It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 9:55 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 31 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next
Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next
Author Message
Post subject: Goin' Down to the Crossroads...
Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 9:56 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Tue Sep 11, 2012 2:14 pm
Posts: 2561
Quite literally... the Legendary 'Crossroads' of Blues Mythology !

This Fall, Mrs. LMN and I are attending the 30th annual King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena, Arkansas !

Image

Image

In addition to some 60+ lesser known bands, this year's headliners will be: Bobby Rush, Paul Thorn (a Helena native), Samantha Fish and Taj Mahal. All playing on one of 8 stages located throughout the town along the banks of the Mississippi.

The festival is named King Biscuit in honor of the King Biscuit Time radio show. Similar to radio programs depicted in such films as "Brother where art thou?" , the King Biscuit Time program was broadcast from KFFA 1360 AM in Helena, Arkansas since 1941 with Sonny Boy Williamson and Robert Jr. Lockwood playing live in the studio for the 1st show. Over the years, many great Blues musicians, including BB King, Bobby Blue Bland, Albert Collins and Son Seal have appeared on the program. It's sponsor was King Biscuit Flour, a local brand.

Image

The King Biscuit Time programs are especially important to me because it was the very first place I ever heard the Blues. We moved to Europe in the mid-50's when I was young because my father went to work for an international company. Being an American growing up overseas, you longed for anything from home. King Biscuit Time was rebroadcast over Armed Forces Radio in Frankfurt, Germany late Sunday nights.

Image

Tucking under the covers after 'lights out', I'd get my small transistor radio and tune in the program, being careful to keep the volume low so as not to get caught. The sounds and rhythms of the Blues captivated me and have ever since. To think that now, some 50 years later, I'll be touring the actual studio where this music originated is incredible.

We'll first fly into Memphis, TN, have a nice dinner and a night out on Beale Street.

Image

Image

The next morning, we'll rent a car and drive 90 minutes south to the outskirts of Clarksdale, MS to the Seven Chimneys Farm.

Image

This Farm was once part of the Stovall Plantation (which still surrounds it), where one McKinley Morganfield (aka Muddy Waters) was born one crisp April morning in 1913. Muddy worked the plantation, picking cotton until leaving the plantation to make his living as a musician. It was here on the plantation in 1941, that Waters, then working as a tractor operator and field hand, was first recorded by Alan Lomax for the Library of Congress. A song from that session: I Be's Troubled .

We'll be staying in one of three shacks on the property - the Clem Shack:

Image

Image

Image

Image

We'll drive the 21 mi. to the Festival in Helena each day, literally turning at the 'Crossroads' (Hwy. 49 & Hwy. 61) to get across the Mississippi River into Arkansas.

Image

After returning from a day in Helena, we'll drive into Clarksdale for dinner and more Blues (5mi.). Clarksdale is considered Ground Zero for the Blues.

Image

Indeed it has a music club called Ground Zero located down Blues Alley:

Image

Image

Image

Ground Zero is owned by actor Morgan Freeman (who lives in the area) and Howard Stovall (descendant of the Stovall Plantation family).

There are also many more clubs and juke joints in the area as well as some amazing BBQ restaurants such as Abe's which is now in it's 91st year !

Image

Many important Blues artifacts are housed at the Delta Blues Museum:

Image

Including the shack where Muddy Waters grew up (dismantled from the Stovall Plantation and reassembled onsite):

Image

As well as tributes to the likes of W.C. Handy:

Image

Sam Cooke:

Image

John Lee Hooker:

Image

Image

John Lee was actually put to rest in Clarksdale, his birthplace, despite living more than half his life in Chicago.

Image

Image

You can see from the marker above, that the legendary Bessie Smith passed away at the Riverside Hotel (then a Blacks Only hospital) from injuries in a car accident on the outskirts of Clarksdale while traveling there to perform.

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

The actual 'Crossroads' location, where Robert Johnson dealt his Soul to the Devil, has always been disputed. Many say it's Hwy. 49 & Hwy.61 outside Clarksdale while others insist that it's at Co. Rd. 8 & Hwy 1 outside Rosedale, some 30 min. south. There is ample evidence to support both sites. To cover our bases, Mrs. LMN and I will visit each for some 'selphies' for the logbook ! :D

After 5 days of Festival, Blues, BBQ and Beer, we'll spend one more night in Memphis before coming home. It's my goal to need a good rest !!

cheers!

_________________
Image

'11 FSR Am. Vtg. Ltd. Ed. CAR '57 Stratocaster (SN# LE02639)
'14 American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster
'12 Telebration Empress Telecaster
'99 Deluxe Nashville Telecaster
'12 FSR Telecaster HH
'10 Heritage H-535
'99 Martin DC-1E
'13 Lanikai Tenor Ukulele


Last edited by Lightnin MN on Mon May 25, 2015 12:55 am, edited 13 times in total.

Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Goin' Down to the Crossroads...
Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 10:30 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2012 6:56 am
Posts: 1677
Location: Coastal Bend, Tx.
Sounds like a great week you have planned. It could easily be two or three weeks worth of sites to see.
Have a great time.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Goin' Down to the Crossroads...
Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 11:15 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Tue Sep 11, 2012 2:14 pm
Posts: 2561
sfceric64 wrote:
Sounds like a great week you have planned. It could easily be two or three weeks worth of sites to see.
Have a great time.


Thanks ! :D

It's ambitious to be sure... a lot of ground to cover.

But if we don't take it all in, we may plan another trip there.

The Shack Up Inn offers various music workshops throughout the year, such as Guitar and Harmonica camps.

Mrs. LMN wanted to give me one for my recent birthday, but I don't think I'm far enough along with my playing to get the max from one. But, hopefully one day I will be !

cheers!

_________________
Image

'11 FSR Am. Vtg. Ltd. Ed. CAR '57 Stratocaster (SN# LE02639)
'14 American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster
'12 Telebration Empress Telecaster
'99 Deluxe Nashville Telecaster
'12 FSR Telecaster HH
'10 Heritage H-535
'99 Martin DC-1E
'13 Lanikai Tenor Ukulele


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Goin' Down to the Crossroads...
Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 11:43 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2009 7:13 pm
Posts: 19025
Location: Illinois, USA
Cool photo's LM ! The adventure sounds fun ! :D 8)

_________________
you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Goin' Down to the Crossroads...
Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 1:15 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 7:15 pm
Posts: 334
Location: LA South Bay
Thanks for the preview of your planned tour for the event and the great pics.... :D

_________________
It's a good day, I woke up, again...

Am Std 60th Ann Comm
Am Special
USA Prof HSS
2001 MIM Std
Epiphone Std Plustop PRO
Tele AmOrig 50's
Tele Elite
Takamine Acoustic/Electric EG-531S
Blueridge Acoustic/Electric BR-J33CEO


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Goin' Down to the Crossroads...
Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 1:23 pm
Online
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2015 11:45 am
Posts: 21020
Location: On the loo, regretting that gas station burrito.
That's pretty cool. 8) I wish I could go there. Maybe someday. I'd certainly love to get out of Rhode Island and New England in general.

_________________
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Goin' Down to the Crossroads...
Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 3:45 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2011 3:10 pm
Posts: 5646
Location: Gateway to the West
Now on a trip like this you MUST need someone to carry your bags and we just can't have Mrs. Lightning do it, so if I must I will make myself available during the whole trip. :lol: :lol:

Sounds like the Blues Trip of a lifetime, enjoy and be sure to take lots of pictures...oh that's right I will be carrying the camera equipment too!

:mrgreen:

T2

_________________
-----------------------------------------------------------
What time is it? It's Fender Time.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Goin' Down to the Crossroads...
Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 3:54 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jan 29, 2011 6:10 pm
Posts: 2261
Location: Elay
Nice itinerary Lightnin'. I'm going to make my wife look at your post because this is the kind of thing I want to do if I ever retire. But I want to do trips like that as a total road trip, in a car from home and back. Good luck and enjoy.

_________________
'10 American Deluxe HSS Sunset Metallic
'10 JA-90 Thinline Telecaster
'15 Music Man JP-15 Blueberry Burst
'07 Les Paul Standard Faded LCPG #82
'14 Carvin ST300
'12 Carvin CS424S
'66 Guild Starfire IV w/Bigsby
'14 Warmouth Partscaster Daphne Blue


Last edited by Drew365 on Thu May 21, 2015 5:49 am, edited 1 time in total.

Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Goin' Down to the Crossroads...
Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 4:37 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2013 12:22 pm
Posts: 718
Sounds like a great trip! Wish I was going :mrgreen:

Take and post lots of pics!



8)

_________________
You can't have too many guitars!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Goin' Down to the Crossroads...
Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 5:41 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Sun Jul 01, 2007 12:20 pm
Posts: 496
Sounds like an awesome trip!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Goin' Down to the Crossroads...
Posted: Wed May 20, 2015 8:49 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Sat Mar 22, 2008 10:38 am
Posts: 12977
Location: Canada
It's that old addage (or variation) that says, "You can't sing the blues until you experience it."

Well Lightnin, after your tour you should bring back lots of that vibe to add to your mojo. That is unless you prescribe to this How To Sing The Blues guideline: :lol:

https://m.facebook.com/ZoneBluesBar/pos ... 6074877244

Wishing you and Mrs. LMN a great experience. (Uuum . . . That'll put a damper on the blues, though.)
:wink:

_________________
Hello, big guitar. Meet my little fingers.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Goin' Down to the Crossroads...
Posted: Wed May 20, 2015 8:47 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jun 30, 2008 2:52 am
Posts: 3840
Location: Colorado Springs
Maybe it is just me, but there is so little of note to read in this forum lately. Then comes this thread ...what an amazing original post. Besides being a ridiculously cool thing to do it was extremely informative. I am impressed ...

_________________
Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Goin' Down to the Crossroads...
Posted: Thu May 21, 2015 3:56 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Oct 08, 2013 2:11 pm
Posts: 820
Location: Iowa, USA
Sounds like a great time. I am jealous. Unfortunately my wife isn't as big a music lover as me, and would never go for a vacation as cool as this. Even if Tom Petty, Bob Segar, and The Eagles were there (the wife's all time favorites)....she would most likely be tugging at my sleeve asking when we planned to 'move on' after day one. LOL!

Have a great time...and yes; you WILL be needing a few days rest at the end of this itinerary. 8)


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Goin' Down to the Crossroads...
Posted: Thu May 21, 2015 2:54 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2012 9:07 pm
Posts: 604
Lightnin MN wrote:
Quite literally... the Legendary 'Crossroads' of Blues Mythology !


Way cool..........

_________________
dbm
If it sounds good it is good.
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default ... tent=music


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Goin' Down to the Crossroads...
Posted: Sun May 24, 2015 4:59 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2007 3:04 pm
Posts: 7056
Location: South Florida
The Memphis to Clarksdale trip has been on my bucket list for years now. Hope I get a chance to do it.

Enjoy and post pics !!!


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 31 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next
Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: PaulLF and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: