Legends July/August 2012 by Shawn King

mississippilegends.com

You Know She’s Worth It

The South’s leader in Estate Jewelry and Diamond Solitaires Located in Historic Downtown New Albany, MS

1.866.VANATKINS vanatkins.com

WE ARE Pearl River Resort Vegas with Sweet Tea!

Look no further than Pearl River Resort, for the ultimate Mississippi casino resort experience. With over 2,700 slots, 75 exciting table games, 11 great restaurants, two award winning golf courses and a relaxing spa - we have everything you need for the perfect getaway! Visit Pearl River Resort and experience the thrill of big city gaming with a true Southern charm.

Scan Here!

Like us on Facebook!

Pearl River Resort • Choctaw, MS • 1.866.44PEARL (1.866.447.3275) • www.pearlriverresort.com A development of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians

Elvis Presley® Birthplace Presents…

FAN APPRECIATION DAYS Join us for the festivities Thursday, August 9 and Friday, August 10

Featuring

Palmetto State Quartet

The Landmarks

Join Elvis® fans from around the world as we celebrate the Life and Legacy of the King of Rock-and-Roll. Thursday, August 9 11:00 a.m. Noon

Evening

Opening ceremony and ribbon cutting for new Event Center All attractions and events open, plus music and food, Kay Bain and the Mornin’ Show Band The Landmarks southern gospel group and The Elvis Storytellers Free event to be announced

Friday, August 10 11:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. Noon Evening

Opening ceremony and ribbon cutting for new Event Center Event Center open for tours All attractions and events open, plus music and food, Kay Bain and the Mornin’ Show Band Free event to be announced

Elvis Presley Birthplace, 306 Elvis Presley Drive, Tupelo, MS 38804 662-842-1254 www.elvispresleybirthplace.com Elvis® and Elvis Presley are registered trademarks of Elvis Presley Enterprises. © EPE, Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off.

july. August 2012

elvis ad for fan appreciation.indd 1

6/12/12 3:45:01 PM

124 YEARS

With 27locations, there’s always a Blue near you! Carthage

●

Columbus

●

Flowood

Laurel

●

Macon

Olive Branch

●

Philadelphia

Kosciusko

●

Ridgeland

●

Southaven

●

Hattiesburg

Madison

●

Meridian

Quitman

Waynesboro

www.YourCNB.com

601-693-1331 mississippilegends.com

Contents july / august 2012

Music Publisher ��Marianne Todd Editor �� Buffy Gabrielson Creative Director �� Shawn T. King Designer �� Shawn T. King

Advertising Sales Marty Sutherland - 251-747-8366 Marty@MississippiLegends.com Kellie Sanchez - 662-213-9441 Kellie@Mississippilegends.com Lynn Johnson, Director of Sales - 662-523-0201 Lynn@MississippiLegends.com Ken Flynt, Director of Marketing - 601-479-3351 Ken@MississippiLegends.com Editorial - 601-604-2963 Editor@MississippiLegends.com Contributing writers: Stephen Corbett, Joe Lee, Tricia Walker Contributing photographers: Gary Clark, James Edward Bates, Ken Flynt, Tim Mosenfelder, Joe Worthem Web calendar tech: James Sharp (www.MississippiLegends.com) Email calendar submissions to James@MississippiLegends.com LEGENDS would like to give a special shout-out to our fine printer, CJK Print Possibilities of Cincinnati, Ohio, and special thanks to Mark Wurm, Jamey Cullup and all the great pressmen at CJK for their outstanding excellence in service, consistent work quality and continued dedication to Blue South Publishing. Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced or reprinted without express permission of the publisher. The opinions and views expressed by our contributors, writers and editors are their own. Various views from other professionals may also be expressed. Neither LEGENDS nor Blue South Publishing Corporation is endorsing or guaranteeing the products or quality of services expressed in advertisements. All advertisers assume liability for all content (including text representation and illustration) of advertisements printed and assume responsibility for any resulting claims against LEGENDS or its affiliates. Materials, photographs and written pieces to be considered for inclusion in LEGENDS may be sent to P.O. Box 3663, Meridian, MS 39303. Unsolicited materials will not be returned. LEGENDS is free and distributed through tourism offices, welcome centers, restaurants, theaters, casinos, and institutions of higher education. If your business, agency or industry would like to offer LEGENDS, please contact us at Editor@MississippiLegends.com. For more information, write to Editor@MississippiLegends.com. More information, including a comprehensive, up-to-date calendar, may be found at

www.MississippiLegends.com

About our cover The brother of all Mississippi musicians, Robert Plant, has consistently performed, recorded and promoted music made by legendary Mississippians. Now an honorary Delta resident, Plant will headline Clarksdale’s Sunflower River Blues & Gospel Festival August 10-12. Cover photograph: Robert Plant by Gary Clark/ Getty Images.

july. August 2012

6 Wasting Away in Margaritaville Buffett opens Biloxi casino

12 Steve Forbert on America’s Back Roads

A new CD and art exhibit from the Meridian-born singer/songwriter

20 The Amazing Robert Plant

Clarksdale welcomes the British singer to the Main Stage at Blues Alley

23 The Sunflower River Blues And Gospel Festival Fifty-thousand expected at this years rockin’ free festival

40 Tupelo’s Paul Thorn The man behind the music

Features 28 A Haven for Mississippi Artists Tupelo’s Caron Prince Art Gallery

32 From Africa, With Love

Photographs from USM’s Betty Press stir emotion

46 The New Faces in Town

Meridian nightclub jammin’ with live blues, jazz

58 Delta State’s Music Mobile

Tricia Walker takes her recording classes on the road

culinary 62 Restaurant Tyler

Farm to table is staple at this Starkville eatery

letter from the publisher

Dear Readers,

Only a couple of months ago word was abuzz that Plant had

I’ll never forget the semester at USM that the lyrics “Way down

visited Meridian’s Weidmann’s restaurant. It’s not surprising, given

inside, woman you need me,” echoed through the halls of Elam Arms. It was the guy’s dorm – and us guys and gals were in the best years of our lives, jamming to the Led Zeppelin giant who forever

the artist’s interest in the state. Yes, he was savvy enough to market that roots music to the planet – and he’s generous enough to return time and again to help promote what rightfully belongs to the

endeared us to the true, guttural nature of Rock ‘N Roll.

Delta. For that, we are in gratitude.

Little did we know that the riffs of that 1969 release had

At the end of the day, Plant still reigns, honorable and true to the

been inspired from a 200-mile wide corridor along the mighty Mississippi. Twenty-something years later and four decades after they released

music that helped shape his future and to the Delta musicians who skyrocketed to fame through his making. With open arms, he is most welcome.

that time-remembered classic, Robert Plant is jamming still, only

See you in the Delta,

this time live and in Clarksdale, Mississippi. An expected crowd of

Marianne

50,000 will descend on the north Mississippi town August 11 to hear his voice yet again. Amazingly, the concert featuring Plant on the Main Stage at Blues Alley, is free.

mississippilegends.com

feature

Buffett’s new business booms on the Mississippi Gulf Coast “Sun shines on Biloxi.

Air is filled with vapors from the sea. Boy will dig a pool beside the ocean. He sees creatures from his dream underwater.”

By Stephen Corbett Photographs by James Edward Bates

july. August 2012

mississippilegends.com

july. August 2012

Margaritaville casino. • Buffett on stage with Mac McAnally at the grand opening.

 OPPOSITE ABOVE: Gulf Coast residents welcomed Buffett home for a concert celebrating the opening of the new casino. • Boats line the harbor near the

 Jimmy Buffett's newest casino, Margaritaville, was the first to be built in Mississippi since the legislature approved land-based gaming in 2006.

o sang Jimmy Buffett in the 1977 song “Biloxi” from his most popular studio album “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes,” which also contained his signature song, “Margaritaville.” Thirty-

Official Tall Ships of Mississippi

five years later, Buffett has reached a full-circle of sorts by opening the Margaritaville Casino in Biloxi. The casino, which is the first to be built in the state since the Mississippi Legislature approved land-based gaming in 2006, and the first casino to be built in the United States since 2010, exceeded all attendance expectations when it opened in May. Sen. Lydia Chassaniol (R-Winona), who chairs the Senate Tourism Committee, said Margaritaville’s opening is a testament to the resilience of Mississippians. “Obviously tourism on the Gulf Coast is coming back after the storm and the oil spill. I think it’s a sign that tourism on the coast is strong,” Chassaniol said. “We’re like the energizer bunny. We don’t give up. We are aware of what our tourism means. It’s a significant part of our economy, and because of that we keep working towards it.” Buffett would seem to agree. “It is not only fun to be coming home and bringing our brand of fun to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, it is also very gratifying to be able to provide nearly 1,000 new jobs for Mississippians these days,” he said.

Sail the historic Biloxi Schooners

•Full day •1/2 day •Walk-on sails Pier Complex available for special events, reunions and weddings

Margaritaville Biloxi opened with a VIP party, which included a last-

THE MARITIME & SEAFOOD INDUSTRY MUSEUM

minute concert from Buffett, who rarely performs at grand openings for

Ad sponsored in part by the City of Biloxi

228.435.6320 • www.maritimemuseum.org

Margaritaville locations, according to Georgina Barvié, the venue’s director

mississippilegends.com

of public relations.

“I am thrilled,” said Buffett, a Mississippi

is located on the eastern tip of Biloxi’s Back Bay,

“We knew he was going to attend, but we

native and University of Southern Mississippi

the arc of the Biloxi Bay Bridge is visible from

didn’t expect him to perform,” Barvié said.

graduate. “Biloxi has been on my songline for a

the 30-foot wall of glass overlooking the harbor.

“When it was confirmed, we had the VIP

long, long time. I made my professional singing

According to Margaritaville public relations,

opening at 5 p.m. and the grand opening at eight.

debut back here in the late 60’s when I used to

the Biloxi Casino has loosened its slots to

Before noon the next day, we already had over

drive my Ford Falcon down around Biloxi from

1990s standards. And because of PlayerSoft

20,000 guests. It’s hard to imagine, but it went so

the school in Hattiesburg to play weekends

Technologies’ Mobile Enrollment system, the

smoothly. There was some congestion and some

at Trader Jon’s. Before that, I spent many a

casino staff is able to enroll new guests in the

waits, but there were no major complaints.”

weekend, as a child of the Gulf Coast, with my

casino’s player’s club anywhere on the casino

Construction of the casino was completed in

family at the Sun ‘n Sand. Margaritaville Biloxi

floor utilizing a specialized device.

two months, the quickest build for a casino of

surely is one of my highlights.”

“We believe in the system so much we’ve

that size, she said. Margaritaville is home to 820

Buffett’s

performance

eliminated a player’s club booth location,” said

slot machines, 18 tables, three restaurants, three

was broadcast live over Radio Margaritaville,

Jerome Fremin, director of slot operations. “We’re

bars and two stages featuring both regional and

Buffett’s Sirius/XM satellite radio station. From

the first casino to take the booth directly to the

national acts.

every point within Margaritaville Biloxi, which

customer. It’s going to create better customer

july. August 2012

nearly

one-hour

“

It is not only fun to be coming home and bringing our brand of fun to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, it is also very gratifying to be able to provide nearly 1,000 new jobs for Mississippians these days.” - Jimmy Buffett

relationships by removing the traditional booth location and allowing employees to interact with customers on the floor, where the customer is comfortable and wants to be. No booth barrier, no waiting in line.” According to Barvié, the residents of Biloxi have

 Jimmy Buffett, center, performs with Mac McAnally at Jazz Fest in New Orleans. After finishing the gig, the pair headed to the opening of Buffett's new Biloxi casino, Margaritaville.

Want to go? Margaritaville Biloxi - 160 5th St. Main Number (228) 267-7777 • Toll Free Number (855) 667-6777

welcomed the casino. John Hairston, a member of the Mississippi Gaming

The casino is open 24 hours a day.

Commission, agrees and said the casino was exactly as

Dine at the Margaritaville Restaurant (open daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.)

hoped.“There’s nothing else like it.” In his 1986 album, “Floridays,” Buffett sang “I went to Biloxi seeking fortune and fame.” At this point in his career, he’s done that and then some.

The Marina at Landshark Landing (Thursday, 4 p.m. to midnight; Friday, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to midnight) The Feeding Frenzy Buffet (Breakfast and lunch daily from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Dinner Sunday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday/Saturday from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Late night Sunday through Thursday from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. and Friday/Saturday from 1 a.m. to 7 a.m.) For more information, visit www.margaritavillebiloxi.com mississippilegends.com

ď&#x192;Š Meridian musician Steve Forbert created his art exhibit "Highway of Sight" on America's back roads while touring.

july. August 2012

music feature

Steve Forbert

The Meridian-born musician hits America’s back roads with a new CD release, art exhibit By Stephen Corbett Photography by Marianne Todd

teve Forbert’s photographs of A&W Root Beer signs and vintage Burger King chairs are time-forgotten images of the United States only seen by someone who is constantly on the move. Forbert, who was a truck driver before he was a touring musician, is definitely no stranger to the back roads of America. “I take all of the pictures on an outdated cellphone,” Forbert says, referring to his 2005 LG cellphone. “I’m not going for high art detail. It’s being done by tens of thousands of people as we speak. These are softer and have less definition, but they have a look about them that’s different. They’re nostalgic.”

The Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame member hasn’t put down his guitar long enough to commit to one art form or the other. Instead, he has pursued both. Forbert is due to release expanded versions of his classic albums from 19781982 and is recording his first new album since 2009’s “The Place and the Time.” His traveling art exhibit, “Highway of Sight,” is on display at the Meridian Museum of Art through July 27. “I like bright colors, repetition, symmetry, a bit of obvious irony and the simply absurd,” Forbert says of his photographs. “I travel all the time, and I’m always seeing something that’s a bit mississippilegends.com

“

It’s the one of most accessible albums I’ve made in a while. The songs are primarily relationship songs. The songs are all about people, people in love, the frictions in relations. Things people can relate to. They’re all very personal songs and all of one piece.”

july. August 2012

different. These pictures are my own way of looking at things. It can be a gumball machine or a parking meter – doesn’t matter. I take them very quick, and don’t think about it for too long. They’re little things that end up being a lot.” The Grammy-nominated Meridian native’s exhibit has done its fair share of traveling as well. “It’s been shown up in Asbury Park, Nashville, Memphis and New York,” Forbert says. “This is a wonderful continuation of the saga. Kate Cherry, the woman who runs the museum, has been an absolute pleasure to work with. It’s running there for a while, and it’s neat to have it up there in my hometown for so long.” Forbert made his recording debut in 1978 with the critically acclaimed “Alive on Arrival” and was heralded as “The new Dylan,” a title he’s long since shaken. That album, along with the gold-certified “Jackrabbit Slim,” “Little Stevie Orbit” and “Steve Forbert (The Fourth Album)” are all currently available in expanded editions. “Jackrabbit Slim,” which contains Forbert’s biggest single “Romeo’s Tune,” is the last to be re-released but will be receiving the biggest treatment as a three-disc set. “It’s a very deluxe package,” Forbert says. “The first CD is the original album. The second disc is called “Get Your Motor Running.” It’s ten songs from the concert I did on the second of September last year at the Sucarnochee Revue in Meridian. The third disc is called “Early On.” It’s the best of the early Meridian recordings I made before going to New York. I’m rather fond of it. It’s not a nostalgia thing either. The songs are just not selfconscious at all, and it’s really pretty.” Forbert moved to New York in 1978 and was signed to Nemperor Records within months. Nemperor was distributed by CBS (now Sony Music), which was the home of Epic Records and Columbia Records among others. This was the home to his first four critically and commercially successful releases. “Nemporor was a custom label that was distributed through CBS,” he says. “The guy that owned Nemporor is an old man now and has no use for the master recordings, so he gave me physical rights to my masters, which means I’m able to put out these deluxe versions on my own.” It is almost unheard of for artists to own the rights to the music made during the height of their popularity. Over the years, numerous artists have waged wars against their record companies to own their own masters and lost. More than thirty years after his initial release, Forbert finds himself in a situation many artists will never experience, and he’s taking advantage of it.

Forbert, whose influences range from Gershwin to Iggy Pop and the Stooges, isn’t living in the past, however. He was recently signed to Blue Corn Music, home to Ruthie Foster, and will release his first new album in three years “Over With You” in early September. “It’s the one of most accessible albums I’ve made in a while. The songs are primarily relationship songs. The songs are all about people, people in love, the frictions in relations. Things people can relate to. They’re all very personal songs and all of one piece.” “Over With You” was produced by Grammy awardwinning producer Chris Goldsmith, who has worked with Ben Harper, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Ruthie Foster and Charlie Musselwhite. The release features a core group of musicians with whom Forbert hasn’t previously worked, including Ben Harper who guests on three of the tracks. Even with the newer collaborators, however, it still feels like Steve Forbert. “There are no major shifts in styles,” Forbert reassures. “It sounds like me. I’ve always been Americana-ish, I suppose. I don’t know all of the string bands of the Appalachian, but it’s simple and direct rootsy music. People who like my music will like it. The production is very sparse. Some of the songs don’t even have bass. We didn’t polish it. It was very ‘Let it go, man.’ I’ve got a very good feeling about it.” When the record is released, Forbert’s heavy touring schedule will take him from England to Los Angeles to North Carolina. His hope is that the new record deal will bring some more exposure to a career that has never really slowed down. He’s also very aware of the pitfalls and advantages of releasing an album in a digital download society. “The Beatles’ ‘Rubber Soul’ made the LP an experience,” Forbert says, “It was one piece – entirely good. We’ve gone back in time in a way. Downloading singles is very similar to buying a 45. But the LP was pressed on better vinyl, and it had beautiful artwork, and it was something amazing to hold in your hands. That experience is over. Now you can just download whatever you want. But the good thing about the digital era is that it allows more people to work in niche categories and do so doggone well for themselves in a way they couldn’t have before.” Despite living and working in a digital era, Forbert still carries on a tradition of singing and songwriting that few do today.

Fri., Aug. 24, 2012

Art Garfunkel 7:30 p.m. / $65, $59 Pre-Show Party at 6:00 p.m.

Thu., Sep. 13, 2012

“Dirt In The Wheel” Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Asleep at the Wheel 7:30 p.m. / $40, $34 Pre-Show Party at 6:00 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 6, 2012

Pat Metheny Unity Band 7:30 p.m. / $43, $37

Thu., Oct. 18, 2012

Emmylou Harris 7:30 p.m. / $58, $52 Pre-Show Party at 6:00 p.m.

Fri., Oct. 26, 2012

Enchantment Theatre Company presents The Velveteen Rabbit (Family show) 7:00 p.m. / $18, $10

Fri., Nov. 2, 2012

PHILADANCO 7:30 p.m. / $27, $21

Sun., Nov. 11, 2012

Kenny Loggins 6:00 p.m. / $65, $59 Pre-Show Party at 4:30 p.m.

Fri., Nov. 16, 2012

The Four Tops 7:30 p.m. / $40, $34 Pre-Show Party at 6:00 p.m.

Sat., Dec. 15, 2012

John Tesh Big Band Christmas 7:30 p.m. $58, $52 / Pre-Show Party at 6:00 p.m.

Tue., Feb. 12, 2013

“Clifford the Big Red Dog™ Live!” (Family show) 7:00 p.m. / $18, $10

Sun., Feb. 17, 2013

Cyrano 6:00 p.m. / $27, $21

Sat., Feb. 23, 2013

DRUMLine Live 7:30 p.m. / $43, $37

Thu., Mar. 7, 2013

Biloxi Blues 7:30 p.m. / $30, $24

Join us for Pre-Show Parties in the Grand Lobby before select shows.

www.msurileycenter.com www.facebook.com/rileycenter 2200 5th Street | Meridian, Mississippi | 601-696-2200 mississippilegends.com

“Three recording artists that really take you down to the nuts-and-bolts, the raw reality of down to earth life: Waylon Jennings, Jimmie Rodgers and James Brown. Jimmie Rodgers is just probably what you might call a genius. He wrote these timeless songs and was in such possession of a classic voice. But there was something very true, and people responded to the truth in his recordings, it was something really real and universal in his personality.” Anybody who’s listened to a Steve Forbert song might likely say the same about him. L For more information, visit www.SteveForbert.com

 Photos of Americana are on display at the Meridian Museum of Art through the end of July. The exhibit has been shown in New York City, Memphis and Nashville.

Forbert is due to release expanded versions of his classic albums from 1978-1982 and is recording his first new album since 2009’s “The Place and the Time.”

july. August 2012

Plan Ahead for MSOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Exciting New Season! 09/22/12 10/20/12 12/08/12

New World and a Full Moon A Scottish Fantasy Peppermint Pops

TICKETS 601.693.5353

02/09/13 03/22/13 05/04/13

Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 Link Up and Symphony Doo-Dah Movies, Light Classics and Pops

MSO 601.693.2224

www.meridianso.org

mississippilegends.com

july. August 2012

mississippilegends.com

“Plant’s fascination with Clarksdale stems from his lifelong love of blues and roots music. Led Zeppelin was among several British bands of the 1960s and 1970s that were instrumental in taking the music born out of the Southern United States – primarily the blues sound from the Mississippi Delta - and introducing it to a brand new audience.” Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

july. August 2012

Cover Story

Clarksdale welcomes

Robert Plant While LEGENDS has traditionally featured cover stories of home-grown artists, Robert Plant has won our respect and admiration not only with his legendary talent but with his dedication to and appreciation for our unforgettable brand of roots music, the deep, authentic, Southern kind. It is our privilege to feature the brother of all Mississippi musicians as our Cover Story. By Stephen Corbett

mississippilegends.com

he highly anticipated concert by veteran rocker Robert Plant at the upcoming Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival may be Plant’s first appearance on the Clarksdale stage. But make no mistake, Plant is no stranger to the Delta town whose residents lay claim to the birthplace of the blues. Plant’s fascination with Clarksdale stems from his lifelong love of blues and roots music. Led Zeppelin was among several British bands of the 1960s and 1970s that were instrumental in taking the music born out of the Southern United States – primarily the blues sound from the Mississippi Delta - and introducing it to a brand new audience. Whether he’s staying at a local inn, or dining around town, the former Led Zeppelin front man seems at home in the north Mississippi town popular for its authentic blues, inordinate number of talented musicians and radical juke joints. Plant’s most recent trip was in March, when he brought fellow vocalist and Grammy award-winner Patty Griffin for

sounds to his music, but he has always returned to and shown an appreciation for the music of the South. This is especially evident in his last two releases, which have found him adding strong elements of country and bluegrass, and have given him a commercial and critical resurgence. “Raising Sand,” his 2007 collaboration with Alison Krauss, debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, which is the highest chart position of any of Plant’s solo releases. The album also won all five awards for which it was nominated at the 51st Grammy Awards, including the illustrious Album of the Year. His latest release in 2010, “Band of Joy,” won Album of the Year at the 2011 Americana Music Association Awards. On the North American tour for “Band of Joy,” Plant selected Hernando’s own North Mississippi Allstars as the opening act. “Mr. Plant is a blues historian,” said festival publicist Panny Mayfield. “In 2009, he unveiled the Mississippi Heritage Blues Trail marker in Tutwiler honoring the site where W. C.

“Robert Plant has visited Clarksdale many times since he and Jimmy Page recorded their album ‘Walking Into Clarksdale.’” her first trip to the Mississippi Delta. The two attended church services at Liberty Baptist Church in Lyon. “Robert Plant has visited Clarksdale many times since he and Jimmy Page recorded their album ‘Walking Into Clarksdale,’ says John Sherman, a former Sunflower Festival co-chairman and current VIP chairman. “Robert Plant has come here between stops in their Plant/Page tour in 1999, and he met several of the local members of the Sunflower River Blues Festival. Robert Plant has kept in touch over the years and has returned several times with family and band members.” Zeppelin frequently covered Mississippi artists in the studio and on-stage, including Sonny Boy Williamson, Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Elvis Presley, Willie Dixon, Otis Rush, John Lee Hooker and Albert King. Sometimes the songs were outright covers, while other times Plant would incorporate lines from those artists into his own lyrics. After the break-up of Led Zeppelin, Plant’s solo career would take many turns. He has frequently introduced new styles and 24

july. August 2012

Handy first heard blues music and Tutwiler as the Birthplace of the Blues. Later, he presented the Delta Blues Museum with a unique plaque featuring miniature Led Zeppelin album covers with praise for Mississippi Delta blues musicians who influenced their musical careers.” As for the Sensational Shape Shifters, a post on Plant’s website says they draw inspiration “from the roots music of Mississippi, Appalachia, Gambia, Bristol and the foothills of Wolverhampton.” The Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival has been a free event since its inception in 1988, and this year will be no different. A complete line-up for the 25th Annual Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival, as well as any updates can be found at www.sunflowerfest.org. According to Sherman, “This event promises to be the 2012 Mississippi Tourism Event of the Year.” L

Plant to headline 25th Annual Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival By Stephen Corbett Photographs by Ken Flynt Of all of the musicians slated to play this year’s Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival, one is definitely causing more of a stir than the others: former Led Zeppelin front man and blues enthusiast Robert Plant. The announcement was made in March at the Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, and not long after hotel rooms were booked full in the north Mississippi town that’s known for its authentic jukejoints, serious blues music and comfort foods. Hotels in nearby cities are also filling up quickly to accommodate the expected record crowds. But the performance is just one during the Aug. 10-12 weekend that marks the festival’s 25th anniversary. The free festival, which was named one of America’s top ten places to hear authentic music mississippilegends.com

Mississippi Bluesman Steve Gardner performing at last years' Sunflower Festival while home on a break from Tokyo.

The hand of blues musican T-Model Ford on his Peavey guitar.

by USA Weekend in 2008, is expecting this year to be the biggest and best yet. Among the artists slated to perform over the three days are returning festival headliners Charlie Musselwhite, winner of 14 W.C. Handy Awards and six Grammy nominations, and Bobby Rush, a Grammy nominee and self-proclaimed “King of the Chitlin’ Circuit.” “We are anticipating a record crowd of 40,000 to 50,000 here for the celebration that remains free and accessible to all thanks to our members,” said Panny Mayfield, festival publicist. Those members, she said, are volunteers made up of doctors, lawyers, librarians, secretaries, road crew workers, cooks – even a Parchman State Penitentiary prison guard. Plant’s August 11th performance marks his first appearance at the Sunflower River Festival, and is one of only two shows he will perform in North America this summer with his new band, The Sensational Space Shifters, which made its debut earlier this year. The new outfit features Patty Griffin from Plant’s Band of Joy, a Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter in her own right, as well as several members of Plant’s former backing band, Strange Sensation. This is not Plant’s first invitation to the festival, said John Sherman, a former festival co-chairman and current VIP chairman. “Robert Plant agreed last October/November, since 2012 is our 25th anniversary year. The festival organizers have been meeting twice a week since then to get ready.” The Sunflower River Blues Association is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, and Mayfield said production costs are funded by grants and contributions from the Mississippi Arts Commission, the Rock River Foundation, Coahoma Community College, Northwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center, corporations, local banks and individuals across the country. L 26

july. August 2012

mississippilegends.com

july. August 2012

Want to go? For more information, visit www.sunflowerfest.org Main Stage @ Downtown Blues Alley Friday, Aug. 10 • 4:15 – 4:45 p.m. Delta Blues Museum Band • 5 – 5:30 p.m. Rick Burton Blues Band • 5:45 – 6:30 p.m. The Sarah Metcalf Blues Band • 6:45 – 7:30 p.m. Otis “TCB” Taylor Blues • 7:45 – 8:30 p.m. Joshua “Razor Blade” Stewart • 8:45 – 9:45 p.m. O.B. Buchana • 10 – 11:30 p.m. Bobby Rush Saturday, Aug. 11, Acoustic Blues Line-up • 9 – 9:30 a.m. Arthneice “Gas Man” Jones • 9:40 – 10:10 a.m. Robert Belfour • 10:20 – 10:50 a.m. Eddie Cusic • 11:00 – 11:30 a.m. Pat Thomas • 11:40 a.m. – 12:10 p.m. Jimmy “Duck” Holmes • 12:20 – 12:50 p.m. T–Model Ford • 1 – 1:30 p.m. Sharde & the Rising Star Fife and Drum Band Electric Blues Line-up • 1:45 – 2:15 p.m. Big Dave Dunavent • 2:30 – 3 p.m. Heather Crosse: Heavy Suga’ & The Sweet Tones • 3:15 – 4 p.m. Kenny Brown • 4:15 – 5 p.m.Terry “Big T” Williams • 5:15 – 6 p.m. Bill Howlin’ Madd Perry • 6:15 – 7:15 p.m. James “Jimbo” Mathus • 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. James “Super Chikan” Johnson • 8:30 – 8:45 p.m. Award Presentations: Early Wright Blues Heritage Award, Julius Guy Gospel Heritage Award • 8:45 – 9:45 p.m. Charlie Musselwhite • 10 – 11:30 p.m. Robert Plant and The Sensational Space Shifters, including vocalist Patty Griffin; guitarist/ composer Justin Adams and West African acoustic virtuoso Juldeh Camara; keyboard artist John Baggott; guitarist Billy Fuller; and drummer Dave Smith.

*Valid Through September 1. 2012

Sunday, Aug. 12 – Gospel Stage • Vickie Winans headlines.

mississippilegends.com

ď&#x192;Š Kim Caron, left, and Ashley Prince promote the work of Mississippi artists in their Main Street Tupelo Gallery. ď&#x192;¨ Paintings by Rick Anderson, Jackson. Far right, paintings by various artists.

july. August 2012

artist profile

Caron and Prince Tupelo Art Gallery a Haven for Mississippi Artists Artist (noun): one who professes and practices an imaginative art Words and Photographs by Marianne Todd

mississippilegends.com

t’s no secret that in the world of art, the value of a piece increases substantially upon its creator’s death. But if Kim Caron and Ashley Prince have their way, Mississippi artists will long be appreciated before their art is sold estate auctions. “You don’t have to be an an expert to appreciate art, and hopefully, something will catch your eye that you cannot live without, a piece you’re drawn to, whether it’s by a famous artist or simply something you love,” says Ashley Prince, who co-owns the popular art gallery in Tupelo with her business partner, Kim Caron. “It doesn’t have to be pedigree.” Prince joined Caron in promoting Mississippi artists in 2010, a challenge Caron had single-handedly undertaken when she opened The Caron Gallery six months earlier. Now celebrating the second anniversary of the Caron Prince Gallery, the pair say they believe art – no matter what the value - should speak to the soul. “It’s so much more of an emotional response and less of an educated response,” Caron says. “Yes, it’s good to know who influenced an artist, but what emotions they put into it are what we get out of it.”

It is for this reason Prince and Caron offer their customers a wide variety in type and price of art. Pieces can be purchased from $15 to $5,000 in the Main Street Gallery. It’s a strategy that satisfies their emotional drive to represent Mississippi artists while still paying the bills. Years earlier, Caron harbored a secret love for art while she pursued a more practical degree in business. Prince also took an educational path into business while collecting one-of-akind jewelry pieces. Both women raised young children into teenagers, then combined their practical business knowledge and became partners. “It’s a good yin and yang relationship,” Caron says. “Our pros and cons balance each other out.” The gallery displays the work of painters, potters, mixed media artists, sculptors, jewelry makers and more. Shelley Smith of is one of about 40 artists represented. Taught by her father to weld, the Greenwood native began creating bowls from discarded metal and platters from 55 gallon drums, which now adorn the gallery’s walls. Her most recent show titled, “An Arsenal of Nothing,” sold out. “Mississippi artists have a different take on what they see,

  Paintings by Amy Giust, Hattiesburg.

 Pottery, also center opposite page, by Shelby Fox, Gulfport.

july. August 2012

 Drum platters by Shelly Smith, Gulf Coast. A detail is pictured far right, opposite page.

probably because they’ve always had to fight for what they have,” Caron says. “They’re very hard workers who aren’t out there to be millionaires – not that they wouldn’t – but they really want to share what they have.” Although the trend in the last six months has been in paintings, Caron says people are coming in to buy simply something they love. The passion is generated when people learn about the piece’s creator. “There’s always a story behind the piece, and people can put themselves into that story,” she says. “And when people know more about the artist and where the piece came from, they become more attached to it.” The pair are considering an expansion, and they’d like to grow the web and shipping portion of their business. Customers come from the region’s cities, Memphis, Birmingham and Jackson. They are art lovers, tourists and people in search of décor for their homes. Classes for the locals help remove the sometimes intimidating feelings associated with art buying. “People on the street say they want to be more educated before they purchase,” Caron says. “That of course isn’t everyone, but some people feel intimidated, like they should have a working knowledge of art.” Classes are not paint-by-numbers style, but rather taught by artists. Guidance is given for special projects students want to tackle or approaches or techniques they may want to learn.

Prince is a student herself. “I don’t have that side of the grain,” she says. “I never had art programs in school growing up. I didn’t have the background or know any of the elements in creating my own art. I do know that there is such a wealth of talent in our state that isn’t always appreciated – there’s a wealth of talent here that’s not being showcased as broadly as we’d like for it to be. “The gallery allows the artist to be creative while we handle the business end. With us being in a smaller town, we couldn’t be a niche gallery. So there’s something for everyone. And for our customers, it’s always free to look.” L

Want to go? The Caron Prince Gallery will host an anniversary reception Aug. 23 from 5 to 7 p.m. Visit the gallery at 122 West Main St., Tupelo, or visit it online at www.thecarongallery.com. The next scheduled show is a dual exhibit of work from artists Catron Williams and Cliff Speaks. The opening reception, on Sept. 6, is from 5 to 7 p.m.

 Mixed media boxes by Jason Lott, Byram.

mississippilegends.com

feature

i am Because

We Are Photographs and proverbs of African life win Mississippi accolades

By Joe Lee Photographs by betty press

july. August 2012

ď&#x192;Š Southern Ethiopia, 1993. Harvesting teff, Ethiopia's preferred cereal crop. The grain is ground into flour, fermented and made in to injera, a sourdough flat bread. mississippilegends.com

t’s one thing to gather an impression of a foreign country from news reports. It’s another, as University of Southern Mississippi photography professor Betty Press has done, to live in a country such as Africa and absorb what makes African people and their traditions unique. An internationally-known photojournalist whose work has been featured in Newsweek, Christian Science Monitor and major newspapers all over the country, Press self-published I Am Because We Are, a collection of riveting black and white photographs of African people going about their daily lives in their home environment. “My husband, Bob, was a writer at Christian Science Monitor and got assignments to Africa in 1987. I went with him and freelanced,” said Press, a graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan University, who previously taught at Stetson University and has been on the University of Southern Mississippi faculty since 2003. “We liked it so much we moved there and were based in Nairobi, Kenya. “I was covering a lot of hard news, and a lot of terrible things were happening there. I started out in black and white photography and feel it’s better for the subject matter. The book, which I began assembling in 2010, but which covers photographs going back 20 years, is all about normal family life and street life.” The collection of 125 photographs showcases dance, leisure, conflict and peace, religion, wisdom, children, mothers, death and hope. The overriding theme is that life goes on. “Africans have huge extended families,” Press said. “That impoverishes them, but they take care of each other.” Press has displayed her work for two decades not only in Africa but at university libraries around the southeast and at USM faculty shows. When she began exhibiting the photography that would eventually comprise I Am Because We Are, she was told that while her work was very strong, something was needed to set off the artwork. This resulted in her collaboration with Annetta Miller, who contributed a series of African proverbs that accompanies the photography. “I met Annetta when we moved to Africa,” Press said. “She’s an American, a retired Mennonite musician who taught for years and had published books of proverbs, including Strange Gifts, which is available on Amazon.com. She says Westerners come to Africa with a certain point of view about the country and don’t consider the African point of view.” The layout of the book, which took about two weeks, came together as Press and Miller worked in Miller’s garden. “The book is based in African philosophy,” Press said. “For the lay reader, the proverbs are very universal. It is a joyful book.

july. August 2012

 Northern Kenya, 1990. Maasai men dancing a traditional warrior dance.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s amazing how Betty captures these African scenes, and how these moments she has frozen speak to her eye." - Charles Price, Oddfellows Gallery

mississippilegends.com

 Southern Kenya, 1995. Two Maasai women at a blessing ceremony.

We chose the proverbs that matched the photographs. There’s an index in the back which tells when and where they were taken. I received a lot of help from a non-profit organization called Books For Africa that bought copies and has helped promote the book. Some of the proceeds from sales on my website go to Books For Africa.” 38

july. August 2012

The launch for Press’ book was at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., where copies of I Am Because We Are were displayed in a gallery at International Visions. “I was thrilled,” Press said. “They’re sold at the Library of Congress gift shop and at the Museum of African Art at the Smithsonian Institution.”

The book, which was released last fall, won the coveted Photography Award from the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters in April, and Press was honored at a ceremony in Jackson on June 12. She was nominated by George Bassi, the director of the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art in Laurel. “I have been familiar with Betty’s

work since she moved to Hattiesburg,” said Bassi, whose gallery hosted Press for a book talk and signing last fall and sells her book in its gift shop. “The first exhibition of her work I saw included both works from Africa as well as from Mississippi. My wife and I quickly purchased one of her photographs for our home. “Her work really draws you into the scene, event and landscape. I was familiar with many of her images from Africa, but the book really put them into context for me. She has an emotional connection with all of her subject matter. The photographs are complemented with terrific text. You really immerse yourself in the photos and words.” I Am Because We Are is available at Main Street Books in downtown

Hattiesburg and at Lemuria in Jackson. She has displayed at Fischer Art Gallery in Jackson’s Fondren District and at Oddfellows Art Gallery of Hattiesburg. Oddfellows, she said, is as beautiful an art gallery as one would find in New York City. “It’s amazing how Betty captures these African scenes, and how these moments she has frozen speak to her eye,” said Oddfellows owner Charles Price. “She’s someone that knows her craft and is sensitive to the scene. There are many great photographers that have the skills Betty does, but she can capture a fleeting moment in a really poignant way. Not everyone can do that. “The reception at our gallery was very well-attended, and her book has sold well. I’m proud to know her, and it’s our good fortune that we have an artist of

her caliber in Hattiesburg.” Press’ book was selected for the Top 20 Self-published Photobooks of 2011 (sponsored by the Davis Orton Gallery in Hudson, New York). “Press’s images of Africa are timeless, immediate and personally authentic. The proverbs accompany, expand and ground the pictures, ” said Alison Nordstrom, curator of photographs for the George Eastman House. “The power of this collection is that we are able to see the engaging images of the heirs of this wisdom and hear the voices of continuity, identity and legacy that affirm their communal spirit,” said Joanne Veal Gabbin, a poet and professor of English at James Madison University. Press said that working on I Am Because We Are reinforced the notion mississippilegends.com

that we keep growing and maturing as people, and should be able to – as Miller said – see points of view other than our own. “Africa grabs you. The people are struggling but still know how to enjoy life,” Press said. “The lives of the people there are improving, and African-Americans should be proud of their heritage.” L For more information about the book or to purchase copies, visit www.bettypress.com.

TOP: Baidoa, Somalia, 1992. After President Siad Barre was overthrown in 1991, civil war erupted, causing a huge famine in Somalia. Many people, including children, died before humanitarian groups were able to get food to the affected areas.

MIDDLE: Isiolo, Kenya, 1999. This Turkana mother started a small business selling kerosene as a part of a Trickle Up Kenya micro-finance project so she could send her daughter to school. She lives in a semi-arid area where houses are simple mud and thatch.

BOTTOM: Asmara, Eritrea, 1993. This was a very hopeful day to be in Asmara because Eritrea had finally received its independence from Ethiopia after a long civil war.

july. August 2012

mississippilegends.com

The Tupelo singer/songwriter hits the road with another release Words by Stephen Corbett Photographs by Marianne Todd

aul Thorn is walking a little taller these days as he makes his way from concert to concert through Tennessee and North Carolina. “Every year we’re getting better album sales. We’re also playing to bigger crowds in bigger venues,” says Thorn, who at the time of this writing was on tour with Ruthie Foster. In fact, Thorn and his band will be playing every day of the next four weeks with the exception of Mondays. “I’m usually on the road about 180 days a year. But if you’ve got a business, and this is a business, and you want it to keep growing, then you’ve got to work at it,” he says. “And if you’ve got a business that’s working, you should be thankful.” And his is a business that is definitely growing. Thorn’s latest album, “What the Hell is Goin’ On?” made its way into the Billboard Top 100 during its first week of release. As of mid-June it was sitting at No. 6 on the Americana Charts and has been steadily climbing. This is Thorn’s second consecutive album to debut in the Billboard Top 100. His 2010 release “Pimps and Preachers” was his first album to achieve this feat

july. August 2012

music feature

ď&#x192;Ź Paul Thorn performing songs from his latest release, "What the Hell is Goin' On?" mississippilegends.com

 Thorn performing at the MSU Riley Center in Meridian, a tour stop with fellow musician Ruthie Foster.

and also topped the Americana Charts for three weeks. “It’s remarkable, and I’m very proud of it,” Thorn says. “It’s a big deal to hit that high on Billboard doing the kind of music we do especially when you’re on your own label.” Thorn, who was born in Kenosha, Wis., but moved to Tupelo as an infant, is a Southern songwriter who tells stories with a novelist’s eye to detail. He plays a very gritty and funky style of blues and rock with folk and country undercurrents. Like fellow Americana artist Steve Earle, he was in his 30’s before he released his debut album. Unlike Earle, however, Thorn took several professional detours before turning to music as a career. He spent some time in the 1980s as a professional boxer, winning the Mid-South Middleweight Championship in Memphis and fighting a nationally televised fight with former world champion

july. August 2012

Roberto Durán in Atlantic City in 1988. After retiring from boxing, he began working in a furniture factory by day and playing music by night. His first band, the White Tornadoes, played its one and only gig in 1989 at the Tupelo Civic Center as the opening act for then popular country band Shenandoah, for whom his cousin Stan Thorn was playing keyboards. Despite the fact that music wasn’t his first career choice, it was something that was inherent from childhood. Like so many musicians from the deep South, Thorn first fell in love with music in the church. “My father was a Pentecostal preacher, so my earliest and biggest musical influence was church music. I was in both white churches and black churches, and you can hear the music from both in the kind of music I make,” Thorn says in a thick, Southern drawl. “The

music in black churches was very R&B and blues-based, while the music in the white churches was more country and western in nature. At some point, gospel music became what they call contemporary Christian music, and that doesn’t do anything for me. But that old gospel music is what I really love.” After being discovered by Miles Copeland in a Tupelo pizzeria, Thorn was signed to A&M Records and released his debut album “Hammer and Nail” in 1997. “It seemed like a great thing at the time, but it turned out to be more like a cruel joke. A major label promises you exposure and they finance your record, but they really just keep you in debt. Plus the downside of somebody else financing your record is that you end up having to sing what they want you to sing and how. And it’s usually somebody who doesn’t even know you or know what you’re about or what your sound is. “But in the end, it was one of the best things I ever did, because it gave me the inspiration to start my own record label – Perpetual Obscurity. I am in charge of the way my albums sound and what they look like. And I’m selling more records now on my own than I ever was then.” In 1999, Thorn moved to Copeland’s Ark 21 Records for his next release, “Ain’t Love Strange,” but took complete control of the proceedings. “‘Ain’t Love Strange’ is definitely my favorite album of mine, because of the importance of it. It was the first time we did it on our own. That was a very pivotal moment for us, because we realized that we could actually do it.” The album also contains his favorite composition, “Have a Good Day.” “That was inspired by a friend of mine who was broken-hearted over a girl. He took it hard, so I talked to him one day and asked how he was, and he said, ‘I have a good day every now and then.’ And I thought that was brilliant, but it also gave me hope. After he said that, I thought he was doing better. Not long after that he shot himself. To me, it’s a positive song, because it keeps him alive. But it’s also full of hope. It’s not all dark. I have a good day, every now and then.” For his next release, “Mission Temple Fireworks Stand,” Thorn started his Perpetual Obscurity label, which is where he has released all of his subsequent albums. This also marks the first time that he drew his album cover, something he has subsequently done on “Pimps and Preachers” and “What the Hell is Going On?” He also released a coffee table book of his artwork which features a forward by Mike Judge. Over the years, Thorn’s songwriting has attracted the attention of other artists. “Sawyer Brown had a lot of success with “800 Pound Jesus.”

“

My father was a pentecostal preacher, so my earliest and biggest musical influence was church music. I was in both white churches and black churches, and you can hear the music from both in the kind of music I make.” Since forming his own record labe l, Perpetual Obscurity, Thorn has begu n selling more records.

mississippilegends.com

They’ve actually cut about five or six of my songs. I’ve never had anything go to number one, but I have had quite a bit of success from other artists. It makes you feel good, too, that somebody likes what you’ve written well enough to record it themselves. I don’t always like how the record sounds, but I always like walking to the mailbox and getting the check,” he laughs. In an industry where so many artists are trying to be everything to everyone and sound like they’re reading from scripts, a matter-of-fact Thorn cuts straight to the point. When asked about having played Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and his upcoming performance on The Late Show with David Letterman, he says he’d rather be playing on NPR’s All Things Considered. “The late shows are fun, but they don’t sell records. People watching late night television are mostly channel flippers. If they see you play, it’s just because they happened to flip over to you from something else, and once the commercial comes on, they’re flipping again. Unless there’s something controversial or sexy about what you’re doing, they’re not likely to pay much attention to it. “The impact of NPR is gigantic. The people who listen to these shows love them, and they listen to the same shows each week. They actually listen. Anytime we’ve done NPR, we’ve sold a boatload of CDs on the internet almost immediately. People watching you on late night TV just aren’t as likely to do that.” Thorn’s business model is working as he’s gone from opening acts as diverse as Ronnie Milsap, Sting, Marianne Faithful, Robert Cray, Toby Keith and Jeff Beck to headlining his own tours. “When you’re on a stage, you should think of yourself as more than just a musician or a songwriter – you’re an entertainer. I consider myself an entertainer, and because of that I can connect with any audience and cross lines into many different genres – well, maybe not hip-hop or children’s music – but most everything else. “I enjoyed being a supporting act, but it is nice to know that I’ve built up enough of an audience that I’m able to do it on my own now. But if the right artist came along and asked – ya know, like Tom Petty – I’d be all over it. I feel like my music would really fit

july. August 2012

with his and speak to his audience, and it’d be a great way to gain new fans.” And Thorn is gaining a lot of new fans these days as the video for the title track of his latest album has been added to regular rotation on CMT. The album itself is a bit of a departure for Thorn and is a concept that may have had longtime fans initially scratching their heads and echoing its title, “What the Hell is Goin’ On?” “It’s my tenth album. On the previous albums, I wrote everything, and people are always asking me what I listen to and what songwriters I like. So this gave me a chance to take a break from myself and play some of these songs that I love. Every one of these songs were written from the heart by songwriters who write from the heart. But we made sure that we did them with our style. “The title track is doing well for us. My good friend Elvin Bishop wrote that song and plays on it. I was hanging out with him on his back porch one day and he played it for me. It blew me away. It’s very powerful, and all about the times we’re living in today. These are very troubled and turbulent times.” The song “Take My Love With You” is another stand-out track on the record, as it expresses Thorn’s own feelings about life on the road. “It takes a toll on you. Some people in this business don’t want what they have at home. I have two daughters and a wife who I love very much. For me, the most thrilling thing is when I get to go home and see my family. There are many times that I leave with tears streaming down my face. They’ve come out a few times, but very rarely, because it isn’t a vacation – it’s a lot of work. “And home is still Tupelo. I love it and I love what I do. And growing up in Mississippi has everything to do with what I’m doing today. If we’d have stayed in Wisconsin, I don’t even know where I’d be. I am pretty sure I would never have had a music career. Hell, I’d probably be working at McDonald’s.” His schedule has Thorn touring almost non-stop until the end of the year, and will find him as part of Delbert McClinton’s Sandy Beaches Cruise in January. While still promoting an album less than a month old, he isn’t yet thinking about the next record but promises it will find him back behind the pen. L

ď&#x192;Ť Thorn infuses humor into his performances, sharing with audiences a bit of the history behind his songs.

mississippilegends.com

Meridianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newest nightclub opens to seasoned musicians, blues and jazz enthusiasts Words and Photographs by Marianne Todd

july. August 2012

feature

New Faces club owners are, from left to right, Dr. Benny Wright, Dr. Ronnye Purvis and Donovan Brown. Seated is CEO Felecia Brown. mississippilegends.com

 Terry Lee Poole with The Goatees performs on opening night.  A larger room to the rear of the club doubles as a reception or party venue.

july. August 2012

 Music “zones” offer customers a variety in music choices with the sound system designed to offer various music genres from room to room.

verything is abuzz on the corner of 22nd Avenue and Ninth Street in Meridian. Anticipation bubbles through the air as the paper sheets hiding the view of the city’s newest nightclub, Faces, are peeled from its over-sized windows. In a few hours, the staff will welcome well-dressed guests for opening night. On stage the band is fine-tuning its sound. Behind the bar, Dr. Ronnye Purvis is readying glassware. With a cellphone to his ear, Donovan Brown, one of the owners, is walking from room to room going over final details. “This is a small town, and with our history and background there’s a lot of misconceptions of who people are and how they interact with one another,” Purvis says. “This is a great way to bring people together with diverse characters and backgrounds into one location so that everyone says, ‘Who are you?’ and ‘What are you all about?’” Purvis, an obstetrician of 22 years, delivered more than 11,000 babies before delving into nightclub ownership with Brown and third partner fellow obstetrician Benny Wright. The transcendent nature of music and the need to relax is what sold him on the idea. The club is neither black or white, male or female, white collar or blue collar. In short, it’s a relaxing place to go for a drink and bite of food – and incredible music. Located in the heart of the Meridian downtown development area, the club anchors the north end of the entertainment district, enhancing the burgeoning effort there to get people off the couch and into the vein of the entertainment culture which pumped the city in its heyday. Brown developed Faces after a four-year stint promoting a younger hip-hop after hours club proved exhausting. “I guess as I grew in the club, my age grew as well. I made plenty of money, but it got out of hand. I’d spend all my money and energy getting great acts in, MTV acts, and before you know it, someone is fighting in the parking lot,” he says. “So I closed the club but kept

promoting acts in different venues around town.” Tired of late night drama, he opted for a classy club that would boast superb music and a relaxing atmosphere for a more sophisticated clientele, “Somewhere that you can feel comfortable bringing a spouse out for some good music, a laid-back place.” After merging with Purvis and Wright, the three put the plan into action with Brown’s mother (and nurse practitioner) Felicia Brown as CEO. They rented the building from Meridian businessman David Purvis and began a renovation that included painting inside and out, a new granite bar, furniture, lighting and flooring. They also consulted with Hartley Peavey, Founder and CEO of Peavey Electronics, to insure uncompromising sound for the jazz, blues and R&B acts performing there. “Hartley was the best. He helped us out tremendously,” Donovan Brown says. “It may take a minute to catch on, but this is Faces, like Cheers where, ‘Everybody knows your name.’ Here, they ‘Know your face.’” Wright, who went to medical school in his 20s in New York City, says he’s reliving a bit of his younger years in college. “I have a love for music, and I do like to have a good time. But what I’m really enjoying is seeing the cultural skyline of Meridian enhanced.” Brown, Purvis and Wright designed the club with “zones” offering differing music and atmospheres. Guests may want to relax to live jazz in the front room or groove to some soulful R&B in another room. The sound systems are designed so that various music can be played seamlessly from room to room. “It’s a relaxing environment with choices,” Purvis says. “It’s non-conflicting variety. It’s a unique nature.” Wide screen televisions allow guests to view the live band from any room, and a larger back room can be opened up as a dance floor, or rented as a private room for rehearsal dinners, wedding receptions or private parties. Full catering services are available, Brown says. mississippilegends.com

Nightclub food includes bar foods of shrimp and chicken, oysters on the half shell, hand-breaded crawfish tails, mini muffaletta, jumbo crab claws, hand-made crab cakes, hot wings and other finger foods. A full bar provides any drink imaginable, including the signature drinks of veteran bartender Ron Antinore. During day hours the rear of the venue is open for breakfast with bacon, sausage, grits, hash browns, eggs and biscuits. Lunch is provided with club sandwiches, hamburgers and grilled chicken. Once the staff has resolved all opening quirks and business is well underway, Phase II of the Faces project will begin. “That would be the renovation of the second floor,” Brown says. “It’ll make a great ballroom for the more expensive artists – the House of Blues sort.” L

Want to go? Faces is open for breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. The club opens back up at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday for drinks and dining. Cover charge begins one hour prior to band start up of 8 p.m. For more information, visit  Terry Lee Poole with The Goatees. The club hosts jazz, blues and rhythm and blues.

 Faces’ owners designed a welcoming, relaxing atmosphere.

july. August 2012

www.facesjazzblues.com

mississippilegends.com

july. August 2012

cuisine

Brunch dishes inspire cravings at Starkville’s

Restaurant Tyler Words and Photographs by Marianne Todd

ust as soon as the sun kisses plump tomatoes into ripeness, Chef Johnathan “Ty” Thames is ready to receive them in his kitchen at Restaurant Tyler. In fact, the farm-to-table practice is standard at the popular downtown Starkville restaurant. Thames hand picks his own farm animals, produce for salads, potatoes, eggs, pecans, syrups – everything homegrown by Mississippi farmers for use in his restaurant. “It’s a mentality of ‘eat local, buy local’ to support the community,” he says. “And I really love Mississippi. I want to highlight it in the best possible way.” Pork from Sansing Farms of Maben is cured in the kitchen, sweet potatoes are baked fresh from Vardaman, chicken is fried fresh and eggs are cooked from Beaverdam Farms in Indianola, salads are tossed fresh from the daily produce brought into the restaurant by local farmers. “That’s what a restaurant should be, not cookie cutter,” Thames

says. “We should create dishes from what we have available – improvisation cooking. You cannot predict what God is going to do. You take what he gives you and make the best out of it.” As a testament to his conviction, Thames bears a tattoo on his arm that invites people to ‘Eat Local.’ His philosophy is inclusive of foods that are not contaminated with chemicals or hormones - organic produce, cows that are allowed to roam free on pastureland and chickens that aren’t cooped in cages. Thames’ grass-fed burgers are complemented by a farm fresh egg and thick-cut, smoked bacon. The dish is just one of many that has earned Thames a coveted reputation as having the best brunch in the state. The fare includes Steak and Eggs, Corned Beef Hash and the popular Red Eye, egg-soaked homemade brioche bread stuffed with a fried egg on a bed of potatoes topped with either Hollandaise sauce or the restaurant’s own “Tyler Syrup.” The homemade brioche is repeated in the stuffed French toast with a mississippilegends.com

You cannot predict what God is going to do. You take what he gives you and make the best out of it.â&#x20AC;? 56

july. August 2012

Eggs Benedict with grilled chicken and Hollandaise sauce

Southern Omelet with bacon, caramelized onions, roasted sweet potatoes and cream cheese.

mississippilegends.com

july. August 2012

toasted pecan cheesecake filling and a dressing of maple custard sauce and powdered sugar. Also on the menu are waffles with seasonal berry coulis, almond cream and fresh fruit or ice cream with cherry-whipped cream, candied pecans and fresh fruit. Buttermilk pancakes are topped with Vermont maple syrup or Mississippi molasses. Salads include a roasted beet salad made from locally grown beets, melon, Gorgonzola cheese, house-smoked bacon, tomato, salad greens and a roasted tomato vinaigrette. Eggs Benedict is a specialty, Thames says, with versions such as the B.L.T. Benedict, Eggs Benedict Po Boy with grilled chicken and Hollandaise sauce, Sausage Biscuit Benedict with Parmesan cheese and Hollandaise sauce and Buttermilk Biscuit Dish with a homemade biscuit, house-made cranberry preserves and house-cured bacon. Signature omelets are the Crawditty, a cheddar cheese omelet drowned in crawfish etoufee sauce, a Southern Omelet with bacon, caramelized onions, roasted sweet potatoes and cream cheese and The Shroom with sauteed mushrooms, onions, cheddar cheese and truffle oil. Blue Plates include fried chicken, hamburger steak and Delta catfish. Thames became interested in the culinary arts at age 15. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi with a degree in hospitality management, he furthered his career at the New England Culinary Institute in Vermont. From there, he headed to Italy to apprentice under Chief Leonardo of Maria Luigi Restaurant. Back home in the States, Thames worked at the Ritz

Carlton Hotel and at the Italian restaurant Centro in Bethesda, MD. Eventually, he returned to Mississippi, a world-traveled and seasoned chef eager to blend his worldly culinary expertise with that of Southern fare. “A friend had told me about a great spot in the Cotton District, so I sold everything I owned and came home,” he said. “I lived in a friend’s apartment and slept on a mattress on the floor for a year.” That first restaurant, BIN 612, would be one of four owned by Thames. Rock Bottom and Zorba’s also complement the Starkville grid. All four adhere to his ‘eat local, buy local’ mantra and practice using whole foods – farm-fresh organic produce and grain-fed, freerange methods. Chemicals and hormones are not on the menu. It’s part of a civic responsibility, he says, and one that must be taught to others. “School children today need to learn about farming and where food comes from,” he says. “It’s a very natural way to eat, but most customers know it just tastes good.” L

Want to go? Located at 100 East Main St., Starkville Hours: Monday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday – Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. www.EatLocalStarkville.com

 OPPOSITE, TOP LEFT: Stuffed French toast made with homemade brioche, toasted pecans and a maple syrup. OPPOSITE, TOP RIGHT: The Tyler burger made from grass-fed cattle and topped with house cured bacon and a farm fresh egg.

 OPPOSITE, BOTTOM LEFT: The Red Eye with home-made brioche stuffed with a fried egg on a bed of potatoes and slathered in Hollandaise sauce. OPPOSITE, BOTTOM RIGHT: Bacon is cured in the kitchen.

mississippilegends.com

music feature

the sweet sound of success Delta Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s music recording mecca rolls into the future by tricia walker photographs by joe worthem 60

july. August 2012

ď&#x192;Ź DMI's Mobile Music Lab, a 28-foot bus, is equipped with music technology computer stations, audio/video software and a complete digital recording environment. ď&#x192;Ş Singer/songwriter Trica Walker heads the Delta Music Institute at Delta State University.

mississippilegends.com

“we’re rolling …. ” Traditionally, these are the words an audio engineer utters when a recording session is about to begin. Think of your favorite music in whatever format it may be - LP, 45, eight-track, cassette, CD, mp3 – and consider the effort it took, both creatively and technically, to have that music reach you as a music lover. Up until recently, young Mississippians had to leave our state in order to try and learn about the intricacies of the music industry. Not any more. The Delta Music Institute (DMI) at Delta State University in Cleveland is quickly becoming a recording destination in the region, one that is producing the next generation of Mississippi musicians and music industry professionals. With the music industry being entrepreneurial by nature, multiple skill sets are required. The program uses a unique interdisciplinary approach to acquire those skills – the same ones I learned by trial and error during the course of my career. The DMI, a recording arts and music industry studies program, is now in its seventh year with about 60 students taking courses in music business, audio engineering, songwriting, production, tour promotion and other areas of the music industry. The DMI, housed in Whitfield Hall on Delta State’s campus, contains

july. August 2012

three exceptional recording studios designed by award-winning producer and engineer Norbert Putnam. Studio A, a large-format tracking room featuring a Neve console, is capable of holding a 150-piece choir or orchestra, and is one of the few studios of this scope in the eastern United States. Studio B, a more contemporary room featuring an Avid digital ICON console, has space versatile enough to record and mix various types of ensembles in 5.1 surround sound. Studio C, a demo project studio, doubles as a classroom environment. Music industry professionals agree the recording process happens at a true crossroads -- a collaborative effort uniquely blending art and science to achieve the desired vision and goal of an artist. As Putnam said, “Classes at the DMI will remind students of the rich musical heritage of the Mississippi Delta. Graduates will be encouraged to take bits and pieces of that history, combine it with their own personal talents, and hopefully, create the next great chapter of Mississippi music.” The DMI offers a bachelor of science in music industry studies, two concentrations of music and entertainment industry courses leading to a bachelor of science in interdisciplinary studies and a concentration of courses in sound recording technology leading to a bachelor of arts in music with an emphasis in sound recording technology (SRT). The DMI studios are made available to the public in order for

“Grammy award-winning artists Keb’ Mo’, Ashley Cleveland, Marty Stuart, Amy Grant and Kathy Mattea have visited the DMI facilities and interacted with students.”

students to learn and apply the art and science of recording in real world situations. Grammy award-winning artists Keb’ Mo’, Ashley Cleveland, Marty Stuart, Amy Grant and Kathy Mattea have visited the DMI facilities and interacted with students. Other music industry professionals continue to provide an intimate exchange of information as guests of the “DMI All Access Series” throughout the academic year. DMI develops and promotes two commercial music ensembles. Ol’ Skool Revue plays the hits of R & B, soul, blues and funk while DeltaRoX performs hits from the classic rock genre. Both groups perform throughout the Southeast. A residential DMI summer camp grooms 15- to 18-year-old aspiring music industry professionals in areas of audio engineering, performance and singer/songwriter, culminating in a full recording session and a live showcase at the Bologna Performing Arts Center on the campus of Delta State. And DMI is literally rolling now with the DMI Mobile Music Lab, a 28-foot bus equipped with music technology computer stations, audio/ video software and a complete digital recording environment. Initially funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, its mission is to nurture creativity, complement curriculum and empower students with knowledge of the rich, musical heritage of Mississippi musicians. Students create original songs, recordings and videos based on a modular

curriculum developed through the DMI. The DMI will soon enjoy a close connection to the first licensed affiliate of the Grammy Museum. The 20,000 -square-foot, $12 million project, to be constructed in Cleveland near campus, pays an honorable tribute to Grammy winners from Mississippi, the home of more Grammy winners per capita than any other state. The art of music and the science of recording combined with the history, mystique and vibrant culture of the Mississippi Delta creates a unique situation in which to honor the past and embrace the future of music technology and the recording arts. Everything’s in place … the red light is on …. we’re rolling. Tricia Walker

For more information, contact the Delta Music Institute at (662) 846-4579 or visit dmi.deltastate.edu. Tricia Walker, a native of Fayette in Jefferson County, spent 26 years in the music industry in Nashville as a singer, songwriter, musician, producer and publisher before returning to Mississippi in 2006 to lead the Delta Music Institute.

mississippilegends.com

july. August 2012

What’s shakin’ around the state? biloxi Jul 27&28.................Air Supply - Hard Rock Casino - www.hardrockbiloxi.com - (228) 374-7625 Jul 28.......................The Ultimate Doo-Wop Show - IP Casino Resort & Spa - www.ipbiloxi.com - (800) 436-3000 Aug 3.......................Brian McKnight - Hard Rock Casino - www.hardrockbiloxi.com - (228) 374-7625 Aug 4.......................Paul Revere and the Raiders - IP Casino Resort & Spa - www.ipbiloxi.com - (800) 436-3000 Aug 10.....................Vicki Lawrence - IP Casino Resort & Spa - www.ipbiloxi.com - (800) 436-3000 Aug 11.....................Kris Kristofferson - IP Casino Resort & Spa - www.ipbiloxi.com - (800) 436-3000 Aug 17.....................Delbert McClinton - Hard Rock Casino - www.hardrockbiloxi.com - (228) 374-7625 Aug 17.....................Meat Loaf - IP Casino Resort & Spa - www.ipbiloxi.com - (800) 436-3000 Aug 18.....................Duran Duran - Hard Rock Casino - www.hardrockbiloxi.com - (228) 374-7625 Aug 18.....................Clint Black - IP Casino Resort & Spa - www.ipbiloxi.com - (800) 436-3000 Aug 24.....................Ted Nugent - Hard Rock Casino - www.hardrockbiloxi.com - (228) 374-7625 Aug 24.....................B.B. King - Beau Rivage Casino - http://www.beaurivage.com – (228) 386-7444 Aug 25.....................Mickey Gilley - IP Casino Resort & Spa - www.ipbiloxi.com - (800) 436-3000

clarksdale Jul 28.......................Reba Russell Blues Band - Ground Zero Blues Club - www.groundzerobluesclub.com - (662) 621-9009 Aug 10.....................Stacey Mitchhart Blues Band - Ground Zero Blues Club - www.groundzerobluesclub.com - (662) 621-9009 Aug 10-12................Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival - Clarksdale - www.sunflowerfest.org – (662) 902-2587 or 662-627-6820 Aug 12.....................Cat Head Mini Festival II - Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art, Inc. - www.cathead.biz/ - (662) 624-5992

corinth Aug 3-5....................“Footloose” - Corinth Theatre Arts - www.corinththeatrearts.com/ - (662) 287-2995

hattiesburg Jul 28.......................The Dirty Bourbon River Show - Benny’s Boom Boom Room – www.bennysboomboomroom.com - (601) 544-7757

indianola Every Sat.................Live Blues in Lucille’s! - B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center - www.bbkingmuseum.org/ - (662) 887-9539 Aug 22.....................B.B. King Homecoming - B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center - www.bbkingmuseum.org/ - (662) 887-9539

jackson Every Mon Night....Central MS Blues Society Band - Hal and Mal’s - www.halandmals.com - (601) 948-0888 Jul 27.......................Lucky Hand Blues Band - Hal and Mal’s - www.halandmals.com - (601) 948-0888 Jul 28.......................Top of the Hops Beer Festival - Jackson Convention Complex - www.topofthehopsbeerfest.com Jul 30.......................38th Annual Jackson Music Awards - Jackson Marriott - www.jmaainc.com/RB.html - (601) 969-5100 Jul 31.......................American Idol Live! Tour 2012 - Mississippi Coliseum ................................www.mdac.state.ms.us/departments/ms_fair_commission/upcoming-events.asp - (601) 53-0603 Aug 2.......................Rambling Steve Gardner and the Jericho Road Show - 119 Gallery - www.119gallery.com – (601) 918-3232

mississippilegends.com

Aug 11.....................Bright Lights, Belhaven Nights! - Historic Belhaven - www.greaterbelhaven.com/gbnf/gbnf_BrightLights.php Aug 10-12................Southern Crossroads Music and Tamale Festival - Mississippi State Fairgrounds – www.tamalefest.com/ - 855-61-BLUES Aug 14.....................Music in the City - Mississippi Museum of Art - www.msmuseumart.org – (601) 960-1515 Aug 16.....................Dead Irish Blues - Fenian’s Pub - www.fenianspub.com - (601) 948-0055

meridian Aug 10.....................Robert Randolph and The Family Band - MSU Riley Center - www.msurileycenter.com - (601) 696-2200

natchez Jul 27-29..................Natchez Food & Wine Festival - Various Locations – www.natchezfoodandwinefest.com

oxford Aug 10.....................Yocona International Folk Festival - www.yoconafestival.org – (662) 238=2630 Aug 18.....................Black Oak Arkansas - Rooster’s Blues House – www.roostersblueshouse.com - (662) 236-7970 Aug 30.....................Justin Moore - Lyric Theatre - www.thelyricoxford.com – (662) 234-5333

pearl Aug 10-12 & 17-19..“Lend Me A Tenor” - Actor’s Playhouse - www.actorsplayhouse.net – (601) 664-0930

philadelphia Jul 27-Aug 3............Neshoba County Fair - Neshoba County Fairgrounds - www.neshobacountyfair.org – (601) 656.8480

purvis Jul - 27-28................Lamar County Bluegrass Fest - Lamar County Community Shelter - www.lamarcounty.com - (601) 794.3406

southaven Aug 17.....................Brad Paisley - Snowden Grove Amphitheater – www.snowdengroveamphitheater.com - (662) 892-2660 Aug 18.....................10th Annual Memphis Tri-State Blues Festival - Landers Center - www.landerscenter.com - (662) 470-2131

tunica Aug 18.....................The Oak Ridge Boys - Gold Strike Casino - www.goldstrikemississippi.com - (888) 245-7529 Aug 22-25................Trigger Proof - Gold Strike Casino - www.goldstrikemississippi.com - (888) 245-7529

tupelo Aug 9.......................Down on Main Free Summer Concert Series - Fairpark Amphitheater - www.tupelo.net/- (662) 841-6598

vicksburg Jul 27&28.................Memphis All Stars - Ameristar Casino - www.ameristar.com - (866) 667-3386 Jul 29.......................Bill “Howl-N-Madd” Perry - Ameristar Casino - www.ameristar.com - (866) 667-3386 Aug 17-19................“West Side Story” - Parkside Playhouse - www.vicksburgtheatreguild.com – (601) 636-0471 Aug 24&25..............Ricky Lynn Gregg - Ameristar Casino - www.ameristar.com - (866) 667-3386 Aug 31.....................Rambling Steve Gardner and the Jericho Road Show - Ameristar Casino - www.ameristar.com - (866) 667-3386

west point Aug 31.....................Howlin’ Wolf Memorial Blues Festival - Mary Holmes College Auditorium - www.wpnet.org/Howlin_Wolf.htm - 662-605-0770

july. August 2012

mississippilegends.com

july. August 2012