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elvis presley’s birthplace

from elvis presley posted in music by donkeyoti

Elvis Presley was born at this location in Jan. 8, 1935, in the house that his father built for $180. Although the family moved occasionally, they lived mostly in the Tupelo area until 1948 when they left for Memphis.

The city of Tupelo bought the house and land with money from a 1956 Elvis concert, who wanted a park for neighborhood children. Today, the birthplace is part of the 15-acre Elvis Presley Park. On the grounds include the house where he was born, a museum, and a chapel.

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bessie smith car accident

from bessie smith posted in music by donkeyoti

Bessie Smith, sometimes called The Empress of the Blues, was one of the most popular blues singers of the 1920s and 30s. Signed with Columbia Records, she made 160 recordings for the label, and became their best-selling recording artist at the time.

On September 26, 1937, Bessie Smith was critically injured at this location in a car accident.

She was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.

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riverside hotel

from bessie smith, ike turner, “rocket 88” posted in music by donkeyoti

This former hospital in Clarksdale, MS is a music landmark. The owner, Frank "Rat" Ratcliff, is part proprietor/part blues historian and is happy to disclose all of the famous musicians who have been through.

On September 26, 1937, Bessie Smith died in Room #2 of this building after a car accident when it was a hospital. It was converted to a hotel in 1944.

In the early months of 1951, Ike Turner practiced with his band here, and worked out the song "Rocket 88" during rehearsals in the basement. Released under the band name Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats (Jackie was the saxophone player and vocalist on the track), "Rocket 88" is considered by many to be the first rock and roll song ever recorded.

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kurt vonnegut memorial library

from kurt vonnegut posted in literature by donkeyoti

Located in the The Emelie Building in Indianapolis, the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library was created to honor his legacy. The KVML holds a collection of Vonnegut photos, writings, and possessions of the famous writer. The library serves as a cultural and educational resource facility, museum, art gallery, and reading room, as well as supporting language and visual arts education through programs and outreach activities with other groups.

Admission is free, donations are accepted, and the library is open 12-5 pm daily (except Wednesday).

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vonnegut’s boyhood home

from kurt vonnegut posted in literature by donkeyoti

Vonnegut lived here with his family for the first eight years of his life, from 1923 to 1930.

Remnants of the Vonneguts remain, including a leaded glass window in the front door that bears his parents' monogram, and the entire family left their handprints in cement outside the back door.

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