Mississippi Blues Commission receives check for $10,000

Dr. Luther Brown, director of the Delta Center for Culture and Learning at Delta State University, was on stage with the King of the Blues, B. B. King, on Tuesday, August 21, when representatives of the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Mississippi Blues Marathon presented members of the Mississippi Blues Commission with a check for $10,000 to be used by the Benevolence Committee in support of ailing Bluesmen and women.  Brown has been a member of the Blues Commission since its founding by Governor Ronnie Musgrove and is a member of the Benevolence Committee.  The presentation preceded the unveiling of the 159th stop on the Mississippi Blues Trail, in Kilmichael where B. B. King spent much of his early youth.  The Mississippi Blues Trail now has stops across the State, in several other states, and one stop in Europe.  More stops are planned, telling the stories of the Blues and drawing visitors to Mississippi.  PHOTO:  From left, Blues Commissioner and Senator Willie Simmons, Blues Commissioner Luther Brown, The King of the Blues B. B. King, Chris Chapman of the Mississippi Development Authority, Tony Huffman of the BCBS Blues Marathon, Blues Commissioner and Chair of the Benevolence Committee Dr. Edgar Smith, John Noble of the BCBS Blues Marathon, and Alex Thomas, Mississippi Tourism Authority.  Photo by Lee Aylward

 

 

Italian Blues fans visit the Delta Center

CLEVELAND, Miss. -- The Delta Center for Culture and Learning at Delta State University was recently visited by Italian fans of the Blues Davide Serini and Erika Barussi.  Serini is the lead guitar player for a band called Down Town Blues Band, of Genova, Italy.  The band opened for B. B. King at the 2012 Pistoia Blues Festival and can be viewed on You Tube.  The couple will be in the Delta visiting Blues sites for the next week.

 

 

 

Delta Center provides tour for Tunica Chamber members

CLEVELAND, Miss. -- The Delta Center for Culture and Learning at Delta State University recently provided a heritage tour for the Tunica Chamber of Commerce and the Tunica Convention and Visitor's Bureau.  The tour began at the Tunica CVB welcome center, where the new Gateway to the Delta Blues Museum will be built next year, and made stops at the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale, the B. B. King Museum in Indianola, and Po' Monkey's Lounge in Merigold.  The tour was led by Delta Center Director Luther Brown.