Sunday, June 1, 2014

I Went Down To The Crossroads

Next stop on my little travelogue is Clarksdale, MS, the home of the Mississippi Delta Blues.  Legend has it that blues guitarist, singer and songwriter Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads:

Click on pictures to enlarge.
From the minute that you arrive in Clarksdale it's obvious that this is a town that's been dying for quite a while.  On the main street are many boarded-up stores and some of those that continue could use a bit of TLC.  It's a town with a rich history, some good, some not-so-good.  What drew me to Clarksdale was the blues.  It's what is helping to bring the city back to life.  I enjoyed the music by some street musicians playing songs like "One Way Out" and "You've Got To Move", which has been playing in my head on and off since returning home.


Clarksdale has been home to many well-known musicians for part of their lives.  As well as Robert Johnson, the city has been home to people like W.C. Handy, John Lee Hooker, Sam Cooke, Muddy Waters and Ike Turner, to name but a few.


By the end of the day I was tired and decided not to go into the Ground Zero Blues Club.  It's owned by the mayor of Clarksdale and actor Morgan Freeman.  I'm saving it for another time in case I ever come by this way again.


Next time it's back to Memphis and a yarn store or two!  You know I can't pass up a visit to a local yarn shop when I travel.

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