Delta Blues Museum Nominated for Best Music Museum
January, 2026
Welcome to the land where blues began
Delta Blues Press Release
August 28, 2026
Famed blues label is the focus of multimedia project funded by MDNHA
Clarksdale, Mississippi
Museum unveils new "Rooster Blues Records" traveling exhibit and educational programming
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CLARKSDALE, MISSISSIPPI | AUGUST 28, 2026 - Just in time for Labor Day weekend and Red's Old Timers Blues Festival in Clarksdale, Delta Blues Museum is unveiling a new traveling exhibit, "Crowin' About the Blues: The Return of Rooster Blues Records," along with a new accompanying interactive web feature, panel discussion and educator workshop. The multi-faceted project is funded by an FY26 grant received from the Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area (MDNHA) and is also sponsored by the Mississippi Blues Foundation.
"Crowin' About the Blues: The Return of Rooster Blues Records" explores the impact the famed record label had on the blues scene in Chicago as well as Clarksdale, Mississippi. The Rooster label was co-founded in Chicago by Jim O'Neal and Amy van Singel--founders of Living Blues Magazine--along with Mick and Cilla Huggins before being relocated to Clarksdale in 1988. The new exhibit tells the story of the label and the musicians it recorded. The project also features an interactive Explore and Learn educational program as well as a teacher lesson plan and free virtual workshop for educators on September 30th at the Museum. Led by veteran educator and University of Mississippi Training Specialist Jennifer Ringo, the interactive workshop is designed to support teachers in integrating blues music, culture and history into the classroom.
- An opening reception for the "Crowin' About the Blues: The Return of Rooster Blues Records" exhibit will be held on Thursday, September 3rd from 5:30 - 7:30 PM in the Museum gallery with live music from John Mohead. The reception is free and open to the public.
- On Friday, September 4th, the Museum will host a free panel discussion in the Museum Classroom from 2 - 3 PM, featuring Rooster Blues Records co-founder Jim O'Neal along with musicians John Mohead and James "Super Chikan" Johnson. The panel will share insights into Clarksdale's rich musical heritage, the creation of the record label, and its impact on blues music worldwide.
- The virtual educators' workshop will be held on Wednesday, September 30th from 4 - 5 PM Central and will highlight the new educational materials available for free through the Museum website. This event is ideal for ELA, social studies, and music teachers in grades 4-8, but all subjects and grade levels are welcome. Online registration will be announced soon via the Museum website.
Expanding educational programming is a priority for Museum Director Shelley Ritter, who hopes the exhibit and interactive feature will be of interest to other interpretive centers and to educators. "Support from MDNHA allows us to preserve unique, important aspects of Clarksdale's blues history and share it with the world in person, online, and in the classroom," Ritter offers. "The Museum's educational aim is to provide blues fans and those curious about blues history and heritage with a myriad of ways to learn more about this important art form and Clarksdale's role in it."
Additionally, all of Delta Blues Museum's online programming is free to the public--user donations are suggested and appreciated. Online access is available at
About the Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area
MDNHA is a 501c3 nonprofit organization managed by The Delta Center for Culture and Learning at Delta State University and partnered with the National Park Service (NPS) to stimulate cultural and economic development in the Mississippi Delta region.
About the Mississippi Blues Foundation
The Mississippi Blues Foundation is a support organization made up of a diverse group of business and community leaders. The role of this group is to spearhead efforts to identify and secure sources of financial and programmatic support for the work of the Mississippi Blues Commission.
About Delta Blues Museum
Established in 1979 by the Carnegie Public Library Board of Trustees and re-organized as a stand-alone museum in 1999, the Delta Blues Museum is Mississippi's first music museum. A 2013 recipient of the IMLS National Medal for Museum and Library Services--the nation's highest honor for museum and library service to the community--and a 2014 recipient of the National Arts & Humanities' Youth Program Award, the Delta Blues Museum is dedicated to creating a welcoming place where visitors find meaning, value and perspective by exploring the history and heritage of the unique American musical art form, the Blues. The Museum is also recognized as a Great River Road Interpretive Center. For more information on events or programs, please call (662) 627-6820, or visit the Museum web site at www.deltabluesmuseum.org.
Members of the press may register in the PRESS ROOM on the Museum's website to access further information, downloadable images and related materials.
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This newsletter is supported in part by funding from the Mississippi Arts Commission, a state agency, and, in part, from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
This site is made possible through support from the Mississippi Arts Commission, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Rock River Foundation.
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