BluesPhotosbyDonMcGhee

06/16/2026

Venues, festivals - dynamic duo Gary & Cedric Burnside, together - Bring 'em! Spread the word y'all.

05/28/2026

My name is William P. (Bill) Homans. I moved from Oklahoma to Clarksdale, having bought my little house on Catalpa Street in 2009 after the 2008 Real Estate Bubble Bust, after visiting to play shows repeatedly since 2004, when at 55 I retired from truck driving, having made a CD that got nominated for a Blues Music Award.

I have been proud to be a working member of this community since then. I intended from the time I moved here to be a Clarksdale resident for the rest of my life. I have purchased my grave plot in the Heavenly Rest Cemetery on Highway 61, and have purchased my tombstone.

Recently it has been reported that the city government has voted 3 to 2 (our mayor cast the deciding vote) to rezone a plot of 648 acres in south Clarksdale as industrial land, provisionally to locate an AI data center there. I will not go into the various disadvantages and risks of AI data centers, except for one: no Clarksdale residents are going to be hired to build such an industrial operation, nor to work at and maintain it.

Technologically qualified outsiders will be brought here by the firm that will own, build and run the data center. Local, lifelong residents will not benefit in the slightest, nor will their children.

Very lately I have been told that other cities including Grenada, Helena AR and Jackson are also under consideration for the location of this data center. I hereby ask all Clarksdale residents to SPEAK UP AND SPEAK OUT against our city welcoming a giga-corporation to build an industrial enterprise that will do no good whatsoever for us!

Sincerely, Your Fellow Citizen,

Bill Homans, aka the bluesman Watermelon Slim

05/01/2026

Detroit Michigan's Blues music family's tough week delivered a severe sad shock today with news of the sudden passing of Bobby Murray. Authenticity. Talent. Humility, Humor. Kindness. Passion. Integrity. Generosity of Spirit. Award-worthy traits of this prize of a human being - Bobby Murray humbly existed among us; to know him has been my own reward. Bobby Murray remained the top choice of library patrons attending the Jazz & Blues concert series at the Southfield Library, for its entire history.
Here's to carrying our memories forward, through our music scenes, as if they are Bobby himself weaving through the crowd. More images:

Bobby Murray

04/30/2026

From Attic Bar days ... to Fostoria ... and Jackson ... to Canada ... and so on elsewhere - Greg Manning always gave us his dry humor and tasty kit work. Mourning with our Detroit Blues music scene family, with heartfelt condolences to his wife and family. Long live our memories. Rest now, Greg.

04/30/2026

Sad to learn "Big Al" Haralson has passed. His playing, and personality, brought the good stuff wherever he was. Condolences to his relatives and music family.

04/30/2026

🥳Happy 88th Birthday Billy Davis! Celebrate You!

Billy Davis' 81st Birthday CD release party Fishbones Rhythm Kitchen Cafe, St Clair Shores MI 4272019

04/19/2026

Sincere condolences to TOMMY CASTRO & band mates, and all fellow musicians and family of Mike Emerson. Gone too soon. R.I.P.

Art on the River Port Huron, MI June 2021

04/18/2026

Hallelujiah for the 'Mississippi harp'-sters, on this NATIONAL HARMONICA DAY!
(image --> Harmonicas! gallery)

Don Mc Ghee's 80.739th surprise birthday party Moose Winooski's, Clawson MI 12/3/2017

02/08/2026

Congratulations to these so worthy inductees!👏 see comment