Hernando's Hide-a-way History:

We are proud to host our Elvis tribute contest at one of Memphis’ most iconic and storied venues — Hernando’s Hide-A-Way — a place where rockabilly roots run deep and the echoes of music history still linger in the walls. Elvis Presley himself performed here back in 1953, long before the world would come to know him as the King. In fact, Hernando’s Hide-A-Way has been synonymous with American music culture for decades — even inspiring a mention in the 1956 Johnny Burnette hit "Rock Billy Boogie."

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The club’s name gained wider fame thanks to the popular tune “Hernando’s Hideaway” featured in the 1957 film The Pajama Game. During the 1960s and 70s, this hotspot became home to house bands like Joe Arnold & The Memphis Four and Billy Adams & The Nuggets, frequently joined by legends such as Charlie Rich and Duck Dunn. It was so beloved by Jerry Lee Lewis that he famously referred to it as his “office.”

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​Though the original building suffered an arson fire in 1982, Hernando’s refused to fade away. In 2018, acclaimed artist Dale Watson and his wife Celine Lee lovingly reopened the club, ushering in a new era of live music and bringing the Ameripolitan Awards to town — a celebration of rockabilly, honky tonk, and classic American sounds.