MID-SOUTH MEMORIES
25 years ago — 1996
Todd Snider won male vocalist of the year and songwriter of the year as members of the Memphis music community celebrated the city’s heritage as the home of the blues and the birthplace of rock and roll Wednesday night. The Margaritaville/mca recording artist didn’t make the event in person, but he was among 12 artists and bands honored at a Beale Street swirl of bright lights, tuxedoes and glitter at the 11th annual Premier Player Awards, the local version of the Grammy awards, at the New Daisy Theatre. At a pre-show reception at a nearby restaurant, downtown developers, promoters and officials of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, which stages the Premier Player Awards, revealed plans for a privately funded study aimed at determining the feasibility of developing space in The Pyramid with a national Grammy Hall of Fame. According to Michael Greene, NARAS president and chief executive officer, one question the study is expected to answer is whether sufficient funds can be raised from private sources to develop The Pyramid space. Mayor W. W. Herenton, who attended the reception, said he expects that a combination of private and public funding will be required to complete the project, which carries an estimated $36 million price tag.
50 years ago — 1971
Something old, something new and something borrowed could be keys to a successful baseball season for the Memphis Blues. There are seven players returning from the 1970 team which won the Texas League’s Eastern Division championship, and the presence of four veteran pitchers should provide an even greater boost to title aspirations. New to Memphis is the 14team Dixie Association, a combination of what was left of the Texas and Southern Leagues. Only one player — rightfielder Tommy Williams — will be particularly familiar with Blues Stadium when the starting lineup takes the field for the opener against Birmingham Tuesday night.
75 years ago — 1946
WASHINGTON – Memphis’ $17,120,000 harbor development project, known as the Tyler Plan, has been approved by the Mississippi River Commission and by the chief of Army Engineers. Final approval was given Wednesday when Lieut. Gen. Raymond A. Wheeler, chief of Engineers, concurred in a project review report submitted to him by the Mississippi River Commission, and recommended that the 1928 Flood Control Act, as amended, be revised to include the Memphis project.
100 years ago — 1921
NASHVILLE – The 62nd general assembly of Tennessee was informally brought to a close this afternoon shortly before 4 o’clock after both houses voted to override the governor’s veto of the miscellaneous appropriation bill, carrying $450 extra pay for legislators. Adjournment sine die will take place at noon Monday.