Natchez Burning – The terrible fire in Natchez Mississippi that killed 209 people.

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I had only heard about the terrible fire from the Howlin’ Wolf record which I first heard as a teenager. I never thought I would actually get to visit the site and see where the tragedy had happened.

Here’s Howlin’ Wolf’s poignant song.

The Natchez Burning – YouTube

The Blues Trail – Hits The Hill Country in Mississippi – Howlin’ Wolf

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I was too late to catch RL Burnside or Junior Kimbrough. All that was left was the markers, statues and a museum that was shut. But I breathed the air.

Slim Harpo’s Grave in Baton Rouge

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James Moore – the great Slim Harpo who produced those wonderful swamp blues numbers – is buried in a little overgrown graveyard in Baton Rouge.

Ail on King Bee!

Slim Harpo – I’m a King Bee – YouTube

The Blues Trail – Hitting Memphis

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Memphis felt like the middle of something! Pretty wild!!

Some of the monuments and Markers from The Blues Trail in Mississippi (Plus a few) – Pt 4

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This was a pilgrimage that I was making to connect with all those old guys who had given me so much! Fabulous. We had to hunt them all out!

Some of the monuments and Markers from The Blues Trail in Mississippi (Plus a few) – Pt 3

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We stopped off at the Highway 61 Museum and met Pat Thomas (James ‘Son’ Thomas’s son. He played for us!

Some of the monuments and Markers from The Blues Trail in Mississippi (Plus a few) – Pt 2

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If you are not into the Blues I’d give this one a miss!!

Touring around Mississippi was great. The trail took us right off the beaten track into the small outback towns. We saw so much.

To be able to stand where these guys stood gave me a sense of what it had been like.

Some of the monuments and Markers from The Blues Trail in Mississippi (Plus a few) – Pt 1

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My daughter got a job in Louisiana. When we went to stay we were able to hire a car and spent a fabulous week touring around Mississippi looking up the graves, venues and markers of all the fabulous Blues guys.

Today’s Music to keep me SssSAaaaANNnNneEE in Isolation – Big Bill Broonzy

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I first heard Big Bill when I was fourteen/fifteen. I had a girlfriend called Viv who had an older brother who was into Big Bill and Woody Guthrie. I lost contact with Viv but Bill and Woody have stayed with me for life!!

Big Bill Broonzy – All the Best (FULL ALBUM – BEST OF COUNTRY BLUES) – YouTube

Today’s Music to keep me SsSsaaaaANNnnNeEEE in Isolation – Lightnin’ Hopkins

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The first Blues I ever heard was when I was fourteen. My friend Dick Brunning played me this album of Lightnin’ Hopkins called Lightnin’ Strikes. It was just Lightnin’ Hopkins, an electric guitar and some bottle tops nailed to his shoes. It was very echoey and atmospheric. I loved those guitar runs.

This isn’t that album

Lightnin- Hopkins – Lightnin- Strikes (1966) – YouTube