Blue Mother Tupelo and Sharde Thomas and the Boys perform at the Otha Turner Picnic at Gravel Springs, Mississippi, August 27, 2011
blues
Sharde Thomas and Blue Mother Tupelo (@bluma2plo) at the Othar Turner Picnic, Gravel Springs, 2011
Sharde Thomas and Blue Mother Tupelo performing at the Otha Turner Picnic, Gravel Springs, Mississippi, August 27, 2011
The Rising Star Fife and Drum Band with Afrissippi’s Gulel Kumba at the Otha Turner Picnic
The Rising Star Fife and Drum Band and Gulel Kumba of Afrissippi at the Otha Turner Picnic, Gravel Springs, Mississippi, August 27, 2011
Rising Star Fife and Drum Band with @LutherDickinson at the Otha Turner Picnic 2011
The Rising Star Fife and Drum Band with Luther Dickinson and other friends at the Otha Turner Picnic, Gravel Springs, Mississippi, August 27, 2011
Luther Dickinson and Sharde Thomas with the Rising Star Fife and Drum Band, Gravel Springs, 2011
Luther Dickinson and Sharde Thomas are joined by the members of the Rising Star Fife and Drum Band at the Otha Turner Picnic, Gravel Springs, Mississippi, August 27, 2011.
Othar Turner Fife and Drum Picnic at Gravel Springs, Senatobia, 2011
Otha Turner’s granddaughter, Sharde Thomas has been the driving force in keeping the legacy of the Rising Star Fife and Drum Band going, and this year’s picnic attracted a number of well-known performers, including Luther Dickinson of the North Mississippi All-Stars.
Otha Turner’s Annual Family Picnic at Gravel Springs
The family of Otha Turner has continued his tradition of having a picnic at his old homestead in Gravel Springs between Senatobia and Como. The event features fife and drum music, Hill Country blues, good fun and barbecued goat (if you dare!).Â
Ecko Records has been a bedrock label of Memphis blues and southern soul for years, but in the wake of the Pop Tunes/Cat’s Music collapse, Ecko decided to become a retail store too. Located on Elvis Presley (Bellevue) just south of Kerr, the Ecko Records shop sells blues, soul, rap and gospel, as well as used CDs, vinyl albums and 45 RPM singles. They’re open until 7 PM every day except Sunday (they close at 5 PM on Sundays), and are worth a visit.Â
Ecko Records has been a bedrock label of Memphis blues and southern soul for years, but in the wake of the Pop Tunes/Cat’s Music collapse, Ecko decided to become a retail store too. Located on Elvis Presley (Bellevue) just south of Kerr, the Ecko Records shop sells blues, soul, rap and gospel, as well as used CDs, vinyl albums and 45 RPM singles. They’re open until 7 PM every day except Sunday (they close at 5 PM on Sundays), and are worth a visit.Â
The Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival is probably the second-biggest tourist attraction in Clarksdale, surpassed only by the April Juke Joint Festival. Both are characterized by great music, great food and good times.Â