There
is no better way for Blues fans to experience
the Mississippi Delta than traveling by car down
Hwy 61, known as The Blues Highway. As you travel
throughout the Delta with its endless cotton fields,
small towns and meandering rivers, you will see
the land that many famous Bluesmen call home.
To truly find the soul of the Blues one must take
the back roads to old Plantation sites, such as
Stovall Farms and Hopson Plantation in Clarksdale
and Dockery Farms in Ruleville, where if you listen
carefully, you can still hear the lamenting sounds
of the slaves’ field hollers and spirituals
resounding with the deep African rhythms of their
ancestors.
“The
Blues had a baby and they call it Rock & Roll.”
This famous quote from Blues man, Muddy Waters,
describes the connection between Memphis Music
and the Blues. If Mississippi is the birthplace
of the Blues, then Memphis is the Home of the
Blues. An historical marker at Hwy 61 and Beale
St confirms Memphis’ importance on the Mississippi
Blues Trail. Memphis is historically responsible
for launching the Blues into the mainstream of
American music and mixing it with country and
gospel resulting in Rock & Roll, Soul, R&
B and other musical genes of today’s modern
music.
In order to maximize results we strongly suggest
a Wed or Thu starting day. This will allow for
a Thu, Fri & Sat nights in Clarksdale and
Greenwood. Blues entertainment is only available
Thu, Fri & Sat nights in these small towns.
Furthermore, near Greenwood is one of only two
truly authentic “juke joints” in Mississippi,
Po Monkey’s and it is only open on Thursday
nights. Also nearby is Club Ebony, now owned by
B. B. King, and it is only open Thu, Fri, Sat
& Sun nights and with live blues mostly only
on Fri & Sat. You can also request prices
mixing 3* & 4* hotels. Example we suggest
those wanting 4* hotels consider staying at Tallahatchie
Flats and getting the real feeling of the Deep
South rural lifestyle.
Included
Features:
Memphis
Rock & Soul Museum
W. C. Handy House
Beale St
Clarksdale
Delta Blues Museum
Cathead Music & Folk Art Store
Hambone Art Gallery
Greyhound Bus Station
Stovall Plantation-Blues Marker
Blues Night spots – Hopson, Ground
Zero, & Annie Bell Lounge-Juke Joint
Blues Festivals – Juke Joint Festival-April
& Sunflower River Blues & Gospel
Festival. (Ask us for dates.)
North
Mississippi
Tutwiler - Tutwiler Murals & Grave of
Sonny Boy Williams II
Parchman– Parchman Penitentiary
Ruleville
– Dockery Plantation
Cleveland- Delta St University - Delta Center
for Culture and Learning – Life Mask
of Blues Men collection
Merigold - PO’ Monkeys Jook (Juke)
Joint
Greenwood Area
Indianola – B. B. King Museum &
Delta Interpretive Center, B. B King Hand
prints, Footprints & Mural
Festivals B. B. King Homecoming Festival
– June –Ask for dates.
Club Ebony- Juke Joint since 1934.
Greenwood Blues Heritage Museum, Elks Lodge
Trail Marker,
Little Zion Missionary Baptist Church -Robert
Johnson’s Grave
Tallahatchie Flats –Sharecroppers
cabins
Crystal Grill or Webster’s Food &
Drink
Day One: Memphis
Arrive
Memphis, the "Home of the Blues" and
the "Birthplace of Rock 'n' Roll."
After settling in your hotel, get yourself to
Beale Street, one of America's most famous streets
where W.C. Handy first penned the Blues music
of the Mississippi Delta. Located downtown stretching
several blocks east of the river bluffs. Nightclubs
and restaurants offer a variety of food and live
music including traditional Blues, Rhythm and
Blues, Jazz, and Rock'n'Roll. Shops and boutiques
throughout the district provide visitors with
the opportunity to purchase souvenirs, t-shirts,
memorabilia, and novelties. The world-famous street
also features a life-like statue of W.C. Handy
in the open air Handy Park. Next visit the W.C
Handy House where you can recapture the flavor
of "Old Beale Street" at the home of
the "Father of the Blues," a small wood-frame
house displaying artifacts and memorabilia which
give insight into Hand’s life and music.
Located on the street that Handy made famous,
this turn-of-the-century home depicts the humble
beginnings of this musical genius.
Next
find the Hwy 61 (Third St in Memphis) Blues marker
in front of the Rock & Soul Museum.
Read, enjoy and enter the museum. Finally, there’s
a place that tells the story of where the beat
began. “Rock n Soul: Social Crossroads”,
a project initiated by the Smithsonian Institution,
examines the history of Memphis music and its
impact on cultural change. It tells the story
of why Memphis. Why did rock n roll begin in Memphis,
why did soul music begin in Memphis & why
did blues music, which began in the neighboring
countryside come to Memphis & Beale Street
before going to the world. You will see stage
costumes, instruments, recording equipment, rare
film footage, photographs, and vintage jukeboxes
from the 20’s – 70’s and you
can listen to the recordings on your personal
audio guide.
Remain overnight in Memphis.
Day Two: Memphis to Clarksdale (74 miles
/ 119 kilometers)
Drive south on historic Highway 61 – known
as the Blues Highway – to Clarksdale in
the heart of the Delta. A hundred years ago, this
was a dark, swampy land populated by poor sharecroppers.
Clarksdale has a rich Blues heritage. Names like
Muddy Waters, Charley Patton and Robert Johnson
dot the musical landscape here. Their legacies
continue to inspire and entertain millions of
people worldwide. Visit the site of Stovall Plantation
where McKinley Morganfield, aka, Muddy Waters
was raised and discovered by folklorist Alan Lomax
who recorded him for the Library of Congress in
1941. Muddy Water’s cabin is now housed
inside the Delta Blues Museum at the train depot
in downtown at Blues Alley. Be sure to allow and
hour or more at this wonderful museum dedicated
to both the preservation and interpretation of
the Blues. Clarksdale has a thriving live music
scene with clubs open every weekend and festivals
scattered throughout the year. Enjoy a night of
Blues in one of the local Juke Joints. Suggested:
Ground Zero, Annie Bell Lounge and the Hopson
Plantation Commissary. Remain overnight at the
Big Pink Guest House in Blues Alley.
Day Three: Clarksdale to Greenwood (59
miles / 95 kilometers) Tutwiler-
15 mi south of Clarksdale. Burial site of famed
Blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter
Sonny Boy Williamson. Visit the grave site and
the Tutwiler Murals denoting the site of the train
station where W. C. Handy had his first taste
of the Blues in 1903. Handy’s chance meeting
with an unknown bluesman who was scraping the
blade of a knife against the fret board of his
guitar while singing “where the Southern
crossed the Yellow Dog” began his journey
to Memphis and becoming known as the first musician
to pen the Blues.
Continue
on to Ruleville to visit the Dockery Plantation,
known throughout the “Blues World”
as the true birthplace of the Blues. One the way
you will pass Parchman Penitentiary. Parchman
has the dubious honor of being mentioned in a
number of blues songs and having housed some of
those very bluesman.
Dockery
Plantation is now farmed, however, the family
allows visitors on the property to see where Howlin’
Wolf, Henry Sloan, Tommy Johnson, Willie Brown,
“Pops” Staples, and many more bluesman
were mentored by the master, who lived and worked
at Dockery, Charlie Patton. Blues legends Bukka
White, Son House and Robert Johnson claimed Patton
as their primary influence. Born in 1891, Charlie
Patton died 1934 in Indianola under mysterious
circumstances. It’s the way of the blues.
Cleveland
– Visit the Delta State University Center
for Culture and Learning to view the life-masks
of award winning blues musicians and find your
way to drive by PO’ Monkeys, one of the
last remaining authentic jook (juke) joints in
the Delta. Folks at the University will give you
directions to PO’ Monkeys in Merigold.
In
late afternoon you will reach your destination
for the day in Greenwood where you will be staying
for the next two nights. Greenwood is the final
resting palace of Robert Johnson; see his grave
just outside of town. Greenwood does not have
many places to hear live blues, but we do recommend,
the Blue Parrott. Overnight: Tallahatchie Flats
-Greenwood
Day 4: Greenwood
In historic downtown visit The Greenwood Blues
Heritage Museum and Gallery that houses an important
collection of Blues memorabilia. The museum's
focus is on Robert Johnson, who allegedly sold
his soul to the devil for the ability to play
the guitar like no other (no admission, just optional
donations accepted).
In
mid-afternoon travel to Indianola, the home of
the
most popular bluesman ever, Riley B. King to visit
the new B .B. King Museum and Interpretive Center
then stay for dinner and blues entertainment at
Club Ebony. The Mississippi Blues Trail marker
outside Club Ebony says BB King, Count Basie,
Ray Charles, James Brown, Ike Turner, Bobby Blue
Bland and Howlin’ Wolf were among the musicians
who have played here since 1945. This authentic
Juke Joint, in B.B.King’s hometown is now
owned by the Blues Man himself. Overnight: Tallahatchie
Flats -Greenwood
Day
5: Depart for home
Terms
& Conditions: Transportation to the attractions
& hotels is not included. All prices are the
total costs for the number of adults occupying
the room in existing bedding. Rolloways are not
included & may be at an extra charge if available.
Children 11 & under are free in all hotels.
Youth 12 - 17 are free in most hotels. We accept
Visa, Mastercard, Discover & American Express.
Cancellations less than 30 days before arrival
will incur penalties of $25.00 per person plus
any supplier fees. Changes made after documents
have been issued incur a $25.00 document reissue
fee.
Roll."
After settling in your hotel, get yourself to
Beale Street, one of America's most famous streets
where W.C. Handy first penned the Blues music
of the Mississippi Delta. Located downtown stretching
several blocks east of the river bluffs. Nightclubs
and restaurants offer a variety of food and live
music including traditional Blues, Rhythm and
Blues, Jazz, and Rock'n'Roll. Shops and boutiques
throughout the district provide visitors with
the opportunity to purchase souvenirs, t-shirts,
memorabilia, and novelties. The world-famous street
also features a life-like statue of W.C. Handy
in the open air Handy Park. Next visit the W.C
Handy House where you can recapture the flavor
of "Old Beale Street" at the home of
the "Father of the Blues," a small wood-frame
house displaying artifacts and memorabilia which
give insight into Hand’s life and music.
Located on the street that Handy made famous,
this turn-of-the-century home depicts the humble
beginnings of this musical genius.
Museum.
Read, enjoy and enter the museum. Finally, there’s
a place that tells the story of where the beat
began. “Rock n Soul: Social Crossroads”,
a project initiated by the Smithsonian Institution,
examines the history of Memphis music and its
impact on cultural change. It tells the story
of why Memphis. Why did rock n roll begin in Memphis,
why did soul music begin in Memphis & why
did blues music, which began in the neighboring
countryside come to Memphis & Beale Street
before going to the world. You will see stage
costumes, instruments, recording equipment, rare
film footage, photographs, and vintage jukeboxes
from the 20’s – 70’s and you
can listen to the recordings on your personal
audio guide.
Drive south on historic Highway 61 – known
as the Blues Highway – to Clarksdale in
the heart of the Delta. A hundred years ago, this
was a dark, swampy land populated by poor sharecroppers.
Clarksdale has a rich Blues heritage. Names like
Muddy Waters, Charley Patton and Robert Johnson
dot the musical landscape here. Their legacies
continue to inspire and entertain millions of
people worldwide. Visit the site of Stovall Plantation
where McKinley Morganfield, aka, Muddy Waters
was raised and discovered by folklorist Alan Lomax
who recorded him for the Library of Congress in
1941. Muddy Water’s cabin is now housed
inside the Delta Blues Museum at the train depot
in downtown at Blues Alley. Be sure to allow and
hour or more at this wonderful museum dedicated
to both the preservation and interpretation of
the Blues. Clarksdale has a thriving live music
scene with clubs open every weekend and festivals
scattered throughout the year. Enjoy a night of
Blues in one of the local Juke Joints. Suggested:
Ground Zero, Annie Bell Lounge and the Hopson
Plantation Commissary. Remain overnight at the
Big Pink Guest House in Blues Alley.
World”
as the true birthplace of the Blues. One the way
you will pass Parchman Penitentiary. Parchman
has the dubious honor of being mentioned in a
number of blues songs and having housed some of
those very bluesman.
the
most popular bluesman ever, Riley B. King to visit
the new B .B. King Museum and Interpretive Center
then stay for dinner and blues entertainment at
Club Ebony. The Mississippi Blues Trail marker
outside Club Ebony says BB King, Count Basie,
Ray Charles, James Brown, Ike Turner, Bobby Blue
Bland and Howlin’ Wolf were among the musicians
who have played here since 1945. This authentic
Juke Joint, in B.B.King’s hometown is now
owned by the Blues Man himself. Overnight: Tallahatchie
Flats -Greenwood
