Hairy Larry's Delta Boogie from Jonesboro, Arkansas. Oldest blues web site on the Internet. |
Al Greene born in Forrest City, AR 1946
Charlie Rich born in Colt, Arkansas 1932
Albert King raised in Osceola, Arkansas
Louis Jordan was born in Brinkley, AR 1908
Conway Twitty raised in Helena, AR 1931
Ronnie Hawkins born in
Huntsville, AR 1935
Huntsville, AR 1935
Robert Lockwood Jr. Turkey Scratch,
AR 1908
AR 1908
Robert Nighthwak born in Helena, AR 1909
Johnny Cash born in Kingsland, AR 1932
| Arkansas Blues Legends |
Junior Walker born in Blythesville, AR 1931
Big Bill Broonzy rasied in Pine Bluff,
AR 1898
AR 1898
Lefty Fizzell rasied
in El Dorado, AR 1928
in El Dorado, AR 1928
Scott Joplin rasied in Texarkana, AR 1868
Jimmy Witherspoon born in Gruden, AR 1921
Glen Campbell born in Delight, AR 1936
Jim Ed Brown born in Sparkman, AR 1934
Luther Allison born in Widener, AR in 1939
Little Willie John born in Cullendale, AR in 1937
Johnnie Taylor born in Crawford AR 1938
Al Hibler born in Little Rock, AR in 1915
Chester Burnett lived in West Memphis,
Arkansas from 1930 to 1951 farming.
Arkansas from 1930 to 1951 farming.
| Arkansas Music Legends |
Memphis Minnie's Husband, born in
Pine Bluff, AR in 1909
Pine Bluff, AR in 1909
Frank Frost born in Augusta, AR in
1936, and lives in Helena, Arkansas
1936, and lives in Helena, Arkansas
Mike Burks Little Rock, AR
Guitar Mac born in Cotton Plant, AR
USA's first Blues Radio
featuring BB King, Howlin' Wolf
and Sonny Boy Williamson
In West Memphis, Arkansas
featuring BB King, Howlin' Wolf
and Sonny Boy Williamson
In West Memphis, Arkansas
King Biscuit Blues
Radio Show on KFFA
Radio, in Helena, AR.
Sonny Payne, Blues
DJ
Radio Show on KFFA
Radio, in Helena, AR.
Sonny Payne, Blues
DJ
BB King's guitar received her
name in Twist, Arkansas,
when he ran into a burning
club to save his guitar.
name in Twist, Arkansas,
when he ran into a burning
club to save his guitar.
Levon Helm born in Elaine, AR 1940
Junior Wells, born in West Memphis, AR 1934
Roy Buchanan born in Ozark, AR in 1939
Hubert Slumlin raised in Hughes, AR
Sonny Boy Williamson, lived in Twist, AR with
Howlin' Wolf's Sister Mary Burnett.
Howlin' Wolf's Sister Mary Burnett.
Willie "Big Eyes" Smith born in Helena, AR 1936
Son Seals born in Osceola, AR 1942
Robert Johnson lived in Helena, AR
Artis "Bluesman" Bivens, Camden, AR
Al Bell, Little Rock, AR
Essie "The Blues Lady" Neal, Little Rock, AR
Eb Davis, Born in Elaine, AR 1943
| Hollis Gillmore Born in Magnolia,AR |
Timothy "Little" Cooper, Prattsville, AR
Born in 1926, Sam Carr, Marvell, AR
Born in 1926, Robert Lee McCoy, Helena AR
Dale Hawkins, North Little Rock, AR
| John "JC" Craig, Little Rock, AR |
Roosevelt Sykes born in Elmar, Arkansas
Mouse click photos for bio's & details
Brought to you by
Blues Guitar News
from Little Rock, AR
Blues Guitar News
from Little Rock, AR
Charles Woods, Little Rock, AR
Sonny Burgess, New Port, AR
Arkansas Larry Davis grew up in Little
Rock, Arkansas
Rock, Arkansas
Johnny "Chi" Moore - Lives in Pine Bluff, AR
| William Bunch, Cotton Plant, AR 1902 |
Rosetta Nubin Tharpe, Cotton Plant, AR 1915
Arkansas Blues Heritage & Culture
| Bobby Rush, Pine Bluff, AR 1940 |
| Robert Brown, Walnut Ridge, AR 1910 |
| Model T or Driftin Slim, Elmo, AR 1919 |
| Johnny Shines, lived in Hughes, AR |
| James Cotton, lived in Helena, AR |
| Willie Cobbs, born in Smale, AR 1932 |
| Ellis "CeDell" Davis, Helena, AR 1927 |
Arkansas Blues
The Mississippi River is the state line between Arkansas and Mississippi. The infamous Blues Highway 49 crosses the Mississippi River, and
winds up in the historic blues city of Helena, Arkansas home to King Biscuit Floor Power Blues KFFA Radio, and the King Biscuit Blues Festival.
They can’t call it the King Biscuit Blues Festival anymore, as some New Jersey carpetbaggers legally stole the name wanting thousands of
dollars for usage. The kind folks in Helena, AR had to start calling the festival the Blues & Heritage Festival. I know, sounds like real Nazi crap,
but that is the way the laws are written apparently. The reason Arkansas didn’t get on the blues map back in the turn of the 20th century, is the
Smithsonian Institute in their quest to record American Folk Music starting in 1902, headed down the Application trail, wound up in Tennessee
and then on down Mississippi to New Orleans. They never crossed the Mississippi River, heading westward, and thus Kansas City Blues, St.
Louis Blues, Los Angeles Blues, Oakland Bay Blues, San Francisco Blues, Seattle Blues and Arkansas Blues didn’t make the grade. From there
anyone trying to make a buck on blues starts at Clarksdale, stops in Memphis, and winds up in Chicago. You can get that info on any album
liner notes, or blues mag. Don’t get me started, and enough said for the moment. Today, I am focusing on Arkansas Blues – You know, the
west side of the Mississippi River Valley and Delta. The Arkansas River joins the Mississippi River, just South of Helena, Arkansas and Blues
Highway 49, a little ways Southwest from Clarksdale, Mississippi. Welcome to Arkansas Delta Blues: Keep on jammin’ them blues, it’s music to
my ears.
Arkansas Blues Legends: www.bluesguitarnews.com/ArkansasLegends
Blues Guitar News: www.bluesguitarnews.com
Blues Guitar News Ning: http://bluesguitarnews.ning.com (Interactive)
Blues Guitar News FaceBook: www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Blues-Guitar-News/130791946935789?ref=mf
Arkansas River Blues Society www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/profile.php?id=100001082993923&ref=ts
Become a Member of the ARBS: a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization. Arkansas River Blues Society Membership: $10 for single or $15 for family.
Send check to Arkansas River Blues Society to P.O. Box 128, Alexander, AR 72002 Barbara "Babs" Bearden - President, Deb Moser - Vice
President, Therese Free - Treasurer, Bonnie Parker - Secretary, Leadra Orr, Jeff Weeden, David Bogard, Mike Dollins – Board.
Contact Babs: Bearden599@aol.com
Ozark Blues Society: www.ozarkbluessociety.org
Ft. Smith Arkansas Blues: www.riverfrontbluesfest.org
Arkansas Blues & Heritage: www.bluesandheritagefest.com/sbbs
Arkansas Delta Cultural Center: www.deltaculturalcenter.com/education_programs
Spa City Blues Society: www.spacityblues.org
Arkansas Blues History: www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=599
Arkansas Blues on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkansas_Delta
Arkansas Musicians in the Blues Hall of Fame: www.blueshalloffame.com/Local_Blues_Talent/Local_Blues_Talent_of_Arkansas.html
Arkansas Blues Radio: www.kabf.org - www.kffa.com - www.kasu.org - www.kuaf.org
Arkansas Delta Boogie: www.deltaboogie.com
Arkansas Blues DJ’s: Queen of Arkansas Blues DJ’s Deb’s, Blues House Party: http://www.facebook.com/search/?
post_form_id=bdfb03ea4bf896719df7c38fe714f8e1&q=kabf&init=quick&ref=search_loaded#!/profile.php?
id=100000656863994&v=info&ref=search
Paul Kelso on KAUF: http://www.facebook.com/search/?
post_form_id=bdfb03ea4bf896719df7c38fe714f8e1&q=kabf&init=quick&ref=search_loaded#!/profile.php?id=560134626&v=info&ref=search
Arkansas Blues Highway 49
Blues Highway 49 begins at Gulfport, Mississippi, which is 20 miles
W/O Alabama, 20 miles E/O of Louisiana, and about 50 miles from
New Orleans. Gulfport, Mississippi is a true delta city, which is on the
Gulf of Mexico, in the most southern part of the United States. For
those of you that have never had a plate full of Turnip Greens, Black
Eyed Peas and Cornbread, here we go: Traveling north, the first big
town is Hattiesburg, MS, but north of that is Mississippi’s main major
city; Jackson, Mississippi home to some of the worlds best, and most
famous Gospel groups, and Gospel and blues radio programming
too. North of Jackson, is Yazoo City, a much worn out blues word.
Highway 49 splits at Yazoo with 49w heading northwest, and 49
northward. They join again at the crossroads of Hwy 49 and Hwy 3 in
the middle of nothing but cotton fields as far as you can see. The
closet small towns are Rome and Dublin miles away. After passing
the crossroads, you will enter Clarksdale, Mississippi, which lays claim
to be the epic-center for blues worldwide. So be it. Leaving
Clarksdale you are on joint Highway 49 and 61, and they split in ten
miles with the closest little berg being Rich, Mississippi. Highway 61
continues north, crosses the Mississippi State line into, Memphis,
Tennessee. I was in one of the worst thunderstorms of my life on this
stretch of highway back in 1996. Highway 49 turns west and crosses
the Mississippi River, into Helena, Arkansas. This is home to the King
Biscuit; KFFA historic Sonny Boy Williamson blues radio show. We
are still in fertile cotton, and farming country. We didn’t really call it
delta when I was a kid, but referred to it as bottomland or river
bottom. Traveling north, you pass West Memphis, Arkansas by
about 20 miles, and head into Jonesboro, Arkansas. My daddy was
born in house along side Highway 49 back in 1913, and he was raised
on a cotton farm between Jonesboro, and Paragould, Arkansas.
From here if you stay north on 49, you will cross Arkansas into
Missouri around Moark, Arkansas. 49 and 67 are joint highways in
Missouri for a few miles. 49 will branch off around Williamsville,
Missouri, and Highway 49 will continue to the north, and finally end at
the historic Route 66 in Cuba, Missouri, which is now Interstate 44.
Highway 67 continues northeast and eventually joins Interstate 55, just
south of St. Louis, Missouri, which is some odd 200 plus miles
southwest, away from Chicago. For those of you that got some
interest out of America’s Blues Highways, there is a MapQuest
Reference below for you. America’s music Highways are Route 66,
Highway 49 & 61. Although the Interstate system has fragmented the
old Highway system, many parts of these old blues roads are still
there, where Southern and Union Pacific Railroads crisscross them
continuously. I’ll talk about blues trains in a future article. Now you
know the rest of the story about blues highways in America.
MAPQUEST: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp? formtype=address&country=US&city=West+Helena&state=AR
Wikipedia, encyclopedia Highway 49: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Highway_49
The Mississippi River is the state line between Arkansas and Mississippi. The infamous Blues Highway 49 crosses the Mississippi River, and
winds up in the historic blues city of Helena, Arkansas home to King Biscuit Floor Power Blues KFFA Radio, and the King Biscuit Blues Festival.
They can’t call it the King Biscuit Blues Festival anymore, as some New Jersey carpetbaggers legally stole the name wanting thousands of
dollars for usage. The kind folks in Helena, AR had to start calling the festival the Blues & Heritage Festival. I know, sounds like real Nazi crap,
but that is the way the laws are written apparently. The reason Arkansas didn’t get on the blues map back in the turn of the 20th century, is the
Smithsonian Institute in their quest to record American Folk Music starting in 1902, headed down the Application trail, wound up in Tennessee
and then on down Mississippi to New Orleans. They never crossed the Mississippi River, heading westward, and thus Kansas City Blues, St.
Louis Blues, Los Angeles Blues, Oakland Bay Blues, San Francisco Blues, Seattle Blues and Arkansas Blues didn’t make the grade. From there
anyone trying to make a buck on blues starts at Clarksdale, stops in Memphis, and winds up in Chicago. You can get that info on any album
liner notes, or blues mag. Don’t get me started, and enough said for the moment. Today, I am focusing on Arkansas Blues – You know, the
west side of the Mississippi River Valley and Delta. The Arkansas River joins the Mississippi River, just South of Helena, Arkansas and Blues
Highway 49, a little ways Southwest from Clarksdale, Mississippi. Welcome to Arkansas Delta Blues: Keep on jammin’ them blues, it’s music to
my ears.
Arkansas Blues Legends: www.bluesguitarnews.com/ArkansasLegends
Blues Guitar News: www.bluesguitarnews.com
Blues Guitar News Ning: http://bluesguitarnews.ning.com (Interactive)
Blues Guitar News FaceBook: www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Blues-Guitar-News/130791946935789?ref=mf
Arkansas River Blues Society www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/profile.php?id=100001082993923&ref=ts
Become a Member of the ARBS: a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization. Arkansas River Blues Society Membership: $10 for single or $15 for family.
Send check to Arkansas River Blues Society to P.O. Box 128, Alexander, AR 72002 Barbara "Babs" Bearden - President, Deb Moser - Vice
President, Therese Free - Treasurer, Bonnie Parker - Secretary, Leadra Orr, Jeff Weeden, David Bogard, Mike Dollins – Board.
Contact Babs: Bearden599@aol.com
Ozark Blues Society: www.ozarkbluessociety.org
Ft. Smith Arkansas Blues: www.riverfrontbluesfest.org
Arkansas Blues & Heritage: www.bluesandheritagefest.com/sbbs
Arkansas Delta Cultural Center: www.deltaculturalcenter.com/education_programs
Spa City Blues Society: www.spacityblues.org
Arkansas Blues History: www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=599
Arkansas Blues on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkansas_Delta
Arkansas Musicians in the Blues Hall of Fame: www.blueshalloffame.com/Local_Blues_Talent/Local_Blues_Talent_of_Arkansas.html
Arkansas Blues Radio: www.kabf.org - www.kffa.com - www.kasu.org - www.kuaf.org
Arkansas Delta Boogie: www.deltaboogie.com
Arkansas Blues DJ’s: Queen of Arkansas Blues DJ’s Deb’s, Blues House Party: http://www.facebook.com/search/?
post_form_id=bdfb03ea4bf896719df7c38fe714f8e1&q=kabf&init=quick&ref=search_loaded#!/profile.php?
id=100000656863994&v=info&ref=search
Paul Kelso on KAUF: http://www.facebook.com/search/?
post_form_id=bdfb03ea4bf896719df7c38fe714f8e1&q=kabf&init=quick&ref=search_loaded#!/profile.php?id=560134626&v=info&ref=search
Arkansas Blues Highway 49
Blues Highway 49 begins at Gulfport, Mississippi, which is 20 miles
W/O Alabama, 20 miles E/O of Louisiana, and about 50 miles from
New Orleans. Gulfport, Mississippi is a true delta city, which is on the
Gulf of Mexico, in the most southern part of the United States. For
those of you that have never had a plate full of Turnip Greens, Black
Eyed Peas and Cornbread, here we go: Traveling north, the first big
town is Hattiesburg, MS, but north of that is Mississippi’s main major
city; Jackson, Mississippi home to some of the worlds best, and most
famous Gospel groups, and Gospel and blues radio programming
too. North of Jackson, is Yazoo City, a much worn out blues word.
Highway 49 splits at Yazoo with 49w heading northwest, and 49
northward. They join again at the crossroads of Hwy 49 and Hwy 3 in
the middle of nothing but cotton fields as far as you can see. The
closet small towns are Rome and Dublin miles away. After passing
the crossroads, you will enter Clarksdale, Mississippi, which lays claim
to be the epic-center for blues worldwide. So be it. Leaving
Clarksdale you are on joint Highway 49 and 61, and they split in ten
miles with the closest little berg being Rich, Mississippi. Highway 61
continues north, crosses the Mississippi State line into, Memphis,
Tennessee. I was in one of the worst thunderstorms of my life on this
stretch of highway back in 1996. Highway 49 turns west and crosses
the Mississippi River, into Helena, Arkansas. This is home to the King
Biscuit; KFFA historic Sonny Boy Williamson blues radio show. We
are still in fertile cotton, and farming country. We didn’t really call it
delta when I was a kid, but referred to it as bottomland or river
bottom. Traveling north, you pass West Memphis, Arkansas by
about 20 miles, and head into Jonesboro, Arkansas. My daddy was
born in house along side Highway 49 back in 1913, and he was raised
on a cotton farm between Jonesboro, and Paragould, Arkansas.
From here if you stay north on 49, you will cross Arkansas into
Missouri around Moark, Arkansas. 49 and 67 are joint highways in
Missouri for a few miles. 49 will branch off around Williamsville,
Missouri, and Highway 49 will continue to the north, and finally end at
the historic Route 66 in Cuba, Missouri, which is now Interstate 44.
Highway 67 continues northeast and eventually joins Interstate 55, just
south of St. Louis, Missouri, which is some odd 200 plus miles
southwest, away from Chicago. For those of you that got some
interest out of America’s Blues Highways, there is a MapQuest
Reference below for you. America’s music Highways are Route 66,
Highway 49 & 61. Although the Interstate system has fragmented the
old Highway system, many parts of these old blues roads are still
there, where Southern and Union Pacific Railroads crisscross them
continuously. I’ll talk about blues trains in a future article. Now you
know the rest of the story about blues highways in America.
MAPQUEST: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp? formtype=address&country=US&city=West+Helena&state=AR
Wikipedia, encyclopedia Highway 49: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Highway_49
| Crossing the Mississippi River into Arkansas |
| Fenton Robinson, lived in Little Rock, AR 1954. Band was the Castle Rockers |