Music Scene

Mississippi Firsts in Original Rock ‘n’ Roll by Johnny W. Sumrall Jr. Author of Classic Magnolia Rock History of Original Mississippi Rock ‘n’ Roll from 1953 – 1970 One of the first bands in the Mississippi Rock and Roll genre … Continue reading →

SPREADIN’ THE BLUES By Deborah Fagan Carpenter Otha Turner’s Barn Their Mississippi roots run deep, and their Mississippi musical roots run even deeper. They’re the North Mississippi Allstars, and with a style heavily influenced by those roots, but uniquely their … Continue reading →

Banner at Graceland…Memphis, TN 2015 Here is the first of a probable series of short pieces offering you snippets of information and confidently presented checklists for those readers who have current collections of Elvis tunes and want to update the … Continue reading →

    We have all experienced a sense of déjà vu triggered by some sensory stimuli. It could be the smell of burning leaves or the sound of a train moving through the night. Just for an instant, we are … Continue reading →

Editor’s Note: This is a continuation of William “Bill” Morris’ article, “Rufus McKay: The Singer, The Person, My Friend”. Please continue reading after this article for a first-hand account of Mr. McKay’s funeral written by Bill Harvey. At Home in … Continue reading →

  The Legend Begins Rufus McKay was first ushered into my life around 1954, when I was entering the seventh grade at Bailey Junior High in Jackson, Mississippi.  My classmates and I were learning to dance the Foxtrot, the Waltz, … Continue reading →

MAY 6, 2014 I am a dropout from the senior citizens piano lessons class. I didn’t exactly drop out. I was dropped out. Not for my inability to learn how to play the piano, but for my ability to play … Continue reading →

In 1964 The Surgeon General of The United States issued a report stating that smoking is bad for you. James “Hoppy” Bennett took that as an opportunity to write a the song “Smoking is Bad for You”. Hoppy Bennett and … Continue reading →

  Each year, thousands of people make the pilgrimage down Highway 280 to Auburn, Alabama for school and sport. Though it’s known for its dining and shopping in the Birmingham area, once you pass Childersburg there’s not much to catch … Continue reading →

From the back cover of the album “Mississippi Fred McDowell…I do not play no rock’n’roll”  Fred introduces himself and his music with these words: ” My name is Fred McDowell. They call me Mississippi Fred McDowell. But my home’s in … Continue reading →

Editor’s Note: Johnny Sumrall writes about Mississippi’s Rock-n-Roll history.   I first learned about Fuzzy Buffer when interviewing Gerald “Wolf” Stephenson for my book, Classic Magnolia Rock. Wolf was one of the owners of the then MALACO recording studio located … Continue reading →

  Although Mississippi is noted for Blues music, there are many firsts in Rock and Roll music from the Magnolia State. The first rock and roll record to be released world-wide was a song by the original Rolling Stones from … Continue reading →

  Editor’s note:  This is the second of Johnny Sumrall’s two-part series on early Rock and Roll bands in Mississippi.  His comprehensive book, Classic Magnolia Rock—History of Original Mississippi Rock and Roll 1952-1970, is available in our on-line store. Among … Continue reading →

Editor’s Note: This is the first of two posts on Mississippi’s rock history by Mr. Sumrall. This post takes you back to the heady days of the most successful local band of the time, Andy Anderson and the Rolling Stones. … Continue reading →

  “the culture behind the music…”   Look closely. At first glance, Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art, Inc. on Delta Avenue in Clarksdale, Mississippi appears to be a store where one can purchase Blues CDs, books about the … Continue reading →