Beale Street dynasty: sex, song, and the struggle for the soul of memphis

Description

Documents the rise and fall of the legendary Memphis thoroughfare that indelibly shaped American culture, documenting its story through the life of former slave and first black millionaire Robert Church.;Part I. Birth of a kingpin, 1866-1885 -- There is no Yankee Doodle in Memphis -- A promiscuous running fight -- A frightful state of moral darkness -- Birth of a kingpin -- Part II. Birth of Beale, 1885-1892 -- Dividing the wages of sin -- Contributions from malefactors -- Free speech, high revelry, and low song -- The true spark of manhood -- Part III. Birth of the blues, 1901-1918 -- Red, gray, and blue -- Doctor said it'd kill me, but he didn't say when -- Purifying the moral atmosphere -- The gig -- We gonna barrelhouse anyhow -- Like a stone cast into the sea -- I'd rather be there than any place I know -- Part IV. The lid, 1918-1940 -- All the pretty girls lived good -- In a class by himself -- The frolic -- The unholy combination -- Snitchin' gambler blues -- God's chillun -- Within the gates of Memphis -- A Boyle festers -- This is a white man's country. Part I. Birth of a kingpin, 1866-1885 -- There is no Yankee Doodle in Memphis -- A promiscuous running fight -- A frightful state of moral darkness -- Birth of a kingpin -- Part II. Birth of Beale, 1885-1892 -- Dividing the wages of sin -- Contributions from malefactors -- Free speech, high revelry, and low song -- The true spark of manhood -- Part III. Birth of the blues, 1901-1918 -- Red, gray, and blue -- Doctor said it'd kill me, but he didn't say when -- Purifying the moral atmosphere -- The gig -- We gonna barrelhouse anyhow -- Like a stone cast into the sea -- I'd rather be there than any place I know -- Part IV. The lid, 1918-1940 -- All the pretty girls lived good -- In a class by himself -- The frolic -- The unholy combination -- Snitchin' gambler blues -- God's chillun -- Within the gates of Memphis -- A Boyle festers -- This is a white man's country.