Beale Street Dynasty: Sex, Song, and the Struggle for the Soul of Memphis

Lauterbach (The Chitlin' Circuit) tells the remarkable story of Robert Church (1839–1912), a former slave who would become the South's first African American millionaire, and his son, Robert Jr., who used his fortune and alliances to become one of the most powerful African American political operatives in the country. Their stories are interwoven with many others, who are often equally fascinating, including the influential journalist Ida Wells, political boss E.H. Crump, and W.C. Handy, the band leader and songwriter often hailed as the "father of the blues." All are tied together by connections to Beale Street, which was for decades the main artery of the Memphis African American community. Known first for its brothels and gambling venues and then later as the home of some of the country's best blues musicians, Beale Street and its residents offer a compelling story of life in the rapidly changing South between the Civil War and World War II.