Former Vice President Joe Biden plays the Orpheum Friday evening. Maybe that isn't the right way to put it -- unless there's a drum solo no one is talking about. Free Bird?

I'll take it as further evidence of the new American politics that is evolving and is far from settled at this point. Politicians do paid speaking gigs all the time. And at times it is controversial. But the gigs are usually some kind of speaking fee to make remarks at a corporate function -- not selling individual tickets on line. This is ostensibly to promote Biden's new book and book deals and politicians go way back. But in a lot of cases, those are free events in a book store. When Biden was last here, it was as vice president at the Norfolk Southern intermodal rail yard in Rossville.

2. Final Goodbye: Roll Call of Some Who Died in 2017 - Monday, January 1, 2018

They made music that inspired legions of fans. Rock 'n' roll founding fathers Chuck Berry and Fats Domino, rockers Tom Petty and Gregg Allman, grunge icon Chris Cornell, country superstar Glen Campbell and jazz great Al Jarreau were among the notable figures who died in 2017, leaving a void in virtually every genre of music.

3. The Best Places to Travel at Christmas - Thursday, November 2, 2017

If you’re traveling for the holidays, chances are it’s to visit family. But not all Christmas travel has to be to visit grandma.

Give yourself the gift of travel this season, and consider hitting the road – or an airport – to enjoy one of these destinations.

4. Frayser Recovery Efforts Before Storm Continue Afterward - Monday, June 5, 2017

Recovery efforts in Frayser aren’t just about the weather and they didn’t just start after the Memorial Day weekend storm that did plenty of damage in neighborhoods with old, large trees.

5. Germantown Community Theatre Looks for Sustainable Growth - Thursday, March 2, 2017

From a philosophical perspective, Germantown Community Theatre artistic director Justin Asher says continued existence – and the theater is in its 46th season – is its own evidence.

“No matter what you call it, when theater communities come together to produce art for art’s sake, it’s a good thing,” he said.

6. Strickland Calls For Review of City Hall Escort List - Monday, February 20, 2017

Memphis Police Director Michael Rallings is reviewing a list of 81 citizens who cannot come to City Hall without a police escort to wherever they are going in the building after Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland requested the review Saturday, Feb. 18.

7. Strickland Calls For Review of City Hall Escort List - Saturday, February 18, 2017

Memphis Police Director Michael Rallings is reviewing a list of 81 citizens who cannot come to City Hall without a police escort to wherever they are going in the building after Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland requested the review Saturday, Feb. 18.

8. Strickland Calls For Review of City Hall Escort List - Saturday, February 18, 2017

Memphis Police Director Michael Rallings is reviewing a list of 81 citizens who cannot come to City Hall without a police escort to wherever they are going in the building after Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland requested the review Saturday, Feb. 18.

9. Final Goodbye: Roll Call of Some of Those Who Died in 2016 - Monday, January 2, 2017

Death claimed transcendent political figures in 2016, including Cuba's revolutionary leader and Thailand's longtime king, but also took away royals of a different sort: kings of pop music, from Prince and David Bowie to George Michael.

10. Cleveland Indians, ‘Major League’ Come to World Series - Friday, October 21, 2016

The Chicago Cubs have the charm and the brand. Lovable losers. The Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field.

And they are fighting 108 years of history. The Goat Curse. The Gatorade on Leon Durham’s glove. Steve Bartman.

11. Morgan Tate Promoted At River City Land Co. - Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Morgan Tate has been named principal property manager of River City Land Co.’s property management division. A fourth-generation real estate professional, Tate joined the team at River City Land Co. in 2008 and began working for the firm’s property management division in 2012. 

12. Bass Learns to Focus His ‘Creative Laser Beam’ - Friday, May 13, 2016

John Bass doesn’t look like an artist. In his crisp, checked shirt and brown wingtip oxfords, he looks more like somebody’s accountant. But stick an electric guitar in his hands, and it’s a whole different story.

13. Farewell Again, Charlie - Thursday, June 18, 2015

This column originally ran March 3, 2000, following Charles Schulz's death Feb. 12, 2000. We’ve been saying goodbye to the creator of “Peanuts.” Others, especially columnists and cartoonists, have likewise been saying farewell.

14. Stones’ Nashville Connections Go Way Back - Saturday, June 13, 2015

While Brad Paisley lives what he calls “a bucket list item” by singing while playing his guitar in typically showy fashion as the opening act for The Rolling Stones, the most important guitarist in rock ‘n’ roll history and a man idolized by Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood will be sitting in his house on Blueberry Hill in the hills of northern Davidson County.

15. Sutton Joins Dixon Hughes Goodman - Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Giles Sutton recently joined Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP as a partner in the firm’s tax practice, where he will focus on issues pertaining to state and local tax.
Sutton, an established attorney and certified public accountant, brings more than 25 years of business tax experience, with a focus on state and local tax issues within the food and beverage, health care, transportation and energy industries.

16. Events - Thursday, April 9, 2015

Germantown Community Theatre and All Children’s Theatre will present “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” Thursday, April 9, through April 26 at GCT, 3037 Forest Hill-Irene Road. Buy tickets at gctcomeplay.org or 901-937-3023.

17. Events - Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Greater Memphis Chamber will host a Lunch in the Know on Wednesday, April 8, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Baptist Memorial Health Care Medical Plaza B, 6027 Walnut Grove Road. RedRover and Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority representatives will present “A Better MEM in in Progress,” discussing the airport’s future and new marketing strategy. Cost is free for chamber members. Email lloeb@memphischamber.com.

18. Stonewall Jackson's Little Slice of Heaven in Brentwood - Saturday, November 22, 2014

“Everybody has to meet his Waterloo,” sings honky-tonk hero Stonewall Jackson in his breakthrough No. 1 hit back in 1959.

Of course, that line, the entire song really, means everybody must meet his or her fate someday.

19. Haslam Can Identify No Mistakes in First Term - Thursday, November 6, 2014

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Gov. Bill Haslam's first four years in office included a struggle to exert authority over fellow Republicans in the Legislature on issues ranging from Common Core education standards to Medicaid expansion.

20. Haslam Reaches End of Campaign Trail in Memphis - Tuesday, November 4, 2014

On his last campaign event on the last full day of the 2014 campaign season, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam was surrounded by whimsy and cookies in a decidedly pink East Memphis shop.

Haslam supporters packed the Whimsy Cookie Company, a boutique cookie bakery on Poplar Avenue Monday, Nov. 3, just before the afternoon rush hour.

21. Amendments, Wine Dominate Election Day - Tuesday, November 4, 2014

The last of 2014’s three elections promises to be defined just as much by the questions on the ballot as it is by the choices among candidates.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4, across Tennessee, with polls open in Shelby County from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

22. MTSU Poll Shows Haslam, Alexander With Big Leads - Monday, November 3, 2014

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A new poll by Middle Tennessee State University indicates Gov. Bill Haslam and fellow Republican U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander hold wide leads over their Democratic challengers, but support for the incumbents hovered at or below 50 percent.

23. Changing State Constitution No Easy Task - Saturday, November 1, 2014

Amending Tennessee’s Constitution isn’t as rare as it was in the state’s first 200 years, and yet it remains a tough, drawn-out task, even if the most popular process, the legislative method, is used.

24. House Speaker Harwell Open to Governor's Bid - Tuesday, October 28, 2014

PARIS, Tenn. (AP) – Republican state House Speaker Beth Harwell is open to a possible run for statewide office in Tennessee.

25. Events - Saturday, October 25, 2014

RiverArtsFest 2014 will be held Friday, Oct. 24, through Sunday, Oct. 26, in the South Main Historic Arts District. The festival will feature a juried artist market, 50 musical acts, food courts, interactive art stations and more. Admission is free on Friday and $5 on Saturday and Sunday. Visit riverartsmemphis.org for hours and more information.

26. Events - Friday, October 24, 2014

RiverArtsFest 2014 will be held Friday, Oct. 24, through Sunday, Oct. 26, in the South Main Historic Arts District. The festival will feature a juried artist market, 50 musical acts, food courts, interactive art stations and more. Admission is free on Friday and $5 on Saturday and Sunday. Visit riverartsmemphis.org for hours and more information.

27. Haslam Says no Secret on Positions in Second Term - Tuesday, October 21, 2014

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (AP) — Republican Bill Haslam says there should be little mystery about where he stands on major issues like Medicaid expansion and Common Core educations standards as he runs for a second term as Tennessee governor against nominal Democratic opposition.

28. McManus Joins Patrick Accounting - Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Michelle McManus, a Memphis native and certified public accountant, has joined Patrick Accounting and Tax Services PLLC as manager. In her new role, McManus will supervise and review the monthly accounting process for a section of clients. She will also prepare and review tax returns and work closely with clients, assisting them with ongoing tax planning.

29. Early Voting Opens in Midterm Elections - Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Early voting opens Wednesday, Oct. 15, across Shelby County as well as Tennessee in the mid-term general elections that are the second most popular election cycle in Shelby County by voter turnout.

30. Harris Files Ford Challenge at Deadline - Thursday, April 3, 2014

Memphis City Council member Lee Harris is challenging Democratic state Sen. Ophelia Ford in the August primary for District 29, the Senate seat held by a member of the Ford family since 1975.

31. Literacy Focus of Memphis Campaign - Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Memphian Beverly Fletcher was a grandmother before her family and friends became aware she couldn’t read.

32. Learn Success By Responding To Failure - Monday, January 30, 2012

There is a place of business I enjoy visiting on my trips to another city. The business is always well-stocked with interesting items, the employees are knowledgeable and friendly and the prices are reasonable. All in all, it looks as if they have come up with a pretty good formula for business success.

33. U of M Symposium to Discuss City’s Place in Law - Thursday, February 10, 2011

Memphis over the years has been at the center of riveting, controversial and far-reaching court cases.

Many of them have either wound up in the history books or simply re-balanced the scales of justice for ordinary people.

34. Hill’s Law Practice Transformed by Social Media - Thursday, December 16, 2010

As a student at the University of Memphis’ Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in the mid-1970s, Charlie Hill never suspected the word “tweet” would become part of his lexicon.

35. ‘Annie Get Your Gun’ Production Hits Target - Monday, August 30, 2010

They say in theater that there are no small parts, just small actors. But Theatre Memphis’s season opener shows strength and professionalism in large and small roles alike.

Irving Berlin’s “Annie Get Your Gun,” running through Sept.12, hits several bull’s-eyes on the theater’s Lohrey Stage.

36. Caravan Event A 'Blowout' Success - Monday, June 7, 2010

Two of Memphis’ biggest musical assets came together last week when Ardent Studios hosted the Beale Street Caravan’s annual Blowout fundraiser.

Ardent has been bringing in major talent to Memphis for years: The Vaughn Brothers, the White Stripes, ZZ Top and B.B. King have all recorded there. The Beale Street Caravan has been exposing the world to Memphis music for years.

37. GreenScape Promotes Colvett to President - Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Frank Colvett Jr. has been promoted to president of GreenScape Inc.

Colvett previously was executive vice president and corporate treasurer. He has been with GreenScape since 1992 and also has served the company in various capacities including project manager, estimator and vice president of marketing. His civic and community activities include serving as treasurer of the Tennessee Republican Party, and as a member of St. George’s Episcopal Church and the University Club of Memphis.

38. Residential Building Heats Up in November - Friday, December 11, 2009

Arlington is back in the news, although this time it has nothing to do with Mayor Russell Wiseman posting remarks on his Facebook page about President Obama and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” television special.

39. No Scrimping on Christmas Trees This Year - Friday, December 11, 2009

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Some families may be cutting back on expensive Christmas gifts under the tree this year, but they aren't settling for a limp Charlie Brown sapling for the holidays.

40. Expert: Social Media Here to Stay - Tuesday, October 27, 2009

For businesses, the first secret to leveraging Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and other networks is not to be afraid of social media.

After all, as social media consultant Glen Gilmore has noted, social media is where a business will most likely find its customers as well as its competition. Social media is simply a fundamental shift in the way businesses communicate, he told about 102 people at a social media conference late last week.

41. Next ‘Conversation’ Tackles Leveraging Social Media - Friday, October 9, 2009

Plenty of businesses and nonprofit organizations have signed up for Twitter and Facebook, but are they using these social media outlets to their fullest potential?

Amy Howell, owner of Howell Marketing Strategies Inc., wants to make sure Memphis companies are getting the most out of their tweets and their profile postings when she hosts “Leveraging the Conversation,” the third in a series of social media discussions.

42. Spiegel to Begin Work Friday as CEO At Methodist University Hospital - Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Kevin M. Spiegel Friday will begin work as chief executive officer and administrator of Methodist University Hospital.

Spiegel is board-certified in health care administration and is a fellow in the American College of Health Care Executives. He previously served as president and chief operating officer of Trumbull Memorial Hospital in Warren, Ohio.

43. Archived Article - Tuesday, September 18, 2007

650 East Parkway S.
Memphis, TN 38104
Loan Amount: $7 million

Loan Date: Aug. 30, 2007

Maturity Date: n/a

44. Thompson Teeters on Presidential Edge - Friday, June 1, 2007

In a generally favorable profile of former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson that ran in the May 20 edition of The Washington Post, Liz Garrigan wrote that she once compared the lawmaker's appearance to that of the "Star Trek" character Worf.

45. Archived Article: Newsmakers - Wednesday, September 1, 2004
MAAR Elects Board of Directors

MPD Names Public Information Officer

Larry Godwin, interim director of the Memphis Police Department, selected Sgt. Vince Higgins to serve as the departments new public information officer. Higgins, a 14-year vet...

46. Archived Article: Sexton (lead) - Monday, June 4, 2001
Sexton Community Center to get $1million makeover Community Center to get $1.1 million makeover By MARY DANDO The Daily News A resolution before Memphis City Council at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday requests approval to take bids for a renovation and addition t...

47. Archived Article: Memos - Wednesday, March 3, 1999
Glenn J Glenn J. Brown has been named vice president and general manager of the identification technology division of Lamination Service Inc. He is a graduate of Mississippi State University. Kent Landers has joined Thompson & Co. as an account ...

48. Archived Article: Calendar - Monday, October 20, 1997
Oct Oct. 21 The Appraisal Institute will meet from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Chickasaw Country Club, 3395 Galloway. The speaker will be Dan Wilkinson of Wilkinson and Snowden, whose topic will be an overview of the current industrial real estate market. ...

49. Archived Article: Milestones - Friday, October 11, 1996
Conaway Brown Inc Conaway Brown Inc. has been selected as the advertising and design agency for Charlie Vergos Rendezvous barbecue shipping business. The full-service communications company will design packaging, develop advertising and public relat...