Delta Blues

....I went to the crossroad...fell down on my knee.....

The Delta backroads never disappoint. On our photography outings, we usually happen upon someone or something of interest. This road trip provided that. I believe that in order to find an adventure you have to be ready to receive whatever comes your way and take time to genuinely find it interesting. That's what we decided to do-just enjoy the drive through the Delta with cameras nearby and expecting nothing more than a quiet relaxing drive. It was a quiet, dry and dusty Delta day. Clouds of dust swirl around a tractor as it plows through the dry farm land. Not many cars on the highway today ....Rita Coolidge, the "Delta Lady", is singing through my iPod... I'd rather leave while I'm in love...while I still believe the meaning of the word.. My thought breaks as I recall my daughter singing that song for her audition at Libertyland in Memphis. A few more miles down the road and there they are---the crossroads. I snap a picture of the crossroads when we park and hear the legendary song by Robert Johnson being sung in the distance. A little haunting feeling runs through my body. The entertainer has set up his microphone and stool on the patio of Abe's, our destination for lunch. It was a bit surreal for a moment before realizing where the music was coming from. But...once the delicious bar-b-que was brought to the table, my reality was back in check. Posted by Valerie

Went Down To The Crossroads...

The Crossroads are legendary for the story of the blues man, Robert Johnson and the devil. Our intention on going to the Crossroads was to enjoy some good bar-b-que and sweet tea! Posted by Vee

The Legendary Crossroads at Clarksdale, MS

According to legend, Robert Johnson went down to the crossroads to make a "deal". That event is known to have taken place at the intersection of Hwy. 61 and Hwy. 49 at Clarksdale, Mississippi. As a young man, a Delta sharecropper in Mississippi, Johnson had a "burning" desire to become a great blues musician. He was "instructed" to take his guitar to a crossroad. Alone, after dark, and failed attempts to "hitch a ride", Johnson is met by the devil at the crossroads. It's midnight when the devil took Johnson's guitar and tuned it. The devil played a few songs while Johnson listened in awe, and then returned the guitar, giving Johnson the ability to master the instrument as never before. This was in effect, the "deal". In exchange for his soul, Robert Johnson would became famous for the blues. Johnson's records sold poorly during his lifetime. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 as an "Early Influence". In 2003, Johnson was ranked fifth in Rolling Stone's list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. Robert Johnson died August 16, 1938, at the young age of 27, near Greenwood, Mississippi. Posted by Vee