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CONTENTS SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021
F E AT U R E S 26 Woody Shrubs and Trees for Fall Planting 30 Building Momentum: Communities in Schools of Memphis 34 Cheers Y'all! Memphis Food & Wine Festival Is Back! 38 Ken Hall's September /October Art Events 44 4Memphis Reads 46 Celebrating the Wedding of Andrew Bailey & Zaneta Ivy 48 Fashion: Fall Fashion Outlook 54 Fall Must-Haves 56 Ron Olson: Local Radio Legend
O U T TA K E S 20 Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame 22 Ruleman Gallery Grand Opening Exhibit 24 Crafts & Drafts Summer Market 28 Memphis Food & Wine Festival Poster Reveal Party 36 Live at the Garden Brad Paisley 40 Live at the Garden Little Big Town 42 Zap Bracelet Bar
Fall is here and there is no better place to enjoy the cooler temps than the Memphis Botanic Garden. Art installation by Ron Olson is located at the MBG Radians Amphitheater. Jacket, silk cami, necklaces, and jeans from Oak Hall.
About the cover: Pretty in pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Leather trousers, sweater, bag, jacket, and jewelry from Oak Hall.
BABCOCK GIFTS - BLU D’OR INTERIORS - CHERYL PESCE - CHICO’S COTTON TAILS - DINSTUHL’S - EAST MEMPHIS ATHLETIC CLUB FLEET FEET SPORTS - FROST BAKE SHOP - HEATHER HOT YOGA PLUS - IBERIA BANK - J MC LAUGHLIN - JAMES DAVIS J JILL - JOSEPH - KING FURS AND FINE JEWELRY - KITTIE KYLE LIBRO - LORI JAMES - NICOLE BARRÉ BRIDAL BOUTIQUE - NOVEL ORVIS - PANERA BREAD - PAVO SALON - PIGTAILS AND CREWCUTS RAFFERTY’S - SACHI - SISSY’S LOG CABIN - STOVALL COLLECTION TALBOTS - VIGNETTES INTERIORS - ZÜPMED AMI AUSTIN HOME COMING SOON!
Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame
Awards Ceremony
The 10th Anniversary of the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony was held recently in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, to celebrate the 2020 and 2021 inductees for their hard work and contributions to the radio industry. Congratulations to Memphis recipients: Ron Olson, Bobby O’Jay, posthumous George Lapides, and WHBQ Memphis. tennradiohalloffame.org.
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1. Honoree Ron Olson & Family 2. Friends Celebrating Ron Olson 3. Honorees Bobby O’Jay & Ron Olson 4. The Audacy Radio Team 5. Earle Farrell & Ron Olson 6. Karen Perrin & Ron Olson 7. Earle & Cathy Farrell, Jenny Earhart, Ron Olson & Dr. Gary Earhart 8. Honoree Ron Olson 20
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SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2021
September / October 2021 Volume XII • Number 5 PUBLISHER
Jim Walker jim@4memphis.com MANAGING EDITOR
Sandi Butler Hughes sandi@4memphis.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Lesley Colvett lesley@4memphis.com ART DIRECTOR
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Cathy Farrell cathy@4memphis.com WEBMASTER
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Ruleman Gallery Grand Opening Exhibit Church Health Lois Ruleman was one of the longest serving volunteers for Church Health with 27 years of service before she passed away. Her husband Dr. Allan Ruleman worked with Church Health to create an art space, the Lois Estes Ruleman Gallery, in the patient waiting room where she volunteered. The inaugural show featured the work of Dr. Thomas Gettelfinger. Retired from Memphis Eye & Cataract Associates, he created a new body of work that boasts over 40 pieces. A preview celebration was held for Ruleman friends and family and featured a blessing of the space by Dr. Scott Morris. The show remains on view through September 30. All proceeds from the sale of the artwork benefit Church Health. Photography & Story by Ken Hall
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1. Dr. Tom Gettelfinger 2. Barton Lynch, Jeanne Sutherland, Ann Langston & Ginger Owings 3. Dr. Allan Ruleman & Delvyn Liggans 4. Dr. Charles Crawford & Dale Lozier 5. Nancy & Fred Toma 6. Lyman Aldrich & Dr. Scott Morris 7. Martin Mueller & Francesca Liao 8. Hardy & Ainslie Todd, Michelle Snowden & Mike Tutor 9. Brian & Alynda Callies 22
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Crafts & Drafts Summer Market More than 35 local makers and artists showcased their best wares at a festive and fun outdoor event at Crosstown Concourse Plaza July 10, 2021! Guests enjoyed shopping, hanging out, and local cold beer served on ice! crosstownconcourse.com. Photography by Frank Chin
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Woody Shrubs and Trees for Fall Planting By Tyler Taylor, Greenhouse Manager, Memphis Botanic Garden Photo by Taylor Herndon
W
hile spring of 2022 may seem like a long way off, the prep work for a beautiful garden next year is right around the corner during late autumn when the temperatures begin to cool, and we start to get an increase in our seasonal rainfall. Lots of gardeners neglect this perfect time of the year to work in their gardens, but this is the best time to sow various perennial flower seeds, amend some fresh compost into your garden beds, apply a seasonal layer of mulch for protection during the coldest parts of winter, and plant your new additions of trees and woody shrubs for next year’s garden that you’ve been daydreaming about. Whether you’re planting deciduous or evergreen trees and shrubs, this time of the year is the beginning of the rest period for most plants, temperatures are cooler, and our rainfall is consistently abundant. All of this translates to less work (and less sweat) getting plants established and prepared to handle our increasingly hotter summers. Planting a tree or shrub in mid to late April, when our temperatures can sometimes already be in the mid to high 80s, requires diligent watering and care to ensure that the plant thrives during that spring growth period and gets established to take on the brutal summer. Looking to plant some beautiful, unique trees or shrubs for your 2022 garden? Well, I’ve got a nice, little list of specimens that could be the perfect addition to your landscape, and planting time is just a few months away. A Chitalpa tree [Chitalpa tashkentensis] is a wonderful addition for anyone looking for a summer-flowering tree that is also droughttolerant once established. This species is an intergeneric cross between our native Southern Catalpa [Catalpa bignonioides] and a Desert Willow [Chilopsis linearis]. This tree is a fast grower quickly reaching 20-35 feet in about 10 years. From mid-summer to the end of autumn it is covered in cone-shaped panicles of 2040 trumpet-shaped flowers that are white with splashes of pink in the petals. It blooms best in full sun, and though it is droughttolerant, it would prefer some consistent moisture. During winter, the pale ash-colored bark provides a beautiful winter backdrop. A sterile hybrid, this tree will not become invasive. And if all that wasn’t enough to convince you, the flowers are quite fragrant in full bloom. Another showy flowering specimen less common around 26
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Memphis is Hartlage Wine allspice [Calycanthus raulstonii ‘Hartlage Wine’]. Carolina allspice is a favorite Southern native for many gardeners, but this species of Calycanthus is a cross of our native Calycanthus floridus and the Asian Calycanthus chinensis. This is an easy, low-maintenance deciduous shrub that prefers some dappled shade but tolerates full sun if watered consistently. It can reach a height and width of 8-10 feet with an upright, dense suckering habit that forms an isolated thicket. Don’t try to squeeze this into a tight garden. The glossy green, ovate foliage is beautiful, especially when it turns buttery yellow in the fall. From late April to early June it’s covered in fragrant, maroon flowers that fade to wine red. Prune in early summer once the plant finishes flowering to maintain a compact habit and promote more blooms next year. This is a great addition to a woodland garden or the edge of a tree line. My personal favorite on this list is the Shoal Creek Vitex tree [Vitex agnus-castus ‘Shoal Creek’]. They are becoming more common, and when you see one in full bloom, you’ll understand why. They are from a Mediterranean climate so they prefer not to be waterlogged, so avoid low spots that have standing water. The crest of a hill or simply planted higher in a mound is the perfect locale, and they are quite drought-tolerant once established. It has slightly aromatic, compound foliage that is pale green with each leaf having 5-7 lance-shaped leaflets. From June to August it is covered in loose lilac panicles, sometimes up to a foot in length, that are highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and the occasional hummingbird. Light dead-heading will promote extended blooming, and cutting back the spindly branches in winter promotes a fuller shrub/tree with more blooms. Don’t wait around and end up planting your trees and shrubs in late spring next year, where a few weeks of complacency in watering could result in a sub-par specimen or a lost specimen altogether. If any of these trees and shrubs appeal to your gardening imagination, then venture over to the Fall Plant Sale at the Memphis Botanic Garden October 8-9, 9 am-5 pm, and October 11-15, 10 am- 2 pm. You’ll find all these plants and much more! It’s the perfect time to purchase trees and shrubs as it’s just before that perfect autumn planting time, so don’t miss out on these quality landscape specimens.
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Memphis Food & Wine Festival Poster Reveal Party Friends and supporters of the Memphis Food & Wine Festival (MFWF) attended a gathering at ACRE Restaurant on July 14, 2021, to hear the official announcement of featured chefs and vintners for the fifth MFWF, which will be held Saturday, October 16, 2021, at Radians Amphitheater at the Memphis Botanic Garden. Guests enjoyed hearing remarks from MFWF co-founders Al Larocca and Bob Chimenti, and watched the unveiling of the beautiful poster artwork created by artist Nikki Shroeder. The poster’s original artwork will be up for bid at the MFWMemphisfoodwinefestival.org. Photography by Ken Hall
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1. Jennifer Chandler, Kelley Morice & Aimee McMillin 2. Ken Hall & Nikki Schroeder 3. Wally Joe & Jose Gutierrez 4. Lee Howell & Tabitha FintaPruitt 5. Lee Proctor & Jennifer Biggs 6. Ron Olson & Nikki Schroeder 7. Bob Chimenti, Jose Gutierrez, Al Larocca & John Adams 8. Howard Stovall & Sherry Chimenti 28
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Building Momentum: Communities in Schools of Memphis Mission: Our mission is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Year founded: 2014
Website: cismemphis.org
Number of people served: 8,364
Annual budget: $3.8 million
If you ask Communities in Schools of Memphis why they exist, they’ll point to the student who missed her junior year because of an unplanned pregnancy. Despite missing a full school year and a pandemic wreaking havoc on the nation, the student was determined to graduate this Spring. Even with a newborn, the student took extra classes that combined standard school work, course recovery, and night school. A Student Support Specialist from Communities in Schools of Memphis was there every step of the way, ensuring that the student was able to graduate despite her many setbacks and obstacles. In fact, the student even made straight A’s! Her Student Support Specialist was even there for the students’ graduation, where the Specialist cried tears of joy alongside the students’ family. Without the additional support from Communities in Schools of Memphis, the student would likely have become yet another statistic in our region’s unfortunate dropout rate. In greater Memphis, 7,200 young people drop out of high school every year. Every day, nearly 20 students in Memphis lose his or her path to a better future. We often misunderstand the complicated challenges that students face in school, leading us to stigmatize the student rather than address the systemic issues of our school dropout rate. Learning can be hindered by what’s happening at home and whether a student has adequate access to resources like mental health support. An additional complication is Memphis’ high poverty rate. A family’s socioeconomic status has consistently been linked to having a significant impact on youth academic achievement. These non-academic barriers that students face are often the cause of an increased dropout rate.
Communities in Schools of Memphis was created to mitigate the non-academic barriers in a student’s life. The organization is part of a national network that has proven to be one of the most effective dropout prevention organizations in the country. In 2014, Communities of Schools of Memphis started with two schools, but they have expanded to serving twenty Memphis-area schools today. The organization identifies schools with the lowest attendance and graduation rates. Once a struggling school is identified, Communities in Schools of Memphis trains and places highlyqualified Student Support Specialists directly into those schools. Once there, the Student Support Specialists connect students and their families to basic and critical community resources, tailored By Kevin Dean Kevin Dean is CEO of the Momentum Nonprofit Partners. He received his Ed.D in Organizational Learning and Leadership from Vanderbilt University in 2021.
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Sonji Branch Chief Executive Officer to each student’s specific learning barrier. To put it simply, the organization clears the pathway so teachers can teach and students can learn. Communities in Schools of Memphis has proven itself effective at improving students’ attendance, decreasing their disciplinary infractions, and improving their grades. The data (and kids walking across the stage at graduation) exemplifies our work. When COVID-19 caused more than 100,000 Shelby County students to lose access to school buildings, Communities in Schools of Memphis was there to help. The organization created Google classrooms to continue giving students the academic and emotional support needed. Sometimes an in-person meeting was necessary, and Student Support Specialists and parents would meet in parking lots or on the family’s porch. Because of their remarkable pivot during COVID-19 to ensure that children in Shelby County Schools have access to technology and ongoing support, Communities in Schools won Momentum Nonprofit Partners’ 2020 Catalyst Awards as Organization of the Year. By helping students stay in school and succeed in life, Communities in Schools is building a stronger Memphis, where every person is capable of reaching his or her greatest potential. You can find out more at their website at www.cismemphis.org.
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Cheers Y'all!
Memphis Food & Wine Festival
Is Back! By Sandi Butler Hughes Photo by Mark Ramirez
S
ince its founding in 2016, Memphis Food & Wine Festival has become one of the premiere festivals in Memphis and the Mid-South - and it is back and better than ever before for 2021! This year’s event will feature James Beard award-winning chefs, world-renowned vintners, and live music from local favorite bands. Get ready because October 16 promises to be one of the best come-back parties of the year! While 2020 hit everyone hard, the food and wine industries were hit especially hard. The wine industry alone reportedly lost $1.4B last year. The Memphis Food & Wine Festival (MFWF) is built on the generosity of these industries to be successful and fulfil their non-profit mission of fundraising for the FedExFamilyHouse. The challenges faced by festival leadership were significant: industry financial hardship, ever-evolving health department regulations, staffing shortages, and logistical issues. In the spring of 2021, when a festival of this size has to be organized, the combination of all of these challenges might seem too much to overcome. But MFWF Chef co-chairs Wally Joe (Acre Restaurant) and Jose Gutierrez (River Oaks Restaurant) felt strongly that chefs would once again support the festival - and they were correct. “There was a real feeling of ‘let’s get back, let’s make things normal.’ Almost immediately they signed on a list of 37 chefs,” said Howard Stovall, Festival Producer of MFWF and Managing Partner of Resource Entertainment Group. For returning MFWF attendees, one of the most striking changes for 2021 will be the redesign of the festival grounds at the Radians Amphitheater at Memphis Botanic Garden. “That was going to be the big thing we had to deal with for the event scheduled in 2020,” laughed Howard. The new festival layout will be presented under the oak trees and twinkle lights, including the bands. The reason for the redesign was two-fold: the large stage dwarfed a local band and the energy dissipated in the open area. “Plus, by turning the festival toward the lake, we stay on high ground in case of rain. Jamison Todden (Co-Director of Live at the Garden) told me that one of those oak trees can suck up to 200 gallons of water a day, so we’re going to stay dry up there,” Howard explained. “We’re
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Jimmy Gentry, Andrew Adams, Nick Scott, Jose Gutierrez, Wally Joe, Patrick Reilly, Emily LaForce, & Andreas Kisler
going to bring in a stage that is much more appropriately sized to the music in this event. It will be a cozy stage and much more integrated with the festival. We will have roughly the same acts, but I think the feel will be extremely different.” At press time, some of the notables in the culinary lineup include Nicolas Costagliola, Executive Chef of Restaurant Guy Savoy in Las Vegas and Michael Smith of Farina and Extra Virgin in Kansas City and previous winner of the James Beard Best Chef Midwest Award. The collection of local chefs participating is a who’s-who of the Memphis culinary scene. A very exciting addition this year is local favorite Kelly English of Restaurant Iris, Second Line, and Fino’s from the Hill fame. Other local favorites include Ben Smith of Tsunami, Ryan Trimm of Nextdoor, Sunrise Memphis, 117 Prime, Sweet Grass, and 3rd & Court, and Patrick Reilly of Majestic Grille. In addition to samplings of delish cuisine, over 100 wine samples will be poured from some of the finest vineyards and winemakers from around the world including Frank Family Vineyards, Cornerstone Cellars, and Twomey. The VIP experience kicks off the festival on Friday evening witha Preview Night Party. This year’s event will be held at the new Hyatt Centric in downtown Memphis. Guests will have tastes from participating chefs paired with magnificent wine selections, all while watching a beautiful sunset from the rooftop. While festival guests enjoy all the delectable foods and wines, it is guests who stay at the FedExFamilyHouse at Le Bonheur that reap the reward from MFWF. The four previous festivals have resulted in over $325,000 being donated to the home-away-from-home for families traveling to Le Bonheur Children's Hospital for treatment. Raise a glass to 2021 and to the dedication of the chefs, vintners, and sponsors who are making the 5th installment of the MFWF possible. Memphis foodies could not be more ready to sample and sip the wonderful taste of normalcy along with incredible cuisine and fine wine. For ticket information, visit memphisfoodwinefestival.org.
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Live at the Garden Brad Paisley Photography by Steve Roberts
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1. Stacey & Dave Brown 2. Justin Golding, Brad Pitts, Lori & Bobby Frederick 3. Theresa & Brett Call 4. Anna Bishop, Dara & Don Holsinger, Steve Herrington, Lela Garlington, Sally & Clay Isom 5. Courtney Taylor & Kathryn Westervelt 6. Abby Caffrey & Cheryl Woods 7. Dave & Lisa Thomas 8. Jimmie Allen & Brad Paisley 36
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9. Stephanie Drouillard, Penne McWaters, Billy Mac, Don & Rita DeWeese, Sherry Wilemon, Margaret & Dave Brown 10. Tony & Belinda Howell 11. Eric & Susan Charping 12. Valerie & Tom Rainwater 13. Bethany & Scott Goolsby 14. Marc & Bonnie Belz, Bari & Rick Eiseman 15. Brad Paisley 16. Kelli Hail & Carin Bote 17. Liza & Tim Hendren 18. Colby & Brooke Dorris 19. Forrest & Tami Smith SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021
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September & October
Art events I am not going to jinx things as I write this in mid-August for you to read in early September by saying “we’re back” too loudly. Still, look at this list! It is long, varied and robust. By all indication we will again be able to attend the Memphis Food & Wine Festival, one of the most brilliant events in the region, and be dazzled by the artistry of the offerings. Pink Palace Crafts Fair and River Arts Festival, Cooper-Young Fest and Stone Soul Picnic – these venerable favorites are joined by newer events such at Latin Fest and the Mighty Roots Music Festival. I want to go to ALL OF IT and see artists, friends, visual delights, tastes and smells, aural treasures, find a parking place and buy a ticket and get in a line, and just stand there for a moment, like Mary Tyler Moore about to throw her cap in the air in St. Paul all those years ago, taking it in, feeling blessed about just being there. Amen. -Ken Hall
September events 9/1 9/3
Les Passees Stock Exchange White Station Beautiful pieces of furniture, art, home décor, jewelry, and more on consignment to benefit children’s charities. The Stock Exchange is open through the end of October. Southern Gothic Stacey Williams-Ng art show Jay Etkin Gallery, 6-8pm This native Memphians has been away for some 26 years and recently moved back home, but never left her Southern-ness in her travels and sojourns. Show will be on display through the end of the month.
9/4
A Change of Seasons group art show Memphis Botanic Garden, through 10/4 Members of the Bartlett Art Association. Opening reception September 5 from 2-4pm
9/9
light is a place art by Huger Foote Open house on September 18 from noon-3pm. Huger” Hugy” Foote splits his time between Memphis and upstate New York with strong roots in the Delta; his photography, always original and striking, has been shown internationally and appeared in myriad top tier publications. He returns to David Lusk Gallery with a new body of work that focuses on Memphis.
The Lifespan of a Fact Circuit Playhouse, through 10/10
9/18 9/24 9/25
Creative Aging Art Show Theatre Memphis, 1-3pm, through 10/10
OCTOBER events 10/1
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King Henry VI: The Wars of the Roses Tennessee Shakespeare Company, through 9/26 several different outdoor locations around the Memphis area.
9/15 9/17
Jimpsie Ayres & Pam Hassler duo art show L Ross Gallery, through 10/16 Carnival Memphis Krewes for Kids Memphis Zoo, 7-11pm The Party With A Purpose supporting three area children’s charities.
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Mighty Roots Music Fest Stovall Farms, Stovall, MS, through 10/2 Six miles from downtown Clarksdale at a vintage gin and the surrounding grounds is a new Americana music festival. Mempho Fest Memphis Botanic Garden, through 10/2 Widespread Panic, Lucinda Williams, and more at the Radians Live At The Garden stage
Agnes Stark Pottery fall show 12675 Donelson Rd., Eads, through 9/12
WLOK Stone Soul Picnic Levitt Shell This much beloved gospel festival took place for many years in Tom Lee Park; its newish home at the Shell allows for even more Memphians to breathe deeply this music of spirit and soul.
Latin Fest Tower Courtyard at Overton Square Memphis Symphony Orchestra Memphis Botanic Garden, 7pm Come early and catch the Memphis Youth Symphony at 6pm.
Nature Amplified art opening Eclectic Eye
Autumn Aesthetic art by Jimmy Crosthwait & Deborah Fagan Carpenter 4881 Canada Rd., Lakeland, through 9/12
Pink Palace Crafts Fair through 9/25 The Secret Garden Theatre Memphis Next Stage, through 10/10
The Marvelous Wonderettes DeSoto Family Theater, through 9/12
9/10
Cooper-Young Festival
10/5
Come From Away Broadway series, Orpheum Theatre, through 10/10
10/8
World in Treatment art by Dr. Malini Gupta Clarksdale, MS, through 8/15 Church Health Ruleman Gallery, Crosstown Concourse, 5:30-7:30pm Soul of the City Elmwood Cemetery, through 10/9 A tour with costumed actors portraying the permanent residents offers a unique and insightful (and fun) narrative of this history of Memphis.
10/9
VECA Greenline Artwalk Paint Memphis Massive murals in a day, a wonder to behold
Huger Foote at David Lusk Gallery
Sibelius Violin Concerto Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Cannon Center 7:30 pm/2:30pm
10/15
Southern Festival of Books Humanities Tennessee, War Memorial Plaza, Nashville, through 10/10 From Folk to Fine: New Works by Billy Moore Levy Gallery at Buckman Performing Arts Center, 5-7pm Sherlock’s Last Case Theatre Memphis Lohrey Stage, through 10/31 Clue Onstage Germantown Community Theater, through 10/31
10/16
Memphis Food & Wine Festival Memphis Botanic Garden Iris Orchestra GPAC/Brooks, 7:30 pm/2:30pm, through 10/17
10/17 10/20
Black Artists in America: from the Great Depression to the Civil Rights Dixon Gallery & Gardens, through 1/2/2022 Matthew Hasty art L Ross Gallery, through 11/20 Indie Memphis Film Festival In person and online, through 10/25
10/22
The Hot Sardines GPAC Grove, 8pm This is hot jazz, a genre I love from the mid-1920s to early ‘30s before swing became the thing. I saw this band at the Newport Jazz Festival in 2016 and they sizzled. Catch this show.
Time for a cool change Our Lilly Pulitzer collection has the coolest clothes for you to look and feel your best this fall. Only at The Pink Door.
Check our Facebook and Instagram to find fun happenings in the store.
Dia de los Muertos Reverse Parade Overton Park, 11am Art On Fire Dixon Gallery & Gardens
10/23
River Arts Festival Renasant Convention Center, through 10/24 Not on Riverside Drive or South Main but inside the convention center. That is a bit different but honestly there is plenty of room in there, ample and convenient parking, and who cares if it rains! Go buy some art!
Complimentary Gift Wrap
Locally owned. Follow us at:
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Live at the Garden Little Big Town Photography by Steve Roberts
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1. Cathy Farrell, Vicki & Ron Olson, Vickie & Marty Smith, Laurence Kenner & Lattie Michael, Earle Farrell 2. Caroline & Greg Sones 3. Mark & Karen Weeks 4. Sissy Vaughan, Barbara McKee, Sally Isom, Susan Archey & Anna Bishop 5. Tiffeny & Michael Rivard 6. Lisa Phalen, Suzanne Falkowski & Lana Falkowski 7. Taylor Feathers & David Pencarinha 40
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8. Cheri Hatfield, Catherine Hatfield, Todd Hatfield, Taylor Gruber & Amanda Paris 9. David & Cindy Thompson 10. Bill Morris & Jeff Morris 11. Brian & Tish Ridden, Fred Langston, Leigh Anne Starks, Janet & Byron Davis 12. Pam & Jimmy Dickey 13. Eddie Conner, Dawn & Harold Graeter 14. Tim Hendren & James Garcia 15. Jason & Angie Coleman, Don & Kate Oliver, Holly & Kevin Mount 16. Little Big Town SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021
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Zap Bracelet Bar
Oak Hall Memphis welcomed a unique jewelry experience at Oak Hall Saturday, August 21, at the launch of the Oak Hall Zap Bracelet Bar! Zap bracelets are unique - custom fit to your wrist and welded by a metalsmith. Designed to wear until you decide to take it off! Guests enjoyed sipping mimosas and shopping. Also on hand was TCBnCo Florals + Design, a beautiful flower pop-up and guests were able to buy the beautiful floral creations.
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Memphis 5679 Poplar Ave., Suite 102 (901) 208-8984 NothingBundtCakes.com
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4Memphis Reads:
New releases from local and regional authors available at Novel.
THE HEATHENS (Quinn Colson #11) by Ace Atkins Sheriff Quinn Colson and his former deputy Lillie Virgil find themselves on opposite sides of a case for the first time after a woman is found dead and three delinquent teens go on the run. Quinn knows someone truly evil is at work here--and that puts TJ and her friends in more danger than they can imagine. (Signed copies available at Novel.)
THE SURVIVAL EXPO by Caki Wilkinson In her third collection, Caki Wilkinson steers us into flyover country—from its gun shows and high school gyms to the gates of Graceland—as she explores the relationship between fear and self-protection, both the ways we weather the past and how we carry it with us. Through an array of voices and forms, The Survival Expo finds music in the mundane—and hope, too, in the worlds we make to survive the world that made us. (Signed copies available at Novel.)
WHY BUSHWICK BILL MATTERS by Charles Hughes Why Bushwick Bill Matters chronicles this crucial artist and explores what he reveals about the relationships among race, sex, and disability in pop music. Hughes also explores Bill's importance to his era and to the longer history of disability in music in this new entry in the Music Matters series. (Signed copies available at Novel.)
I AIN'T STUDDIN' YA by Bobby Rush Experience music history with this memoir by one of the last of the genuine old school Blues and R&B legends, the Grammy-winning dynamic showman Bobby Rush. Considered by many to be the greatest bluesman currently performing, this book will give readers unparalleled access into the man, the myth, the legend. (Signed copies available at Novel.)
COME CLEAN by Joshua Nguyen (available October 5) Joshua Nguyen's sharp, songlike, and often experimental collection compartmentalizes past trauma—sexual and generational—through the quotidian. Infused with the Shinto-inspired organizing practices of KonMari and the catchy nihilism of Mitski's songs, the poems in Come Clean unpack, organize, and tidy up life's messy joys and hurtful chaos with intimacy, grace, and vulnerability.
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387 Perkins Ext. (901) 922-5526 novelmemphis.com
The Earle Farrell 4Memphis Show Featuring The
“My Favorite Restaurant” Segment Now airing weekdays at 4:00pm on Facebook Live
LET COLVETT
Be your Winning Team!
Frank Colvett (901) 292-0535
Lesley Colvett (901) 331-0456
Earle visits with 2021 Memphis Food & Wine Festival Chef Co-Chairs Jose Gutierrez/River Oaks and Wally Joe/Acre Sponsored by
Sponsored by
(901) 685-6000
Andrew Bailey & Zaneta Ivy JUNE 19, 2021
Picture This: Year 2000, the University of Memphis with now Dr. Zaneta Ivy and Andrew Bailey meeting each other for the first time. He thought she was attractive, and she thought he was weird but cute...they exchanged hello(s) and separate ways they went. Fast forward roughly twenty years, and they cross paths forging a friendship, sharing stories, conquering trials and tribulations, and begin dating in January 2019. On Leap Day, right before the world shut down, after hearing hundreds of times how stupid it is for a couple that is not engaged to take such elaborate pictures and the ultimate planned surprise engagement production, Andrew asked one last question: "Will you be my person?" and she said...YES!!! For the wedding, they did not want just any wedding…they were planning a wedding on Juneteenth! They wanted their wedding to be a celebration of their relationship and a celebration of LOVE. Little did they know that the week of the wedding, Juneteenth, would become a national holiday! This made the day even more special, and everyone involved was excited about this day! As they got ready to see each other, both Zaneta and Andrew spent time with their friends and family. They 46
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truly felt the love coming from everyone around them. Zaneta was being showered by toasts as they got ready. Although her crying certainly did not help the makeup artist (oops!), that energy in the room was enveloped in support. With all his groomsmen and groomsmaids, Andrew was listening to music, eating, and just really enjoying their time with him. You can tell they were all closely knit to Andrew in such a robust way that made them all friends to one another too. From the emotional first look to the ceremony filled with African traditions, these two embraced the moment they were in. Their love for one another was apparent as they both were unashamed in showing their affection. They embraced the moment of Juneteenth in the ceremony as it was more than just a celebration of them. It was a celebration of their heritage. Every part of the ceremony was packed with meaning. Their two friends who officiated walked everyone through these beautiful traditions. They hope to see more of these traditions in the future because they truly brought another aspect to the day that made it all more festive and meaningful.
Vendors: Location: The Pink Palace Museum Bar Service: The Bossy Bartender Caterer: Elizabeth Heiskell Catering & Richardson Vegetable Farm DJ: Andre Monie Groom’s Tuxedo: American Tuxedo Memphis & The Black Tux Hair: Glam Salon Live Band & African Dancers: Memphis International Cultural House Makeup: Beautee & The Beat Photographer: The Kenneys Photography Videographer: Jdiliyok Productions Stationery: Ava Loren Design Cake: Frost Bake Shop Wedding Designer: L & Jay Productions Wedding Dress: The Barefoot Bride Memphis & Pollardi Fashion Group Wedding Rings: Diamond Brokers of Memphis
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FALL FASHION OUTLOOK
Sweater, shirt, pants and earrings from Kittie Kyle Shoes from Joseph in Laurelwood 48
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Dress from Shelby Jewel Earrings from Eden Spa Shoes from Joseph in Laurelwood SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021
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Shorts, top, jacket, necklace, earrings and shoes from Shelby Jewel
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Dress and earrings from Kittie Kyle Shoes from Joseph in Laurelwood SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021
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Dress and earrings from The Pink Door Cardigan from Kittie Kyle Shoes from Shelby Jewel 52
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Photography: McKendree Walker Model: Mina Honarmand/Colors Agency Makeup: Matt Gossett Hair: Jonathan Watkins/Eden Spa
Dress, necklace and earrings from Sorelle Boutique Belt from Oak Hall Shoes from Joseph in Laurelwood SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021
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Earrings from Shelby Jewel
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Must-Haves
Earrings from Kittie Kyle
Earrings from Shelby Jewel
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Necklace from Sorelle Boutique
Earrings from Kittie Kyle
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Purse from Oak Hall
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Ron Olson: Local Radio Legend By Sandi Butler Hughes Photos courtesy of Ron Olson
In radio-jargon, “terrestrial radio” refers to highly localized programming; in Memphis radio, it could be said that disc jockey Ron Olson is extra-terrestrial. Ron is not only a veteran DJ, he is a renowned artist and generous fundraiser. He has spent a 40+ year career in Memphis radio with the same broadcast group of stations. He began as a volunteer at college radio stations before being offered the early morning time slot at FM100. In the late ‘70s, he moved to K-97 as Program Director for the first urban format station in Memphis. With his leadership, he took them from recorded shows to live broadcasts, and helped them to grow into a nationally-recognized powerhouse station. He returned to FM100 for the bulk of his radio career before moving to 104.5-The River in 2018. Most recently, Ron was inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame for his career accomplishments. For Ron, it has always been about the music, and the reason he wanted to be in the radio business. If you have turned on a radio in the past 40 years, it is highly likely that you have heard his voice, and you may have even fallen victim to one of his pranks or practical jokes. And if you were lucky enough to see the Rolling Stones at the Mid-South Coliseum in 1978, Ron Olson is directly responsible for the Stones coming to Memphis - and he has a Gold record to prove it. When the Rolling Stones released their “Some Girls” album, it was not being well-received. Ron was disheartened. “I grew up listening to the Stones, and I had heard everything they did,” he recalls. But disco music and newer rock bands were dominating radio play. He took a queue from the early days of radio disc jockeys to influence listeners - he played “Miss You,” a single from the album, over and over in repetition. The program director at FM100, burst in and demanded Ron stop playing it. “But I played it again,” Ron laughed. And after several more plays, Ron was told to go home for the day, and the program director finished his show. Ron asked when he could come back to work, and he was given two options: either get Mick Jagger to call
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the station or get 500 signatures on a petition that read “We love the Rolling Stones.” He wasn’t sure he could get Mick to call, but he knew he could get the signatures. He got back on air, and promised to give the first 500 listeners who signed the petition a free copy of the “Some Girls” album. Radio stations normally would get 25 promotional copies of a record to use as giveaways - 500 copies was unheard of. Fortunately, after numerous calls that eventually led to the President of Atlantic Records who loved the idea, the 500 records were secured for the promotional giveaway. At the time, FM100 was located on Union Avenue, and Stones fans formed a line down the street and around the block to sign the petition and claim an album. But the story doesn’t end there. The Stones’ manager, Peter Rudge, called Ron after hearing about the petition. “‘Because of you,’” Ron says in his best British accent, “‘the Rolling Stones are coming to Memphis!’” A press conference was held the following day to announce the show. For fans, it became a storied concert in Memphis musicology. For Ron Olson, it meant time backstage with Mick Jagger, laughing about his stunt that brought the band to Memphis. Ron was later gifted a Gold record for “Some Girls” and his influence in helping reach 500,000 in sales. It was actually famous DJ George Klein who gave Ron the idea for telling his notorious fibs and “little white lies” on the air. George would be working a club gig as a DJ, and he would mention celebrities being in the crowd...but they weren’t. Ron realized “if you lie with a straight face, people believe you! Hum...I’m going to take that trick to the radio. I’ve realized that if it’s possible, people will believe you!” One particular prank Ron devised involved US currency. “This was the only time I’ve been kinda scared about losing my job,” Ron said. “It made me nervous when the Secret Service got involved.” In 1996, the US government was changing the $20 bill for the first time in modern history. The week the new bills were released into circulation, Ron told listeners that
the old bills were set to expire a few days later, and you needed to trade in the old ones or they wouldn’t be good anymore. During his show, he made phone calls to friends who pretended to be a bank teller or grocery store clerk to go along with the ruse. They reported lines of people waiting to exchange the old bills for new ones, of course none of this was true. “Every bank in the city was getting hit with people demanding new $20s for their old ones,” Ron said. Within two days, the $20-billjoke spread far beyond Memphis and “circulated” all over the country. However, the US government didn’t find it at all humorous. The Secret Service came to the radio station, and it was then that Ron began to get concerned about his job. The US Treasury Department issued a nationwide statement explaining that the old bills would never expire. While he had to apologize profusely on-air for many days, he got to keep his job, and his prank landed him on the front page USA Today newspaper as well as the cover of Coin World magazine. April Fool’s Day was especially good
for playing jokes on listeners, such as a 24-hour test day for riverboat gambling in Memphis. Gambling in Tunica was still relatively new, and Ron told listeners that the state of Tennessee wanted to give it a one-day trial to determine if it might be a fit for our city too. He had seen a large river cruise ship docked downtown, and he told listeners that for one day only, they could board the ship and gamble. Several hundred people showed up and demanded entrance for the trial gambling day. The unsuspecting cruise ship staff and crew had no idea what was going on. They unmoored the ship, and moved away from the dock into the harbor until the crowd realized they had been April fooled and finally left. Or the time when the pandas had arrived in Memphis, and Ron told listeners they were doing a “Panda Tour” around Memphis in a trailer similar to the one used for U of M’s mascot TOM. He then reported the pandas had escaped and were running free near Walnut Grove and I-240. Two staffers were dressed up in panda suits waving, and again, listeners were pranked. Ron often pranked his family and close friends too. His father-in-law was Director of the Main Library at Peabody and McLean. Ron announced that Motley Crew would be making a guest appearance at the dedication ceremony for the new Reading Room. Once again, crowds descended on
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the unsuspecting library, and Ron owed a big apology to his father-in-law. Another “little white lie” got him in trouble with station management and city leaders: along with longtime radio partner Terrence McKeever, they began announcing exit routes from the city with no further explanation. “If you live in these zip codes, use Poplar as your route; if you're in West Memphis, head to Little Rock; if you’re south of here, try to drive to Jackson. Roll your windows up, take your dog with you, that kind of stuff without saying why. We thought it was hilarious,” Ron said. Within the hour, Ron and Terrence began getting calls from the fire department and the police department asking what they were doing; naturally, they claimed no knowledge of the situation. Then the general manager for the station burst into the studio. He was furious, and told them to stop it immediately, and to tell listeners there was no emergency evacuation of Memphis...resulting in (as you might have guessed by now) more on-air apologies for Ron! It has not been all stunts and pranks. Ron has also been on-air for some impactful moments in history. As the nation commemorates the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, Ron recalls that morning in 2001. “It was the contrast between easy-livingstuff and the-world-has-changed. We had the Coffee Psychic on. It was a funny bit we did with this woman who would pour cream into a cup of coffee, see how the clouds formed, and give a psychic reading. We had her on the phone giving a reading for Mayor Rout (then Shelby County Mayor Jim Rout). We asked her to do one more: what do you see for the day, Coffee Psychic” he said. “We’ve got this psychic music playing in the background. She poured the cream, and said these words: ‘I see a lot of dead people.’ We’re thinking, ‘What?? That’s not funny,’ and we wrap it up. Within five minutes, we’re watching the t.v. monitors and one of the Twin Towers is on fire. And then ‘boom’ - the other plane hits. We’re reporting this live to people who are in their cars, driving to work. It was clear then that the country was under attack. I’m in there with Karen (Perrin - long-time radio partner), we didn’t know what to do. We haven’t been trained for this we were just trying to pass on what we were seeing. Before we got off the air, we called the head minister, Rev. Bill Bouknight at Christ Methodist Church to say a prayer for the country. It’s all I could think of to do,” he shared. He was also on air the afternoon that Elvis
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died. “It was a big worldwide event that Elvis died, and we announced it to the world. We stayed there at the station - there is no social media - and we’re answering the phones until 1 or 2:00 in the morning from all over the world. They want to know what we can tell them, what it’s like in Memphis, what’s going on, so we stayed and did a whole reporting thing on Elvis’ death.” Radio seems to be in Ron Olson’s DNA, and he credits his father with first exposing him to its wonders. Ron’s dad was a radio operator in the Navy, and he served in World War II. “He knew Morse code, and he worked in the radio room. He was on an aircraft carrier, and received the message which he then delivered to Admiral Halsey about the bombing of Pearl Harbor,” Ron said. “He was also on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific and saw the Enola Gay take off. He didn’t know what was going on, but he knew it was big. It was the atomic bomb.” His dad put his radio acumen to work when he got home from the war, and he rigged a timer for young Ron’s radio so it would turn off rather than playing all night after his son went to sleep. He also crafted him a homemade radio using an empty soap bottle and copper wire. In the early days of his career, Ron often referred to himself as “the son of Mr. and Mrs. Olson” - his childhood certainly instilled in him a passion for the medium. Ron discovered one of the most fulfilling aspects of being a disc jockey at a convention with other morning show DJs. He asked Dallas DJ Kidd Kraddick his secret to success in the fickle radio business. “He told me ‘It’s real simple - we take care of the community. We look for opportunities to come to the rescue,’” Ron recalled. The first day back at work after the convention and the conversation with Kidd, Ron immediately seized an opportunity to serve his community. In October, 1999, Memphis Police Officer Don Overton was killed in a car crash by robbers fleeing the scene. “I’m still jacked up about doing something for the community, and this is the moment.” They joined forces with sister station, WMC TV-5, and began at 6am the following morning with “28 Hours for Officer Overton.” Ron recalled how the community rallied together to raise money for the fallen officer’s wife who was also eight months pregnant: “It was the most powerful thing I’ve ever seen in radio. We started with one guy who was in the same recruitment class with Officer Overton to call in and tell us about him. Then we asked others who knew him to call in, and they did. Then, impromptu, people start showing up outside Channel 5 on Union Avenue with buckets to collect money. This fundraising thing
was new - we had never done this before. It was this groundswell that took off. Vice President Al Gore called to donate a huge sum, then Oprah called to donate $10,000. The next morning when we’re wrapping up, the wife and her family came to the station for us to give her over $300,000 for their unborn son. It was spectacular, and it all started with Kidd saying ‘you have to do something for the community.’” The community response sparked Ron to continue to use his influence for fundraising when another police officer was killed a few months later; and again when two firemen and a sheriff’s deputy were shot and killed by a mentally-ill Memphis firefighter. “We did it again after 9/11. We raised almost $1 million for the Red Cross. This was radio at its finest.” Since the early 1990s, his commitment to fundraising included numerous organizations including Race For The Cure, Make-A-Wish Mid-South, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. There is no shortage of great stories and memories over the course of his career. Ron was backstage at the Auditorium North Hall, and he saw Bob Seger introduce himself to newcomer Bruce Springsteen who had been playing a show. Bruce and Bob are now rock legends, and Ron witnessed the first time they met. He was also backstage before the Paul McCartney show at the Liberty Bowl in 1993 when all of a sudden he saw his old friend Carl Perkins talking with Paul. Carl motioned for Paul to hold on and said, “Ron Olson, son, how ya doing?” Carl never forgot his radio friends! Ron said, “Hey Carl, so great to see you...now get back to Paul McCartney!” He watched those two men walk through the tunnel toward the stage for sound check, with their arms around one another. Their admiration for each other was on full display. He sat with Magic Johnson, a newly signed NBA player, for The Jacksons
sound check and show prep at the Mid-South Coliseum. Tina Turner sat next to him at the Rolling Stones show. He was at TGI Friday’s in Overton Square every Thursday to host TGIF parties, which kicked off at midnight. He was giving an on-air backstage report at the Coliseum after the Stevie Wonder concert. He told listeners to honk their horns if they enjoyed the show. The feedback was immediate - 9,000 car horns were blaring in the Coliseum parking lot. Ron remembered, “Stevie Wonder was looking around, and said ‘What is that?’ I told him it was his fans saying ‘thank you’ for a great show!” Ron has spent thousands of hours being creative on the radio, and he brings that same energetic creativity to his music-themed paintings. He blends his love of Memphis, music, and art to create one-of-a-kind pieces that hang in homes and offices nationwide. Just as in his radio career, it is all about the music in his artwork. To not only survive but to thrive in any career is outstanding, but to thrive for 40+ years in a radio career speaks to the adaptability, tenacity, and pure talent fueled by a passion for a city and the music. Ron Olson has reinvented himself over the decades in order to continue working in the job he truly loves. He has also been fortunate to work with incredible people behind the scenes and on-air partners including Steve Conley, Earle Farrell, JIll Bucco, Kelly Cruise, Preston Davis, David Page and the lovely Karen Perrin since he first began in the business. Today, he continues to work with Karen, his longtime friend and partner at 104.5-The River doing their weekday morning show. Ron’s off-air partner and wife of 40 years, Vicki, has been a constant support and cheerleader through his entire radio career. Ron Olson has spent his life’s work in terrestrial radio making people laugh, staying on the air during times of uncertainty, giving back to his community, and playing our collective soundtrack, one record at a time. Background photos: Ron and Barry Manilow, 1974 Photo captions: Mick Jagger and Ron, 1978; Ron, Tennessee Hall of Fame Inductee
presents
WOMEN OF IMPACT Inaugural Class of 2021
Dynamic. Fierce. Impactful. Meet your 2021 Mid-South changemak(HER)s. The American Heart Association, Mid-South is proud to be celebrating the inaugural class of Woman of Impact, a complement to the Mid-South Go Red for Women movement. Over the past year, AHA received nominations for a select group of local women to be recognized for their passion and drive in building stronger communities. The areas of impact were limitless – from healthcare to philanthropy, from business to faith. If they “lead with heart,” they were eligible for nomination. Women of Impact are changemakers, dedicated to making a lasting impact on the health of the Greater Memphis community; women who lead by example, improving the well-being of those around them. By joining the Go Red for Women movement as a Woman of Impact, each honoree assembled her own team of volunteers, set a fundraising goal and made a meaningful impact on the health and wellbeing of the MidSouth community. The 2021 Class raised a groundbreaking $65,000 for Mid-South women's heart health! On September 30 at the Go Red for Women Luncheon and Survivor Fashion Show, held at Graceland, these 20 women will be honored for their work over the past year to raise awareness of women’s heart disease and fund scientific research and educational programs right here in the Mid-South. But today, 4Memphis has chosen to honor them in these pages with a professional photo shoot sponsored by photographer and Go Red for Women advocate, Sandy Adams. Starting September 1, the American Heart Association, Mid-South will take nominations for up to 20 local women to be recognized for the 2022 class of Mid-South Women of Impact. To nominate yourself or someone you know visit www.Heart.org/MidSouth. For more information about the Mid-South Go Red for Women Movement, email Kate.Staggs@Heart.org.
Jessica Benson and Meghan Triplett Memphis Grizzlies
Lia Lansky
Baptist Memorial Healthcare
Dr. Katosha Muse
Muse Primary Care & Obstetrics
Nieika Parks FedEx
Rev. Dorothy Wells
St. George's Episcopal Church
Lydia Bors-Koefoed
Mid-South Maternal Fetal Medicine
/AHATennessee
Dr. Alisa Haushalter UTHSC
Herbie Krisle
Page Robbins Adult Day Center
Lori Spicer Robertson Saks Fifth Avenue
Dr. Erin Watson
Methodist Le Bonheur - Emergency Medicine Regional One Health - Post Acute
Toni Wackerfuss
Encompass Health
Stacey Hyde
Envision Financial Planning
Joann Massey
City of Memphis
Mollie Walker
Tennessee Fertility Advocates
Marianne Dunavant
Marsy's Law for Tennessee
Donna Greer Kroger
Dr. Christina Rosenthal Paradigm Dental Center
Bobbi Gillis
Trinette Small
FaxonGillis Homes
Faida Solutions
Images by Sandy Adams Photography
Francis X. Camillo, M.D. Spine Surgeon 901-767-9500
FAX 901-767-0911
6005 P a r k Ave nu e L oew en b e rg B u i l d i ng Suit e 4 0 0 M em ph i s , T N 3811 9
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