Les Kerr: Tennessee Book

For Excerpts of Reviews, click here.

Tennessee, Les Kerr’s new book, features Les’ words and photography by George Humphries. Humphries’ stunning photography captures the state from Memphis to the Great Smoky Mountains and Les describes his own experiences in Tennessee, from visiting his grandfather's railroad shop in Jackson as a boy to becoming part of Nashville’s music scene as an adult. In semi-autobiographical prose, Les writes about the blues and the Mississippi River in Memphis; his first visit to the Grand Ole Opry as a high school student from Mississippi; and the beauty of the Smokies, Chattanooga and Ozone Falls.

Les’ interviews with lifelong Tennesseans allow them to describe growing up in Music City, playing the blues on Nashville’s Jefferson Street in its heyday, being born in the Smoky Mountains and living in Clarksville near the home of the 101st Airborne Division.

Beautiful photos and captivating writing make Tennessee a visual and literary treasure.

Excerpts from reviews of Tennessee:

“Photographer George Humphries contributed the breathtaking images, while essayist Les Kerr conjures up memories for lifelong residents and nudges newcomers to get out and see places such as Clingman’s Dome and Rock Island State Park.” Southern Living

Les signing Tennessee at the Southern Festival of Books in Memphis

     “From Memphis to Nashville, Johnson City to Fayetteville, the book is a collection of images and storytelling that goes beyond the well-known and deep into the heart of Tennessee.”   The Tennessean, Nashville, TN

     “The musician’s Gulf Coast sensibility pervades every single note of his music, which is lovingly known as ‘Hillbilly Blues Caribbean Rock & Roll’…But Tennessee, literally translated as the ‘Land of the Western Waters,’ has gotten under this Bayou boy’s skin and won’t shake loose.”   The Leaf-Chronicle, Clarksville, TN

     “Nashville-based performer Les Kerr contributed essays to add history to Tennessee…” City Paper, Nashville, TN

     “The book Tennessee features beautiful photographs from all parts of the state, including Ozone Falls, which Kerr writes about in his text. He recalls his visit to the scenic waterfall, as well as his impressions of the Great Smoky Mountains, Beale Street in Memphis and Nashville’s musical heritage.”   Crossville Chronicle, Crossville, TN

     “The photos and text of the book paint a picture of the entire state from Memphis to the Great Smoky Mountains. In Kerr’s section on Nashville, he begins by recounting his first visit to the city in 1973 which included seeing the Grand Ole Opry in its last twelve months at the Ryman Auditorium.”   The Westview, Nashville, TN

     “Songwriter, author and recording artist Les Kerr’s new book project, Tennessee, featuring photography by George Humphries, includes the influence of R&B in Nashville…   For the book’s section on Nashville, Kerr interviewed…Johnny Terrell. Terrell is a blues bass player, now in his eighties, who still performs with the Jefferson Street Bluesmen.”   Music City Bluesletter, Nashville, TN

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Les Kerr: The Tennessee Book with photography by George Humphries

Les Kerr: The Tennessee Book
with photography by George Humphries