Feeling the Music Straight from Its Origin

The southern region of the U.S. is the birthplace of this unique art form, the blues. A relative of gospel, soul, and rock ‘n’ roll, the blues was born in thousands of rented fields, humble shacks, and taverns. This rhythm gave voice to the hopes, despair, and impossible desires of the poor, dispossessed, and marginalized population of the southern part of the country. The origins of the blues and important points in its trajectory, from the early 20th century, through a series of destinations spread across three states and two major festivals.• Memphis, Tennessee: The gastronomy, history, and tradition of Memphis move to the sound of two soundtracks: the waters of the mighty Mississippi River and the live music clubs scattered throughout the cities. As soon as you arrive in Memphis, you will discover that country and western music are not the only genres that originated in Tennessee. Visit the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, which shows a bit of the origins of the blues, and the Stax Museum of American Soul, where you will learn about the great names of the genre. The audio guide of Beale Street nearby talks about the advancement of the blues, from small towns to the big city.Also nearby, on South Main Street, the Blues Foundation showcases artifacts and the Blues Hall of Fame, filled with art items. Still in the downtown area, Sun Studio transports you to the place where B.B. King, Sleepy John Estes, and Howlin’ Wolf recorded their music.• Tunica, Mississippi: You will arrive in Tunica County via U.S. Highway 61, the original “blues route,” which defined the city and inspired various artists. Learn about the history of the highway at the Gateway to the Blues Visitor Center & Museum, located in a train station from 1895. On-site, a sign from the Mississippi Blues Trail provides details about the original route. In Tunica, pay attention to the Blues Trail signs. There are signs dedicated to “Son” House and “Hardface” Clanton.• Helena, Arkansas: The city of Helena has a rich tradition in blues, just like the Mississippi River that surrounds it. The best place to admire the city is the Delta Cultural Center, where the stations play music from singers of the Mississippi Delta region. To make the most of the experience, try to catch a live broadcast of the King Biscuit Time radio show. As expected, you can also hear a lot of live blues around here. Try to visit the area during the King Biscuit Blues Festival, which takes place every year on the second weekend of October and features performances from big names like Bonnie Raitt and Bobby Rush.• Clarksdale, Mississippi: Clarksdale is a highlight of the blues trail for various reasons: its vibrant live music scene, its notable museums and festivals, and the corner known as The Crossroads, where the legendary blues figure Robert Johnson supposedly sold his soul to the devil to learn to play the blues. Be sure to check out the Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art, a store for blues enthusiasts and curious visitors. Also visit the Rock & Blues Museum or the Delta Blues Museum, where you can see the ruins of Muddy Waters’ cabin and John Lee Hooker’s guitars. There are also various festivals in Clarksdale, such as the Juke Joint Festival, the Delta Busking Festival, and the Pinetop Perkins Homecoming. To enjoy live music performances year-round, visit the Ground Zero Blues Club. You might also try to catch a performance by Robert “Wolfman” Belfour at Red’s Lounge.• Greenville, Mississippi: Visits to the Mississippi Delta region are only complete with a stop in Greenville, a bustling city where the sounds of blues spread across the river and fertile fields. The Walnut Street Blues Bar is a modern venue that hosts live blues performances. The Mighty Mississippi Music Festival emphasizes local artists like Eden Brent, Cedric Burnside, and others. Enjoy the themed murals in Leland and give a shout-out to Pat Thomas at the Highway 61 Blues Museum, where the songwriter creates music in the blues rhythm and blues-inspired artwork.• Indianola, Mississippi: As soon as you arrive in Indianola, you will feel that everything reminds you of B.B. King. He is in the clubs, the festivals, and the monuments that honor and demonstrate love for the city’s musician. The life of the legend, from farmer to blues star, is told at the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center. Outside, historical plaques lead visitors to important places in B.B. King’s life, from the corner where he earned his first change singing the blues to the famous Club Ebony. Look for the statue in honor of B.B. King in the park named after the singer and the mural depicting him.• Jackson, Mississippi: The streets resonate with the sounds of great names today, such as Bobby Rush, a member of the blues hall of fame who lived and recorded in the city, as well as other names who no longer live in Jackson, like pianist Otis Spann. Otis was one of many artists who performed at the Alamo Theater, a restored venue located on historic Farish Street, in the city’s African American neighborhood. Visit the theater or look for the plaques to learn a bit about the former locations of Ace Records and Trumpet Records. If you want to visit places that are still in operation, check out the Queen of Hearts.• New Orleans, Louisiana: The dynamic and multicultural tradition of New Orleans has given rise to various musical styles that remain in the region and whose sounds fill the streets of the city to this day. The Faubourg Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods, especially along Frenchmen Street, are filled with live music venues that play zydeco, jazz, gospel, soul, and, of course, blues. Blues artists settled in New Orleans long ago, and Little Freddie King continues to perform in the city. Check the schedule at the House of Blues and Rock ‘n’ Bowl. Try to attend the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, an event where you can hear all the musical styles associated with the city. The musical legacy of the city known as the “Big Easy” is so important that even the region’s airport is named after the legendary jazz trumpeter Louis Armstrong.Source: www.visiteusa.com.br