respectively. The “second line” refers to the guests who join or dance behind the main line.

The second line tradition eventually worked its way up the Mississippi River. Memphis native Ellis Keplinger founded the Memphis Second Line Jazz Band in 2016, drawing inspiration from the bright and brassy sounds of a second line. Keplinger picked up the bass drum at Christian Brothers High School and joined the school band. He was invited to join his first

second line parade almost immediately after graduation. His unique talent and entertaining spirit grabbed the attention of others. He went on to join the drum line at the University of Memphis, and gigs began to follow.

“People just like music that makes them happy,” he says. Keplinger recruited friends on various horns and a snare drum to add some Memphis soul to the second line sound. Drawing on all the talent in town and “the fine teaching of Stax Music Academy,” he says, the band grew and now plays multiple events weekly, including a standing appearance at Restaurant Iris on Fridays at lunch. Classics like “When The Saints Go Marching In” make the perfect soundtrack for the raw bar Chef Kelly English features in the Laurelwood Shopping Center.

Bringing a celebratory sound to any gathering, the band plays parties and grand openings, most recently at the new Rumble Boxing Gym in the Citizen Building in Midtown Memphis.

901SecondLineJazz@gmail.com

Catch the Memphis Second Line Jazz Band at lunch every Friday at Restaurant Iris.

From left: Joey Williamson, snare drum; Eli Wyatt, saxophone; Ellis Keplinger, bass drum; Jason Cooper, trumpet; Travis Roberson, tuba; Colin Wood, trombone.

MIDTOWN 3050 Walnut Grove Rd. Memphis, TN 38111 (901) 458-8000

GERMANTOWN 9155 Poplar Ave. Suite #25 Germantown, TN 38138 (901) 624-6773

CORDOVA 7980 Fischer Steel Cordova, TN 38018 (901) 754-6161

Area Rugs Available Only at Walnut Grove Location kisers.com

@kisersfloorfashions VB

BY CHRISTIAN OWEN

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY PERSONIFIED

A successful event greatly depends on the synergy between hosts, guests and often the difference maker is a special person behind the scenes who allows the host to entertain with seemingly effortless ease and charm. In the River City, many locals know to Just Call LH, a veteran of the event planning business who offers catering and bartending services with a heightened level of engagement and professionalism.

LH White has honed his craft in BBQ restaurants, landmark diners and fine dining establishments since his high school days. Most of his clients who think they know LH pretty well do not realize that he supported his food and beverage career for more than ten years by driving a freight truck, balancing his restaurant hours with weekly trips across the country.

It was at The Butcher Shop Steakhouse at age 17 that he first learned to perfect a grilled tenderloin. There, he was exposed to the full-service side of a restaurant, working his way up the ladder from busboy to dishwasher, to a prep

JUST CALL LH

station role, then on to meat cutter and waiting tables. Ultimately, they taught him to bartend and grill his first steak.

Next, he was invited by a longtime friend to work at the famous Arcade diner downtown. LH learned the art of fine dining while working at Paulette’s Restaurant in Overton Square and at the Memphis Country Club. He says local businessmen Ed Labry and Vince Smith have been mentors on his journey. After poring over Steve Harvey’s book Jump about taking a leap of faith, LH contacted his client Ed Labry for advice. Ed guided LH in developing his business and even coined the name, “Just Call LH.” Vince Smith, also one of LH’s clients, introduced him to a local lawyer and CPA to make Just Call LH, LLC official.

Today, LH’s specialties are grilled tenderloin, crappie cakes and his signature smoked salmon. The crappie cake recipe highlights his favorite freshwater fish and originates from a childhood love for his mother’s salmon croquettes. And the crappie cakes pair well with his second business as a fishing guide. LH splits his work week between catering events and taking groups on fishing expeditions nearby, mainly in Mississippi lakes. His newest venture is preparing and delivering whole salmon to his clients with a minimum two-day notice. After up to 30 hours of brining and seasoning, he smokes the fish at a very low temperature, then organizes an elegant platter with all condiments.

Clients herald LH’s ability to remain calm under pressure. He says, “Don’t panic when a situation occurs out of your control. Stay professional and, most importantly, never bring any unforeseen challenges to the guests’ attention.” From blazing hot temperatures at an outdoor wedding in August to welcoming over 100 guests into a home with broken water pipes after an ice storm, his culinary education extends well beyond a recipe book to the realities of working in various settings. LH says the way people entertain in the Midsouth area is unique in that Southern hospitality is valued, and many people also prefer to entertain at home instead of in other venues.

LH’s children – Simone, Amber and LH III – all support and learn from him on the job. Simone is currently in culinary school and plans to follow in her father’s footsteps.

If your appetite for arguably the best tenderloin in town or an elegant smoked salmon platter has been piqued, or you want to explore the Mississippi reservoirs on a guided fishing experience with one of our community’s favorite Memphians, Just Call (or text) LH at 901-734-6535.

GREAT WINES, ELEVATED EXPERIENCE

ARTICLE BY JEANNIE TABOR | PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARAH BELL, SÉLAVIE PHOTOGRAPHY

THE RELOCATED AND RENOVATED GREAT WINES AND SPIRITS PROVIDES TOP-NOTCH CUSTOMER SERVICE

Great Wines and Spirits, formerly located in the Regalia Shopping Center, has been relocated, renovated and reborn under new ownership. The mission, however, is unchanged. “We like to think of our store as a wine-first operation, similar to what Gary Burhop, the original owner, intended when the store first opened,” says new owner Robert Fogelman. Based on Great Wines’ long-standing reputation as a premium purveyor of fine wine and spirits, Fogelman and co-owner Joe Jarratt jumped at the opportunity to buy the business. Gary recommended bringing on industry veteran Richie Lewis as store manager. Richie has decades of experience on both the retail and wholesale sides of the liquor business and is backed up by a fantastic supporting cast.

Customers can sample products and just hang out in this comfortable seating area.

Now located across from Oak Hall on Poplar and adjacent to Starbucks, the refurbished Great Wines has a new vibe. “We redesigned the store’s interior to make it a more inviting customer experience. We added wood flooring, accent lighting and a softer color palette. Since the beginning, we have intended to create an environment where our customers want to hang out and experience all aspects of our store. One of our favorite areas is the soft seating area near the fireplace, where folks can take a load off and sample some of our goods. We even have a vintage turntable provided to us by our friend, Josh Lackie. There are always relaxing tunes playing in the background, making the customer experience more enjoyable”, says Joe.

Great Wines and Spirits offers top-notch customer service with a very knowledgeable staff. Robert says, “Part of our philosophy is to share with customers the passion and celebration inherent to wine and all that goes into it. We bring items you would not find elsewhere to the market and staff to guide you through the shopping experience if you choose.”

Great Wines' knowledgeable staff is always available to help customers select the perfect spirit.

On a recent trip to the store, I inquired about trying a new wine for that evening’s dinner at home. My wine selections do not vary much, so I mentioned that my “go-to” for red wine has been a pinot noir from Willamette Valley, Oregon. I like a lighter, smooth finish with more subtle hints of fruit, earthiness and spice. When Richie offered up a 2021 Beaujolais from France, I was skeptical. Richie assured me that this was not the Beaujolais Nouveau that I was familiar with and that it was prepared similarly to other subtle, polished pinots I enjoy. So, I tentatively purchased one bottle and returned when they opened to clear the rack the following day. Because Richie immediately understood what I enjoyed, he let me be adventurous by leading me to a new varietal and region that was sure to please.

The staff’s dedication to their customers and knowledge of their products comes from a sense of participation and ownership that is unique in their industry. When Richie started at Great Wines, he ensured that all employees could participate in the day-to-day operations and the overall profitability. “I wanted the store to have a shared feeling of ownership among all the staff members. If one of my team feels strongly about a product, we will carry it. We act as a team. I want the staff to be both excited about our products, which translates when we are helping customers select a spirit that is perfect for them, and to feel genuinely excited about the company’s future growth.”

“Part of our philosophy is to share with customers the passion and celebration inherent to wine and all that goes into it.”

- Robert Fogelman

Similar to its original mission, Great Wines is a wine-first operation

Events are another avenue of growth and increased accessibility for Great Wines. Their largest events are known as Deep Dives and take place on the water at Shelby Farms. These occasions have hundreds of wines available to taste and winemakers and importers with an incredible breadth of knowledge available to offer insight. They are catered with a live jazz band and an outstanding sunset view over the water. Richie has also created various events at the store, including his favorite: Vinyl & Vermouth. “This event features cocktails and unique spirits paired with records played on our refurbished 1978 Ardent speakers and record player.”

The store also carries a wide range of spirits, beer and mixers, but the true goal is to maintain a representation of styles and regions in every category with a focus on quality. “We want to make the store an informational tool through which people can learn and grow alongside us,” says Richie. “We want to promote a sense of inclusivity in both price point and access. For example, the elimination of half pints enables us to redistribute our budget for things that we are genuinely excited to introduce.”

Great Wines serves a wonderful mix of business and residential customers in a vibrant, centrally located part of town. They have also added several premium-sized parking spaces for easy access at the front of the store.

Giving back to the community is important to Robert and Joe, who feel that small businesses are the backbone of our economy. “We are proud to be part of the vibrant, local small business ecosystem that gives Memphis such great character. Through wine dinners, cross-promotion and good old-fashioned word-of-mouth recommendations, we hope to grow our business and highlight the unique community that Memphis has made for itself.”

Wood flooring and accent lighting add to the store's appeal and warmth

FROM THE RIVER CITY KITCHEN

GRAPEFRUIT MINT SPRITZ

Grapefruit Mint Spritz

Raise a glass to all of the father figures in your life with a little extra vitamin C on Father’s Day. This refreshing spritz is simple to recreate at home and sure to be a crowd pleaser, all sweltering summer long.

PREP TIME: 5 minutes (plus chilling time)

COOK TIME: 5 minutes

READY IN: 10 minutes

SERVING SIZE: 2 drinks

INGREDIENTS

• 1/4 cup honey

• 1/4 cup water

• 10 mint leaves, plus extra for garnish

• 1/2 cup grapefruit juice

• 1/2 cup prosecco or sparkling wine (optional)

• Club soda or seltzer water of choice

• Grapefruit slices for garnish

DIRECTIONS

1. Make a mint simple syrup by combining sugar, water and mint leaves in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to simmer, then strain and chill completely before assembling your cocktails.

2. Fill 2 glasses with ice. Spoon 1 to 2 tablespoons of mint simple syrup into each glass and fill each with 1/4 cup grapefruit juice. Top off with prosecco (if desired) and a splash of club soda or seltzer. Garnish with grapefruit slices and fresh mint.

Cheers!

Photography by Bob Bayne

Off the Shelf

Literary Gifts for Father’s Day

IF HE LIKES TO READ THE BOOK BEFORE WATCHING IT ON THE BIG (OR SMALL) SCREEN…

The Fall of the House of Usher and other works by Edgar Allan Poe Netflix is releasing this mini-series based on Poe’s original short story and other works from 1839. The dark adaptation follows the main character Roderick Usher in a gothic tale.

FOR THE DAD WHO READ HARRY POTTER BEFORE HIS CHILDREN…

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

A young reader series about Greek gods set in modern times. The perfect chapter books to start reading out loud with schoolaged kids.

IF HE LOVES THE STORIES BEHIND THE SPORTS…

Rome 1960: The Summer Olympics That Stirred the World by David Maraniss

The first to be commercially televised, the Summer Olympics of 1960, were swirling with politics, cold war propaganda, drugs, money and civil rights issues.

My Losing Season by Pat Conroy

The acclaimed author has a lesser-known memoir about his senior year as starting point guard on the basketball team at The Citadel in the late ’60s.

Land of Second Chances – The Impossible Rise of Rwanda’s Cycling Team by Tim Lewis

A group of American professional cyclists set up a cycling team in Rwanda after the country experienced genocide in the ’90s.

ARTICLE BY AMY BIRDSONG GOLDEN

FOR THE HISTORY BUFF…

The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson Larson examines Winston Churchill’s and his family’s daily life as he led the British in World War II.

FOR THE DAD WHO LOVES TRUE CRIME…

Furious Hours – Murder, Fraud and the Last Trial of Harper

Lee by Casey Cep

Harper Lee spent a year in small town in Alabama reporting on a sensational murder case. Cep brings the story to life, chronicling the courtroom drama and offering a portrait of the beloved author, Lee.

Con/Artist: The Life and Crimes of the World’s Greatest Art Forger by Tony Tetro, Giampiero Ambrosi

Tetro documents his role in the corrupt art world, where he spent decades painting like the masters. For years, he kept it a secret in his California townhouse. He reveals it all to the reader.

FOR THE DAD WHO TRAVELED ABROAD IN COLLEGE…

Diary of a Foreigner in Paris by Curizio Malaparte

Malaparte, a writer and artist, recorded his travels through postwar Europe. Previously, he had been condemned by Mussolini to five years in exile. His diary is full of humor and history.

FOR THE DAD WHO DREAMS OF MORE QUALITY TIME…

Walking with Sam: A Father, A Son, and Five Hundred Miles

Across Spain by Andrew McCarthy

Actor Andrew McCarthy walked the Camino de Santiago with his adult son, Sam. They spent five weeks on the journey together, where the conversation was more important than the trek.

TO THE DAD WHO ALWAYS KNOWS THE WORDS…

The Lyrics by Paul McCartney

The two-volume set celebrates 154 of McCartney’s songs. Observations and commentaries surrounding his life and music accompany his famous lyrics.

The Music Men of Midtown Memphis

YOUNG AVENUE SOUND RECORDING STUDIO CAN DO IT ALL, FOR ANYONE

ARTICLE BY KIT GARROTT

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARAH BELL, SÉLAVIE PHOTOGRAPHY

The Cooper-Young area of Memphis is teeming with energy. From new construction to tried and true haunts, Midtown Memphis has a heartbeat you can feel. Young Avenue Sound, a world-class recording studio first active in 2001, lies just beyond the intersection of Cooper Street and Young Avenue. Since its inception, the studio has become the hub of creativity. Not only does the space offer state-of-the-art recording equipment and instruments, but they are also an AirBnb. Young Avenue Sound has two rooms and a kitchen for those who choose to experience all the studio offers.

From the left: Ryan Pelle, Dane Giodano, Ethan Hunt and Blair Davis

Each team member is multi-faceted in their love of music and creation. Ryan Peele, drummer, producer and songwriting teacher, was born and raised in Memphis and in the music industry. “My first memory of being in the studio is going with my dad to a place called Sounds Unreel, and the head engineer gave me a toy of Ringo from the Beatles, so I thought it was the coolest place I’d ever been. That feeling has never changed,” Ryan recalls. His love for the creative process is evident in his open-minded approach. Whether recording drums for a new track or teaching songwriting at the Stax Museum Academy, Ryan’s passion for music is palpable and infectious.

The music scene in Memphis has a history that runs deep. The Young Avenue Sound team embodies the years of creativity in the River City and pushes for Memphis to remain at the forefront of the scene. Studio team member Blair Davis says, “Memphis is a hidden gem. So much talent here needs to be bolstered, and I’m inspired when I find those talented Memphians. My biggest inspiration is knowing there’s great art being made and you can be a part of it.”

Ryan Peele is at home behind a drum kit in the main studio

The guys who make up the talented studio team leave a mark on all artists and guests who find themselves in Midtown.

Young Avenue Sound has widened its recording reach to podcasting and creating original music with the engineering team. Dane Giordano, musician and producer, draws on the city’s energy when he creates. “What inspires me everywhere, especially in Memphis, are all the creative people I work with. I’m grateful to work with people with such a true love for music who always seek the best idea, no matter where, what or who it comes from.” While Memphis continues to inspire artists, many of these artists congregate at Young Avenue Sound for hours on end, searching for the sound they envision.

The Memphis studio is unique not only because of the two bedrooms on the first floor but because of the team that works day in and day out, motivated by a shared passion. Ryan details the uniqueness of Young Avenue Sound: “We can put out a product from start to finish just like they did in the old days with Stax, Sun Records and HI Records. We do everything from conceptualizing and creating a vision to recording, producing, lodging, visual media, music videos, management and beyond. We truly do it all, and I feel blessed to be a part of a team that allows me to create and collaborate freely!”

“WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AN EDGY STUDIO MET WITH EQUAL PROFESSIONALISM. YOU FEEL AT HOME HERE BUT KNOW YOU’LL BE GETTING A STELLAR PRODUCT. WE ARE FAMILY, AND THE FAMILY IS GROWING!”

- BLAIR DAVIS

Dane and Blair spend hours perfecting each artist’s sound.

DAVID LUSK GALLERY

97 Tillman . Memphis

KIT REUTHER

#1620-3d (rotten plum), 2023 , powder coated aluminum, 51 x 27 x 34”