Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Got up the next morning, wandered over to the Blues Foundation office to meet Wesley Smith - Wesley is a contact of Dick Waterman's (who is a contact of Richard Flohil's - more on these fellows soon...). All these gentlemen have been tremendously helpful in connecting me with folks on this 'pilgrimmage'. Afterwards, I went for lunch, then made my way south down Highway 61 to Clarksdale.
The land around the highway reminded me a lot of driving through my home province, Saskatchewan - you can see as far as the eye will go across the farmer's fields. No crops up yet, and these crops aren't wheat like Saskatchewan...they're cotton.
Wrangled the Pinetop Perkins shack at the Shack Up Inn. The Shack Up Inn is a bunch of old sharecropper's cottages that were hauled to the Hopson Plantation land, just off of Highway 49, west of Highway 61. Pinetop's shack came complete with a piano, and a bunch of neat old pics of him. I believe he used to work years ago on the plantation before the help became mechanized.
I had spoken with Dick Waterman's friend Joni Mayberry a couple days earlier - we had a great chat about the south and some of the things I should expect - so far the term southern hospitality has wrung true - I've found most folks I've met to be extremely friendly and eager to help me out.
Joni works at the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale, and also at the commissary at the Hopson Plantation. Joni and I arranged to connect on Monday night at the Delta Amusement Blues Cafe, owned by a fellow named Bobby. Bobby is this gruff fellow whose voice sounds a little like a southern Michael Keaton in Beetlejuice. He likes to give everybody a hard time (but gives you a little wink while doing it). I guess it's another side of this southern hospitality...I wish I could remember half the things he said...southern sayings...had me laughing. Joni finally showed up with her bud, Toni and we ate the most incredible steak cooked by the Monday night cook, Michael, seasoned with a whack of delicious spices - the steak was tender and oh so tasty! One of the best I've ever eaten..
Afterwards Joni and I headed over to Toni's place, where the 2 of 'em told me about Jacqueline Nassar, Toni's daughter. Jacqueline is a 13 year old goth wunderkind - guitarist, vocalist, songwriter...huge talent, determined, focused and sweet and humble.
Her Mom told me about her adventures in Los Angeles with Don Was, and another adventure with Morgan Freeman who is also a supporter of hers. He presented her the 2004 Robert Johnson Youth Achievement Award, a Gibson Robert Johnson L-1 guitar.
The land around the highway reminded me a lot of driving through my home province, Saskatchewan - you can see as far as the eye will go across the farmer's fields. No crops up yet, and these crops aren't wheat like Saskatchewan...they're cotton.
Wrangled the Pinetop Perkins shack at the Shack Up Inn. The Shack Up Inn is a bunch of old sharecropper's cottages that were hauled to the Hopson Plantation land, just off of Highway 49, west of Highway 61. Pinetop's shack came complete with a piano, and a bunch of neat old pics of him. I believe he used to work years ago on the plantation before the help became mechanized.
I had spoken with Dick Waterman's friend Joni Mayberry a couple days earlier - we had a great chat about the south and some of the things I should expect - so far the term southern hospitality has wrung true - I've found most folks I've met to be extremely friendly and eager to help me out.
Joni works at the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale, and also at the commissary at the Hopson Plantation. Joni and I arranged to connect on Monday night at the Delta Amusement Blues Cafe, owned by a fellow named Bobby. Bobby is this gruff fellow whose voice sounds a little like a southern Michael Keaton in Beetlejuice. He likes to give everybody a hard time (but gives you a little wink while doing it). I guess it's another side of this southern hospitality...I wish I could remember half the things he said...southern sayings...had me laughing. Joni finally showed up with her bud, Toni and we ate the most incredible steak cooked by the Monday night cook, Michael, seasoned with a whack of delicious spices - the steak was tender and oh so tasty! One of the best I've ever eaten..
Afterwards Joni and I headed over to Toni's place, where the 2 of 'em told me about Jacqueline Nassar, Toni's daughter. Jacqueline is a 13 year old goth wunderkind - guitarist, vocalist, songwriter...huge talent, determined, focused and sweet and humble.
Her Mom told me about her adventures in Los Angeles with Don Was, and another adventure with Morgan Freeman who is also a supporter of hers. He presented her the 2004 Robert Johnson Youth Achievement Award, a Gibson Robert Johnson L-1 guitar.
Comments:
kudos and hats off to what sounds like and incredibly amazing adventure so far. enjoying reading your posts thus far almost feels like am along for the ride.
# posted by 
: 12:08 p.m.
: 12:08 p.m.
Just spoke to you, Suz, and then read about some of your adventures. It sounds like a beautiful Southern cruise along the highway & I look forward to hearin' more. By the way, congratulations again on our success: "The Honey I Want", co-written by Suzie, me & the also lovely David Leask won First Place in the Blues category of the International Songwriting Contest, in case you who don't know. Suzie also sang & played on our winning version. You're the Bomb, Girlfriend!
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# posted by : 12:28 p.m.
: 12:28 p.m.