Tyler Fritts

PhD, Musicology: Southern Regional Studies. Teacher of Blues, Memphis, + Community. 1st gen. student. he/him

[Tyler Fritts @DocFritts]

I owe more than I can ever express to Berea College. #BereaCollege #Classof2007 👇

[Fareed Zakaria @FareedZakaria]

Berea College only admits high-performing, low-income students; it's completely free and requires students to work for the school. The formula seems to work: It has a $1.2bn endowment and is among the top 50 liberal-arts colleges in the US #SchemeandScandal #CollegeAdmissions

[Tyler Fritts @DocFritts]

This morning, we took the students on our annual trip to see Memphis Minnie’s gravesite in Walls, MS. We discussed blues, place, environment, history, labor, and so forth. Good, good stuff indeed.

[Tyler Fritts @DocFritts]

My favorite thing about our summer research program is getting to see my worldclass colleagues show out. The brilliance is palpable.

[Tyler Fritts @DocFritts]

@GhostofParties Oh no! I could eat a five gallon bucket of their lemongrass tofu. Damn.

[Tyler Fritts @DocFritts]

I’m super excited that this amazing project is now out!

I’ve got an essay and some liner notes in it; all of which are about Mr. Furry Lewis.

https://t.co/Ou0Zki8rEA

[Tyler Fritts @DocFritts]

@dkpmason Amen. All around, 100% agree.

[Tyler Fritts @DocFritts]

Today in class, we are getting funked up. We got Sly and Larry, George and Bootsy, James Brown, Curtis Mayfield, and the “Holy Ghost” by Memphis’s own The Bar-Kays.

[Appalshop @Appalshop]

Colonization of Appalachia started long before the coal companies, long before industrial timber companies, long before absentee landowners profited over & above tenant settlers.

To remember Appalachian history means remembering our WHOLE history.

Happy #IndigenousPeoplesDay.

[Tyler Fritts @DocFritts]

@CharlesWMcKinn2 This feels like a watershed work. Hope everyone checks it out (I know my students will).

[Tyler Fritts @DocFritts]

There is no doubt about that! And, THANK YOU so much for all of your help and guidance, in this and previous years.

[Tyler Fritts @DocFritts]

1 of my summer research students made a fantastic podcast mini-series on the importance of community on Memphis music, past + present.

It features a great interview with THE Southern hip hop scholar, Dr. Regina Bradley! (I know, right?!)

Here’s a link!

https://t.co/xuMYTmFvLA

[Tyler Fritts @DocFritts]

I grew up with a single mom. We got by because she was union (UFCW). If you work for someone else, you’ll probably appreciate Trae’s take.

[Trae Crowder @traecrowder]

ON SAG, THE WGA AND THE SUMMER OF THE STRIKE

[Tyler Fritts @DocFritts]

@SimonBalto Best thing ever, isn’t it?! You’re on one hell of a Memphis food journey and I love seeing it!

[Elie Mystal @ElieNYC]

I don't know what to tell you guys. We have to expand the Court. If we don't expand the Court, no liberal policy will be allowed to exist for the rest of our lives. That's why Republicans stole the court, that's why rich people pay for justices.
Govern yourselves accordingly.

[Tyler Fritts @DocFritts]

Today’s adventures of the Rhodes Institute for Regional Studies involved a tour of Stax and incredible smoked TURKEY RIBS at @MemArts4Change’s Art House Cafe. #rirs2023

[Tyler Fritts @DocFritts]

Student projects for this year’s Rhodes Institute for Regional Studies include an analysis of the relationship between music and community in Memphis and Nashville, a study on urban gardens, ethnographies of Black women quilters, and a paper on Memphis drag. School=fun. #RIRS2023

[Tyler Fritts @DocFritts]

It does my mean ol’ heart good to see young rock bands.

[Charles W McKinney, Jr. @CharlesWMcKinn2]

Civil Rights Scholars:

What are your go to online oral history repositories?

(Please retweet widely. Would love to get maximum coverage for the folks teaching this stuff.)

[Tyler Fritts @DocFritts]

Today’s lecture prep is largely just me jamming to Luther Vandross in my office. Sometimes work is fun.