Greater Memphis has 1.1 million residents, including 450,000 African Americans.

As a midpoint in the country, Memphis is one of the nation’s top air, rail and truck distribution centers.

FedEx, Holiday Inns, Piggly Wiggly and AutoZone headquarter here.

The city is even a major flyway for migrating birds.

Headquarters of America's cotton belt since the days of slave plantations, Memphis remains the world’s largest spot market for cotton buyers and sellers.

Many older people are familiar with St Jude Children’s Hospital, due to the efforts of celebrity Danny Thomas TV ads. As a result, Memphis is one the top centers for child health care in the nation.

Memphis enjoys the pen of novelist John Grisham and the eye of Hollywood. A dozen recent movies have featured Memphis in the storyline, including:

The Firm
The Client
The Rainmaker
Cast Away
Silence of the Lambs

The bountiful dogwood trees everywhere remind you why the city has won the National City Beautiful Award five times.

A few of the famous former and current African American residents of Memphis:

Robert Church
South's first Black millionaire

Dr J. E. Walker
Universal Life Insurance Company founder

Bishop Charles H. Mason
Founded Church of God in Christ

Ida B. Wells
Publisher, civil rights activist, founding member of NAACP

Mary Church Terrell
Civil rights activist, educator

W.C. Handy
Father of the Blues

Aretha Franklin
Soul singer

Tom Lee
Local hero

Nat D. Williams
Famous radio station DJ on WDIA radio station

Morgan Freeman
Actor

Al Green
Soul singer

Willie Mitchell
Soul singer and lyricist

Bobby "Blue" Bland
Blues singer

B.B. King
“Blues Boy King” - Famous Blues singer & guitarist

Albert King
Blues singer & performer

Otis Redding
Soul singer

Isaac Hayes
Soul singer & composer

The Bar-Kays
Soul singers

Sam & Dave
Sam Moore & Dave Prater - Soul singers

Rufus Thomas
Famous Blues, Rock & Roll and Soul singer

Carla Thomas
Soul singer

Al Bell
Business Director of STAX Records during their hey day

Wilson Pickett
Soul singer

Howlin' Wolf
Chester Arthur – Famous Blues Singer

Ike & Tina Turner
Rock & Roll singers

W.S. Martin
Co-owner Memphis Red Sox Negro League Baseball team

Lois Deberry
1st female State Representative in Tennessee

Harold Ford, Sr.
1st African American Congressman of his district

Penny Hardaway
NBA player & featured in the "Little Penny" commercials