Category: Music Makers
-
Louis Jordan “The King of the Jukebox”
Louis Thomas Jordan was a talented singer who added comedy with over the top expressions to become world famous during the swing era and forward. He fronted his own band for over twenty years and had dozens of hits during the 40s and 50s. Because of his musical flair this singer had duets with such…
-
Levon Helm and “A Train Robbery”
Levon Helm is remembered for a number of great songs that have stood the ravages of time. Where others have come and gone, his legacy of great work remains. I believe it is because his songs are more than just musical notes, they are stories that tug at your emotions and history. On October 30,…
-
Iris DeMent
Iris DeMent has a unique sound all her own with a mixture of folk, country, bluegrass and gospel music. From songs about people and places to comedy, her music has carved its own place in America. Iris Dement was born at Paragould, Arkansas on January 5, 1961 as the youngest of fourteen children. Her parents,…
-
Charley Pride
Charley Frank Pride was born in Sledge, Mississippi on March 18, 1938. His parents were Mack Pride and Tessie B. Stewart. As a child he grew up picking cotton on a small farm outside town. Life wasn’t easy and he was part of a big family. He remembered being told “You’re so skinny, you ain’t…
-
Ronnie Hawkins
Ronnie Hawkins was born in Huntsville, Arkansas on January 10, 1935. His parents soon moved to Fayetteville where he attended school. It was in high school where he formed his first band. He played in clubs and bars around the area and soon began college. Even early on Hawkins had an amazing stage performance and…
-
“The Silver Fox” Charlie Rich
Charlie Rich was born December 14, 1932 at Colt, Arkansas in St. Francis county. He grew up learning music in the Baptist Church where his mother played the piano and his sisters sang in the choir. Rich knew music was his future. He played in the band for Forest City, Arkansas high school where he…
-
Big Jack Johnson
Big Jack Johnson played his juke joint style guitar music all over the world, but always remembered where home was. From Helena to Clarksdale he played the festivals and the clubs. Featured as a member of the Jelly Roll Kings or on his own as the Oil Man, he was a bluesman. Image courtesy of:…
-
Charley Patton
Charley Patton, known as Father of the Delta Blues, was born near Bolton in southern Mississippi in 1891. Charley and his family relocated to the delta around 1900 to the area around Dockery Farms in Bolivar County. Although his family worked on the farm, Charley never did much of that type of labor. He focused…
-
Sonny Boy Williamson
There were two Sonny Boy Williamson blues performers. The first Sonny Boy was John Lee Williamson. He rose to prominence before World War II as a harmonica player and actually performed with a number of the great artists. He was killed at Chicago on his way home from a blues bar in 1943. Alex Miller…
-
William Warfield
William C. Warfield was a well known bass-baritone concert artist, who had a long career that included stage, song and film. William was born January 22, 1920 to Robert Warfield and Bertha McCamery in West Helena, Arkansas. He only spent a few short years in Arkansas though. His family moved first to St. Joseph, Missouri…
My Delta World 