Remembering West Memphis’s South Eighth Street
While Memphis’s Beale Street is far better known, and has been restored as a tourist attraction, South Eighth Street across the river in West Memphis, …
music
Preserving The Black Fife and Drum Culture in Coldwater
For 73 years, people in North Mississippi have been going to the Goat Picnic for goat sandwiches, music, dancing, and one of the rarest and …
A Day for Isaac Hayes in Covington’s Frazier Park
Despite being forever associated with Memphis and Stax Records, Isaac Hayes was born near Rialto, Tennessee, just north of Covington, and is arguably Tipton County’s …
Great Memphis Soul and Blues on a Beale Street Sunday Evening
Although I don’t usually venture out on Sunday nights due to the Monday start of the work week, I was invited down to B. B. …
An Old-Fashioned Political Rally in Slayden, Mississippi
Political rallies used to be a ubiquitous feature of late summer in Southern counties, and the old tradition continues in rural counties like Marshall County, …
Celebrating Freedom in Benton County on the Fourth of July
Benton County, Mississippi has always been a rough place. Formed out of part of Marshall and Tippah counties, it sits in the middle of the …
Celebrating Sam Mosley’s Legacy in New Albany and Charlie Musselwhite at the Hill Country Picnic
Sam Mosley is arguably the best-known musical performer to come out of New Albany, Mississippi, so this year, the city of New Albany organized a …
A Day of Gospel Music in West Tennessee at Mason’s Zodiac Park
Black baseball fields were tremendously important in rural Black communities into the early 1970s. Every community had baseball teams and softball teams, but the ballfields …
A Big Mother’s Day Weekend Southern Soul Extravaganza in Holly Springs
The Mothers’ Day Weekend is a traditional time for a lot of blues and Southern Soul festivals in the Holly Springs, Mississippi area, and this …
Celebrating the Blues Culture of Brownsville and the Memory of Tina Turner
The death of soul and pop icon Tina Turner, who was a Haywood County, Tennessee native, hung heavy over this year’s Exit 56 Blues Festival …