Well...I'm 40 this year and I've been listening to the Blues since I was 16. Like many of my generation, I was introduced to the Delta blues by the Movie "Crossroads". That movie changed my life and started a love affair with the music from the Delta that is still hot with me today. The same night I saw that movie, I came home and cut two inches off of a copper pipe sitting in my Dad's shop. I blew the dust off my Sears acoustic guitar (a birthday present, age 14) and started to really be inspired about playing. The Delta Blues has nursed me through some tough times over the years and has helped me celebrate the good times, too. I have always wanted to see where my heroes, Big Bill Broonzy, Robert Johnson, Elmore James, Muddy Waters and Son House lived. I'm hoping this pilgrimage will allow me to pay my respects, get me closer to those great men and infuse me with blues. Look out...the guitar's packed, my beautiful wife is on board and the plan's approved by accounting! We're headed down that highway - destination Delta.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Beale St. at Night is a sight to see. It is kind of like Bourbon St.'s little sister. We walked up and down, watching people, listening to music, ducking drunks. There's a whole lot of night life happening in those two or three blocks.
Here's a photo of Dawn by the Blues Cafe, on Beale. Shortly after this photo, we packed it in. It was a long day of driving in torrential rains and after a belly full of Barbeque, we were beat!
Tomorrow we're off to Graceland, Helena and Clarksdale. Thankfully, there will be less driving and more sight-seeing. Oh yeah, I managed to find a rare Mississippi Fred McDowell CD ! sweeet!!

1 comment: