About Backbeat Tours

Backbeat Tours is a small business formed in 2006 by Memphis music fans, Bill and Deborah Patton. All of its tour guides are professional musicians, who play, sing, and tell jokes aboard Backbeat's vintage tour bus. "We wanted to change the whole nature of sightseeing tours," says Patton. "Our goal has always been to give visitors and locals alike not simply a traditional tour with stories, dates, and a lot of talk, but a unique and special interactive experience they'll never forget, something that truly brings Memphis to life."

Memphis has a compelling local history which has influenced and shaped popular culture to a degree far beyond other cities of comparable size. At Backbeat Tours, we believe that the best way to show that is through music, story, and fun.

Prior to forming Backbeat Tours, the Pattons were attorneys in Washington, DC, but they always loved Memphis' creative entrepreneurial spirit and dreamed of offering tours that would capture that spirit. The opportunity opened up for them in 2006 when they met four well-known Memphis entertainers who were willing to help them in setting up the business. Papa Don McMinn ("The Pale Prince of Beale Street"), Eddie Harrison (former Stax musician and performer of the Billboard Top 100 Single "Your Eyes May Shine"), Gary Hardy (former owner and chief engineer at Sun Studio), and Daniel "Memphis" Jones (lead guitarist for Altered) were the original entertainers for Backbeat Tours Memphis. Their combined knowledge of the Memphis music industry from the 1950s to today allowed us to craft truly unique and exceptional tours.

Backbeat Tours has grown quickly over its first four years and is now rated as one of Memphis' top three attractions. Growth hasn't stopped us, though, from holding on to our personal touch. We're a little family, and the satisfaction of our customers and our employees are our number one priority.

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