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We Juke Up In Here nominated for Blues Music Award by Jonny Meister

December 13, 2012
Red's Lounge in scene from We Juke Up In Here

The film “We Juke Up in Here: Mississippi’s Juke Joint Culture At The Crossroads” has been nominated for a Blues Music Award (BMA) in the category of Blues DVD. This film, which looks at rhe current state of juke joints […]

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Meet Jackson Mississippi’s Jarekus Singleton by Jonny Meister

December 9, 2012
Jarekus Singleton CD Heartfelt

Jarekus Singleton is a young bluesman from Jackson MS. He’s certainly a hometown favorite, but his name is starting to be known in other places. His influences are not strictly “Mississippi” artists, but he is an invigorating influence to the […]

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Cedric Burnside interviewed by Jonny Meister

November 19, 2012
Cedric Burnside Project

Jonny Meister interviews Cedric Burnside, August 19, 2012, at the Philadelphia Fok Festival. Note: Cedric Burnside’s brother Cody Burnside, mentioned in this conversation, died at age 29 in October two months after this interview was recorded. Jonny Meister: Cedric, it’s […]

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The Mississippi Blues Project Music Stream at NPR – by Jonny Meister

October 1, 2012
Mississippi Blues Project Music Stream from NPR

Check out The Mississippi Blues Project Music Mix online stream, from NPR Music! I picked out some great tracks from artists from Mississippi as well as some interview segments with the artists, and clips from the 2012 film “We Juke […]

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Thoughts On B. B. King – by Jonny Meister

September 17, 2012
Thoughts On B. B. King – by Jonny Meister

Thoughts On B. B. King by Jonny Meister • • B. B. King turned 87 years old this past September 16th • • What’s in a name? The name “King” has always had some cachet, given its meaning. It’s a […]

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Interview with Jimmy “Duck” Holmes by Jonny Meister

September 1, 2012
Jonny Meister interviews Jimmy

• Jimmy “Duck” Holmes will perform at The World Cafe Live in Philadelphia on October 22nd with Terry “Harmonica” Bean. I talked with him in July 2011 at The Briggs Farm Blues Festival. • Jonny Meister: So, Jimmy, you’re from […]

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Bala Cynwyd’s Greatest Bluesman – by Jonny Meister

August 15, 2012
Bala Cynwyd’s Greatest Bluesman – by Jonny Meister

I call him “Bala Cynwyd’s Greatest Bluesman.” He has been in the western Philadelphia suburb since 1969, though it would be inaccurate to say he lives there. Skip James is buried in Merion Memorial Park, down the street from the […]

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Son House “Death Letter Blues” by Jonny Meister

August 9, 2012
Son House “Death Letter Blues” by Jonny Meister

Son House was one of the most deeply affecting blues performers of all time. He had done some preaching in Mississippi, and was apparently quite good at it, though in his own life, the booze and the women kept him […]

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Mississippi Blues: Select Discography by Jonny Meister

August 7, 2012
Mississippi Blues: Select Discography by Jonny Meister

Pre-War and Post-War Blues: Blues is often viewed in two time categories, pre-war and post-war. While this distinction, like any other, has its limits in organizing blues music, it does generally make some sense. Some artists did record both before […]

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Cedric Burnside Burning Hill Country Guitar Instrumental

August 2, 2012
Photo by Colin McAuliffe, 2008

Cedric Burnside reveals the influence of his grandfather R. L. Burnside and other guitarists is this stunning instrumental, and also reflects how his being a drummer affects his approach to playing the guitar!

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B.B. King: Born in Mississippi

July 26, 2012
B.B. King: Born in Mississippi

One of the masters of the blues – B.B. King – was born on September 16th, 1925, on a plantation in Itta Bena, Mississippi, near Indianola. He was influenced by his Mississippi roots and Texas musicians like T-Bone Walker. Watch some videos of King’s live performances throughout the years.

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The North Mississippi All Stars: keeping the Delta blues alive

July 25, 2012
Photo by Jason Thrasher

The North Mississippi All-Stars have been keeping the Delta Blues alive since the band’s 2000 debut Shake Hands With Shorty. Featuring brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson and Chris Chew, the trio’s music has deep roots in the Mississippi hill country blues, influenced by R.L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough.

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