RIP Eddie Cusic

Eddie Cusic was born in the Wilmont community, just south of Leland. He was inspired to play the blues after hearing it played at family get togethers. He learned it by first playing a one-stringed diddley bow then eventually learning guitar. In the early 1950's, he formed the Rhythm Aces, a three-piece band that included Little Milton Campbell.

Following his service in the US Army, Cusic settled in Stoneville and played alongside James "Son" Thomas at regular engagements. They recorded "Once I Had a Car", which appeared on Mississippi Delta & South Tennessee Blues (1977). He retired from full-time work in 1989, and returned to performing with an acoustic guitar. He has appeared at the Mississippi Delta Blues and Heritage Festival in Greenville, the Hightway 61 Blues Festival in Leland, the Sunflower River Blues & Gospel Festival in Clarksdale, the Smithsonian Festival of American Folklife in DC and at the Chicago Blues Festival.

The following is from the Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival Publicist Panny Mayfield

LELAND - Revered bluesman and acoustic guitarist Eddie Cusic of Leland, a favorite for many years on the acoustic stage of the Sunflower River Blues Festival in Clarksdale died Tuesday, August 11 following a long battle with cancer. He was 89. Services have been set tentatively at 11:00 am Saturday, August 22, 2015 at the Leland High School Auditorium, according to Billy Johnson, a longtime Leland friend. Cusic was booked to play at the 28th annual Sunflower Festival in Clarksdale Saturday, August 08, 2015 but he was unable to travel and perform. Anthony "Big A" Sherrod sat in for him on the acoustic stage. "Eddie always loved playing the Clarksdale festival," Johnson said. "Clarksdale was about as far as he would travel to play."