MEMPHIS, Tenn., June 30, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- First Tennessee Bank, which has earned the largest market share in Tennessee and one of the highest customer retention rates of any bank in the country, has been named the Official Bank of Beale Street. For more than 140 years, First Tennessee's headquarters has been located just blocks from Beale Street in downtown Memphis.
Beale Street is the birthplace of the Blues. The famous street attracted musicians such as W.C. Handy, who wrote the first blues song in Memphis in 1909, Muddy Waters, Furry Lewis, Albert King, Alberta Hunter, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Memphis Minnie McCoy and, in the 1940s, Riley "Blues Boy" King, whose stage name is B.B. King. The Blues provided the inspiration for soul and rock 'n' roll music, both of which also originated in Memphis.
Today Beale Street is a mecca to music enthusiasts from around the world. Visitors shop at A. Schwab's, a century-old dry-goods store, and tour the W.C. Handy Museum and the Beale Street Police Museum. They also visit Handy Park, named for W.C. Handy, where live music is played most days.
Handy Park is the site of a new LED sign also sponsored by First Tennessee in partnership with Pepsi. The 2' x 7' display on the sign will feature video of live events on Beale Street and other videos. First Tennessee has a new automated teller machine at the entrance to Handy Park.
"It's an honor to have First Tennessee associated with one of our country's richest historic sites," said Dave Miller, senior vice president of bank marketing and strategy for First Tennessee. "Our headquarters building and Beale Street both survived the Yellow Fever epidemic in Memphis and other trying times in our city's history. Today, both Beale Street and First Tennessee are enjoying the revitalization of downtown Memphis and the growing attention Memphis is receiving from people around the world who appreciate the authenticity of this city."