Beale Street Dynasty

Sex, Song, and the Struggle for the Soul of Memphis

De: Preston Lauterbach

Narrado por: Mirron Willis

The vivid history of Beale Street - a lost world of swaggering musicians, glamorous madams, and ruthless politicians - and the battle for the soul of Memphis.

Following the Civil War, Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee, thrived as a cauldron of sex and song, violence and passion. But out of this turmoil emerged a center of black progress, optimism, and cultural ferment. Preston Lauterbach tells this vivid, fascinating story through the multigenerational saga of a family whose ambition, race pride, and moral complexity indelibly shaped the city that would loom so large in American life.

Robert Church, who would become "the South's first black millionaire," was a mulatto slave owned by his white father. Having survived a deadly race riot in 1866, Church constructed an empire of vice in the booming river town. He made a fortune with saloons, gambling, and - shockingly - white prostitution. But he also nurtured the militant journalism of Ida B. Wells and helped revolutionize American music through the work of composer W. C. Handy, the man who claimed to have invented the blues.

In the face of Jim Crow, the Church fortune helped fashion the most powerful black political organization of the early 20th century. Robert and his son, Bob, Jr., bought and sold property, founded a bank, and created a park and auditorium for their people finer than the places whites had forbidden them to attend.

However, the Church family operated through a tense arrangement with the Democrat machine run by the notorious E. H. "Boss" Crump, who stole elections and controlled city hall. The battle between this black dynasty and the white political machine would define the future of Memphis.

Brilliantly researched and swiftly plotted, Beale Street Dynasty offers a captivating account of one of America's iconic cities - by one of our most talented narrative historians.

©2015 Preston Lauterbach (P)2015 Audible Inc.

Great Book!

This is an great about History of Beale Street and the Robert Church Family. The book helps the reader understand what life was like during this time for people of color.

Coming from a native Memphian...

I've lived in Memphis for the majority of my five decades and never heard many of the stories nor known some of the characters. Hard to fathom that Robert Church - the "South's first black millionaire" - is relatively unknown.
Great read but didn't care for the narrator.

Interesting story of decline

Narration was flowing despite surprising miscues such as general for venereal. Would have enjoyed more on Lieutenant Lee and other important side characters.

Memphis Native says Yes

As a native of Memphis. I find this an awesome way to get valuable historical information about the city. I recommend any Memphis historical enthusiasts to take a listen.

A bad narrator can completely ruin a book

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I have this book in e-book format but prefer audio versions of books so I was thrilled when I saw this was available. This is the worst narrator I have ever heard. Words mispronounced - not cities and streets unique to this city but basic English language.

Who was your favorite character and why?

W.C. Handy

How could the performance have been better?

Different narrator. Good lord, any narrator would be an improvement. I can not believe that this narrator makes a living at this.

Any additional comments?

This version should be pulled from Audible and replaced with something completely new.