(CLARKSDALE, MS) -- This April, dozens of Delta Blues greats from Mississippi and beyond will converge in Clarksdale, Mississippi to play their hearts out to blues fans around the world. The event, dubbed America’s Delta Blues: The Blessissippi Crossroads Concert, is an effort by philanthropic media organization explore.org and the Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale to raise attention around the value of music and music technology education in the Mississippi Delta region, and to benefit the America’s Delta Blues Scholarship Fund at Delta State University. Acclaimed actor/narrator Morgan Freeman and explore.org founder Charlie Annenberg Weingarten will be on hand to host the night, which will be broadcast live nationwide on LINK TV and streamed live globally via explore.org and delayed and/or live on XM Radio’s Bluesville Channel.
The Blessissippi Crossroads Concert will feature some of the best blues and Delta Blues acts on the scene today including performances by Bobby Keys and Sugar Blue of the Rolling Stones, Bill Payne of Little Feat, Grammy nominated singer Maria Muldaur, Albert Bashor, James “Superchikan” Johnson, Bill “Howlin Madd” Perry, T-Model, Robert “Wolfman” Belfour, Alphonso Sanders, King Edward, Mickey Rogers, Jeremy Jemmot, Rick Lewis, Jimmi Mayes, Sharo Perry, Stacy Mitchhart, Mark Yacavone, Big T, Big A, Big Dave, Mark “Muleman” Massey, Stan Street, Watermelon Slim, Heather Cross and Heavy Suga, Kingfish, All Night Long Band, Abdul Rasheed, Lightning Malcolm, Andy Frasco, La La, Rachel Coba, Daddy Rich, and Josh “Razorblade” Stewart. The musicians will perform in an effort to raise money for the America’s Delta Blues Scholarship Fund, which will help children and young adults achieve an education in music or music technology through various programs run by Delta State University’s Delta Music Institute (DMI), and the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale.
explore.org, the multimedia arm of the Annenberg Foundation, will donate the first $250K to help start the fund, which they hope will give underprivileged kids and young adults a chance to pursue their dreams and change our world.
“Music is the soundtrack to our life and follows us everywhere we go,” said Charlie Annenberg Weingarten. “By giving underprivileged kids the chance to pursue their dream of working within the music industry, we are giving them a chance to not only change their own lives, but to possibly change ours too.”
America’s Delta Blues: The Blessissippi Crossroads Concert takes place from 8:00pm to 12:00am CST on April 28, 2012 at the Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Tickets are available in limited quantities, and cost $45 for General Admission and $150 for VIP. VIP includes a private catered reception on Friday evening at The Delta Blues Museum featuring the premiere of the Explore.org documentary Blessissippi--Blues Ground America, live music by Delta Blues musicians and special guests.
The event will be aired live on LINKTV from 8:00 to 11:00pm CST, and streamed live on explore.org from 8:00--12:00am CST.
For more information please visit www.explore.org. Tickets can be purchased through the Delta Blues Museum online or call 662-627-6820.
