Green Beetle Tavern "Good Eatin' Like Mama's Kitchen!"
327 South Main Street
Memphis, Tennessee, 38103
(901) 526-0383
327 South Main Street
Memphis, Tennessee, 38103
(901) 526-0383
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Beetle Music Memories
Beetle Music Memories: A Blast from the Past
Music where it all started that changed the world. It was then uniquely the Memphis way of life and still is, and the Green Beetle is a proud part of it.
If you have any music story, history and vintage photos of the Green Beetle, please send it to: info@greenbeetlememphis.com and we'll be glad to keep the memory alive.
Don Chastain of Bartlett, TN wrote :
[Story and photos published with permission of the owner. All rights reserved by the owner.]
"The Green Beetle has a storied past in my family. My mom and dad's band 'The Tri State Rangers' were the house band there in the early 50's for about 2 or 3 years.
My Dad (Don) and Uncle (Joe) played with many of the Rockabilly legends, such as Carl Perkins, Eddie Bond, Charlie Feathers, Roy Orbison, Smokey Stover.
My mom play her Maestro M-1 Kay Standup Bass given to her by Smokey Stover which was eventually sold by my Dad (without my mothers' permission in 1952) to Bill Black of the Bill Black Combo. I do not believe that her Bass however was the one that Bill Black played behind Elvis. Paul McCartney now owns it.
Bill black may have traded my mothers in to get the new one he supposedly bought from Sid Lapworth. (I could be wrong. It may be hers but there is no way for me to know.)
My mother who is still alive and in great health is living in Frayser, stopped playing the Memphis Honky Tonks to stay home with my oldest sister Becky.
I know other Memphis musicians such as Fuller Todd, and Eddie Bond hung out at the Green Beetle sometimes as well."
Uncle Joe went on to write and co-write many tunes that are still played in Europe by Rockabilly enthusiasts.
My dad left the music business and became the attorney for Public works in Memphis working under William "Bill" Farris at City Hall. Charlie Feathers also was a great muscian and never really got the due credit he deserved either. He was one of first Memphis' Rockabilly artist. Charlie Feathers is in the Rockabilly Halll of Fame and well deserved!"
My mother playing in the background was taken at the Green Beetle back in 1951.
(my father is sitting looking back and my Uncle Joe was playing the Steel Guitar behind him).
The Tri State Rangers outside an Ice Cream shop somewhere in downtown Memphis 1952.
My Uncle with his Charlie Feathers Band (Sun Studio's 1956)
Uncle Joe with a very young Roy Orbison.
Uncle Joe with a very young Johnny Cash.
Music where it all started that changed the world. It was then uniquely the Memphis way of life and still is, and the Green Beetle is a proud part of it.
If you have any music story, history and vintage photos of the Green Beetle, please send it to: info@greenbeetlememphis.com and we'll be glad to keep the memory alive.
Don Chastain of Bartlett, TN wrote :
[Story and photos published with permission of the owner. All rights reserved by the owner.]
"The Green Beetle has a storied past in my family. My mom and dad's band 'The Tri State Rangers' were the house band there in the early 50's for about 2 or 3 years.
My Dad (Don) and Uncle (Joe) played with many of the Rockabilly legends, such as Carl Perkins, Eddie Bond, Charlie Feathers, Roy Orbison, Smokey Stover.
My mom play her Maestro M-1 Kay Standup Bass given to her by Smokey Stover which was eventually sold by my Dad (without my mothers' permission in 1952) to Bill Black of the Bill Black Combo. I do not believe that her Bass however was the one that Bill Black played behind Elvis. Paul McCartney now owns it.
Bill black may have traded my mothers in to get the new one he supposedly bought from Sid Lapworth. (I could be wrong. It may be hers but there is no way for me to know.)
My mother who is still alive and in great health is living in Frayser, stopped playing the Memphis Honky Tonks to stay home with my oldest sister Becky.
I know other Memphis musicians such as Fuller Todd, and Eddie Bond hung out at the Green Beetle sometimes as well."
Uncle Joe went on to write and co-write many tunes that are still played in Europe by Rockabilly enthusiasts.
My dad left the music business and became the attorney for Public works in Memphis working under William "Bill" Farris at City Hall. Charlie Feathers also was a great muscian and never really got the due credit he deserved either. He was one of first Memphis' Rockabilly artist. Charlie Feathers is in the Rockabilly Halll of Fame and well deserved!"
My mother playing in the background was taken at the Green Beetle back in 1951.
(my father is sitting looking back and my Uncle Joe was playing the Steel Guitar behind him).
The Tri State Rangers outside an Ice Cream shop somewhere in downtown Memphis 1952.
My Uncle with his Charlie Feathers Band (Sun Studio's 1956)
Uncle Joe with a very young Roy Orbison.
Uncle Joe with a very young Johnny Cash.
Uncle Joe with a very young Eddie Bond.