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Jazz Great Mose Allison to give free performance at Delta State

2012-01-10T15:34:00.000-06:00

CLEVELAND, Miss. -- Composer, poet, pianist and vocalist Mose Allison will appear in concert on Wednesday, February 15, at 7:30 p.m. in Jobe Hall on the Delta State campus. The concert, titled “DSU Welcomes Mose Allison Home,” is free and open to the public.

Born in Tallahatchie County where he was influenced by the bluesman that lived and performed on his father’s farm, Allison has long lived in New York City. He has been a major influence on musicians over the last 50 years and has been touring for at least that long. His songs have been recorded by, among others, Van Morrison, the Rolling Stones, Diana Krall, John Mayall (with Eric Clapton) and Elvis Costello. His singular style, a unique blending of jazz and blues, and his profound lyrical wit mark him as a true American original. Paul Bernays of Artisan Pictures in the United Kingdom presented an hour-long documentary about his career, titled “Ever Since I Stole the Blues.”

Allison will have a busy schedule when he comes home to Mississippi. After his performance at Delta State, he will be honored in Jackson, where the Mississippi Arts Commission will present him with a Governor’s Lifetime Achievement Award on Wednesday, February 16, at 1:00 p.m. in Wells Memorial United Methodist Church. The following day, he will be present at the Allison Mercantile Store in Tippo at 1:30 p.m. when the Mississippi Blues Commission unveils a marker on the Mississippi Blues Trail in his honor. Both the Governor’s Awards and the Mississippi Blues Trail unveiling are free and open to the public.

Immediately following the unveiling ceremony all are invited to the CARE building in Charleston for a reception and short program presented by CARE. Allison’s performance at Delta State is made possible by funding from the Delta State Foundation, Delta Center for Culture and Learning, the Bologna Performing Arts Center, the Tri-State Education Foundation, the Delta State College of Arts and Sciences, and the Mississippi Arts Commission.

Mississippi Grammy artist Dorothy Moore scheduled for DMI All Access Series

2012-01-10T15:29:00.001-06:00

CLEVELAND - The Delta Music Institute, a music industry studies program at Delta State University, will host Grammy nominated singer Dorothy Moore Tuesday, January 17, at 6:00 p.m. in Jobe Hall on the campus of Delta State University for an interactive discussion as part of the DMI All Access series. Moore will be joined by arranger Harrison Calloway, Jr. to discuss her career and the production of her new recording project. DMI All Access is a series of open forums and lectures featuring industry professionals from various areas of the music business. The series is hosted by Delta State artist in residence Steve Azar and is open to the public at no charge.

From her hit single "Misty Blue" to her latest single "Lie To Me," Dorothy Moore has warmed the hearts of millions with her songs. A native of Jackson, Mississippi, Moore had a singing talent that was detected at an early age by her mother, who began buying her musical instruments and taking her to gospel programs. Ms. Moore began singing with The New Stranger Home Baptist Church Choir at age five, and eventually she became a soloist.

After graduation from Lanier High School, a recording company producer in Jackson discovered Moore and 1966 she signed with Epic Records. While attending Jackson State University, Moore and two other students formed a female group called The Poppies. The Poppies worked with The Four Tops, Bobby Goldsboro, and Wilson Pickett. They recorded the hit singles "Lullaby of Love" and "He’s Ready" for Columbia Records in 1966. After performing with the Poppies, Moore established a solo career in 1976 with Malaco Records in Jackson where she recorded the Grammy-nominated hit single, "Misty Blue," which rose to #1 on the R&B charts. Two years after "Misty Blue," Dorothy recorded a second Grammy-nominated single, "I Believe You."

Moore has earned awards and recognition, including four Grammy nominations, an Image Award, NATRA Female R&B Vocalist of the Year, Billboard Magazine Award, and many other awards worldwide. Throughout her career, Moore has appeared with such stars as Lou Rawls, Al Green, B.B. King, and The Temptations. She has also appeared on such shows as "American Bandstand," "Rock Concert," "Soul Train," and "The Midnight Special.” She has recorded with several different recording labels, including Volt, Rejoice, GSF, Chimneyville, and Malaco. Moore now records for her own label, Farish Street Records.

Moore was honored with a sidewalk marker of her likeness in 2001 at the Alamo Theater on Farish Street in Jackson where she started her professional career. Local honors have included the Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts in 1996, Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame in 2001 and numerous Jackson Music Awards. Moore serves on the board of the Blues Foundation and BB King Museum Advisory Board. She tours, produces, and records in Jackson.

The Delta Music Institute is an independent center of study under the College of Arts & Sciences at Delta State University, offering a B.S. in Music Industry Studies degree. The focus of the DMI is to provide students with a broad and thorough education in the technological, creative, and business areas of the music and entertainment industry. For information, contact (662) 846-4579 or visit http://dmi.deltastate.edu.

Please spread the word- free concert!

2011-11-21T12:51:00.000-06:00

Luther Brown

Delta Center for Culture and Learning

Box 3152 Delta State University

Cleveland, MS 38733

662-846-4312

www.blueshighway.org

www.birthplaceoftheblues.com

Sean "Bad" Apple and Martin "Big Boy" Grant Win - Reed Smith takes 2nd Place

2011-10-26T10:48:00.000-05:00

The Clarksdale duo Sean “Bad” Apple and Martin “Big Boy” Grant won top prize at Indianola’s Mississippi Delta Regional Blues Challenge on Sunday, October 23^rd at the Blue Biscuit. They will represent the society in Memphis at the International Challenge. Seventeen year old, Reed Smith, from Clinton won 2^nd Place. The Indianola blues society is sending Smith to IBC Youth Showcase which will take place on Friday afternoon, February 3, 2012. Six solo/duo acts competed: $Daddy Rich$ and David Dunavent (Clarksdale & Sumner), Terry Swilley (Greenwood-Dermott), Ming Donkey One Man Band (Starkville), Poboy King (Ellisville). The judges for this challenge were Roger Stolle-Cat Head Blues & Folk Art, Charley Abraham-DSU Delta Music Institute, Dina Bennett-B.B. King Museum, and Burton Doss-Malaco Records.

Sola Porch Wins Indianola Band Challenge

2011-10-26T07:20:00.001-05:00

Solar Porch from Cleveland won the band competition at the 8^th Annual Mississippi Delta Regional Blues Challenge in Indianola. The band members, Sid Barger, Marlowe Dorrough, and Craig Collins, will represent the Indianola Blues Society in Memphis at the 28^th Annual International Blues Challenge - February 1-4, 2012. David Dunavent and the Evol Love Band from Sumner took 2^nd Place. The competition was Sunday, October 16^th at da’ House of Khafre. Eight bands from across the State came to compete.

“This was the best talent top to bottom of any local challenge I’ve ever seen. Every act was one I would feel comfortable seeing for a four-hour club date. The challenge was run at least as well as any venue at the International Blues Challenge finals,” said judge Ricky Stevens, chairman of the Blues Foundation’s IBC committee.

Judges for the band competition were Tricia Walker, Jesse Robinson, Shelley Ritter, and Ricky Stevens.

2011-09-09T18:12:00.001-05:00

Grady Champion at The Blue Biscuit

2011-08-25T16:44:00.001-05:00

The Indianola Blues Society and The Blue Biscuit announce Grady Champion is coming to perform THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15^TH. Champion is the 2009 Winner of the Mississippi Delta Regional Blues Challenge and 2010 International Blues Challenge Winner. Showtime: 8 – 11 pm Cover $5 No Cover - Indianola Blues Society Members

Delta Center provides heritage tour for Sam Houston State students

2011-08-15T11:31:00.000-05:00

CLEVELAND – Delta State University’s Delta Center for Culture and Learning recently provided a heritage tour for a class from Sam Houston State University. The class was taught by Dr. John B. Strait, who brings a group through the Delta every summer on a week-long field trip. This year, he was accompanied by Dr. Alan Marcus from Towson University, near Baltimore. Dr. Marcus plans to bring his own college class to the Delta next summer and also wants to explore student exchanges between Delta State and Towson. The Delta Center's Lee Aylward led the tour.

Festival News from Highway 61 Radio - Scott Barretta

2011-08-12T08:29:00.001-05:00

Dorothy Moore, Johnny Rawls, and more-Sunflower River Blues & Gospel Festival!

Listing of Clarksdale’s events this weekend-August 12-14:
http://www.highway61radio.com/?p=3473

Tommy Johnson family gains access to his gravesite....

2011-08-12T08:25:00.000-05:00

Wednesday, August 10^th the Copiah County Board of Supervisors decided to build and maintain a road to the Warm Springs Cemetery, just north of Crystal Springs, where Tommy Johnson is buried. A gravestone was dedicated in his honor in 2001, but it couldn't be placed because of legal issues concerning cemetery access, which have now been resolved. Press release: http://www.highway61radio.com/?p=3535

New World District Marker Ceremony * Friday, August 12, 2011 at 10:00 AM * Clarksdale, MS

2011-08-10T09:31:00.000-05:00

Magic Slim Blues Marker Ceremony * Monday, July 25, 2011 at 2:00 P.M. * Grenada, MS

2011-07-22T12:09:00.000-05:00

Upcoming MS Blues/Country Trail Markers

2011-07-06T08:11:00.001-05:00

Please mark your calendars for these upcoming marker ceremonies around the state:

July 19, 2011 Sunnyland Slim * Lambert, MS - 10:00 AM - July 27, 2011 Magic Slim * Grenada, MS – 10:00 AM - August 10, 2011 King Edward Hotel *Jackson, MS 10:00 AM - August 26, 2011 Hot Tamales * Rosedale, MS 11:00 AM

August 18, 2011 Tammy Wynette * Tremont, MS 1:00 PM

Hope you can join us,
Alex T. Thomas
Associate Manager Senior, Music Trails
Sales and Promotions Bureau
Mississippi Development Authority / Tourism Division
P.O. Box 849
Jackson, MS 39205
office: 601.359.2593
fax: 601.359.5757
email: athomas@mississippi.org
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Robertson Scholars makes second visit to Delta State

2011-06-20T07:25:00.000-05:00

CLEVELAND - The Delta Center for Culture and Learning at Delta State University, is again hosting Robertson Scholars from Duke and the University of North Carolina this summer. The Scholars will live in the Delta for two months and work with various Delta charities and non-profits. They also participated in heritage tours of the Delta. They visited the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale led by Lee Aylward of the Delta Center.

Photo Identification: Robertson Scholars, from left to right, Erika Ferguson, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Bolivar County Community Action Agency; Jakob Blomqvist, Duke University, Greenville Renaissance Scholars; Katherine Zhang, Duke University, St. Gabriel Mercy Center; Deo Fagnisse, Duke University, St. Gabriel Mercy Center; Sam Halle, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Greenville Renaissance Scholars; Blake O'Connor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Sunflower County Freedom Project; John Guzek, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Delta Center for Culture and Learning; Daniel Strunk, Duke University, St. Gabriel Mercy Center; Margaret Brown, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Sunflower County Freedom Project and Jacob Robinson, Duke University, Sunflower County Freedom Project.

Indianola Blues Society Welcomes TFA TEACHERS!

2011-06-13T18:22:00.000-05:00

Welcome Back! Cleveland – Delta State volunteer Elsie Lynn Ervin (right) provides directions for Teach For America corps members arriving Sunday to the Delta State campus. Over 100 Delta State and Cleveland-Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce volunteers braved the heat to welcome participants as they arrived. About 550 new corps members arrived Sunday, bringing the total of Teach For America students and staff at Delta State to over 1,000, an increase of over 200 participants over last year. The Teach For America corps members and staff will be at Delta State and the Delta until mid-July. Around 300 Teach For America students will remain in the Delta region for the next two years to teach in public schools.

Great info from Scott Barretta!

2011-06-07T00:38:00.001-05:00

Indianola Welcomes B.B. King Home

http://www.highway61radio.com/?p=3482

LIVE MUSIC EVERY SATURDAY!

2011-06-03T18:53:00.001-05:00

The B.B. King Museum & Delta Interpretive Center announces LIVE music every Saturday from 12 noon – 3 pm. This event is free to the public and will feature Mississippi blues musicians.

308 Blues Club - Indianola

2011-06-03T18:40:00.001-05:00

TONIGHT! (Friday, June 03, 2011) The Back Porch Blues Society of Norway Musicians’ Jam Featuring Indianola’s Casey Roberts are performing at 9 pm No Cover More info: http://mstrong3.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/back-porch-blues-society/

Faculty and staff from Florida school explore sites in the Delta

2011-05-31T23:19:00.001-05:00

CLEVELAND - Students and faculty from the St. Stephen's Episcopal School of Bradenton, Florida, visited the Delta all of last week. They explored the roots of the Blues at Dockery Farms, participated in the unveiling of the Fannie Lou Hamer Freedom Trail marker, toured the Emmett Till Memorial Trail, enjoyed lots of Delta catfish and barbecue, and spent the week talking with Delta people and visiting museums and historic sites. Their leader, William Southerland, was a participant in a workshop presented by the Delta State Delta Center for Culture and Learning two summers ago. Seniors at St. Stevens can choose among trips to Paris, London, and the Mississippi Delta.

Elvis Presley Country Music Trail Marker * Thursday, June 2, 2011 at 3:00 PM * Tupelo, MS

2011-05-25T16:55:00.001-05:00

Reception & Panel Discussion at the BBK Museum

2011-05-17T23:45:00.000-05:00

Blues Artist of the Year

2011-05-17T23:37:00.001-05:00

On April 3^rd drummer Frank Vick of Greenville, MS was awarded the 2010 Blues Artist of the Year Award by the Indianola Blues Society. This year the surprise presentation happened at the 4^th Annual Mary Shepard Day at da’ House of Khafre in downtown Indianola - http://www.csadeturnipseed.com/home. Vick was a part of the Club Ebony house band for many years playing with David Lee Durham, Bobby Whalen, David Burchfield, and Mickey Rogers. He represented the blues society twice at the International Blues Challenge. In 2005 he played with David Lee Durham & the Ladies Choice Band. In 2008, Vick played with Mickey Rogers and the Soul Master Band.

Highway 61 Blues Festival Cancelled

2011-05-17T23:14:00.001-05:00

The Highway 61 Blues Festival and the Holly Ridge Jam have been cancelled due to the current flooding disaster in the Delta. The festival dates were June 4 & 5. http://www.highway61blues.com/news_hwy_61_blues.html

Unveiling for Little Jr. Parker in Bobo, MS

2011-05-09T08:32:00.001-05:00

Ealey Brothers Blues Marker Ceremony * Saturday, April 30, 2011 at 5:00 PM * Natchez, MS

2011-04-26T16:39:00.001-05:00

For directions please click on the map link below:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=205785095733206001725.00043ac16963dc41feb11&ll=31.561798,-91.405531&spn=0.003748,0.005466&t=h&z=18

Eddie Shaw Blues Marker Ceremony * Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at 2:00 P.M. * Benoit, MS

2011-04-26T16:37:00.001-05:00

Due to the possibility of inclement weather tomorrow the ceremony for the will be held in the Benoit City Hall located at 114 West Preston Street.

Alex T. Thomas

Music Development, Program Manager

Mississippi Development Authority/Tourism

MBT Marker Unveiling in Laurel

2011-04-19T11:39:00.001-05:00

MBT Marker Unveiling

2011-04-05T13:01:00.001-05:00

For directions please click on the map link below:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=205785095733206001725.00043ac16963dc41feb11&ll=34.201314,-90.572013&spn=0.003101,0.005262&z=18

Blues & Jazz In The Pass Marker Ceremony honoring Captain John Handy

2011-03-08T10:47:00.001-06:00

Students from St. Andrews Episcopal School in Jackson tour the Mississippi Delta

2011-02-18T13:30:00.000-06:00

Students from St. Andrews Episcopal School in Jackson tour the Mississippi Delta

CLEVELAND - The Delta State University Delta Center for Culture and Learning recently provided a heritage tour to a group of students from Scotland, Japan, and Mississippi, all of whom are studying at the St. Andrews Episcopal School in Jackson. The group was organized by Chris Harth, of St. Andrews (far left), and guided by Delta State’s Luther Brown (far right). St. Andrews promotes "Glocal" approaches to learning. Glocal is a word that combines globalism and localism, and it means to think locally and act globally.

Mississippi Blues Trail & The Grammy Awards

2011-02-01T10:49:00.001-06:00

Mississippi blues, country, gospel, soul and rock 'n' roll artists are at the center of American popular music and that legacy is apparent in the number of Mississippians who have been recognized by The Recording Academy® with GRAMMY® Awards, GRAMMY Hall Of Fame inductions and Lifetime Achievement Awards. On Thursday, February 10, this year’s “Mississippi Music Celebration at the GRAMMY Museum” at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles will celebrate that unparalleled musical legacy and specifically honor Mississippi’s pivotal role in the establishment of blues music and that genre’s influence across the music industry. The event is part of GRAMMY Week, a preamble to the GRAMMY Awards ceremony scheduled on Sunday, February 13.
On February 10 at 5 p.m., a Mississippi Blues Trail Marker will be unveiled at the GRAMMY Museum and L.A. Live sidewalk.

INTERNATIONAL SHOWCASE

2011-01-19T14:17:00.001-06:00

Big Blue and Baby Blue tickets have been mailed out to domestic purchasers this week. Purchasers from outside the U.S. can pick them up in Memphis. The FedEx International Showcase participants have been announced to kick off IBC week on Tuesday, February 1 at the New Daisy Theater: Isaiah B Brunt, Sydney Blues Society (Australia); Sweet Felicia and the Honeytones, Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society (Australia); Mud Dog, White Rock Blues Society (British Columbia, Canada); Harrison "Sweet Taste" Kennedy & David Rotundo Band, Canal Bank Shuffle (Ontario, Canada); Erin McCallum, Bruce County Blues Society (Ontario, Canada); Michael Jerome Browne, Montreal Blues Society (Quebec, Canada); Robert Johnson's Backbone, Croatian Blues Forces (Croatia); Jo' Buddy & Down Home King III, Finnish Blues Society (Finland); AWEK & Mountain Men, Blues Sur Seine (France); Georg Schroeter & Marc Breitfelder, Baltic Blues (Germany); The Sons of Moriah, Israel Blues Society (Israel); Marco Pandolfi, Mojo Station (Italy); Daniele Tenca & Blues for the Working Class, DeltaBlues (Italy); King Mo & Ralph de Jongh, Dutch Blues Foundation (Netherlands); The Urban Blues Band & Rita Engedalen Blues Duo, Norsk Blues Union (Norway); Kajetan Drozd Acoustic Trio, T.B. King Blues Club (Poland); Fifteen young people between the ages of 11-19 will participate in the first ever Youth Blues Knowledge Bowl at B.B. King’s Friday, February 4 at 2:00pm. We are working on the format, but this should be fun. B.B. King’s Bluesville Program Director will share MC duties with Justin Whitmer. The Orpheum Theater has begun selling individual tickets for the Band finals and for the Solo/Duo finals. They can be purchased online at: http://orpheum-memphis.com/index.cfm?section=comattrac&page=details&showid=675

How the IBC Quarter Finals Work...

2011-01-19T14:09:00.001-06:00

The schedule for the 27th International Blues Challenge has been set. While we won't release the schedule with the times and venues until Wednesday, February 2, we can provide the following information. Solo/Duo: The number of acts in any solo/duo venue is either ten or eleven. There are eight venues during the quarterfinals. Four acts will advance from each venue so the semifinals will see 32 acts in four venues. Two acts from each venue will advance to the finals which puts eight acts in the finals on Saturday evening at the Orpheum Theatre. Band: The number of acts in any band venue is nine or ten. There are eleven venues during the quarterfinals. Four acts will advance from each venue so 44 will advance to the semifinals. They will compete in 8 clubs. One band from each of the eight venues will advance to the finals Saturday. The quarter finals begin between 4:00pm and 5:45pm, depending on the venue. The semifinals follow after the Smokin' Bluz Youth Showcase which begins at 4:00pm so semifinals will either begin at 5:20pm or 6:00pm.

CONGRATS CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI BLUES SOCIETY!

2011-01-19T14:02:00.001-06:00

THE 2011 BEST SELF-PRODUCED CD FINALISTS

The following discs advance to the final round of judging in the Best Self Produced CD contest. The winner will be crowned February 5, 2011 at the Historic Orpheum Theater on Main and Beale Street.

Boston Blues Society - Delta Generators Hard River to Row, Cascade Blues Association - Joe McMurrian Get Inside This House, Central Mississippi Blues Society - Stevie J The Diversity Project, South Sound Blues Association – Becki Sue and her Big Rockin' Daddies Big Rockin Boogie, The Blues, Jazz and Folk Music Society - Long Tall Deb & the Drifter Kings Diamonds on the Desert Floor. This year a record 55 affiliates around the world submitted entries.

27th IBC News

2011-01-19T13:56:00.001-06:00

The 27th International Blues Challenge will consist of: 110 Bands, 83 Solo/Duo & 28 Youth acts - adding up to 709 Musicians - representing 41 States & 13 Countries. That’s 221 acts in 4 days and 5 nights - over 500 performances within three city blocks - only steps from great hotels and fantastic food. It can only happen in Downtown Memphis, Tennessee - on World Famous Beale Street. The Blues Foundation is the only organization in the world that can make it a Blues Party!

Mississippi to Florida Blues Marker Ceremony

2010-11-16T11:36:00.001-06:00

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=100688295274335080390.00043ac16963dc41feb11&ll=30.549012,-84.180357&spn=0.006597,0.00751&t=h&z=17

Hope you can join us!

Alex T. Thomas

Music Development, Program Manager

Mississippi Development Authority/Tourism

P.O. Box 849

Jackson, MS 39205-0849

Office: (601) 359-3297

Fax: (601) 359-5757

athomas@mississippi.org

Confidentiality Note: The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) is committed to ensuring complete confidentiality of information for our customers. To this end, the information contained in this e-mail and/or document(s) attached is for the exclusive use by the individual named above and/or their organization and may contain confidential, privileged and non-disclosable information. If you are not the intended recipient, please refrain from reading, photocopying, distributing or otherwise using this e-mail or its contents in any way. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify me immediately. {MDA-2009}

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Visiting journalists take tour of the Delta

2010-10-29T15:22:00.000-05:00

CLEVELAND - The Delta State University Delta Center for Culture and Learning recently helped introduce over 90 professional journalists and journalism students to the Delta’s cultural heritage. The media professionals were attending a conference at the Magazine Innovation Center at the Meek School of Journalism and New Media at Ole Miss. The three day conference, which focused on the future of the magazine industry, was organized by Dr. Samir Husni, director of the Magazine Innovation Center. Delta Magazine and Delta Business Journal owner and publisher, Scott Coopwood (second from left, first row) was one of the sponsor's of the conference and greeted the group at the Shack Up Inn at Hopson before they moved on to Clarksdale for an evening at Ground Zero Blues Club. Magazine industry leaders from across the U.S., the Netherlands, and South America attended the conference. The Delta Center’s Luther Brown and Lee Aylward spoke to the visitors as they traveled on two coach buses.

Waxhaw: MS Blues Trail Marker dedication for Otis Clay, 2pm

2010-10-22T06:26:00.001-05:00

MORE-OTIS CLAY MARKER

http://www.msbluestrail.org/AnnouncementRetrieve.aspx?ID=50692

2010-10-22T06:18:00.001-05:00

7^th Annual Mississippi Delta Regional Blues Challenge

Saturday, October 23, 2010 Club Ebony-Indianola

http://www.highway61radio.com/?p=3007

Otis Clay – Mississippi Blues Trail Marker Unveiling

Friday, October 22, 2010 Performance at The Senator’s Place-Cleveland

http://www.highway61radio.com/?p=2984

Delta State takes St. Andrews Episcopal School group on heritage tour

2010-10-20T17:50:00.001-05:00

Delta State takes St. Andrews Episcopal School group on heritage tour

CLEVELAND - The Delta State University Delta Center for Culture and Learning recently provided a Delta heritage tour for a group from the St. Andrews Episcopal School in Jackson. Tour participants included faculty and students from St. Andrews as well as from Ghana and Zimbabwe. St. Andrews has an exchange program with the Hermann Geimer International College, a boarding high school in Tema, Ghana and each year, several students from St. Andrews travels to Ghana, and a group from Ghana travels to Jackson. Following their tour, the group headed to Shelby to tutor youth at the Shelby Middle School as part of a service learning project. St. Andrews visits the Delta annually.

Delta State's Delta Center provides heritage tour to first year nursing students

2010-10-15T16:40:00.001-05:00

CLEVELAND - The Delta State University Delta Center for Culture and Learning recently provided a Delta heritage tour for first year nursing students of the Robert E. Smith School of Nursing. The tour included visits to Dockery Farms, civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer's grave, both in Ruleville, historic Mound Bayou, and the world famous Po' Monkey's Lounge in Merigold. The tour was lead by the Delta Center's Luther Brown and Lee Aylward.

Scott Radio Service Company Blues Marker Ceremony

2010-10-14T22:03:00.001-05:00

Central Mississippi Blues Society - Solo/Duo Winner

2010-10-06T20:05:00.001-05:00

Jackson, MS - This past Monday night (October 4^th) at Hal & Mal’s Chris Gill and Derrick Martin won the solo/duo blues challenge. They will represent the Central Mississippi Blues Society at the 2011 International Blues Challenge in Memphis. The CMBS Band Challenge is scheduled for Monday night, October 18^th at Hal & Mal’s. Interested bands should contact: Peggy Brown 601.613.7377

The IBC is February 1-5. More details: www.blues.org

Cleveland, MS Octoberfest

2010-10-06T19:50:00.001-05:00

Follow the Mississippi Bles Trail on Facebook

2010-10-04T23:34:00.001-05:00

Join us today at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jackson-MS/Mississippi-Blues-Trail/61559154874

Alex T. Thomas, Music Development, Program Manager, Mississippi Development Authority/Tourism, P.O. Box 849, Jackson, MS 39205-0849, Office: (601) 359-3297 , Fax: (601) 359-5757 , athomas@mississippi.org.

Photos: Out-of-state blues marker in Rockland, Maine. Paul Benjamin - at the Maine marker unveiling this summer.

Champion Jamz!

2010-10-04T23:01:00.001-05:00

Club Ebony will host the 7^th Annual Mississippi Delta Regional Blues Challenge on Saturday, October 23 in Indianola. Two past winners in Indianola and the Memphis International Blues Challenge are pictured. The young Homemade Jamz Blues Band from Tupelo, MS and Grady Champion from Canton, MS. It is time for solo/duo and bands to enter the Indianola Challenge.

LiVe HOt JAzZ! in Vicksburg!

2010-09-27T12:09:00.001-05:00

7th Annual Mississippi Delta Regional Blues Challenge

2010-09-25T22:53:00.001-05:00

Grady Champion…Canton, MS – Thank you Indianola Blues Society for the opportunity to compete in Memphis at the IBC. This year has been wonderful. The blues fans have been incredible. Good luck with this year’s Challenge at Club Ebony and with every endeavor your group takes on. Keep up the good work. You’re the best! Grady

Winner of the Indianola Challenge and the 2010 International Blues Challenge

Parchman Farm Blues Marker Ceremony

2010-09-24T10:22:00.001-05:00

See map link below:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=100688295274335080390.00043ac16963dc41feb11&ll=33.917678,-90.496445&spn=0.008609,0.013304&t=h&z=17

Hope to see you there!

Alex T. Thomas

Music Development, Program Manager

Mississippi Development Authority/Tourism

athomas@mississippi.org

Clarksdale's MR. TATER has passed away.....

2010-09-13T13:02:00.001-05:00

MUSICAL PASSING - Hailed as one of the last Mississippi Delta street musicians and a favorite of visiting tourists from around the world, Foster Wiley a.k.a. "Mr Tater, The Music Maker" passed away early Friday morning, September 10, at the Methodist University Hospital in Memphis -- according to his brothers Joshua and Joe Wiley. Foster Wiley had been in the Intensive Care Unit for over a week with kidney and other issues. Funeral arrangements, procession, reception/musical jam info: www.cathead.biz/livemusic.html

Piano woman - Eden Brent - USA Today pick....

2010-08-19T12:23:00.000-05:00

USA Today picked ten intriguing music tracks listened to this past week…..

Eden Brent made the list with a track from her upcoming album - “Ain’t Got No Troubles” -

to be officially released----September 7!

http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2010-08-16-the-playlist17_ST_N.htm

More………… http://gardenandgun.com/article/delta-soul ; http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129003332 ; http://www.shorefire.com/clients/ebrent/

Ike Turner Mississippi Blues Trail Marker - Friday, August 6, 2010 at 10:00 AM - Clarksdale, MS

2010-08-02T12:26:00.000-05:00

Catfish, R & B, and more....

2010-06-26T14:30:00.001-05:00

Cleveland – Teach for America (TFA) participants got a taste of Delta hospitality on Friday, June 18, as they were treated to “Catfish on the Quad” on the Delta State University Quadrangle. Approximately 800 participants were joined by members of the community and Delta State faculty and staff for an evening of fun, food, and entertainment. Participants were treated to a dinner of southern fried catfish, and musical entertainment provided by local R&B band The Pearl Street Jumpers. High evening temperatures proved no deterrent as TFA members participated in numerous activities including three-way volleyball, a rock-climbing wall, jumbo basketball, sidewalk bowling, and much more, before dancing well into the evening. “It was wonderful to see the Teach for America members together with members of the campus and community for an evening of fun and fellowship,” said Dr. Michelle Roberts, vice president for University Relations at Delta State. “I have been at Delta State for over 20 years and I can’t recall the Quad being so full of people and activities. Everyone seemed to have a wonderful time, despite the high temperatures. For many, this was their first taste of fried catfish and hushpuppies. Based on their positive comments, it won’t be their last.” “Catfish on the Quad” concluded the first week of Teach for America’s Delta Institute, the first TFA training institute in a rural location. Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, and Phoenix are the other Teach For America institute locations.

About Teach For America

Teach For America is the national corps of outstanding recent college graduates who commit to teach for two years in urban and rural public schools and become lifelong leaders in expanding educational opportunity. This fall, more than 8,200 corps members will be teaching in 39 regions across the country, while more than 20,000 Teach For America alumni continue working from inside and outside the field of education for the fundamental changes necessary to ensure educational excellence and equity. For more information, visit www.teachforamerica.org.

Delta State holds summer heritage workshop for teachers

2010-06-26T14:30:00.000-05:00

CLEVELAND - Forty teachers from across the United States recently participated in a Delta heritage workshop entitled “The Most Southern Place on Earth: Music, History and Culture of the Mississippi Delta,” funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. The workshop was presented by the Delta State University Delta Center for Culture and Learning, and was led by Center staff Luther Brown and Lee Aylward. Participants sampled Delta foods, visited local museums, and listened to the Blues as they traveled throughout the Delta visiting sites in Greenville, Greenwood, Clarksdale and Memphis, with stops in between where significant events occurred. They discussed issues involving civil rights and political leadership, immigrants’ experiences in the Delta, the Blues, the great migration, agriculture, religious heritage, and the Great Flood of 1927, among other things. All of the teachers who participate in the summer workshop will present lessons on the Delta’s heritage in their classrooms back home. Photo: Workshop participants in front of the Flood Museum in Greenville.

Mississippi to Maine Blues Trail Marker - Thursday, July 8, 2010 at 3:00 PM in Rockland, Maine

2010-06-24T17:45:00.000-05:00

Mississippi to Maine Blues Trail Marker - Thursday, July 8, 2010 at 3:00 PM in Rockland, Maine

2010-06-22T16:15:00.000-05:00

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=100688295274335080390.00043ac16963dc41feb11&ll=44.102383,-69.107314&spn=0.002935,0.003927&t=h&z=18

Teach For America members take heritage tour of the Delta

2010-06-22T16:13:00.000-05:00

The Delta State University Delta Center for Culture and Learning recently presented a heritage tour to 110 Teach for America members who are participating in the Delta training Institute being held on the Delta State campus. The group participated in a day-long tour that included stops in Cleveland, Dockery, Ruleville, and Mound Bayou, along with Po’ Monkey’s Lounge.

Bobby Whalen Takes the Stage!

2010-06-22T16:05:00.000-05:00

Bluesman Bobby Whalen Performs at Museum

The B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center welcomes Indianola bluesman Bobby Whalen to the stage in Lucille’s, the Museum gift shop, on Friday, June 25 at noon. Whalen will perform various styles of blues and lead a discussion with his audience. Whalen has toured extensively in the state and collaborated on shows with many well known blues performers. His Ladies Choice Band performs frequently at festivals and clubs throughout Mississippi. Whalen has served as a presenting artist of the Mississippi Arts Commission, bringing music and visual art into the classroom. Bobby Whalen’s murals may be seen across the state, and his paintings are on display throughout the country in arts centers and galleries.

For more information, please contact: Erin Mulligan, B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center, emulligan@bbkingmuseum.org

Delta State takes students from Columbus High School on heritage tour of the Delta

2010-06-18T10:53:00.000-05:00

Columbus High School's accelerated and advanced placement program recently visited the Mississippi Delta to learn about its rich cultural heritage. The Delta State University Delta Center for Culture and Learning introduced the group to the Delta State campus and escorted them to Dockery Farms, the birthplace of the Blues; the grave of Civil Rights activist Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer; and the historic African American town of Mound Bayou. Gayle Fortenberry third from right, back row, advance placement coordinator, arranged the trip. Dr. Luther Brown and Lee Aylward of the Delta Center, kneeling, conducted the tour.

Mississippi Blues Trail Marker Cermony honoring Johnny Winter in Leland

2010-06-04T17:37:00.001-05:00

Poster Signing Party

2010-05-25T12:03:00.000-05:00

The Highway 61 Blues Festival Poster Signing will be held on Thursday, May 27 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the Highway 61 Blues Museum located at 307 N. Broad Street in Leland. Artist Cristen Barnard designed this year’s poster that honors Johnny Winter. She will be on hand to sign and number posters that night. Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served. Ryan Moore of Cicero’s Restaurant will be serving his delicious fried catfish and pork tenderloin. Ellen Ann Johnson will be serving her many delicious dishes as well. William McGee, Pat Thomas, Eddie Cusic and T-Model Ford will provide the entertainment. At 7:30 p.m. the party will move to Lillo’s Restaurant for dancing to the music of Lillo’s legendary Thursday night band and dining. To reserve a poster call the Highway 61 Blues Museum at 662-686-7646. For reservations at Lillo’s call 662-686-4401.

Two Mississippi Teen Musicians Awarded Full Scholarships for Summer Study at Boston’s Renowned Berklee College of Music

2010-05-01T21:19:00.000-05:00

Boston – Paula Thompson, from Clarksdale, and Calvin Bogar, from Jackson, will spend five weeks this summer in Boston, studying at the prestigious Berklee College of Music on full scholarships valued at $7,500 apiece. They’ll join teens from all over the world for Berklee’s Five-Week Summer Performance Program.

The scholarships were awarded from the Berklee Mississippi Music Exchange program that develops opportunities to exchange education, music and culture between Berklee and the Mississippi Delta and other parts of the state. This is the third year that Berklee has awarded summer scholarships to students in Mississippi who take part in programs at the Delta Blues Museum, in Clarksdale, and the Robert Johnson Blues Museum, in Crystal Springs.

From left: Berklee professor Lenny Stallworth, Paula Thompson, Delta Blues Museum Director Shelley Ritter, and Christopher Coleman, director of the Delta Blues Museum's gift shop.
Photo by Allen Bush.

Thompson is a student in the Delta Blues Museum's Arts & Education Program. She has been singing since the age of 3, and made her stage debut at 6 in a family group called Blues Prodigy. In addition to singing, she also plays the drums and bass guitar. For her audition, she sang "Hurts So Bad," by Susan Tedeschi. Thompson told the scholarship committee, comprised of Berklee and Delta Blues Museum personnel, that when she grows up she'd like to be a singer. On the same day that she auditioned for the scholarship, she also celebrated her 15th birthday.

From left: Calvin Bogan and Steven Johnson.
Photo by Allen Bush

Steven Johnson, grandson of the legendary Robert Johnson, scouted Bogar for the scholarship. The 19 year old has been playing the saxophone for six years, and is currently studying music at Hinds Community College in Utica. Among his musical experiences are playing in church and in jazz and contemporary music groups. He would like to be music teacher. Bogar and Johnson met the Berklee committee in the historic Baptist Town region of Greenwood at Sylvester Hoover's Country Kitchen, and he serenaded them in front of the noted eatery, drawing community members who snapped photos and wished him good-luck.

To read more about each recipient and the Berklee Mississippi Music Exchange, visit berkee-blogs.com.

Berklee College of Music, for over 65 years, has evolved to support its belief that the best way to prepare students for careers in music is through contemporary music education. The college was the first in the U.S. to teach jazz, the popular music of the time. It incorporated rock n' roll in the 1960s, created the world's first degree programs in film scoring, music synthesis, and songwriting, and, in recent years, added world music, hip-hop, electronica, and video game music to its curriculum. With a diverse student body representing over 70 countries, a music industry "who's who" of alumni that have received 175 Grammy Awards, Berklee is the world's premier learning lab for the music of today – and tomorrow. In 2013, Berklee will open its first campus outside of Boston, Berklee Valencia, in Spain.

CLARKSDALE CARAVAN MUSIC FEST - May 8, 2010

2010-04-30T22:07:00.001-05:00

Turner's Drug Store Blues Marker Ceremony - May 15, 2010 - Belzoni, MS

2010-04-30T22:00:00.001-05:00

2010-04-28T19:10:00.000-05:00

CLARKSDALE CARAVAN MUSIC FEST

4th annual, free music festival
Saturday, May 8, 2010
downtown Clarksdale, Mississippi

CAT HEAD DELTA BLUES & FOLK ART (252 Delta Ave.) - FREE!
10am till: All Night Long Blues Band, La La, Mary Ann "Action" Jackson.

ROCK & BLUES MUSEUM (113 E. 2nd St.) - FREE!

2pm till: Theo D "The Boogieman," Selwyn Cooper, Bob Walters, Black Smoke, Little Bobby & the Storm and more.

RELATED NIGHTTIME MUSIC IN CLARKSDALE (cover charges apply):

Ground Zero Blues Club (Reba Russell), Red's Lounge, Tricia's and more!

FESTIVAL MERCHANDISE:

Two collectible show poster designs available exclusively at Cat Head store and Rock & Blues Museum.

MORE INFO: website www.blues2rock.com and www.cathead.biz

Also, don't miss the Clarksdale Caravan Music Fest fundraiser this Thursday night (4/29) at the Rock & Blues Museum from 5pm-9pm.

Fairwell Party for Connie Gibbons

2010-04-21T14:21:00.000-05:00

Bluesman dies....

2010-04-14T09:36:00.001-05:00

Sad news:

Mississippi Slim died this morning (Wednesday, April 14, 2010) around 7 am at Delta Regional Medical Center (Greenville, MS) of natural causes.

Chris Thomas King to perform at Delta State University

2010-04-12T21:14:00.001-05:00

Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz

CLEVELAND— The acclaimed Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz and Grammy winning blues artist Chris Thomas King, will perform a Sunday matinee concert on April 18, at 2 p.m. in the Delta and Pine Land Theatre of the Bologna Performing Arts Center on the Delta State campus. Hollywood movie star Chris Thomas King will join Grammy-nominated jazz saxophonist Antonio Hart, Charlie Parker Institute Director and vocalist Lisa Henry; past Wynton Marsalis Quartet pianist Richard Johnson; past Terrence Blanchard Quintet bassist Derek Nievergelt; and Esperanza Spalding’s drummer, Otis Brown, III for the Sunday matinee performance. The show will feature musicians who have worked with everyone from Coldplay to recent Grammy Album of the Year winner Herbie Hancock. Chris Thomas King is a Grammy-Award Winning Artist who acted in two Oscar-winning films, Ray (as Lowell Fulson) and O Brother, Where Art Thou? (as Tommy Johnson). Also in attendance will be Thelonious Monk’s son and chairman of the board of the Monk Institute, TS Monk.The program is a celebration of African American music in DSU’s Year of the Arts, and is part of the Monk Institute’s return to the Mississippi Delta during its annual "The Blues and Jazz - Two American Classics" educational outreach tour (www.thebluesandjazz.org). The April 19 and 20th Informance tour includes visits to public schools in Cleveland and Ruleville.Funding for the entire tour was provided by Carolyn and Bill Powers, in memory of Mrs. Powers' grandparents, Joe Rice Dockery and Keith Dockery McLean, the late owners of Dockery Farms. Of Dockery Farms and the blues, B.B. King has said, "You might say, it all started right here.”

2010-04-12T14:27:00.001-05:00

WROX Blues Marker - Clarksdale, MS

2010-04-12T14:22:00.001-05:00

Delta State's Delta Center donates heritage tour for worthy cause

2010-04-06T11:10:00.000-05:00

The Delta State University Delta Center for Culture and Learning recently donated a Delta heritage tour to the Cleveland Junior Auxiliary Children’s Benefit Ball Silent Auction. The tour was purchased by Beverly McWilliams of Cleveland and conducted by Lee Aylward of the Delta Center. Photo: Tour participants from left-right, Lenora Lott of Greenwood, Maggie Spitz of Cleveland, and Sam Lott of Greenwood at Po’ Monkey’s Lounge in Merigold.

MS Blues Trail-WROX Blues Marker-Clarksdale, MS

2010-04-06T11:07:00.002-05:00

WROX Radio Station at 257 Delta Avenue in Clarksdale will be added to the Mississippi Blues Trail with its marker unveiling on Friday, April 16^th at 12 noon. WROX-AM is the oldest radio station in Northwest Mississippi. WROX began operation on June 2, 1944, broadcasting from 321 Delta Avenue in downtown Clarksdale. In 1946, the station moved to 257 Delta Avenue, where it remained until 1953. That location now houses the WROX Museum.

Map link:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=h&msa=0&msid=100688295274335080390.00043ac16963dc41feb11&ll=34.201554,-90.574722&spn=0.007303,0.007864&z=17

Alex T. Thomas

Music Development, Program Manager

Mississippi Development Authority/Tourism

P.O. Box 849

Jackson, MS 39205-0849

Office: (601) 359-3297

Fax: (601) 359-5757

athomas@mississippi.org

Brown and Clark at MDOT Awards Celebration

2010-04-06T11:07:00.001-05:00

Dr. Luther Brown, director of the Delta State Delta Center for Culture and Learning, and Wanda Clark, creative director of Hammons and Associates of Greenwood, presented the keynote speech at the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) Outstanding Achievement Awards March 23 in Jackson. The theme of this year's celebration was " Honoring the Blues in the Place Where it All Began: The Mississippi Blues Trail." The event honored MDOT employees throughout the state who have been recognized by their supervisors and peers for their superior performance. Clark serves as Project Director for the Blues Trail and Dr. Brown serves as Project Engineer for those parts of the Trail that are funded by MDOT. They appeared as representatives of the Mississippi Blues Commission, which along with the Mississippi Development Authority/Tourism Division oversees and helps fund the Trail. The Mississippi Blues Trail began in December of 2006, and today has 100 interpretive displays scattered across the state, with four more in other states. The Trail has received major financial support from MDOT, as well as major support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Mississippi Development Authority, and local Chambers of Commerce and Convention and Visitor's Bureaus. The Trail web site has now received visits from 88 countries around the world, and over half a million web pages worldwide include the term "Mississippi Blues Trail." The official Blues Trail web site is www.msbluestrail.org.

DSU's Delta Center hosts Swiss blues society members

2010-04-06T10:34:00.001-05:00

CLEVELAND―The Delta State University Delta Center for Culture and Learning introduced the Delta’s heritage to eight visitors from Switzerland last week. The group was organized by Donatella Rasi of Ganras Adventure Travel. Most members were also involved in the “Blues Crew Oberschan” which is a Swiss blues society. They spent ten days in the Delta, visiting Tunica, Clarksdale, Cleveland, Shaw, Leland, Greenville, Greenwood, and Indianola, as well as Memphis. The group included several blues musicians. They performed in Indianola at Club Ebony Sunday night, April 4 at the “Mary Shepard Day” celebration.

Northwest Academy visits the Delta

2010-03-30T11:20:00.001-05:00

Northwest Academy visits the Delta

CLEVELAND―Twenty-five students and four faculty members from the Northwest Academy of Law in St. Louis, Mo., visited Delta State University last week. They were hosted by the Delta Center for Culture and Learning at Delta State and participated in a heritage tour encompassing Cleveland, Mound Bayou, Ruleville, Indianola, and Greenwood. Although the group was housed on the campus of Delta State University, they also visited other universities which included the University of Mississippi, the University of Memphis, Mississippi Valley State University and Jackson State University. The Northwest Academy of Law is a public high school that emphasizes a pre-law curriculum. This tour was supported by Gear Up, a federal program that encourages high school students to attend college. The group was lead by Susan Lampros, who first visited the Delta last summer when she participated in a workshop presented by the Delta Center.

Big T's CD Release Party in Clarksdale

2010-03-15T09:56:00.001-05:00

Dockery Farms Foundation receives Save America’s Treasures Grant

2010-03-12T10:36:00.000-06:00

CLEVELAND�The Dockery Farms Foundation is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a Save America's Treasures Grant through the National Park Service of the United States Department of the Interior.

These funds will enable the Foundation to undertake the restoration of several buildings at the Dockery Farms Historic Site, beginning immediately with the Dockery Service Station. Hampton Tucker, Chief of the Historic Preservation Grants Division National Park Services states, "The National Park Service is pleased to participate in the preservation of Dockery Farms. This grant through the Save America's Treasures program will allow all Americans to experience the birthplace of one of our great music traditions for years to come. Innovative public/private partnerships like this are the foundation of preservation of this country's rich and diverse heritage."

"We are delighted to have the National Park Service and Save America's Treasures as our partners in preserving the buildings at Dockery," said William Lester, Delta State University professor emeritus of art and executive director of the Dockery Farms Foundation. "This Save America's Treasures grant and the matching support we have received from Bill and Carolyn Powers and others has enabled us to begin this urgently needed work."

Dockery Farms was established in 1895 by Will Dockery to cultivate cotton. By the mid 1920's, the community at Dockery had grown to encompass several thousand people. At one time Dockery had its own infirmary, post office, commissary, rail road (the "Pea Vine") and even its own currency. Dockery was home to a number of Blues pioneers, among them Henry Sloan, Charley Patton, Willie Brown, Tommy Johnson, and Roebuck "Pop" Staples. It was at Dockery that these musicians lived and learned from one another. They played in the boarding houses and on the commissary steps at Dockery. In turn they left Dockery and traveled to the North to record. Some of them later returned to Dockery. Their songs influenced the development of popular music all over the world. The extraordinary musical collaboration that happened at Dockery in the early 20^th century has made the property a beacon for music fans and scholars from all over the world. The Dockery Farms Historic Site was added to the National Register of Historic Places with National Significance in 2006 and to the Mississippi Blues Trail in 2008. The old service station was built in the 1940's, long after Will Dockery's death. Nonetheless, it will play an important role in the Foundation's preservation and public education plans for Dockery Farms. The restored and converted service station will include a classroom for school field trips and other visitor programs, a small café, and the offices for the Dockery Farms Foundation. The Service Station Restoration Project, which is being conducted by Cleveland Lumber Company, is expected to be completed in four to six months.

Photo: William Lester, executive director of the Dockery Farms Foundation, and Prentis Hugles, of Cleveland Lumber Company, display the original Dockery Service Station sign that will be restored as part of The Dockery Service Station Restoration Project.

Upcoming Mississippi Blues Trail Marker Ceremonies

2010-03-06T22:45:00.001-06:00

Mississippi Joe Callicott Thursday, March 11, 2010 @ 10:00 AM Hernando, MS

Ishmon Bracey Monday, April 5, 2010 TBD Jackson, MS

WROX Radio Station Friday, April 16, 2010 @ 12 Noon Clarksdale, MS

Turner Drug Store Saturday, May 15, 2010 TBD Belzoni, MS

Mississippi to Louisiana Delta Saturday, May 22, 2010 TBD Ferriday, LA

Biloxi Blues (Jelly Roll Morton) Thursday, May 27, 2010 11:30 AM Biloxi, MS

Meridian Musicians June 19, 2010 TBD Meridian, MS

Ike Turner August 6, 2010 TBD Clarksdale, MS

www.msbluestrail.org

Alex T. Thomas

Music Development, Program Manager

Mississippi Development Authority/Tourism

P.O. Box 849

Jackson, MS 39205-0849

Office: (601) 359-3297

Fax: (601) 359-5757

athomas@mississippi.org

Eddie Taylor Mississippi Blues Trail Marker Ceremony

2010-01-27T23:47:00.001-06:00

Leigh Portwood

Heritage Trails

Mississippi Development Authority/Division of Tourism

P.O. Box 849

Jackson, MS 39205

Phone: 601.359.3061

Fax: 601.359.5048

lportwood@mississippi.org

Grady Champion wins 26th Annual International Blues Challenge

2010-01-24T19:45:00.000-06:00

Grady Champion from Canton, MS thrilled a packed Orpheum at the IBC Band Finals Saturday night in Memphis. There were 11 bands competing in the finals. Grady’s band members are from left to right – Marquis Champion (bass-Grady’s son), Grady (vocals and harp), Xavres Good (drums), and Kaleb Armstrong (lead guitar). The band winner receives a cash prize, numerous festival bookings for the next year, and performs on the Legendary Blues Cruise. More about this story can be found: www.blues.org and www.bluescruise.com

Grady’s website: www.gradychampion.com

Thanks to Dusty Scott for the use of these photos from the finals. www.dustyblues.com

Champion joins a talented list of blues artists sent by the Indianola blues society that have done well at IBC. The Mississippi Delta Blues Society of Indianola’s first IBC was in 2005 at the 21^st Annual International Blues Challenge. In 2006 – 22^nd Annual IBC, the society’s solo/duo artist, Eden Brent from Greenville, won. In 2007 – 23^rd Annual IBC, Homemade Jamz Blues Band from Tupelo placed 2^nd in the band finals. In 2009 – 25^th Annual IBC, L.C. Ulmer and Chase Holifield from Laurel made it to the solo/duo finals.

At this year’s IBC, Rosedale’s Crossroads Blues Society placed 2^nd in the solo/duo finals competition with Dr. Alphonso Sanders & Bill “Howl-n-Madd” Perry. And, Jackson’s Central Mississippi Blues Society’s solo artist, Sherman Lee Dillon, made it to the finals.

Reception Honoring Cassandra Wilson And The 100th Marker On The Mississippi Blues Trail At Hal And Mals!!!

2010-01-01T17:32:00.000-06:00

Cassandra Wilson Blues Trail Marker Ceremony

2010-01-01T17:31:00.001-06:00

Mississippi To Alabama Blues Trail Marker Ceremony

2010-01-01T17:29:00.001-06:00

The Delta losses a musician and friend.....

2010-01-01T17:25:00.001-06:00

David Paul Burchfield

7/22/77 – 12/26/09

http://www.funeralplan.com/rayfuneralhome/obituaries

Marcus Bottom Marker Unveiling

2009-12-07T23:24:00.000-06:00

Harlem Inn and Henry Townsend

2009-12-02T21:53:00.001-06:00

Thanksgiving Blues Party featuring Nellie Travis

2009-11-23T10:36:00.001-06:00

Mickey Rogers Benefit at Club Ebony this Sunday

2009-11-19T23:36:00.001-06:00

Mickey Rogers was recently the victim of a terrible crime.

A Benefit for Bluesman, Mickey Rogers, is happening at Indianola’s Club Ebony on Sunday, November 22. It will start at 5 pm. His musician friends are invited from all over the Delta down to Jackson, MS. A sample of what’s in store-----It’s the Delta’s one and only Mississippi Slim and Jackson’s famous King Edward! It’s going to be a happy time and lots of music. Also, represented…Mississippi Blues Commission, Mississippi Blues Foundation Board, Mississippi Delta Blues Society of Indianola, Central Mississippi Blues Society, Crossroads Blues Society and more….Hope to see ya there! Contact: Betty 662.207.7498

2009 Challenge Band Judges

2009-11-03T01:00:00.000-06:00

Judges from left to right

John Magnusson, from Clarksdale, is the Studio Manager of The Clarksdale Sound Stage. He previously worked as an assistant at the Electric Lady Studios in New York City. Ronnie Eldridge is from Yazoo City. He is a Blues Festival Organizer and Event Producer. Ronnie is involved with the Mississippi Film Office and works as a set designer and blues historian in films and documentaries. Carol Vincent is from Clarksdale and has been involved in international song catalog administration for over 25 years. Gary Vincent is a record producer, musician, engineer, and song writer. His songs have been recorded by Leon Redbone, Mickey Gilley, John Anderson, and many more. Gary is currently President of Ground Zero Blues Club Music, a co-venture film company with Morgan Freeman. Gary is the owner of The Clarksdale Sound Stage, a recording studio and soundstage in Clarksdale.

Past Photos from an Indianola Blues Challenge!

2009-11-03T00:37:00.001-06:00

The JUDGES, the musicians, and the crowd have fun when the Annual Mississippi Delta Regional Blues Challenge happens at Club Ebony. Congrats to this year’s winners. The solo winner was Alan Jones from Inverness. The band winner was Grady Champion from Canton.

Delta State takes Mississippi Center for Justice on heritage tour

2009-10-29T06:05:00.000-05:00

The Mississippi Center for Justice brought their staff, members of their advisory board, and representatives of various foundations that fund their programs to the Delta last weekend. Many of the 60 participants were lawyers, and came from as far as Chicago, Washington, D.C., and New York City. They were escorted on a two-day tour by Dr. Luther Brown of the Delta State University Delta Center for Culture and Learning. The group visited Indianola, Cleveland, Merigold, Mound Bayou, Ruleville, Greenwood, and Greenville. The tour include stops at the B. B. King Museum, the Delta State campus, Po’ Monkey’s Lounge, the Taborian Hospital, Fannie Lou Hamer’s grave, Warfield Park, Greenville’s Hebrew Union Temple, and the Flood Museum, among other places. On Saturday night, the group tasted several varieties of Delta tamales at the Turnrow Book Store in Greenwood and listened to musician Duff Dorrough play the blues at Robert Johnson’s grave at midnight.

Gold Coast

2009-10-28T04:38:00.001-05:00

www.msbluestrail.org

Wilson and Pinson

2009-10-28T04:36:00.001-05:00

Leigh Portwood

Heritage Trails

6th Annual Mississippi Delta Regional Blues Challenge

2009-10-28T04:31:00.002-05:00

The Grady Champion Band from Canton, MS won on Saturday, October 24th at Club Ebony in Indianola. Grady's band members are from left to right - Caleb Armstrong, Grady, Xavres Good, and Marquis Champion. They will represent MDBSI, Inc. at the IBC in Memphis, TN.

6th Annual Mississippi Delta Regional Blues Challenge

2009-10-28T04:22:00.003-05:00

Alan Jones - Inverness, MS
Solo Winner
Alan will represent MDBSI, Inc. at the 26th Annual International Blues Challenge in January 2010. More info on the IBC can be found at www.blues.org/ibc.

Elder Roma Wilson and Rev.Leon Pinson Marker Unveiling

2009-10-21T05:52:00.001-05:00

Cat Head Mini Blues Festival Returns To Clarksdale This Sunday

2009-10-06T10:57:00.000-05:00

Clarksdale, Mississippi -- As thousands of international blues fans descend on nearby Helena this week for the Arkansas Blues & Heritage Festival, Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art in Clarksdale prepares for its biggest Sunday of the year. The music at Cat Head spans three days, starting Friday at noon, but the premiere event is clearly 2009's last of three Cat Head Mini Blues Fests this Sunday from 9am till. "We started doing these mini fests seven years ago and now do them three times a year," according to Stolle. "They are always free and held 'rain or shine' under tents out front of the store." Barbecue will be for sale on the sidewalk nearby.

"This Sunday's mini fest will showcase the 'new generation' of bluesman with performers like Big A, who's in his twenties, as well as the 'older generation' with guys like Big George Brock, who's 77 years old," said Stolle. "Lucious Spiller is also one to watch. He's middle-aged and coming in from across the river in Arkansas to perform." Other Cat Head events this week include live music on Friday by LA LA (12 noon) and KM Williams & Washboard Jackson (2pm) as well as Saturday by Sean "Bad" Apple (12 noon). All of the live blues shows are free at Cat Head and held out front -- regardless of the weather.

After the Cat Head festival on Sunday, Hopson Commissary will host the Pinetop Perkins Homecoming, and Red's Lounge will host an evening blues jam. Ground Zero Blues Club and Tricia's also have Sunday events.

CONTACT:

Roger Stolle

Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art

252 Delta Avenue

Clarksdale, MS 38614

roger@cathead.biz

662-624-5992, 662-902-6796

Ace Records - Jackson, MS

2009-10-02T06:55:00.001-05:00

Leigh Portwood

Heritage Trails

Mississippi Development Authority/Division of Tourism

P.O. Box 849

Jackson, MS 39205

Phone: 601.359.3061

Fax: 601.359.5048

lportwood@mississippi.org

Sam Chatmon MBT Marker Unveiling

2009-09-28T09:35:00.000-05:00

Charles Evers & The Marker Unveiling

2009-09-15T15:22:00.000-05:00

Leigh Portwood

Heritage Trails

Mississippi Development Authority/Division of Tourism

P.O. Box 849

Jackson, MS 39205

Phone: 601.359.3061

Fax: 601.359.5048

lportwood@mississippi.org