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
campadre of John Lee
Hooker and Chicago
blues scene veteran,
are on display.
Jimmie
Burns This
conemporary 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
on e 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.
