90 years of music: Overton Park Shell marks landmark anniversary with massive concert lineup

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - The Overton Park Shell is in full celebration mode! From September 10 through 13, the historic venue will host back-to-back programming to mark its landmark 90th birthday.

The “shell-ebration” kicks off Thursday with a ticketed concert featuring the legendary Booker T. Jones of the iconic Stax Records group Booker T. & the M.G.’s. Ticket proceeds will directly support future programming and preservation efforts for the Shell, which has served the Memphis community since its construction in 1936. Doors open at 6 p.m. Click here to purchase tickets.

Nearly a Century of History

The Shell was originally built in 1936 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) for just $14,000 as a way to bring positivity and accessible performing arts to Memphis during the Great Depression. At its dedication, then-Mayor Watkins Overton famously pledged the stage “to the future of Memphis music.”

Over the decades, the historic venue has served as a launchpad for legendary artists:

• The Birth of Rock ‘n’ Roll: In 1954, a nervous 19-year-old named Elvis Presley played his very first live paid concert on this stage, opening for Slim Whitman. The playbill famously misspelled his name as “Ellis Presley.”
• Bridging Communities: During the Civil Rights Movement, the Shell’s Country Blues Festivals physically brought Black and white audiences together to sit side-by-side on concrete benches in the summer heat.
• Saved by the Community: When plans threatened to tear down the Shell for an interstate, Memphis community members famously fought back—including Huey’s founder Thomas Boggs, who chained himself to the stage for 48 hours to save it.

This weekend’s festivities continue Friday through Sunday with a lineup of free concerts:

Friday, September 11

• 90th Birthday Picnic (12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.): Enjoy performances by the Memphis Youth Symphony Program, along with local food trucks and free birthday cake.

Saturday, September 12

• Sounds of the Shell (7:00 p.m.): Rewind to the venue’s beginnings with a special showcase. More than 10 local artists will perform music spanning nine decades of the Shell’s history. Featured performers include Will Sexton, Amy LaVere, Jimmy Crosthwait, Michael Graber, Jacob Church, Chris Barnes, Al Gamble, Kelley Hurt, and Joe Restivo.

Sunday, September 13

• The Gathering (1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.): Spend Sunday afternoon enjoying powerful worship and gospel music. The lineup features gospel singers Ephie Johnson, Evvie McKinney, and the Tennessee Mass Choir, alongside spoken word performances by Josiah Turner of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church and Jeffrey Johnson.
• Memphis Studio Super-set (7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.): The grand finale features an all-star lineup of at least 12 artists, including Mark Edgar Stuart, Kyndle Wylde, Jerry Phillips, Marcella Simien, Jimmy Davis, Bailey Bigger, Singa B, Boo Mitchell, Jerome Chism, Lina Beach, and the Royal Studios House Band.

For more information about parking, seating, safety, and security guidelines, click here.

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