Muddy
Waters Exhibit This display features
the core of the former
Morganfield home, once
located on Stovall Farms, just outside
Clarksdale. The original
home had several additional
rooms but the dwelling
had fallen into disrepair until this central part
was saved by the House
of Blues foundation
and donated to the
museum in 2001.
Inside, a life-size (and eerily lifelike) statue of Waters,
dressed in his trademark sharp suit and holding a ‘50s
vintage electric guitar, sits, exuding its own brand of “mojo”.
Plaques with information about Water’s life and music are
fixed to the cabin’s walls; excerpts from the A&E biography
of Waters play on a monitor inside. A “Muddywood” guitar,
made from salvaged wood from the cabin, courtesy of Billy Gibbons
of ZZ Top.
John
Lee Hooker Guitars Another Clarksdale native and blues
legend, the “Boogie Man” created his singular sound
on these guitars.
B.B.
King Guitar The current “King of the Blues” has
had many “Lucilles”, his name for his trademark
guitar – this is one of them.
Big
Joe Williams Guitar A classic
example of the traveling country bluesman, Williams played
this customized, nine-string
version of the instrument.
Big
Mama Thornton A display case
is devoted to the life and career of the pioneering blues
singer, the vocalist on
the original versions of “Hound Dog” and “Ball
and Chain”.
Charlie Musselwhite The piano, shoes,
harmonica (signed) and other memorabilia of the harp
master, longtime compadre of John Lee Hooker and Chicago
blues scene veteran, are on display.
Jimmy Burns This contemporary Delta
musician, one of the many who settled in Chicago, is
represented by one of his earliest guitars.
Son
Thomas His much-used electric guitar and several ghoulish
folk art sculptures (“Woman in Coffin”, a skull)
display this artist’s dual interests.
Stella
Guitars Early Stella guitars (made in New Jersey
by the Oscar Schmidt Company) were favored by classic Delta
blues musicians like Charley Patton, Willie Brown, Skip James
and a host of others.
Three Forks Sign The original sign
from one of the reputed stores/juke joints where Robert
Johnson was allegedly poisoned at his last gig.
Clack
Grocery Sign This sign is from the store and train
stop on old Highway 61 in Tunica County where Alan Lomax recorded
Son House for the Library of Congress in 1941.
