Resting on the banks of the mighty Mississippi is Memphis, Tennessee. Don’t be surprised if Country n’ Western music is floating through your head right now; Memphis is the most sung about city in the world, featuring in no fewer than 899 songs. Revered among musicians, Memphis is the birthplace of myriad musical genres including the blues, gospel, rock n’ roll, Buck, Crunk and "sharecropper" country music. The city has churned out a proliferation of musical icons - think Elvis, Otis Redding, B.B. King; Roy Orbison…the list goes on. The city's other passions include pork (barbequed if you please) and literature (the city has been immortalized in many books, notably in author John Grisham’s ‘The Firm’). Downtown Memphis has been given a facelift in recent years and is one of the most densely inhabited in the US. Other parts of Memphis, its old city center in particular, still boast its former beauty. Restaurants and bars are in abundance – especially on Beale Street - and the city’s packed live music calendar will leave music lovers spoiled for choice. Quieter spots can be found on the east side of the city, where beautiful, expansive parks are in abundance. While the city boasts many charming features and offers no shortage of activities for families, couples and singles, it ranks fairly low on the US’ best cities to live in, given its high crime rate. Families and professionals tend to favor Arlington, Collierville and Germantown, the latter two of which have the lowest crime rates, best public schools and great shopping.