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Mississippi Blues: An Overview by Jonny Meister

July 12, 2012
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Mississippi. The mere name of the Magnolia State can still evoke vivid and often frightening memories. The brutality of slavery in Mississippi was followed by the hopelessly unfair system of sharecropping, in which many black farmers were perpetually in debt […]

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Artist Profile: Anthony “Big A” Sherrod

July 12, 2012
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Anthony “Big A” Sherrod is a young Mississippi bluesman, schooled by a noted blues teacher in the area, “Mr. Johnnie” Billington, who taught not only the music but the value of hard work and knowledge of the culture and history […]

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Artist Profile: Big George Brock

July 12, 2012
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Big George Brock is a native of Grenada MS, who grew up near Clarksdale, doing the hard field work that was the only employment opportunity for many residents of this agricultural area. In the 2006 film “Hard Times” he visits […]

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Artist Profile: Cedric Burnside

July 12, 2012
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Music and family came together for Cedric Burnside, a grandson of the famed hill country blues artist R. L. Burnside. Cedric became known for his high-spirited drumming in his grandfather’s band, which can be heard on albums such as “Burnside […]

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Artist Profile: Homemade Jamz Blues Band

July 12, 2012
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The Homemade Jamz Blues Band is a family band from Tupelo MS, a town that will always be associated with Elvis Presley, but also a place where blues artists such as the late Willie Pooch lived and played with considerably […]

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Artist Profile: Jimmy “Duck” Holmes

July 12, 2012
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Jimmy “Duck” Holmes is a native of Bentonia MS, a place noted in blues history as the hometown of Skip James, who recorded in 1931 for the famed Paramount label and enjoyed success during the folk-blues revival of the 1960s. […]

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Artist Profile: Robert “Wolfman” Belfour

July 12, 2012

Robert “Wolfman” Belfour has played the blues all of his life. His first teacher was his father Grant Belfour of Red Banks, MS, who died when Belfour was in his early teens. His father’s death left him with large responsibilities […]

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Artist Profile: James “Super Chikan” Johnson

July 12, 2012

James “Super Chikan” Johnson knows the correct spelling of “chicken, ” but perhaps his spelling is the one that the chickens themselves, with whom Johnson claims to communicate, prefer. Super Chikan has raised chickens and worked as a truck driver. […]

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Artist Profile: Terry “Harmonica” Bean

July 12, 2012

Not surprisingly given his nickname, Terry “Harmonica” Bean plays harmonica, but he also plays guitar. His deft work on harmonica and guitar together makes him an exciting solo artist, though he also fronts a full band at times. Either way, […]

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