Brandon Cunning

Hey folks, I’m Brandon Cunning — a Memphis musician, storyteller, and founder of Rock ’n’ Roll Tours Memphis. I’ve spent over a decade performing on Beale Street, studying Memphis music history, and guiding visitors through the real places where American music was born.

I wasn’t born here, but Memphis adopted me. After moving from Pennsylvania years ago, I discovered this city the way a musician hears a song — layer by layer, story by story — until it became home.

Over the years I’ve performed rock ’n’ roll and Sun Records tributes on Beale Street, researched Elvis Presley’s early years in Memphis, and guided private tours through the neighborhoods where his story began long before Graceland. I’m also the author of Before Graceland: The Hidden Homes of Elvis in Memphis, where I explore the lesser-known places that shaped Elvis’s early life.

What fascinates me most about Memphis is how deeply its music is tied to place. Blues on Beale Street, gospel in neighborhood churches, soul in South Memphis, and the explosive birth of rock ’n’ roll at Sun Studio — it all happened right here.

On this tour, I’ll guide you through the streets, neighborhoods, and landmarks most visitors never hear about. You’ll experience Memphis through the eyes of someone who performs its music, studies its history, and shares its stories every day.

So hop in, get comfortable, and let’s explore Memphis together.