On Saturday, March 10, 2012, there was a majorette jamboree at Elliston Baptist Academy in Southeast Memphis. Although there aren’t as many drumlines as there used to be, jamborees are still a big part of Memphis culture. By some accounts, the concept of majorette and drummer jamborees began in Memphis in the 1960’s.
majorette jamboree
The rapper No Soda put in some promo work last Saturday at the Sophisticated Divas jamboree in South Memphis
Ricky “Soul Man” Burton at Ground Zero Blues Club, Clarksdale
After the earlier majorette jamboree in Memphis, I drove down to Tunica for the Rosa Fort Jamboree, but that one proved to be quite a disappointment. If drumlines are becoming rarer at Memphis jamborees, they are non-existent at Mississippi ones. After an hour and a half or so, I decided to leave and drive down to Clarksdale to the legendary Ground Zero Blues Club. They were having a Pre-Valentine’s Day Bash with Ricky “Soul Man” Burton and the Basic Soul Band, so there was a fairly substantial cover charge, and, once inside, I found the place packed to the rafters. The TV’s were flashing the breaking news about Whitney Houston’s death as I looked in vain for a table. Finally, I was directed to a table where a French family was sitting, and I was able to sit down and order food. The band and vocalists were quite good, and the audience included a lot of radio personalities from Helena’s Delta Force III and Clarksdale’s WROX.
At The Blazing Dolls Jamboree in South Memphis
At the Blazing Dolls jamboree at New Life M.B. Church in South Memphis, last Saturday, February 4, 2012
The Blazing Dolls Majorette Jamboree at New Life MB Church in South Memphis
The Blazing Dolls had their majorette jamboree last Saturday afternoon, February 4, 2012 at New Life M.B. Church in South Memphis. Once again, most of the girls worked out to CD’s, but Crump Elementary had a drumline with their majorettes.