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2012 News and Events

XVII Luzern Blues Festival ‐ Lucerna

(December 26, 2012)

Il Popolo del Blues online - Luca Lupoli
The climax of the festival was dangerously approaching when Charlie Musselwhite came on stage before a fully packed hall: he played a mix of old and more recent songs, like "Blues overtook me" - you could hear many fans trying to steal his second line singing "since I was a little child" - and his authority seemed overwhelming if compared to other artists. Calling him a legend, a virtuoso or a master, will ... Read Article

DBM Artist Spotlight - Robert Plant

(December 20, 2012)

An English rock god with the soul of a bluesman, Robert's voice has helped define rock music in a career that spans 40 years and counting, but his early inspiration was drawn from the music of Delta blues musicians like... Read More

DBM Artist Spotlight - Charlie Musselwhite

(December 5, 2012)

Born into a musical family in Kosciusko, Mississippi, Charlie took himself to the South Side of Chicago in his early years, where he lived in the basement of Jazz Record Mart with fellow Mississippi musician... Read More

DBM Director Shelley Ritter Honored by The Blues Foundation

(November 16, 2012)

The DBM family and friends are proud to announce that The Blues Foundation has chosen Museum Director Shelley Ritter as the recipient of the 2013 KBA award for her work in the Historical preservation and documentation of the Blues. We are also proud of fellow ... Read More

DBM Artist Spotlight - Son House

(October 19, 2012)

The Delta Blues Museum honors - on the 24th anniversary of his death - the legendary Son House, one of the most influential figures in American music in... Read More

Delta Blues Museum Wins "Delta Best" Award

(October 16, 2012)

We are pleased to announce that the Mississippi Delta Strategic Compact (MDSC) awarded the Delta Blues Museum with this year's "Delta Best" award for outstanding contributions to Tourism in the Delta... Read More

DBM Artist Spotlight - Bonnie Raitt

(October 3, 2012)

Delta Blues Museum supporter Bonnie Raitt found her musical identity in the Blues the minute she discovered the album Blues at Newport in 1963 at the age of... Read More

Sunflower Festival Events at the Delta Blues Museum

(August 2, 2012)

The Delta Blues Museum will offer a full calendar of free events for this year's 25th Annual Sunflower Blues & Gospel Festival. Read More

Sunflower Fest Features Extraordinary Bonus Events

(July 29, 2012)

Press Release - Sunflower River Blues Festival
Matching the hype of Robert Plant, Charlie Musselwhite, and Bobby Rush headlining the 25th Sunflower River Blues Festival celebration Aug. 10-12, are two days of extraordinary bonus events, are two days of extraordinary bonus events, says festival... Press Release

Baxter Student Participates in Guitar Masters Workshop

(July 18, 2012)

Newton Daily News
The students attended a reception at the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale, where Brady met blues musician Watermelon Slim. The grand finale of the workshop... Read Article

Harmonica Master Charlie Musselwhite to Perform in Clarksdale!

(July 16, 2012)

Press Release - Alligator.com
Charlie Musselwhite, touring in support of his Grammy-nominated Alligator Records CD, The Well, will perform live at the Sunflower River Blues & Gospel Festival in Clarksdale on Saturday, August 11, 2012. The Well is... Press Release

Blues Benefit

(July 5, 2012)

"King's Grocery" (aka Big T's Blues Club) - July 5, 2012 at 8:00 p.m. BLUES BENEFIT for Sherika Collins, stepdaughter of Terry "Big T" Williams. Tragically, Sherkia was killed in an automobile accident. Big T & Miss Bobby need to raise money by Saturday morning for Sherika's funeral expenses. Beginning at 8 p.m. there will be blues performances by recording artists Big T, Barry Bays and others. "King's" is a former grocery store that has recently opened as a juke joint. It is located at 401 1/2 Madison Ave., on the other side of the Sunflower River near State St. (Hwy 161). Donations can also be mailed to 401 1/2 Madison Ave., Clarksdale, MS 38614.

Help us celebrate 25 years of the Sunflower Blues Festival!

(June 28, 2012)

By adding your pictures and comments to our new Sunflower Chronology page you can help us celebrate 25 years of great music and fun. Learn More

The Flaming Lips' O Music Awards Route Has a Rich Musical History

(June 26, 2012)

MTVHive
In Clarksdale, Miss., the Flaming Lips will be playing at Ground Zero Blues Club, an intentionally rundown-looking juke joint adjacent to the Delta Blues Museum. (Super Chikan, a flag-waving blues revivalist... Read More

T-Model Ford Birthday Party & Fundraiser

(June 24, 2012)

Please join us for the 92nd birthday party and fundraiser for the "Ladies Man" T-Model Ford at Red's Lounge. Proceeds will go towards assisting with medical and household bills from his recent stroke. Download Flyer

DEEPER ROOTS Campaign

(June 13, 2012)

The Delta Blues Museum needs your help to raise $1.2 million designated for the expansion of current exhibits and creation of new installations at the museum. Read More

Crossroads Blues Society Dinner Event

(April 26, 2012)

Come join us at the Crossroads Blues Society Annual Fundraising Dinner being held at the Blue Levee Restaurant May 11, 2012... Read More

IBLA Grand Prize Winners Concert

(April 26, 2012)

The IBLA Grand Prize Winners will be performing at the Lakeside High School Auditorium on May 7, 2012 with a reception following... Read More

Friday at the Stage

(April 19, 2012)

Bring your blankets and lawn chairs and join your friends down at the stage for good family fun during May & June. Shows begin at 7:00pm. Download Flyer

George Wright III - RIP - 1949-2012

(April 19, 2012)

George Wright, co-owner/manager and 5-star chef at Uncle Henry's Place & Inn died Monday... Read More

Ella Dean Wright - RIP - 1931-2012

(April 18, 2012)

Ella Dean Wright, 81, widow of Clarksdale's acclaimed radio broadcaster Early Wright, died early Saturday, April 14, 2012... Read More

Delta Blues Museum Announces Juke Joint Festival Events, Launches "Deeper Roots" Campaign

(April 13, 2012)

Press Release - Delta Blues Museum
In addition to planned Juke Joint Festival events, the museum will officially launch its Deeper Roots campaign for new and expanded exhibits. Press Release

Heart and Soul: Finding Rock 'n' Roll's Roots on a Trip Through the South

(April 8, 2012)

Cleveland.com
U.S. 61 is more than the stuff of musical myth. The artery connects Memphis and New Orleans and runs through the Mississippi Delta country. No trip through the past would be complete without a ride down Highway 61 or a stop in Clarksdale, Miss... Read Article

Juke Joint Festival Events at the Delta Blues Museum

(April 6, 2012)

Join us on Friday, April 13, 2012 at 2:00pm in the Arts & Education room at the museum for "Conversations with Big George Brock & Louis 'Gearshifter' Youngblood". Then stop back by on Saturday at noon for live performances on the Delta Blues Museum Stage... Read More

Delta Blues Museum Partners with WA Higgins Academy

(April 2, 2012)

Join us for perfomances by the talented students of WA Higgins Academy of Arts & International Studies in April and May... Read More

Walker Library Sings the Blues in Memory of John Hurt

(March 27, 2012)

dnj.com
Murfreesboroâ€”MTSU's James E. Walker Library will host a free public concert in tribute to Mississippi John Hurt at 6 p.m. Friday, March 30, in the library's first-floor atrium. The Fedora Brothers, also known as...

Robert Plant and Patty Griffin in Clarksdale Over Weekend

(March 25, 2012)

Press Release - Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival
Traveling to Clarksdale over the weekend following recording sessions in Nashville, superstar Robert Plant introduces Grammy Award-winning vocalist Patty Griffin around town on her first trip to the Mississippi Delta. Headlining the free... Read More

Blessissippi Crossroads Concert

(March 22, 2012)

Press Release
This April, dozens of Delta Blues greats from Mississippi and beyond will converge in Clarksdale, Mississippi to play their hearts out to blues fans around the world. The event, dubbed America's Delta Blues: The Blessissippi Crossroads Concert, is an effort by philanthropic media organization explore.org and the Ground Zero Blues... Read More

Partnership Plans Back-to-Back Fall Blues Festivals

(March 7, 2012)

ClarionLedger.com
The number of blues events in the Mid South region has increased dramatically in the last decade, but there's been relatively little action taken to link them together. "We'll work with the BB King Museum, the Delta Blues Museum and the Delta Cultural Center in Helena to create activities between the festivals... Read More

Robert Plant to Perform at Sunflower Blues Fest

(March 6, 2012)

SunHerald.com
Plant, a blues historian, who recorded "Walking Into Clarksdale" with Jimmy Page in 1999, has visited Clarksdale numerous times, and personally funded Mississippi Heritage Blues Trail Marker unveiled on Thanksgiving Eve 2009 honoring Tutwiler as the Birthplace of Blues. He also presented... Read More

Robert Plant to Headline 25th Sunflower Festival

(March 3, 2012)

Press Release - Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival
When the Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2012 with a tribute to its hometown music legends, multiple celebrities and one of the world's most famous musicians - Robert Plant - will be headlining the celebration. Read More

Louisiana Red - RIP, March 23, 1932 - February 25, 2012

Iverson Minter AKA "Lousiana Red" passed away Saturday, February 25, 2012 in a hospital in Germany at the age of 79. Read More

Sunflower Fest to Announce Superstars March 2, 2012

(February 23, 2012)

Public invited to attend announcement news at Ground Zero Blues Club. Multiple headliners including an internationally-renowned superstar booked to perform at the Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival's 25th anniversary this summer will be announced... Read More

Furry Lewis Blues Marker

(February 21, 2012)

The 150th Blues Marker will feature Furry Lewis and is set to be unveiled in Greenwood MS at 10:00am on February 21, 2012 Read More

Guitar Mikey Joins the Earwig Music Family

(February 14, 2012)

Press Release
Clarksdale resident musician, Guitar Mikey, has signed with Earwig Music of Chicago to release a new studio album, Out of the Box, with a street date of April 17, 2012. The music was recorded in... Press Release

Red Paden Honored with Top Blues Award

(February 7, 2012)

Red Paden, owner of Red's Blues Club in Clarksdale, is honored with the Blues Foundation's prestigious 'Keeping the Blues Alive' (KBA) award in Memphis Saturday during the annual... Read More

Pinetop Perkins Foundation Announces Scholarships

(January 27, 2012)

Press Release - Pinetop Perkins Foundation
The Pinetop Perkins Foundation is pleased to announce the availability of nine scholarships for the 2012 Master Class Youth Workshops in Guitar, Piano and Harmonica. Held in Clarksdale Mississippi June 13-15th, 2012 and open to the young and the young at heart, scholarships are available to youth ages 12 to 21 nationwide. Press Release

Etta James - RIP, January 25, 1938 - January 20, 2012

(January 20, 2012)

New York Times
Etta James, whose powerful, versatile and emotionally direct voice could enliven the raunchiest blues as well as the subtlest love songs, most indelibly in her signature hit, "At Last," died on Friday morning in Riverside, Calif. She was 73. Read Article

Monroe Jones, Jr - RIP

(January 17, 2012)

Monroe Jones, Jr., was born in Skene in 1939 and raised in the Delta. He became known as "Little Monroe," an expert B.B. King stylist, after moving to Chicago, and once bested Robert "Bilbo" Walker so badly in... Read More

Jazz Great Mose Allison to Give Free Performance at Delta State

(January 9, 2012)

Press Release, Delta State University
Michael Gann, Director
Composer, poet, pianist and vocalist Mose Allison will appear in concert on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. in Jobe Hall on the Delta State campus. The concert, titled "DSU Welcomes Mose Allison Home," is free and open to the public. Press Release

Mississippi Grammy Artist Dorothy Moore Scheduled for DMI All Access Series

(January 9, 2012)

Press Release, Delta State University
Michael Gann, Director
The Delta Music Institute, a music industry studies program at Delta State University, will host Grammy nominated singer Dorothy Moore Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. in Jobe Hall on the campus of Delta State University for an interactive discussion as part of the DMI All Access series. Read More

Spectacular Ailey II Dancers Coming February 2, 2012

(January 6, 2012)

Press Release, Coahoma Community College
Panny Mayfield, Director
Busy planning for the Thursday, February 2, 2012 performance of the internationally-acclaimed Ailey II dancers in Clarksdale's Civic Auditorium are members of the Coahoma Community College Lyceum Committee and... Read More

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