DeSoto Magazine August 2015

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August CONTENTS 2015 • VOLUME 12 • NO. 8

features 50 Remembering B.B. King The legendary life, the music legend

62 Mac McAnally Behind-the-scenes man still a hit

56 Americana Music Triangle Traveling the region’s musical riches

departments 14 Living Well Belly up to the barre with Cardio Barre

42 A Day Away Helena, Arkansas

18 Notables University of Memphis’ Dr. Charles Crawford

46 Greaters Goods

22 Exploring Art The custom hats of Buckaroo Hatters 26 Exploring Books “Go Set a Watchman” makes its mark 30 Into the Wild Paddle boarding for everyone

70 Southern Harmony GRAMMY Museum Mississippi set to open 74 Table Talk Ramon’s of Clarksdale still a draw 76 In Good Spirits The Bushwacker

34 Exploring Cuisine A taste of Wiseacre Brewery 38 Exploring Destinations Plan early for Nashville’s CMA Music Festival

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68 Homegrown Tune into Memphis’ St. Blues Guitars

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79 Exploring Events 80 Reflections The Day My Dad Killed Lucille

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editor’s note }

august

Tickling the Ivories

M u s i c i s d i s c ov e r y. Fr o m age 6 until 19, I played the piano, thanks to my mother who was my first teacher. We followed her from church to church where she played the organ; she could nail Ragtime syncopation beats in our living room, and we heard the story about how she met my father in a dinner club.

Around the time our publisher Adam Mitchell remembered about Lucille (See Reflections, page 80), I learned my mother had an agent. An agent? It sounds so…accomplished. At 19, she had an agent who booked her to play in the largest hotel in Dayton, Ohio, as well as other venues.

Music is a journey. We mourn with the world the end of BB King’s musical journey and felt there was no question about featuring him this month. I can’t help think it will be a long time before we ever see such a monumental figure, if ever. If you’d like to learn a few new things about BB that perhaps you didn’t know, join Robin on page 50.

Music is remembrance. With the fall opening of the GRAMMY museum in Cleveland, Mississippi takes a huge step forward in proclaiming its rich musical heritage. Did you know that Mississippi has cranked out more Grammy winners than any other state in the country? For all those stats that place us at the bottom, here’s to the musical fact that verifies we are #1! Then again, if they’re all like Mac McAnally, then

August 2015 • Vol. 12 No.8

PUBLISHER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR Adam Mitchell

PUBLISHER & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Paula Mitchell

EDITOR Karen Ott Mayer

it’s no surprise. During my interview with him, I found a truly humble, dedicated artist whose goal was never spotlight fame, but just to work in the service of music.

Music is a universal culture.

A unifier and inspirer, music joins us all at the hip. Let Chere show you on page 56 how music is tying us together geographically as well.

With the creation of the Americana Music Triangle, anyone can travel our region and experience the rich swath of sounds found from Nashville, Tennessee to New Orleans, Louisiana.

We dedicate this issue to anyone out there, big or small, creating a sound or writing a note.

It’s those unheard voices, untapped talents and unspoken dreams that will be our musical tomorrows.

Stay Cool!

Karen on the cover Riley B. King, known by his stage name B.B. King, was an American blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Rolling Stone ranked King No. 6 on its 2011 list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. Rest in peace B.B. King.

September 16, 1925, Itta Bena, MS - May 14, 2015, Las Vegas, NV. Photography courtesy of bbkingmuseum.org and bbking.com

CONTRIBUTORS Karen Ott Mayer Paula Mitchell Robin Gallaher Branch Chere Coen Corey Latta Devin Greaney Andrea Brown Ross Mary Ann DeSantis Eric Eckard George Brown Charlene Oldham James Richardson Adam Mitchell

PUBLISHED BY DeSoto Media Co.

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living well }

cardio barre

SEE YOU AT THE BARRE

By Corey Latta. Photography courtesy of Cardio Barre

The fitness world is ubiquitous and ever changing. New programs with catchy titles come along every other month. They fade as quickly. One new fitness movement sweeping cities across the country, and one that seems to have real lasting power, is Cardio Barre, a unique, high energy/no impact exercise class that combines barre work and light weights with continual fat burning motion. In the words of Memphis area owner and instructor Allison Hudson, “Central to cardio barre workouts are toning and resistance exercises for the butt, legs, torso, and arms meant to sculpt muscles and elongate the appearance of your body.�

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What distinguishes Cardio Barre from other programs with similar goals is the absence of any usual routines.

“No kicking, no punching, no jumping up and down.

Just exercises that lengthen and strengthen your muscles, as you’re burning fat,” said Hudson.

The barre work allows participants to have a sense of center and balance allowing them to concentrate on the focused muscle group. Cardio Barre works the body as both a coordinated whole and in isolated muscle groups, maximizing the body’s full potential. The barre, you can imagine, is essential.

“Exercisers should use the barre often, because it is the best tool around for developing strong technique and proper alignment,” Hudson said. Adding, “Taking barre classes is the best way to learn exercises for toning, training, and developing a dancer’s lean and strong physique. The combinations practiced at the barre help in gaining coordination and learning the routines quickly.”

Besides its distinct fitness philosophy, Cardio Barre is known for its fun, comfortable, personalized atmosphere. “At Cardio Barre, we discover the ‘dancer’ in everyone, and in every day situations to find balance in your life,” said Hudson.

Cardio Bar re was bor n when dancer and choreographer Richard Giorla, a talented performer of both big screen, small screen, and stage, suffered a crushing hip injury. While his dancing career ended, the dancer’s 30 years experience and love for the art wouldn’t allow him to remain immobile. “Giorla wanted to keep moving at a pace that made sense for his body, but no exercise routine met his needs,” Hudson noted.

Giorla wasn’t alone in his experience with injury.

Throughout his years in both dance and fitness, he witnessed an alarming rate of injury caused by high impact workouts.

“Giorla also noticed many injured athletes and everyday people struggling to find a workout that fit their body, injury, and motivation” Hudson added. Seeing the great need for a highenergy workout, offering cardio yet without the impact on the body, Giorla moved into action and began to design the perfect low impact workout.

In 2001, Giorla opened his first Cardio Barre in Studio City, California. Since starting Cardio Barre, he has inspired over 100,000 clients, providing clear techniques as a catalyst for

change. His main mission is to help others: “Live a healthier and more meaningful lifestyle.” Cardio Barre’s popularity grew and in 2007, Cardio Barre became a franchise.

Giorla’s idea for a fun, low impact fitness program has more than resonated with those seeking a better, more healthy life. As Hudson describes the barre experience. “Cardio Barre clients describe the workout as a fun and effective workout that keeps you coming back for more. We are truly a fit family, encouraging strength not only in fitness but in life in general.”

Cardio Barre makes an effort to build a safe place for both experienced fitness fanatics and beginners. Operating under the belief that if you are making the effort to better your life by entering our front doors, you are our ideal client, Cardio Barre welcomes clients of every shape, race, age, and income level.

“We are a community of individuals supporting others to better themselves mentally and physically,” Hudson said.

Memphis has two locations, one at Overton Square and one at Exeter Village in Germantown. The Overton location, under the ownership and instruction of Hudson, is a great example of Cardio Barre’s marriage of dance and fitness initiative. Hudson, a former professional dancer in Los Angeles, Calif., returned to Memphis in search of a fitness class that complimented her love for dance.

“I began taking a local Barre class, but found that it really lacked in the cardio aspect. We, (Donnie Steward and I) set out to find the solution. When we came upon Cardio Barre, we knew we had found the best workout on the market. Not only was it physically intense, challenging, and fun, there was a mental and motivational capacity that carried over into outside life. We were instantly sold.” said Hudson. The Overton Square location opened in October 2013. The Germantown in June of 2015.

With its fun philosophy of healthy living, welcoming atmosphere, and vibrant movement, Cardio Barre might just be the most inviting fitness option in the Mid-South.

“We offer pricing options to meet all incomes and class schedules to fit into all lifestyles. You do not need any dance background to attend and excel. Just a little bit of energy and a smile. We do offer a ‘Week Unlimited for $30 for New Clients’ only. We hope to see you at the barre!”

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notables }

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dr. charles crawford

A Tribute to Teaching Story and Photography by Devin Greaney

If a University of Memphis student of 2015 could go back to visit his campus in the Fall of 1962, he would be amazed to see only one third the student population. He would see more pay phones than iphones. Even the name would be different, Memphis State University, where no tuition for instate, full time students existed and the per semester registration fee cost only $82.50.

On the other hand, time hasn’t changed a few things: the iconic administration building and physics classes are underway in Manning Hall.

And Dr. Charles Crawford taught history then, just as he does now 50 years later. When the fall semester started September 24, 1962, Crawford was teaching Development of European Civilization I, Cultural History of the Modern World and Europe in the 20th Century. Ironically, he witnessed history unfold without leaving the campus. Integration of the University just occurred three years earlier. Five years after he started teaching, the student population doubled.

“It really was a crowded time,” he remembered.

So crowded that hardly anyone noticed the school’s 50th anniversary. He saw the campus change from a conservative place at the beginning of the decade where women wore dresses and skirts, to the site of war protests and staging the famous hippy era play “Hair” in 1970.

With so much history happening around him, one could assume that was the impetus for his for history passion, but it came out of necessity. Dr Enoch Mitchell, who was in charge of state history at the time, died suddenly in 1965 near Christmastime.

“The president of the University, Dr. Cecil Humphreys, said ‘Charles we are counting on you to take the up the work Dr. Enoch Mitchell was doing’. Logically I should

have said I’m afraid you you’ve made a mistake here, I’m a European historian, but somehow I was unable to say that to the president and I agreed. That was the winter break and I had to work day and night to learn something about Tennessee history.”

Crawford, a native of Ravenden, Arkansas, nevertheless made his mark in the new field. In 1967 he became director of the University’s Oral History Project. He still is.

The Oral History project has recorded eyewitness accounts of history of the Tennessee Valley Authority, the E. H. Crump era, early residents of Binghampton and even Joe Kearney of Memphis who said he was born a slave in Mississippi.

“I know he was telling the truth as far as he knew.”

Kearney had never learned to read, write or go to school so it was not something he could have read. “According to his testimony he was old enough to carry water to the workers in the field but not to pick cotton. His memory was one day soldiers in blue uniforms came, they broke open the smokehouse, put all the food out and told the slaves to help themselves because they were free.”

He brought history to the general public by writing books when there were not many books on local history. He edited a book on Commercial Appeal Cartoonist Cal Alley in 1973. “Yesterday’s Memphis” was published in 1976. The school book “Tennessee: Land History and Government” was DeSoto 21

used in over 90 percent of schools across the state after its publication in 1984 and his “Dynamic Tennessee” released in 1990.

He sees an interest in local history that has emerged since he began teaching.

“People then might have had more interest in the Civil War and the heritage of the glorious heritage of the Old South.”

Early in his career he served on the State Historical Commission. When it came to historic preservation for every $30 going to Middle Tennessee, one dollar was going to West Tennessee. When he brought it up, he remembers the response. “West Tennessee has no history. We changed that when I was on the commission to a degree”, said Crawford.

Historical myths exist in Memphis.

Crawford says no evidence exists to suggest Memphis was a stop on the Underground Railroad. Another is that six presidents slept at the Hunt Phelan home on Beale Street.

Only General Ulysses S. Grant did before becoming President.

As for students over the years, he has taught grandchildren of his earlier students. One student graduated from Harvard but still had an interest in Tennessee history. That student, Al Gore, later went on to make his own Tennessee history. And there is good and bad in how students have changed over the decades.

“I do not believe students are any less intelligent than students of the 1960s but in many cases they are less prepared in high school. I have too many students who have never read a book all the way through. They can’t believe it when they find out they have to read three books and say ‘What part of the book? All of it? As an undergraduate student so often people are never challenged to accomplish more than they have to, so I try to encourage and hopefully help them enjoy it,” he said.

Oral history presents a particular challenge. “It’s very labor intensive,” he said. One hour of talking equals 27 doublespaced pages. His latest project focuses on local World War II veterans. “Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Pacific theater, European theater, white and African American.” In the future he says the Oral History Project may do a collection of interviews on the University of Memphis.

If so, the microphone may finally be turned around, this time pointing towards Dr. Crawford.

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exploring art }

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buckaroo hatters

Story and photography by Andrea Brown Ross

With a storefront full of Old West memorabilia, Buckaroo Hatters may seem far from the pristine image of a royal castle. But regardless of the décor, Moore’s ability as hatter speaks for itself. “Befitting to be worn by a king or queen, but you don’t have to be a king or queen to wear a Buckaroo Hatter,” said owner and creator of Buckaroo Hatters, Mike Moore. Perhaps Buckaroo Hatters’ most loyal subject, or customer, H.T. Ray, described why 50 out of his 60 hats have been created by Moore.

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“I continue to buy hats from Mike for three simple reasons: They look good, they are high quality, and most importantly, they fit. I appreciate that Mike can create any style of hat. When I think of a hat I want, we’ll discuss it. Mike really listens to customers and advises them on their selection,” explained Ray. Winner of the International Hatty Award four years ago, Moore described how he became a “hatter”, one who makes, sells, and/or repairs hats. Originally from Water Valley, Miss., Moore has worn a hat since childhood as evidenced by his childhood black and white photos in the store. Moore boasted, “Since 1955, I have worn a hat. “ As Moore grew into a self-proclaimed “history nut”, he began participating in historical reenactments. “I began looking for authentic hats for the reenactments. This led to me making custom hats for myself.” With no formal training in hat making, it has taken years for Moore to learn the process and fine tune his craft. “I had no school, nor books to teach me.

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It’s been a long process of trial and error. About 15 years or so ago, I stopped in a hat store in Oklahoma. Having limited knowledge of equipment and what all went into making a hat, I was able to find out where the limited number of hatters were purchasing their hat bodies.”

As luck would have it, the manufacturer was located in Tennessee. After Moore established a relationship with the company, he continued to practice the art of making hats.

Similar to a crawfish boil, Moore experimented with soaking the hat body, working with hat blocks, and experimenting with sweatbands. Over the next 5 years, Moore continued to work on his hats and collect equipment.

“I never got discouraged, I kept at it, “said Moore.

With only 70 hatters and 12 hat companies left in the United States, equipment is scarce. Since the equipment is no longer manufactured, Moore considered himself fortunate to acquire the decades old pieces that he now owns. He has also designed a few tools. Moore also offers training classes for those

interested in pursuing hat making, whether it be for business purposes or a personal hobby.

Of course, like other artists, Moore has his own unique style and will not divulge all of his trade secrets. The process of making a custom hat can take up to several weeks to create depending on the individual details.

“A person needs to come in and experience the uniqueness where the color, band, and ribbon are all customizable,” suggested Moore.

Moore described the multi-step hat process of selecting a hat.

“First, I measure the person’s head. Then, they try on different styles to see which one they like. Next, they decide on the grade of hat. 100X is all beaver hair, 50X is a combination of beaver and wild hare from Belgium, 10X is all wild hare.

They also choose the color of their hat. The color of the hat will not run when it gets wet or stain clothing. I have an assortment of leather hat bands to choose from, as well as, other custom touches such as beading, from a network of artists I work with. At that point, the process of making the hat begins,” explained Moore.

Through word-of-mouth and with the help of the internet and Facebook, Moore has created hats for residents of almost every state in America and numerous other countries.

Moore’s abilities have also captured the attention of Hollywood.

Tom Hiddleston and Elizabeth Olsen, star in,“ I Saw the Light”, based on the life of Hank Williams Sr., scheduled for release in November 2015. Moore created the hats worn by the leads.

“While researching for the movie, I was privy to original photographs and newsreel of the Williams’ family, “explained Moore. Moore welcomes the opportunity to utilize his skills in historical accuracy for the movie industry in the future.

Moore can also repair and/or reshape a customer’s hat, regardless if it was purchased from his store or another company. Buckaroo Hatters is located on 115 E. Pleasant Ave. in Covington, Tenn.

Open on Saturday and Sunday, store hours may be found on the store’s Facebook page, or website, www.buckaroohatters.com, or by phone at 901-907-7436.

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exploring books} go set a watchman

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Historic Heritage Museum Courthouse

Atticus Finch Courtroom

The Watchman Arrives Story and photography by Mary Ann DeSantis

More than five decades after her beloved novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” was published, Harper Lee strikes another chord for tolerance and justice with “Go Set a Watchman.”

Fans of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” have waited 55 years for another book by Alabama writer Harper Lee. In July 2015, that wait ended when 2 million copies of “Go Set a Watchman” hit bookstores around the world.

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Celebration of Reading Sculpture

“The release of “Go Set a Watchman” has to be the publication event of the century,” said Dr. Wayne Flynt, professor emeritus of history at Auburn University and considered a leading scholar on Lee and “Mockingbird.” He has also been a personal friend of the writer since the 1990s and calls her by her given name of Nelle.

“The ultimate irony is the reverse chronology of the books,” said Flynt, who is a Pontotoc, Mississippi native. “When I told Nelle how anxious everyone was about her new book, she said to me ‘that’s not my new book; that’s my old book’.”

When publisher Harper Collins announced the book’s release date, many indeed believed it was a sequel to “Mockingbird”. However, “Watchman” was actually Lee’s first novel.

Security around the book was unprecedented in the publishing world since the manuscript, supposedly lost for decades, was found in 2014. When the first copies did arrive in town to be presented to Lee by her agent, the vibe around Monroeville could not be missed. The iconic red brick courthouse — made famous in the 1962 movie — was abuzz with a PBS documentary crew, journalists, tourists, and locals who all had the same question: Why did five decades pass before another Harper Lee book appeared?

In 1957, Lee’s original editor asked for a rewrite of “Go Set a Watchman” from the point of view of Scout as a child and for a different name; thus, “To Kill a Mockingbird” was born after two years of revisions. The original “Watchman” manuscript was lost — even Lee herself thought it was gone 30 DeSoto

forever.

Her current literary agent, Andrew Nurnberg, said in a recent recorded interview with Alabama’s Director of Tourism Lee Sentell that the “Watchman” manuscript was discovered last September underneath an early “Mockingbird” manuscript in a box secured by rubber bands. Nurnberg said the novel was completely finished and needed only a light copy edit.

When Nurnberg asked Lee for permission to publish it, she told him to go ahead “if he thought people would read it.”

Fans pre-ordered the book by the thousands, including nearly 10,000 commemorative copies from Monroeville’s own Ol’ Curiosities & Book Shoppe. They also journeyed into Lee’s hometown to be a part of publishing history and soak up the literary lore surrounding Monroeville, thinly disguised as the fictional town of Maycomb in both of Lee’s books. The bookstore’s watch party began at midnight on July 14, the date of the book’s release, and round-the-clock readings were held at the Historic Monroe County Courthouse, which for years has been a museum honoring Lee.

The title of the new book comes from Isaiah 21:6 in the King James Bible, in which the Prophet Isaiah predicts the fall of Babylon. Lee loved the elegance of the language in the King James version, according to Flynt, and she may have been comparing Maycomb to Babylon. “Somebody needed to be the watchman ‒ the moral compass ‒ of the town,” he said, “and for Scout that was her father, Atticus Finch.”

In “Watchman,” a grown-up Scout returns from New York City to Maycomb, where she encounters the turbulent racial events and civil unrest that affected Alabama during the 1950s. She confronts her father and the town about the racial injustices still occurring two decades after Tom Robinson’s unfair trial and tragic death in “Mockingbird,” which took place during the Great Depression.

Lee, now 89 and suffering from macular degeneration and hearing loss, has declined interviews since 1964 and is rarely seen out and about in Monroeville.

“Nelle is an intensely private person,” said Flynt. “She socializes with a narrow circle of friends that she has chosen.”

Flynt said the newly-released book will not change Lee’s life significantly, but it may show that America needs to revisit the pivotal racial events of the 50s.

“We didn’t solve those problems, after all,” he said.

Alabama’s Literary Capital

Monroeville in southwest Alabama looks like any other small Southern town until you see the dome of the Historic Monroe County Courthouse, built in 1903.

Fans of “To Kill a Mockingbird” instantly recognize the structure, not only from the book but also from the 1962 Academy Award-winning movie starring Gregory Peck as lawyer Atticus Finch.

The town has capitalized on its fame as the real-life Maycomb and as the birthplace of Harper Lee and the summer home of her childhood friend, Truman Capote, who also grew up to be a wellknown author. Born a generation behind them was award-winning novelist Mark Childress, who wrote “Crazy in Alabama” and “One Mississippi.”

Each spring the Monroe County Heritage Museum, which is housed in the courthouse, presents sell-out performances of “To Kill a Mockingbird” in the historic courtroom. Thousands of fans from around the world visit the museum throughout the year and then take guided walking tours around the town that bills itself as “the literary capital of Alabama.”

For information on events, visit www.discovermonroeville.com.

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into the wild } paddleboarding

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Walking on Water

By Eric Eckard. Photography courtesy of stalefishboardco.com, and floridasportsman.com

Eight years ago, Jake Williams was a 17-year-old kid working for a beach chair rental company along the Florida Panhandle coast.

But thanks to his boss’ decision to grow the business, Williams became part of an outdoor sport that has skyrocketed in popularity over the past decade – stand-up paddleboarding. “It’s like walking on water,” Williams said.

“I wouldn’t give it up for the world.”

Stand-up paddling stems from the surfing culture in Hawaii and California, and the most popular boards to initially cross the country were long boards, primarily used for recreation on flat and calm water.

“Most of the boards in the beginning were big, long and stable so you could throw a cooler up there and let your dog ride,” said Joe Strouse, who opened Hungry Boards in 2010 in Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. “But shorter boards are becoming popular now.” Boards used for recreation typically are longer boards – 12 to 14 feet. They’re more stable, and they can accommodate more weight for people and gear. Longer boards also used for touring or racing events on calm waters.

All-around boards – typically 9 to 11 feet – can be

used in both flat water and out in the ocean. And shorter boards typically are designed for surfing. Width, weight, volume, hull shape and inflatable or solid are just a few of the choices standup paddlers also will face when searching for the perfect board. “When it first started catching on, a lot of people bought the long recreation boards,” Williams said. “They loved the workout, and they loved being on the water, but they’ve maxed it out. The long boards, there’s no way you can surf on them. So, now they’re going shorter.”

But longer boards still remain popular. Bote Boards, a company out of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., recently unveiled its newest offering – the 12-foot-6-inch Traveller.

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You can fish places a boat can’t go on a paddle board

expedition board category has been tremendously ignored concerning design and development by the paddleboard industry, including us,” Bote lead designer Corey Cooper said on the company website. “To me, it seemed to be a byproduct of bigger, heavier race boards or sleeker, longer recreational boards… and whatever didn’t fit into those categories, automatically became the ‘touring’ board. Traveller is different in that everything about the board was designed from the ground up for traveling. From how it carries you and your gear all the way to how you carry it.”

Hungry Boards also offers longer boards, but Strouse said he believes shorter surf-style boards are the future in standup paddleboarding. “We’re trying to make a lighter, stronger, shorter board that’s not limited to staying in the lake,” Strouse said. “You’ll still be able to put a cooler on it, but you’ll also be able to take it out in the open water and surf.” Williams has ridden a variety of boards, from a Suplove recreation board as a teenager to a Paddle Surf Hawaii 8-foot-6-inch board that he bought a year ago. But for the past two months, he’s been riding competitively for Hungry Boards on the Flight Director, a short surf-style board, after Strouse began sponsoring him in paddleboarding events.

“I think Hungry has tuned into the Gulf Coast conditions,” Williams said. “The Gulf Coast is the hardest place to learn how to surf – even when there’s surf, it’s still hard. Hungry is designing boards for the waves here; made for the Gulf Coast. But they’re also coming up with a more universal design by incorporating some of the surf designs into an adventure board.”

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With a variety of activities available to standup paddlers – yoga, Pilates, polo, cross training, fishing or just relaxation – board lengths and styles still remain important.

Strouse said he dislikes the word “niche,” but he added that he believes most paddleboard companies remain focused on certain board styles. “We encourage people to shop around,” Strouse said. “We try to educate our customers. We’re not trying to just sell you a board, we’re trying to give you a lifestyle.”

And it’s a lifestyle that has caught on dramatically in the United States. In 2013, the Outdoor Foundation listed standup paddling as the most popular outdoor sport among first-time participants.

“The number grows and grows every year,” Williams said. “I can remember when I’d go to Blue Mountain Beach, and I’d be the only one (standup paddleboarding). Now, there might be 20 of us out there at one time.”

Williams said one of the next big things in standup board industry could be whitewater paddling. “I’ve never had the privilege of doing that, but I’ve seen a couple of videos,” he said.

He added that he’s not sure what board was used, but he said he imagined it would be something short and maneuverable – similar to a surf-style paddleboard. With the standup paddleboard rage so high and continuing to grow, there probably will be a board designed for that activity soon as well.

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exploring cuisine } wiseacre

Old silos behind Wiseacre Brewery make for a unique gathering spot

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Wise Brewing at

Wiseacre

By Corey Latta. Photography courtesy of Wiseacre and Adam Mitchell

Brothers Davin and Kellan Bartosch, brewed up Wiseacre, a craft beer brewery, about 10 years ago.

Tired of their nine-to-five desk jockey jobs, the Memphis natives decided on a change. Davin started home brewing while at The University of Tennessee in Chattanooga and fell in love.

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“He loved the mix between science and improvisation, plus the results started turning out to be pretty tasty!” said Ariana Glantz, one of the team at Wiseacre.

Kellan, the younger brother, started working for a distribution company in Nashville after college before becoming Sierra Nevada’s sales rep in Las Vegas. Though the brothers’ paths diverted, they shared the same turns that led to the same destination. Both Davin and Kellan fell in love with the world of brewing and decided that they wanted to start their own brewery. So they started to learn the craft.

Davin attended brewing school in Germany and then in Chicago, eventually becoming the head brewer for Rock Bottom Chicago, where he won several awards in brewing competitions.

In 2013, the brothers felt like they had mastered their craft and came back to Memphis to scout a location for the brewery. “They chose Memphis for multiple reasons but the top is that Memphis is home!” Glantz said.

Another reason is the high quality of the drinking water in the Mid-South. “Memphis has some of the best water for brewing. It’s extremely mineral-free which makes its a great base for beer. It’s like using white as a paint base,” said Glantz.

Wiseacre also filled a need for Memphis, a city lacking in the local craft beer scene.

Wiseacre opened its doors on Labor Day of 2013, and they’ve grown ever since. The name has personal significance; ‘wiseacre’ is a term of endearment and scolding that the Bartosch’s grandmother used for the boys when they were being smart asses,” Glantz noted.

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Besides beer, Wiseacre brews a unique cultural experience, giving more flavor to the city of Memphis. “Every beer we make and every name we give a beer has a story, whether it be from one of my verbal gaffs (I called the Attorney General the Eternal General...) or paying homage to a style of beer (Ananda means ‘bliss’ in Sanskrit and IPAs are associated with India even though they’re British),” Glantz said.

He continued. “We’re trying to educate people. That means we’re making styles that aren’t widely known, like a Smoked Helles, and putting them out there for the community to try and learn more about it. Beer has an extremely lengthy history that people deserve to know about!”

Glantz notes that beer is as diverse as people’s tastes.

“You can bet there is something that everyone (21 and over, of course) can enjoy, even those who say they “aren’t beer drinkers,” Glantz said. “I think we’re also producing the most varieties of styles so that keeps it fresh and interesting for the consumer. In the almost two years we’ve been brewing we’ve made about 60 different styles,” she added.

One of the most fun challenges at the Taproom is to find the perfect beer for each person, and the Wiseacre staff loves talking about flavors, what the customers likes to drink, and how the brewery can find something suited to every palate.

“Just because IPAs are the best selling beer in America doesn’t mean you have to like it! I think our patrons really appreciate that we don’t try and push them but let them explore on their own and make decisions for themselves,” Glantz pointed out.

When asked what makes Wiseacre’s beers so good, Glantz knows.

“Consistency! Good beer is consistent beer and it’s tougher than it seems to make the same tasting beer over and over again. Grain will change slightly, hops change slightly, yeast changes slightly, and the only ingredient to stay the same is water.”

Fortunately for Wiseacre’s customers, Davin, the Brewmaster, understands what it takes to keep recreating a delicious brew.

“We also strive to use the best ingredients - there’s no sense in skimping so when we need to use a fruit aspect we’ll hand grate blood oranges instead of using a synthetic essence.”

In addition to the Wiseacre culture, there is a pretty exciting culture outside the brewery. Wiseacre is located on Broad Avenue in Memphis, an extremely diverse and lively area of town. Broad is, among other things, an arts district previously neglected but undergoing an influx of great local restaurants and stores and patron activity. New life is being breathed into Broad.

“The Broad Ave. Arts District Commission has been able to put on really great activities at the Water Tower Pavilion during the Summer, and there’s always things like fun runs and community activities that we try to be a part of. With access to the Greater Memphis Greenline, Overton Park and the Memphis Zoo, we’ve been able to make ourselves a part of people’s Saturday activities,” Glantz said.

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exploring destinations } cma music festival

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By George Brown. Photography courtesy of George Brown and cmaworld.com

Once a year, country music fans unite and converge on Nashville, Tennessee for the CMA Music Festival with its “Country’s Night to Rock” tagline. The festival covers full four days of music, meet-and-greets, and making memories in the Music City.

Formerly known as Fan Fair, the CMA Music Festival always begins the second Thursday of June and ends the following Sunday night. During the day, hundreds of artists, from household names to up-and-comers, play on seven stages and it is all free.

Night concerts at the newly renamed Nissan Field do involve paid tickets to attend--and always sell fast. From the Oak Ridge Boys to Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley and Keith Urban, the choices are endless. If you can’t get a Nissan Field ticket, people have been known to sit on the walking bridge to

the stadium and listen to the music and watch the big screens.

It’s never too late to make plans as the 2016 tickets are already on sale. I’ve been going for four years and wish I’d made it to the event long before now. CMA Music Festival is one of the best run festivals I’ve attended but it always helps to spend time on advance planning to ensure a successful trip.

Located in the heart of downtown Nashville that is growing by leaps and bounds, the festival makes a busy place, even busier.

Many people hope to meet a favorite singer and they usually are not disappointed. Most performers will meet with DeSoto 41

fans after a show or catch up with them at the Fan Fair Hall inside the beautiful Music City Center. Singer Jo Dee Messina told me, “I share my life through my music and when I meet with fans they share their stories. This is one of my favorite times a year.”

Messina is always a big draw and this year took the stage for a surprise duet with Phil Vassar, a longtime friend who also wrote some of her hit songs. The Fan Fair hall is also a great place to meet the people who write the songs you hear and learn about their process and what inspires them.

If you meet the right people, you may get to go to a backstage or to a VIP area. I find this fun because you get to see the artists just being regular people. Country singers are the most fan-friendly and often down-to-earth artists you’ll meet.

You might be surprised to learn when Carrie Underwood is not on stage, she’s a very quiet person who still thanks God and American Idol for her success. Kellie Pickler is as bubbly and sweet as you’d expect and rarely says no to talking or snapping a fan photo. You’ll also see how hectic it can be and how an artist can go from being pulled this way and that, to looking like nothing happened as they enter the stage.

If you’re a long time fan of country I encourage you to seek out the artists you haven’t heard or seen. Many are still making music and touring all over the world. You’ll love the memories that come with their music and they appreciate reconnecting with you. Over at The Durango stage at the Fan Fair hall, the venue hosts artists from the 1960s through to the 1990s.

If you didn’t make it to this year’s event, you can still take part next year either live or via TV. With 2016 tickets on sale, seating charts online and more, it’s never too early to plan your Nashville trip.

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Considering the 2016 CMA Festival?

• Book a hotel room as early as possible. Rooms are limited and nightly rates are doubled, even tripled. I’ve found it can be worth driving 30 minutes to get a reasonable rate in a decent room. Unless you can afford a few hundred dollars a night, don’t count on staying in downtown Nashville.

• Proper footwear is a must as the festival is spread throughout downtown from the river to the Bridgestone Arena. There are lots of shady areas, air conditioning and free water and other beverages.

• You can usually eat lunch free due to vendors handing out everything from burgers to minipizzas. For a quick, affordable meal check out the Paradise Park Trailer Resort restaurant on Broadway. The food is great and there is usually a live band.

• Download the CMA app to schedule the shows you want to attend and get reminders when one is about to start.

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a day away } helena, arkansas

Helena, Ar kansas

near ly 100-year-old 9:00 Breakfast at Bailee Mae’s. Located in the recently renovated deliv ered fresh from Lewi s Supply Building, they offer West Rock C offee roasted and cream cheese or a Litt le Rock. Pair it with one of their everything bage ls with artichoke fresh baked blueberry muff in. thing for 10:00 Shop Cher ry Street. The local bout iques and gifts shop s have some everyone including clothing, antiques, handmade jewe lry and home accessories. history 11:00 Walk over to the Delta Cult ural Center museum to learn aboutndthe rich of Helena, the Arkansas Delta and the blues. Be sure to hang arou Time” show, until 12:15 to see Sonny Payne broadcasting live the “King Biscuit the longest running daily blues radio show in the United States. is near ly out the 12:30 Drive over to the C orner Mar ket and pick up lunch. The line ials. build ing but wort h the wait for the sandwiches and daily lunch spec r.

Enjoy a picnic at Helena River Park overl ooking the Mississi ppi Rive an impressive 2:00 Take a short drive over to the Helena Museum. This museum housthees Bat tle of Helena, collection of artifacts, art, furniture and more. There is a diorama of personal affects of one of the largest collections of Thomas Edison artifacts and several Mar k Twai n. , Battery C, 3:00 Take a drivi ng tour of the many Civil War landmarks like Freedom Park C onfederate Cemetery, Magnolia Cemetery and Fort Curt is. s and churches 5:00 As you make your way to dinner enjoy the beautiful historic homeister Hist oric scattered throughout the city. Many are listed on the Nat ional RegHall of places. The Edwardian Inn, The P illow Thompson House and Estevan architect ure. are just a few that showcase Queen Anne, Vict orian and Tudor style ks, catf ish and 7:00 Dinner at local favorite, The Bistro Bar & Gril l. Dishes include ystea it’s the best fish taco s, but if you want to order like the locals get the burger. Man say in town!

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Helena Bridge

Downtown

For more information: visithelenaar.com baileemaes.com deltaculturalcenter.com helenamuseum.com Upcoming Events:

Delta Roadtrip, October 2-3

Mayor Bill Luckett of Clarksdale, Miss. and Mayor Jay Hollowell of Helena, Ark. are pleased to announce a formal sister city relationship between the two Delta cities.

The two cities share a common Mississippi River Delta heritage and culture, as well as challenges, and are only separated by by a short drive and a quick crossing over the Mississippi River. The first ever joint endeavor of these two cities is Delta Roadtrip held October 2-3. Delta arts, culture, food, music and literature will be celebrated in both cities with transportation provided between the two. For more information visit deltaroadtrip.com

King Biscuit Blues Festival, October 7-10

The King Biscuit Blues Festival, celebrating 30 years this October, is one of the nation’s premier blues music events.

Tens of thousands of blues enthusiasts from around the world gather in Historic Downtown Helena to hear amazing performances from great musicians.

Besides the music there will also be a BBQ cook-off, 5K/10K run and Blues Symposium. For tickets and a complete line-up visit kingbiscuitfestival.com.

Warfield Concerts presents Three Mo’ Tenors, October 22 7:30 PM

Life-long Helena resident Samuel Drake Warfield set up a trust after his death to carry on his love of music. Thanks to his generosity world class concerts and shows are free to the public. For more information visit warfieldconcerts.com.

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Pillow-Thompson House

King Bisuit Blues Festival

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greater goods } backpacks

backpacks

Paisley Backpack - $30 Monogramming Available Mimi’s on Main 432 Main Street Senatobia, MS 662-562-8261

Mint Backpacks - $30 Monogramming Available Mimi’s on Main 432 Main Street Senatobia, MS 662-562-8261

Patagonia Backpacks $89 - $99 SoCo 2521 Caffey Street Hernando, MS 662-98-3493

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Bamboo cutting board great for the Razorbacks fan $21 Merry Magnolia 194 E Military Road Marion, AR 870-739-5579

Battle Bells $155 - $159 Bon Von 214 W Center Street Hernando, MS 662-429-5266

Tea Towels $21 Cynthia’s Boutique 2529 Caffey Street Hernando, MS 662-469-9026

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greater goods } music lovers

music lovers Earth Grace Blues Braclet $96 The Bunker Boutiue 2631 McIngvale Suite #106 Hernando, MS 662-470-4843

Guitar Pick Necklace King Biscuit Gift Shop 319 Phillips Street Helena, AR 870-572-5223

Arthur Court guitar bottle opener $20 Bon Von 214 W Center Street Hernando, MS 662-429-5266

Chaser Kinks T-Shirt - $54 Bella Boutique 227 Cherry Street Helena, AR 870-228-5004

Guitars, amps, strings, picks, chords and lessons.

Sweet Lorraine’s Guitar Shop 373 W Center Street Hernando, MS 662-449-2890

Wilcoxon art $40 Cynthia’s Boutique 2529 Caffey Street Hernando, MS 662-469-9026

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April 21, 1980. B.B. King performs during the opening of the 1980 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

Farewell,

B.B. King

By Robin Gallaher Branch. Photography courtesy of bbkingmuseum.org, bbking.com and Bob Bayne

B. B. King, a legend in his own lifetime, died on May 14, 2015. Known for his unique expression of the blues, this son of the Delta held great influence.

Like the man, his music was cherished around the world.

His funeral celebrations included a memorial service in Las Vegas, where he died; a musical procession on Beale Street in Memphis; and a funeral service at Bell Grove M. B. Church in Indianola, Mississippi. His body had a public viewing at the B. B. King Museum in Indianola.

But it was in Memphis that he earned the nickname Blues Boy that stayed with him throughout his life. It was in Memphis that he played the blues on street corners for tips.

From that inauspicious start, King’s musical legacy spanned

more than six decades and grew to include more than 60 albums and 18,000 performances. He and his guitar, Lucille, became beloved the world over. People recognized him as “The King of the Blues.”

King accepted the praise but deferred it with transparent humility, saying, “I believe all music talent comes from God as a way to express beauty and human emotion.”

The nation lauded him with honors. During his lifetime he received 15 Grammy Awards; the Presidential DeSoto 53

Musical procession on Beale Street in Memphis Photo by Bob Bayne. bobbayne.com

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Medal of Freedom; and the prestigious international award, the Polar Music Prize, in Sweden. He was a Kennedy Center Honoree in 1995. His guitar graces the Mississippi license plate.

But who was B. B. King? Answers come from his self-descriptions recorded on museum biopics, his musical writings, and what others say about him.

“He was very humble, very real, very caring,” said Carver Randle, an Indianola attorney, former museum board member, and long-time King friend. “He was down to earth. He was a lover of his craft. He believed in sharing. You would never know he had the fame he did from talking to him.”

Born Riley B. King on September 16, 1925 in Itta Bena, Mississippi, he was the son of Albert and Nora Ella King.

They were sharecroppers; their son grew up poor. He was raised by his mother and grandmother in Kilmichael, Mississippi.

Often a person’s own words present the clearest picture of him. In a museum biopic, King recounts a difficult time after his mother and grandmother died. He was 14. For a while, he lived on the land alone.

He found he had a special kinship with animals; they seemed to understand and respect each other. King tells of taking a piece of wire, winding it on a nail, stringing it to the house, and securing it with a brick at the bottom. Wires like this became his first guitar. He comments that a lot of boys started playing that way.

The Rev. David Matthews, King’s friend, said in a museum biopic that King had to rise above the area’s poverty. “He had a mountain to climb,” Matthews said.

In another museum biopic, King shares a story that shows how pain taught him kindness. After the deaths of his mother and grandmother, King moved to Lexington to live with his father and his father’s new family. The transition was difficult. King earned enough money picking cotton to buy a Western Flyer bicycle. One day he set out for Kilmichael, peddling the 80 or so miles.

Just before he got there, he was hungry. He saw an older woman sitting on her porch.

He approached her slowly, took off his cap, and said, “Miss, I’m hungry. Could you please give me something to eat?” She smiled, went in the house, and brought out buttered biscuits. “That was one of the best meals I ever had in my life. I swore to God that anyone who ever asked me for food, I’d DeSoto 55

never ever deny them,” King said.

He told another story about when he was working with some other boys. A neighbor never praised them but always talked about what they didn’t do. The boys didn’t like it. So they put a snake in his car and watched him leave. Pretty soon they saw him get out of the car and run the other way. The boys knew it was because of the snake. “We guys was funny like kids are today,” King chuckled, spreading his big hands toward the camera.

King told another story about a time when he was one of nine tractor drivers on the Johnson Barrett Plantation. He turned off the tractor’s ignition and jumped off, but suddenly the tractor started up again, moved forward, and was severely damaged. King went running to Memphis. About six months later he called his family. He wanted to come home. He paid off the damage, about $500 or $600.

He recalls those times farming as very happy. “To have a boss like Mr. Barrett, I was a blessed guy,” he smiled.

King’s early life actually trained him to pursue a life sharing a new, distinctly American music. As a pioneer of sorts, he followed his talents and his heart. These decisions were no doubt courageous. They led to an assured place in popular culture.

And along the way to the top, B. B. King became beloved.

In 1957 he said, “Our music is blues, straight from the Delta. I believe we’ll make it on that.” He did. Yes, he did.

Throughout his life he kept working. His work ethic included mentoring younger musicians and a rigorous concert routine that left him home in Las Vegas few nights of the year.

During the 1950s and early 1960s, King played the Chitlin’ Circuit, 56 DeSoto

a network of theaters and clubs specializing in black artists. He “crossed over” to white audiences with the British rockers who were enlarging the American musical scene.

Kings’ blues and endearing ways quickly won new hearts in new venues among new audiences.

In 1971 he appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show. Before an audience of 50 million, he sang a six-minute medley including “Just A Little Bit of Love”, “How Blue Can You Get”, and “The Thrill Is Gone.”

Over his lifetime his fans grew.

Other famous bands and individuals like the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, and Buddy Guy acclaimed him. John Lennon said, “I wish I could play the guitar like B. B. King.”

“He loved people and wanted to share what he was,” Randle said. “If they thought he was great on the guitar, he wanted them to emulate him and be greater.”

His fans knew he loved them.

They appreciated his humor. He could sing about life and make people smile. He saw ordinary things, like catfish fishing, in a new way. In a ballad called “Catfish Blues” King sang, “You know I wished I was a catfish/ Swimming in that deep blue sea/I’d have all the good looking women there boy/Fishing after me”

While on the road, he practiced constantly and was always seeking ways to improve his technique, Randle said.

“Although he made a lot of strides in life, he always figured he could have done more,” Randle said. “When he died, he was still questing for other achievements.”

Mississippi governor Phil Bryant in a prepared statement at King’s death said, “I, along with fans that number in the millions from all over the world, feel a connection to this gentleman who left the earth a better place with his kindness.”

Not many people are known simply by their two initials, but King was. “Mississippi couldn’t have asked for a better ambassador,” Bryant said.

Riley B. King September 16, 1925 - May 14, 2015

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New Orleans, LA

By Cheré Coen. Images courtesy of the Americana Music Triangle

Aubrey Preston loves music in all forms, but the first time he visited New Orleans he wasn’t sure where to find the city’s world renowned jazz. He ended up strolling along Bourbon Street, drawn there by legend and suggestion, listening to live music at the clubs focused more on tourists and drinking than authentic music.

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“I looked at it (Bourbon Street) and thought ‘Wow,’” Preston said. “I don’t get it.”

Preston returned home to Tennessee crossing the Crescent City off his list. Soon, however, he had another chance to visit. This time he did his homework and discovered the richer side of the city, areas more known to locals, especially when it comes to live music.

“I now think it’s the greatest city I’ve ever known,” he said. Preston uses his New Orleans travel experience to prove a point. If travelers don’t know where to find what they’re looking for — and many times those visiting the Deep South come here to view authentic American roots music — they might leave for home disappointed. That’s why Preston, a proprietor of Nashville’s RCA Studio A, has created the Americana Music Triangle, a collaboration of musical and cultural attractions across the South.

The preservation project includes 30 communities along a 1,500-mile stretch of highways called the “Gold Record Road” which includes the Natchez Trace Parkway, Highway 90 and 61 and Interstates 10 and 40. This “triangle” of sorts birthed nine uniquely American genres of music: blues, jazz, country, rock ’n’ roll, R&B/soul, gospel, Southern gospel, Cajun/zydeco and bluegrass.

The trail feeds through the larger cities such as Memphis, Nashville and New Orleans, and those smaller 60 DeSoto

communities rich with various music traditions, such as the Delta towns of Tupelo and Clarksdale, Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and Lafayette, Louisiana.

A Bigger Picture

Preston is no stranger to historical preservation. He previously worked to save Nashville Music Row’s Studio A, the Franklin Theater in Franklin, Tenn., and Leiper’s Fork farmland, a culturally rich Tennessee town where Preston calls home. It was through his work on these community projects, and watching Tennessee develop 16 tourism trails statewide, that Preston envisioned a similar community effort for America’s music, but on a scale that crossed state lines.

As he began to closely study the many genres of music that emerged from this region of the Deep South, Preston realized its vast impact on modern music. Nine musical genres were born in this region, he insists, music that became branded and heard around the world, thanks to the recording industry and Southern musicians migrating to other cities.

“As we studied it we came to recognize that this was the heart of the world’s music,” Preston said. “It ended up being the most powerful, universal export the world has ever known.”

Many Mississippi cities such as Clarksdale, Indianola and Como promote their blues and country music heritages,

plus the Mississippi Blues Commission has enacted an elaborate trail of blues markers called the Mississippi Blues Trail. And even though some projects, such as the Blues Trail, does cross into other states, and some regions, such as the Mississippi Delta, have collaborated to promote themselves, most of the tourism stays focused on individual cities and states or attractions, Preston said.

The Americana Music Triangle hopes to change all that, by offering several driving trails grouped around regions and musical styles. For instance, the Nashville to Muscle Shoals trail not only spotlights the Music City where country music is recorded daily by the world’s top country musicians and singers, but highlights the Shoals where hundreds of hits were made in the 1970s and 80s and songwriters still produce gold records there today. Tupelo to New Orleans calls itself the “Cradle of the Kings,” from Elvis Presley to traditional jazz and the more modern New Orleans sound with several cities in between.

“We put the dots together and thought of international visitors coming here who might have two to three weeks,” Preston explained. “Is there a way to optimize their visit? The story of America’s music doesn’t stop at state lines.”

In addition to the driving tours, the web site offers timelines of American music, an overall history of the nine musical genres, a gallery of photos and a listing of music events that includes all five states, among others. All of the web pages offer hyperlinks to the cities and attractions so visitors may access additional information.

“Most people can figure out the big attractions,” Preston said, Graceland as an example. “But the small and medium attractions really make the experience rich.

Our site, our research is very, very focused on music first, then music connections. It’s like a thousand history books so you can dig into it as much as you want.”

In addition to the website, the Triangle offers more current information via social media.

The Triangle launched this spring with events in several cities within Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

“Mississippi is the heart of the Americana Music Triangle, so the launch of the AMT web guide is a very exciting event for us,” said Malcolm White, director of Visit Mississippi, in a press release announcing the DeSoto 61

launch. “Our country’s musical tradition was shaped and molded by the talented people of our state and the surrounding region. We not only have marked music trails telling of musical legends, their influences, and the history of area that gave birth to the blues, but we also make sure music remains a large part of our culture.

We are so happy to have AMT’s assistance guiding people as they experience the rich American music story.”

“The Americana Music Triangle is a wonderful compliment to our marketing efforts,” said Ben Berthelot, president and CEO of the Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission, the western-most city in the Triangle. “As the birthplace of Cajun and zydeco music, featuring live music seven nights a week, our area is a must see for any music lover. Being a part of the Americana Music Triangle will expose even more people to our area, and we know that they will fall in love with the authenticity of our music, people, food and culture. We are excited to be a part of the initiative.”

Currently, the non-profit project has no dedicated funding source and no staff and relies on cooperation with CVBs, state tourism, national parks and attractions, Preston said. For now, it’s all about getting the word out and the maps placed in public spaces.

For more information, visit AmericanaMusicTriangle.com, /AmericanaMusicTriangle on Facebook, @AMTriangle on Twitter and @AMTriangle on Instagram

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Mac McAnally

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Mac McAnally performing with Jimmy Buffet

The Guy on the Side

By Karen Ott Mayer. Photography courtesy of Mac McAnally/TKO Artist Management

Singer, songwriter and award-winning guitarist Lynn Corbitt “Mac” McAnally is a behind-the-scenes dweller at heart.

“When I used to watch bands, I always watched the guy on the side. I never envisioned myself as the guy in the middle of the stage,” said McAnally.

Whether he did or not, this Mississippian has won countless awards and garnered the respect of superstar artists for songs like “Back Where I Come From” with lyrics like, “We learned in Sunday school, Who made the sun shine through, I know who made the moonshine too…” that strike at the small town core.

This country music singer-songwriter has pushed his own limits, working as a record producer.

While he has lived in Nashville, Tennessee for decades, his boyhood roots in Belmont, Miss. still influence his work and his philosophies. While he was born in Red Bay, Alabama just over the state line, he still maintains strong ties to the region, DeSoto 65

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Mac McAnally was inducted into the Walk of Fame on Wednesday, May 16, 2012.

noting he still has family in Mississippi and a recording studio in Alabama.

“When I was a kid we had no air conditioner, so a summer day meant getting out of the house and heat. My mother used to say I should ‘make some use of myself ’, and I always remembered that,” he said with a laugh.

Funny or not, he carries that message forward. “In this business, people are either used up or make use of themself.

I try to make some use of myself now in the service of music,” he said.

His early influences sound familiar to other notable artists with Mississippi ties. His church became an early stomping ground for him. With a mother who played gospel piano at the First Baptist Church and with a piano at home, he played all the time.

In fact, his first song “People Call Me Jesus” was composed in the dark of his hometown church.

At 13, he got his first serious offer to play music outside of the church for $250 per week. “That was in 1970 and that was more money than my dad took home. I’ll be 58 this summer, so I’ve been at this for 45 years!”

Even if he’s not a household name and he claims his nature is to be an accompanist, his deep success, like his humility, is undeniable. In 2014, McAnally won the 2014 CMA Award for Musician of the Year. What is truly astounding is 2014 makes the seventh consecutive win for McAnally in this category, winning the award previously from 2008 to 2013. He now holds the record for this award. Among others, McAnally has written or co-written Buffet songs like “It’s My Job”, “Last Man Standing”, and “Coast of Carolina”.

Anyone familiar with Jimmy Buffet and his Coral Reefer Band may indeed know McAnally’s music. Since the 1990s, he has served as Buffet’s right-hand man, writing songs, playing on and off with the band.

And as if that relationship couldn’t get any closer, McAnally’s daughter recently married Mike Utley’s son. “I guess that ensures the next generation of our ties!” laughed McAnally.

McAnally is no stranger to working with big name stars, including Toby Keith, George Strait, Zac Brown, Chris LeDoux, and Martina McBride. He’s played instrumentals on Lee Ann Womack’s “The Way I’m Living” and produced the DeSoto 67

late Jesse Winchester’s final album,”A Reasonable Amount of Trouble”. He’s written songs for Alabama, “Old Flame” and for Jimmy Buffett, “It’s My Job” and has remained a soughtafter songwriter for decades in Nashville.

In 1977, McAnally produced his first album with Ariola. His song “It’s a Crazy World” became a single hit and he toured with Randy Newman. Through the decades, McAnally has alternated between quiet periods and smash hits. Throughout the 1990s, he produced “The Trouble with Diamonds, “Knots” and in 1999 “Word of Mouth”.

For someone who has always professed to be comfortable behind the scenes, his onstage presence has done more than garner awards. With standing ovations and a long-standing relationship with Jimmy Buffet, McAnally does just fine moving crowds emotionally. At one concert, Paul McCartney gave him a bear hug. “I had never met him before and thought we’d shake hands, but he reached out and gave me a hug.”

His unwavering dedication to his craft perhaps earns him as much respect as his talent on the strings. Perhaps simplistic, but his view on success even at his level is refreshingly keen. “Everyday, I just try to do something in the service of music. Write a song, play music or lend my studio to a young artist.”

In his laid-back style, McAnally may joke, but he certainly believes profoundly. Coming from a small town has driven his work. “So much of what I write is about what happens in a small town. I love to play for those audiences 68 DeSoto

because they really understand what I mean,” he said.

His words to young artists ring equally profound.

“Dream broadly. We tend to have very specific dreams and I’ve done a lot that I never would have thought I would do.

The fact that I kept my dreams wide enough allowed for new opportunities.”

Talking with McAnally feels like talking to a favorite neighbor. Even after all his success, little pretension exists and he expresses slight surprise that he’s still winning awards.

Appreciative, he deflects any references to his accomplishments as compared to his peers, preferring as always to talk simply about his craft, the music.

“I always hope to get better. I work in the service of music.”

Look for McAnally’s newest album set to release in late 2015. Until then, a short list of his past albums will serve as an ideal introduction.

No Problem Here Cuttin’ Corners Nothin’ but the Truth

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homegrown } st. blues guitars

jamitmhing w memphis mojo

By Andrea Brown Ross. Photography courtesy of St. Blues Guitar Workshop

With the rich musical heritage of Memphis, Tennessee. and surrounding Delta area, it’s no surprise musicians come from around the world to catch some of that musical vibe. Bryan Eagle, owner of St. Blues Guitar Workshop, knows it’s true.

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“We sell to customers all over the world, and I can’t overemphasize the importance of our guitars being made in Memphis. When I talk to people in Europe, they truly relate music, particularly, the blues, to this region. For example, people associate certain geographical locations with food, such as Swiss cheese and French wine, but when it comes to music, Memphis is the place.”

Long time employee, Greg Mitchell, vouched for the “street cred” factor that being made in Memphis gives their customers.

“Europe has a huge blues following, and even Australia is a big market right now. Our customers love the idea that they are getting an instrument from a place with such musical history. Of course, we won’t let our guitars out of the workshop until they’re perfect.”

With only a handful of employees, each employee is a musician and brings years of experience to their trade of making guitars. Eagle explained the guitar series.

“We currently have three series, the Roots, Juke Joint, and Workshop series. Each series is different. The Workshop series is considered our high end option. It provides for multiple options to create a custom guitar, from the paint color to how it’s strung, and beyond. A guitar from the Workshop series can take several months to create. With several layers of lacquer creating a patina effect, it can take up to three months for the paint alone. “

Mitchell also commented on the Workshop series.

“We have found, along with other people in the trade, that if a guitar is too pretty, customers may be hesitant to play them. Instead, they opt to display them, similar to a piece of art. While we appreciate that customers would consider our products a piece of art, we want it to be a functional piece of art. We definitely want our guitars to be played! Allowing the time for our guitars to get the aged look has seemed to remedy that. The 61 South guitar is the most popular in this line.”

The next series is the Juke Joint series.

“The Juke Joint series is our more affordable line of guitars. It, too, has customizable components, but may only take several days to a few weeks to create,” said Eagle.

“If I had to pick a current favorite, it would have to be the Juke Joint series. I helped name the series and I think it definitely has the Delta vibe. The Scoundrel is currently the most popular guitar in this line,” commented Mitchell.

With regards to the Delta’s influence on music, the Roots series is aptly named. Their cigar box line of guitars was inspired by the Delta as Eagle explained.

“The cigar box guitar can be traced back to the late 1800s following the Civil War. Instead of barrels, cigars began being sold in boxes. People used what they could find to make instruments. During the Depression, people in the Delta once again used what they could find, such as a cigar box, broom handle, and baling wire. So, that’s really where the inspiration for the current art form came from. However, we put a different spin on it since people would usually play it by sliding. We created a guitar with three or four strings. Some of our customers do find it easier to play with its open tuning and quick accessibility to finding a chord. “

Mitchell also commented on the Root series which he helped design from the ground up.

“Sometimes our challenge is just finding cigar boxes.

If we have the materials in stock, we can make a guitar from the Root series for a customer in usually less than a week. Our four string cigar box is the most popular in this line.”

Strategically located between Beale St. and the iconic Sun Studio, St. Blues Guitar Workshop benefits from walk-in traffic.

“On occasion, we have people who come in and are waiting to go into Sun Studio to record. I am amazed by the scrimping and saving that people do just so they can say they recorded their music at Sun Studio. Some of them have purchased guitars from us, and from time to time, we will receive a CD from one of those recordings. It’s cool to think we helped them catch some of that Memphis mojo,” shared Mitchell.

“Whether someone comes in with less than a year’s experience playing guitar and they just want something that’s pretty and sounds good, to an experienced musician seeking a highly customized instrument, we are happy to help,” said Mitchell.

To learn more about how St. Blues Guitar Workshop has been rocking since 1984, or to find out how they can help you rock with that Memphis mojo, check out their website at www.saintblues.com or find them on Facebook at Saint Blues Guitar Workshop.

Delta Blues Box

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southern harmony } cleveland, mississippi’s grammy museum

The GRAMMY, Please‌

By Charlene Oldham. Photography courtesy of the Grammy Museum

Although they are 1,800 miles apart geographically and worlds apart culturally, Cleveland, Mississippi and Los Angeles, California will have at least one thing in common come November.

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The GRAMMY Museum Mississippi is scheduled to open to the public on Nov. 14, making it the first official GRAMMY Museum outside Los Angeles. The GRAMMY Museum at L.A. Live opened in 2008 and features exhibits that explore everything from the diverse history of music to its most cutting-edge technological trends.

Like its California counterpart, the 27,000-square foot Mississippi museum will celebrate the history of the GRAMMY Awards and their parent organization, the Recording Academy, and host special exhibits on a rotating basis. The new museum, being built on the campus of Delta State University, will also include a sizable supply of Mississippi music history.

“When the museum opens in November, it will be the most musically advanced museum in the world,” said Emily Havens, executive director of the GRAMMY Museum Mississippi. “Visitors will be able to learn about the Recording Academy, the history of the GRAMMY Awards, learn about Mississippi and its musical impact on the world and see many great collections that will be on display in the museum.”

Those collections include a GRAMMY Legends exhibit that showcases memorable ensembles worn by award winners, a mini theater where visitors can view great GRAMMY performances and an interactive dance floor where tourists can follow an instructive video to learn fancy footwork.

“So I think the kids will really enjoy that because they can move along with the lighted dance floor,” said Lucy Janoush, president of the Cleveland Music Foundation, the nonprofit that will operate the museum.

Janoush thinks visitors of all ages will be blown away by the technology and history behind exhibits including the Mississippi Music Table, where museum attendees can tap the names of notable musicians as they flow across a touchscreen.

Those names will then expand to offer information and also show connections between musicians. So curious audiophiles might start with Mississippi-born blues legend B.B. King and eventually learn about how he influenced English rock and blues icon Eric Clapton.

“Mississippi has more GRAMMY winners per capita than any other state. Nobody else even comes close,” she said.

“And what it does is focus on the history, importance and impact of music in Mississippi.”

The museum also includes a state map that marks musically significant landmarks such as the B.B. King Museum in Indianola and the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale.

Janoush said she hopes the museum, conservatively expected to draw 40,000 to 50,000 visitors annually, serves as a catalyst to boost tourism across the state.

“We’d like to make Mississippi more of an overnight destination rather than a drive through between Memphis and New Orleans,” she said.

Funds for the nearly $20 million construction project came from federal, state and county sources as wells as private donations that ranged from $100 to $1 million, Janoush said, adding that 80 percent of the museum’s projected budget for ongoing operations will be dedicated to education.

Delta State already broadcasts courses to a growing DeSoto 73

network of K-12 schools in the state. The e-learning program is designed to offer advanced electives and fine arts classes at schools that would not otherwise be able to afford them.

“And we’ll be able to plug right into that and add music education to those schools,” Janoush said.

The museum will also provide unique educational opportunities to students at the university’s Delta Music Institute, which offers a bachelor’s degree in entertainment industry studies. The Delta Music Institute employs an experiencebased approach to learning in its labs and studios, and the museum will offers students additional ways to put their skills into practice, said DMI Director Tricia Walker.

“DMI Entertainment majors will have opportunities to help staff GMM events, productions and educational offerings as part of our program’s hands-on learning philosophy. There is also an internship exchange program being developed between GRAMMY Museum Mississippi and the GRAMMY Museum at L.A. Live.

We are really excited about this partnership,” she said.

Once the program is in place, students from DMI will have the opportunity to enroll in exchange programs with Southern California universities, allowing them to experience the current climate of the record industry in Los Angeles while giving students from Southern California a chance to explore its deep Southern roots.

“Mississippi is the birthplace of American music. In fact, nearly eight percent of all [Recording Academy] Lifetime Achievement Award winners are from Mississippi,” said Havens, the museum’s director. “In addition, our main focus in the museum will be on education. Our partnership with DMI and Delta State University makes Mississippi truly the perfect choice.”

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Hours of Operation

Monday - Saturday: 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Sunday: 12 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

May develop seasonal hours for summer tourist season

Prices

Adults: $12 Military/Seniors: $10 Students: $6 Kids (5 and under): free Groups: School $5 Adult $10 www.grammymuseumms.org

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table talk} ramon’s

Thomas and Beverly Ely

Iconic Eats Story and photography by James Richardson

“OK, three orders of fried shrimp and onion rings to go,” hollered Thomas Ely, co-owner of Ramon’s in Clarksdale, Mississippi. That was a phone order. They have a tremendous carry-out business at the restaurant that he and his wife Beverly have been running since 1968.

“It was started by my wife’s uncle Tony Correro in 1945 as a sandwich shop called the Snack Shack. Somewhere between probably 1945 and 1950 another sister Josephine Gardenia took it. They started making it into a full restaurant then. They built another room on in ‘56 and they named it the Sabrina Room, which was named after one of the cousins. They named it Ramon’s after another cousin, Ramon Gardenia.”

Ramon’s is located in the middle of Clarksdale in a residential neighborhood which is a rarity. “This is in a neighborhood, and should we leave, another business could not come in here because it’s zoned residential. But we’ve been here all these years renting...every month...for 46 years. Never 76 DeSoto

missed a payment. Might be a little slow sometime, but always paid,” said Beverly.

The original owner did not want to sell it. After he passed away, his son wanted too high of a price, so the Ely’s have been renting all these years.

“That’s the reason we haven’t fixed it up more than we have. So, how much longer we can hold up in this building, I don’t know.”

According to all the favorable reviews, Ramon’s is doing fine just the way it is. It may not look like a fancy restaurant, and it’s not, but the food is something to brag about.

Thomas shared how they have been so successful.

“Our specialty is shrimp -- fried shrimp, and spaghetti.

And we have people coming in here from all over the South for shrimp -- Florida, Louisiana, Carolinas. It’s the way we fix it.

We make our own batter. We make our own tartar sauce. Our shrimp...we butterfly them, and we batter them ourselves.”

Ramon’s Fried Shrimp and Fries

Most of the dressings, including the thousand island, are homemade.

“We are not open enough for my workers to have 40 hours. Most of them work somewhere else also. But I’m here 40 to 50 hours each week,” said Thomas. He has worked a lot of jobs and was with the fire department for 30 years, so can’t blame him for slowing down.

They have five cooks who come in around 4:30 p.m. and start things up, like cutting up the onions in rings, butterflying the shrimp, preparing the batter for the onion rings and the shrimp, getting the spaghetti sauce working, chopping lettuce for the salads, and in general, getting ready to open at 5:00 p.m.

“Our hours are from 5 to 9 p.m. at night Tuesday through Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday. In this town you aren’t gonna find anything open on Sunday. I mean except the fast food. I used to open on Sundays, but after 20 years, I had to back off. I was doing too much. So, I had to slow down.”

Their busiest days are Friday and Saturday. And they don’t take plastic. Bring cash or checks. And their prices are reasonable; but, not as reasonable as the menu from 1963 that Beverly likes to show.

“Look at that 1963 menu. We didn’t have it then

(back in 1968), but my aunt did. They used to serve lunch on Sundays, and this is what they served for $1.00 in the Sabrina Room: two meats, vegetables, and a dessert. I don’t know how they even begin to start on that for a dollar.”

Today, a half order of their spaghetti and meatballs is $9.50. A full order is $11.50. Jumbo (really jumbo!) fried shrimp is $12.95 for a “small” order of six, eight for $14.95, and 12 for $18.95. But the shrimp are served with fries, onion rings, or pasta, and a dinner salad. Sweet tea is $1.95. As Thomas put it, “This wouldn’t be the South without sweet tea.”

Ramon’s is off-the-beaten path as it is in a residential neighborhood. Coming from the north, either use US 61, or I-55 and US 278 from Batesville into Clarksdale. From the south take US 49 or 61 into Clarksdale. Ramon’s is on Oakhurst Avenue in the north side of town. A GPS proves handy here.

Beverly Ely summed up their experience pretty well.

“We must have been doing something right to have been here 45 or 46 years. It has always been in the family some way. And who will get it after us, God only knows.”

Ramon’s Restaurant 535 Oakhurst Avenue Clarksdale, MS 38614 DeSoto 77

in good spirits} bushwacker

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Beach Bound & Bushwacked

By Cheré Coen. Photography by Paula Mitchell

Summertime and the Bushwackers are creamy.

Think of emerald Gulf waters and those crystal sandy beaches, and usually, a Bushwacker cocktail comes to mind.

You can find this decadent coconut, rum and coffee beverage at the Flora-Bama Lounge on the Florida-Alabama line or at the Sandshaker in Pensacola Beach, an establishment that claims it created the beach drink.

The “Shaker” contends that its owner discovered something similar in St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands and came home to try creating his own. Thirty years later, the Florida take on the Bushwacker is now the bar’s signature drink and are served through frozen drink machines to keep up with the demand.

Meanwhile, back on the Florida-Bama line, the Flora-Bama Lounge does a brisk business serving up their “Bushwackers,” which makes for a nice addition to the club’s live music beneath hundreds of brassieres (yes, we do mean bras), the annual Interstate Mullet Toss, as in throwing fish around, and its August hippie Sandstock festival.

The Bushwacker’s milkshake-esque taste that arrives with a decided punch usually consists of Kahlua coffee liqueur, coconut milk and rum, all in different variations depending on the bartender and how intense the drinker wants his cocktail. Some add fresh fruit, some leave out the rum and some add other alcohol such as Bailey’s Irish Crème, Amaretta or vodka. Just don’t ask the folks at the Shaker or Flora-Bama to tell you their recipe, for they never give out their secrets.

However you prefer your Bushwacker, one thing’s for sure. It’s the most popular drink on the beach. Even Pres. Barack Obama enjoyed a Bushwacker when he visited

Orange Beach, Ala., while surveying the area during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

The following recipe hails from LuLu’s at Homeport Marina in Gulf Shores, Ala., owned and operated by Lucy Anne Buffett, sister to musician Jimmy Buffett. “Lulu” offers us this recipe from her cookbook, “Crazy Sista Cooking: Cuisine & Conversation with Lucy Anne Buffett.”

Lulu’s World Famous Bushwacker From “Crazy Sista Cooking: Cuisine & Conversation with Lucy Anne Buffett” 2 ounces coffee liqueur 1 ounce crème de cacao chocolate liqueur 1 1/2 ounces dark rum 2 ounces half-and-half 1 scoop vanilla ice cream, optional 1-2 cups crushed ice Chocolate syrup Splash of Myer’s dark rum, optional Cherry to garnish

Directions: Pour coffee liqueur, crème de cacao, dark rum, half-and-half, vanilla ice cream and ice in a blender. Blend well until smooth. Swirl a large glass with chocolate syrup. Pour drink into glass.

Top with a splash of Myer’s rum.

Garnish with a cherry.

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exploring events } august 46th Annual Watermelon Carnival July 31-August 1 City Park Water Valley, MS Fun for the entire family including BBQ contest, music, arts & crafts, fireworks and children’s activities.

Patti LaBelle August 1 Horseshoe Casino Tunica 1021 Casino Center Drive Tunica Resorts, MS Actress and singer Patti LaBelle is widely regarded as the queen of rock & soul music. She has received acclaim for many of her songs, including “Lady Marmalade,” “When You Talk About Love,” and “New Attitude.” For more information call 800-303-7463 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival August 7-9 Clarksdale, MS This festival, celebrated for its authenticity, focuses on Mississippi’s musical heritage, features entertainment by local and nationally known blues and gospel artists. TOTALLY FREE. For more info visit www.sunflowerfest.org.

Carriage Crossing Movie Night Thru September The Shops at Carriage Crossing Houston Levee at 385 Collierville, TN August 7 - 101 Dalmations, Rated G August 21 - Big Hero 6, Rated G Movies will begin at dusk in Central Park. Weather permitting, schedule is subject to change. For more information visit www.shopcarriagecrossing.com/events.

Elvis Week August 8-16 Graceland Memphis, TN Celebrate Elvis Week 2015 in Memphis on August 8-16 with special events, guests, live music, concerts, movies and more. For more information visit www.graceland.com or call 901-332-3322.

Tim McGraw Shotgun Rider Tour August 13 7:00PM BankPlus Amphitheater Southaven, MS With special guests Billy Currington and Chase Bryant. Purchase tickets at BankPlus Amphitheater at Snowden Grove box office at 662-892-2660, www.ticketmaster.com, 1-800-745-3000 or Ticketmaster outlets.

Jackson Rhythm and Blues Festival August 14-15 Jackson, MS Over 30 performances on 5 stages including Chaka Khan, Macy Gray and the Isley Brothers. For more information visit www.jacksonfestival.com.

Live at the Garden Summer Concert Series ZZ Topp August 15 Memphis Botanic Garden Memphis, TN Gates open at 6:30 p.m. Come early and get your picnic spread on the lawn or purchase your food from vendors offering tempting Garden treats. Call ahead and pre-order food from one of the caterers. For tickets visit www.ticketmaster.com or call 901-576-4107.

Kenny Rogers August 21 Horseshoe Casino Tunica 1021 Casino Center Drive Tunica Resorts, MS Country music icon, Kenny Rogers will perform at Horseshoe Tunica Friday, August 21 at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $31.50 to $102 for VIP balcony seats that include two complimentary drinks. For more information call 800-303-7463 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Live at the Garden Summer Concert Series Rob Thomas August 29 Memphis Botanic Garden Memphis, TN Gates open at 6:30 p.m. Come early and get your picnic spread on the lawn or purchase your food from vendors offering tempting Garden treats. Call ahead and pre-order food from one of the caterers. For tickets visit www.ticketmaster.com or call 901-576-4107.

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reflections} the day my dad killed lucille

d a d y M y a D e Th

e l l i c u L d e Kill

By Adam Mitchell

It’s true! I had forgotten about this 20-year-old tragedy until now. While designing this issue and finding photography of BB King, it hit me. I’m sure my father would like for me to forget, but there’s blood on his hands. Well, not blood, but cracked wood and broken metal.

Before retiring, my father owned a third generation welding and fabricating company in Memphis. His company built and repaired large machinery for many large corporations in the Mid-South. A new client, Gibson Guitars, had just built the new Gibson Guitar factory and Gibson Lounge in downtown Memphis. Gibson wanted to showcase several guitars on their lounge wall and had come to my father with an idea of a special, customized metal frame to fit around one of the most famous Gibson guitars: B.B. King’s Lucille. Gibson left the precious guitar in my father’s big, rough hands.

The welding and fabricating plant was not in the safest place in Memphis. In fact, it could be downright dangerous. So, at the end of the day my father decided that Lucille should not be left in his office, but rather taken home for safekeeping. As he left, I’m sure he had an armload of technical drawings along with paperwork, mail--and now a guitar case.

He set Lucille on the ground while he opened the back of his SUV, loaded up his usual homework and closed the hatch. He walked around to the driver’s door and started his vehicle, putting it in reverse and gave a little gas.

CRUNCH! As my father heard the noise, he realized he never loaded the guitar into the car, and now, he had run 82 DeSoto

over Lucille! Devastated, he drove home in a panic wondering how he could make this right.

My father was visibly upset when he arrived. He told us the story and then retrieved the broken legend from his vehicle. I was excited to see it. My first thought was, ‘Do they want it back?’

I was teaching myself guitar at the time, and I thought even a broken Lucille is still awesome. After a thorough inspection, my father thought his shop could make enough minor repairs to the guitar so it would still look good inside the custom frame.

A little wood glue, a little welding and polish, and she would look as good as it did before being watched by my guitarslaying father.

I’m not saying that it was playable, I’m saying that it was presentable. My father told Gibson Guitars what happened and expressed his remorse. They accepted his apology, after all accidents happen and B.B. actually owned several Lucille guitars.

That guitar had probably traveled the world for years being played by the greatest Blues musician ever. To this day, that particular Lucille and her custom frame adorn the walls of the Gibson Guitar factory in Memphis. She looks great but can’t be played or tuned. My dad ran over her.

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