Musical Heritage of the Mississippi Delta

Jazz great Mose Allison grew up in Tippo, took his poetry and piano playing to New York, and has fans across Europe and Asia.  County music’s best known African American singer, Charlie Pride, was born to a share-cropper’s family in Sledge, played for the Grand Ole Opry in 1946 and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001.  Jerry “The Iceman” Butler was born in Sunflower, joined Curtis Mayfield in The Impressions, and became one of America’s favorite soul singers and songwriters.  He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.  Sam Cooke was born to the family of a Baptist minister in Clarksdale and is considered by many to be one of the founders of soul music, although he also performed R&B and gospel.  He was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during their very first induction in 1986.  Ike Turner, also born in Clarksdale, became the “Father of Rock ‘n’ Roll” after recording Rocket 88 with Jackie Brentson and the Kings of Rhythm in 1951.  Ike and his former wife Tina were inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.  Mary Wilson was born in Greenville in 1944 and was the only member of The Supremes to stay with the group from its formation to its end.  Reverend Clarence LaVaughn Franklin, known to the world as C. L. Franklin, was born in Sunflower County and preached in Cleveland, Mississippi, before heading north to Detroit.  He is remembered as “The Man with the Million Dollar Voice” for his many albums of sermons and gospel songs, and as the father of R&B, pop and gospel great Aretha Franklin.  Ed Townsend wrote the original version of Marvin Gaye's greatest hit "Let's Get it On" while he was staying in Mound Bayou in the heart of the Delta.  And Elvis Presley, born in the Mississippi hills in Tupelo, spent much time in the Delta and was heavily influenced by both the Delta's Blues and Gospel.

But the Delta is best known for its Blues.  Literally hundreds of Delta natives have been recorded on Blues albums.  Charley Patton, Tommy Johnson, and Willie Brown are all viewed as “Fathers of the Delta Blues” and all played or lived at Dockery Farms, which is viewed around the world as “The Birthplace of the Blues.”  Chester Burnett, better known as Howlin’ Wolf, lived much of his early life in Sunflower County, and his rival McKinley Morganfield (better known as Muddy Waters) lived at Stovall.  One of the best known bluesmen of all times, Robert Johnson, lived and died around Greenwood.  His music has been performed in almost every imaginable genre, and university classes have focused on the poetry of his lyrics.  Rock legends like Keith Richards, Robert Plant, and Eric Clapton credit Johnson (and other Delta Bluesmen) as their inspiration.  And of course the King of The Blues is the great B. B. King, born near Indianola, and soon to be featured in the B. B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center.