The rumors that the nonprofit Center for Southern Folklore,located on 119 South Main Street, is in danger due to lack offunding are simply untrue, according to Judy Peiser, executiveproducer of the center.
"We've survived for 30 years. We need support, but so does everyart agency. You just have to come up with good things to attractpeople, not just what you've always done," Peiser said.
And that's just what the Center for Southern Folklore seems tohave done.
The Center has live music daily at lunchtime and occasionalnight performances. Art displays, a coffee bar and a gift shop areopen year-round.
Last Friday Kate Campbell played to an audience of over 170people, with most of the tickets already purchased by noon.
According to Peiser, her goal is to connect the tradition to theyounger generation.
"[The Center] is not this stodgy place. We incorporate a lot ofyoung people, a lot of everyday people, and we are still connectingsouthern dreams with a new generation," Peiser said.
"But the art has to deal with place. We celebrate thenon-trained or self-trained artist mostly, but also some moretraditional artists that represent the idea of region in their artand music," Peiser said.
The Center has seen a lot of school groups recently, somethingthe Peiser said she finds exciting-- seeing the kids connect tosomething new to them.
"We brought in a harmonica player, and the focus was on blues. Alot of the kids were like 'aw-- we don't listen to that' but by theend they are getting into it and rhyming and creating word poetry,"Peiser said.
An integral part of the Center is new and ambitious youthbringing in these new ideas and energy, according to Peiser.
One such man, Charles Johnson, has a lot on his plate but seemshappy to take it all on.
Johnson is a U of M student who transferred from Michigan with atriple major. Playing brass, woodwind, percussion and strings, heis also studying music business, audio technology and has plans tostudy law.
Appearing on nine different CDs, five contemporary worship andfive jazz, he is currently working on his demo project.
Johnson is lead bassist and CJ of band CJ and K'west. The band,comprised of three other U of M students-- Kyle Bolden, JamesSexton, and Rashem Webbs-- will perform at the Center for SouthernFolklore Saturday, June 21 at 8 p.m..
"I got attached to the Center through some of the old greats,"Johnson said.
Memphis music icons, such as Honeymoon Gardner and Fred Ford,were big life influences, according to Johnson, who has a biginterest in seeing that artists' copyrights to their music stayswith them.
"Some artists that are still alive today, in some ways didn'tget their due," Johnson said.
Johnson expressed his hope that the Center could buy back therights to restore some of the culture and to use the proceeds forfunding music education for children.
Currently, Johnson is working as the production manager of theCenter.
"I'm trying to bring in musicians with different sounds,"Johnson said.
He often doubles as a one-man marketing machine.
"For Kate Campbell's show I did what I like to call 'guerillamarketing'-- driving from Poplar to Germantown and back to reachthose outside of the downtown area. We had a packed house, and[Campbell] was totally blown away," Johnson said.
"The show was just great, because she [did not represent] justone type of music. There was a lot of laughter-- and a sharing ofhistory-- it went from R&B to Christian almost because it wassuch a captivated audience," Johnson said.
Hours are Monday through Friday 11:00a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturdaynoon to 4:00 p.m.
The Center's southern cafe is open for lunch 11:00 a.m.-2:00p.m., and there is coffee and beer bar. Live music performances runMonday through Friday 11:30 a.m. to 1:30p.m.
The folk art gallery features the work of Southern artistincluding Bertha Bachus, Preacher Frank Boyle, Dr. Bob andphotographer Rev. L.O Taylor as well as the First Church of theElvis Impersonators by Memphian Tommy Foster.
