The 21-year old Midtown mom killed it on American Idol tonight with her version of Aretha Franklin’s “Never Loved A Man.”

Even Simon Cowell was impressed, comparing Grace to Kelly Clarkson and calling her
a potential “dark horse in this competition.”

CA arts critic Christopher Blank caught up with the singer for an interview that appeared in today’s newspaper.

Said Grace, “My dad is a Memphis musician. I’ve been around soul and blues all my life. There’s always been musicians coming and going in my house. Ann Peebles is a big influence of mine. You know, and Stax records from back in the ’60s. I love that era. As far as my style, I’d say it is soul and a little bit of country in there too. A little twang.”

Go here for the rest of the interview.

Meanwhile, the Memphis Music Foundation is mounting a “Vote for Memphis Music” campaign to support Grace and Lil Rounds, another local American Idol finalist who is slated to appear on live TV later this week.

The Fox TV program is shining a light on Memphis in other ways: 28-year old Jackie Tohn opened tonight’s broadcast with her version of Elvis’ “A Little Less Conversation”, while 22-year old Nashville resident Ann Marie Boskovich weighed in with a take on Aretha’s “Natural Woman.”

Thanks in large part to the efforts of music bloggers Preston Lauterbach and Red Kelly, the late, great O.V. Wright is getting a tombstone this weekend.

Go here to read CA music critic Bob Mehr’s take on Wright’s career, with commentary from Wright’s one-time label mate Otis Clay, his producer Poppa Willie Mitchell, and his former drummer, Howard Grimes.

On Saturday night, Clay and the Hi Rhythm Section will perform a tribute concert at Ground Zero Blues Club, downtown. This is a don’t miss event — some of the finest Memphis soul you could ever hope to hear, along with some incredible special guests. Tickets for the event, a benefit for the Soul of Memphis Foundation, are just $25 — but one lucky Memphis Music Confidential reader can win a pair by simply being the first to correctly answer the questions below:

1. What was O.V. Wright’s given name?

2. Who wrote Wright’s first secular hit “That’s How Strong My Love Is,” later a million-seller for Otis Redding and the Rolling Stones?

3. Where is Wright buried?

4. Which Wu-Tang Clan member sampled Wright’s music for the song “Motherless Child”?

5. Wright’s best work was recorded for Hi Records by producer Poppa Willie Mitchell. What is the name of Mitchell’s studio, still in operation in South Memphis?

Memphis’ own Ben Nichols is rolling into the Hi-Tone Cafe tonight along with the rest of the Revival Tour — and you can win a pair of tickets to the show! All you have to do is be the first reader to correctly answer the following questions via the comment section below. Winner must be at least 18 years old. Good luck!

1. Name the Little Rock, Ark.-based band Ben Nichols played in before co-founding Lucero:

2. What was Lucero’s first release, for the Soul Is Cheap label, called?

3. Nichols was cast in Craig Brewer’s most recent project, a “reality drama” for MTV. What is the series called?

4. The Revival Tour features Hot Water Music’s Chuck Ragan, Against Me!’s Tom Gabel, and Tim Barry from what band?

5. Nichols recently recorded a 7-song solo mini-album based on a book by a prominent American author — which one?

MemphisMC readers — in about a half hour, we’ll be giving away a pair of tickets to the Revival Tour (featuring Ben Nichols) at the Hi-Tone tonight, as well as a pair of tickets to the O.V. Wright tribute starring Otis Clay and the Hi Rhythm Section at Ground Zero tomorrow night. Stay tuned for more!

Go here for details!

Chattanooga-born movie star Samuel L. Jackson has spent a lot of time in Memphis over the last few years. He helped spruce up the National Civil Rights Museum before the 40th anniversary of MLK’s assassination, and he’s worked on several Memphis- and music-related movies, including, of course, Soul Men.

What are 2 other Memphis-related movies Jackson participated in? Hint: One is a documentary, which he narrated.

Be the first to name the two films via the comment section below, and you’ll win a copy of the Soul Men soundtrack from the Concord Music Group! Good luck!

The soundtrack for the new movie Soul Men mines several oldies-but-goodies from the Stax catalog. Your task is to name at least two of ‘em. Hint: One possibility was a huge hit for William Bell and Judy Clay; another is a funk number made famous by the World’s Oldest Teenager, Rufus Thomas; and a third was originally cut by Rufus’ daughter Carla Thomas in 1966.

Be the first to name the two songs via the comment section below, and you’ll win a copy of the Soul Men soundtrack from the Concord Music Group! Good luck!

As CA film critic John Beifuss noted last week, Soul Men, directed by Malcolm Lee, was partially filmed on location right here in Soulsville, U.S.A.

Be the first to name at least 3 Memphis locations featured in the movie via the comment section below, and you’ll win a copy of the Soul Men soundtrack from the Concord Music Group! Good luck — and if you don’t win, be sure to try again at 1PM and 3PM.

The comedy Soul Men, which was partially filmed in Memphis, opens in theaters today. The movie follows the exploits of Samuel L. Jackson and the late Bernie Mac, who portray Louis Hinds and Floyd Henderson respectively, halves of a former soul duo reuniting for one last show. Of course, the movie also marks the last work of Isaac Hayes, who died in August.

The good folks at the Concord Music Group are offering Memphis Music Confidential readers the chance to win 3 copies of the Soul Men soundtrack, which features some incredible covers of original Stax tunes by the likes of the Bo-Keys, John Legend, Anthony Hamilton, Sharon Jones, and more.

Look for the first trivia contest at 11AM, followed by contests at 1PM and 3PM. And be sure to make it to the theater to see Soul Men this weekend!

Ike Turner was born in Clarksdale, Miss. on November 5, 1931 — and to commemorate that date, one lucky Memphis Music Confidential is gonna win a copy of Ike & Tina Turner Sing the Blues, an 18-song collection culled from sessions for The Hunter (which was recorded at Willie Mitchell’s Royal Studio) and Outta Season, and released on Oct. 21 by Acrobat Music. To win, all you have to do is be the first reader to correctly answer the following trivia questions via the comment section below. Good luck — and Happy Birthday Ike!

1. Ike Turner’s father, Izear Luster Turner, was:
a) a bootlegger
b) a Baptist minister
c) a U.S. soldier
d) a blues guitarist

2. True or false: Turner’s first recording, “Rocket 88,” cut right here at Sun Studio, was released under the name “Ike Turner and His Delta Cats.”

3. After Ike “discovered” Anna Mae Bullock in St. Louis in the late 1950s, the duo began recording under the moniker “Ike and Tina,” although they allegedly never married. Which song was their first hit?
a) River Deep, Mountain High
b) Nutbush City Limits
c) It’s Gonna Work Out Fine
d) A Fool in Love

4. In 1986, Tina Turner published her autobiography, titled I, Tina. 2001, Ike retaliated by telling his own side of the story, via a book called:
a) Takin’ Back My Name
b) Me, Ike
c) I Still Like Ike!
d) Love Ain’t Got A Damn Thing To Do With It

5. True or false: Turner won one just solo Grammy Award, awarded for his final album Risin’ With the Blues.