Memphis

Act One

A white disc jockey welcomes his listeners to the number-one radio station, in the center of the dial, before being interrupted by a black disc jockey calling out from the top of the dial to his listeners spread only a mile away. The scene shifts to Delray Farrell’s underground club on Beale Street (“Underground”). The clubgoers dance as Delray’s sister Felicia takes to the microphone, chiding her overprotective brother and revealing her desire to be more than a club singer. At the end of her song, the lanky and awkward Huey Calhoun saunters in, doing his best to flirt with Felicia while the other clubgoers begin to leave, nervous about a white man in their bar. Huey jumps on the piano, and begins to play “The Music of My Soul” to show his sincerity. Delray’s patrons return as Felicia joins Huey in the song.

A few weeks later, Huey is working at Mr. Collins’ department store, and is about to be fired for breaking some dishes. He convinces Mr. Collins to give him one more