tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56958962011996591662024-03-13T20:38:31.319-07:00Hopson PlantationHopson Plantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638043282702877548noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5695896201199659166.post-35746819687636838952012-08-15T13:48:00.000-07:002012-08-15T13:48:19.719-07:00The Porch by Rick Bragg<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The Porch </h1>
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The soul of a house lies just up the front steps.</h2>
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Pulitzer Prize-winning author Rick Bragg's take on everything Southern. </div>
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The old house has started to fade inside my mind. I try to remember it but the walls are mostly blank, the hallways filled with shadow. The fights, hugs, prayers, and curses that occurred there still linger in my memory, but the wooden boxes that held those things, the rooms my paternal grandparents once shared with their great extended family, have lost form. I think it was painted white, that house. It seems like it was white. <br />
But the porch, now...I still see the porch. The last time I stood upon it I was 6 years old, but I still see the nail heads in the weathered pine, still hear the squeal of the rocker pressing the planks, still see tiny comets arc across the air when somebody flicked the glowing nub of a Pall Mall over the rail and into the night. <br />
I remember that it was wide and deep, as high off the ground as a man is tall. The planks, once painted, were worn down to a bare, ancient gray by rain and sun, and by a few billion brogans, black wingtips, and scandalous high-heeled shoes. But it was built to stand until the Rapture, and maybe a little while beyond. <br />
They say a kitchen is the heart of a house, but I believe the porch is its soul. From the very steps, you knew if you were welcome or not, knew everything you needed to know about the people inside. My grandmother Velma welcomed the whole world there on those boards, except for a few insurance men and anyone with a pamphlet. Usually, she welcomed them with a saucer of blackberry cobbler, or banana pudding, or a plate of the best meatloaf this world has ever known. My grandfather Bobby, if it was a weekend and the world had not run out of whiskey, sometimes welcomed visitors with something more, but that is another story. <br />
The porch was always cool, as if summer stopped at that first step. The house was like a furnace in the hot months, and the porch, perched in the foothills of the Alabama highland, was a cool oasis in the heat. There was no electric light on the porch, no bright bulb to draw insects or add to the heat. Porches were for talking, and rocking babies, and cutting okra and snapping beans and telling lies. A body did not need a lot of light for that, and—if the lying got out of hand—the darker the better. <br />
I remember its scent, an ambrosia of black coffee mixing in the wind with the sweet smell of canned milk, and honeysuckle, and snuff. It made the babies sneeze. In the evening, the children would retreat beneath the porch to be away from their mamas and daddies but still not quite away, to be with them and yet not right with them, which is a delicious thing that only a child really understands. We convened there to whisper, pinch, fuss, eavesdrop, and enjoy the dark, our heads filled with ghost stories and our fists wrapped around our broken-bladed pocket knives. But then a screech owl would split the night, or a cousin would mutter, "I wonder if there's snakes down here," and we would come pouring from around the pylons and up the steps. <br />
I don't see people on porches much anymore. I guess they just stopped building them after air-conditioning, and television. I see people sitting around on patios, but it is not the same. But people seem to like them. As the late writer Lewis Grizzard once wrote, it is hard to get drunk and fall off a backyard. <br />
Like most people, I have a dream house under construction in my head. The plans shift and reform and sometimes I even scratch out a few lines with pencil on a legal pad, but I always tear it up and start over. I have been building it all my life, slow evening after slow evening. If I had worked with bricks and lumber instead of dreams and paper, I would be sitting about 19 stories high by now. Maybe I should find a good architect. Or maybe I should just get one last, clean sheet of paper, and start with a porch. I already have one in mind. <br />
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<strong>Article: Rick Bragg</strong><span>|</span><i>From the </i><a href="http://www.southernliving.com/magazine/southern-living-magazine-august-issue-00417000079086/">August 2012 Magazine Issue </a></div>
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Hopson Plantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638043282702877548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5695896201199659166.post-91097093594030354232012-08-13T12:34:00.002-07:002012-08-13T12:34:43.475-07:00Celebration Dedicated to Michael Burks<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>THE 12</strong></span><span style="font-size: small;"><sup><strong>TH</strong></sup></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong> ANNUAL PINETOP PERKINS HOMECOMING CELEBRATION DEDICATED TO ARKANSAS’ OWN<br /> MICHAEL BURKS </strong> </span><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Homecoming at Hopson’s Commissary in Clarksdale, MS – October 7</span><span style="font-size: small;"><sup>th</sup></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> 2-7pm</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Suggested Donation $15</span></b></span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span></span></div>
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The 13<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> annual Pinetop Perkins Homecoming Celebration will take place on Sunday October 7<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> at Hopson’s Commissary and the Shack Up Inn from 2 to 7pm with a suggetsed donation of $15. The Homecoming is held each year on the site of the old Hopson’s Plantation and began with the dedication of the Pinetop Perkins Shack at the Hopson Plantation’s Shack Up Inn in October 2001. It became an annual event to honor Pinetop who had spent World War II on the grounds of Hopson’s driving one of the first mechanized cotton picking machines. The event quickly drew many fans and musicians each year who stopped by on the Sunday after the King Biscuit Festival to honor Pinetop. The celebration now attracts over 1000 fans to three stages of music on these Sunday afternoons. Since 2009 all the proceeds have gone directly to scholarships for youth to attend the Pinetop Perkins Master Class workshops in June, which are also held in Clarksdale, MS and attract youth and young at heart.<br /><br /><b><u>Artists appearing this year include:</u></b><br />Special Michael Burks Tribute Performance with <b><a href="http://bucklesweetmedia.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=543d38b5d83b4690df76682e1&id=ca49a5160f&e=98f31010d1" rel="nofollow" style="color: blue; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Preston Shannon</a>, <a href="http://bucklesweetmedia.us5.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=543d38b5d83b4690df76682e1&id=924bef0608&e=98f31010d1" rel="nofollow" style="color: blue; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Popcorn Louden</a> and Terry Grayson, <a href="http://bucklesweetmedia.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=543d38b5d83b4690df76682e1&id=86959a3359&e=98f31010d1" rel="nofollow" style="color: blue; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">The </a><a href="http://bucklesweetmedia.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=543d38b5d83b4690df76682e1&id=91fbba0bb2&e=98f31010d1" rel="nofollow" style="color: blue; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Peterson Brothers</a><a href="http://bucklesweetmedia.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=543d38b5d83b4690df76682e1&id=f13c9a1b6f&e=98f31010d1" rel="nofollow" style="color: blue; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"> </a>and <a href="http://bucklesweetmedia.us5.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=543d38b5d83b4690df76682e1&id=03205ea2a2&e=98f31010d1" rel="nofollow" style="color: blue; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Clay Swafford</a></b><br /><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Also appearing: Paul Oscher, Bob Margolin, Bob Stroger, Kenny Smith, Ann Rabson, Bob Corritore, Eden Brent, Kenny Brown, The Side Street Steppers, and The Youth Workshop Showcase featuring Austin Young, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Matthew Davidson, Jack Gaffney<br /><br />The Homecoming Celebration is a benefit for youth scholarships for The Pinetop Perkins Foundation annual master class workshops in June. Pinetop formed THE PINETOP PERKINS FOUNDATION, a nonprofit 501c(3) in 2009. It’s mission, in part, is to help young musicians at the beginning of their careers. The Foundation fulfills that mission through the Master Class Workshops held each June. Open to musicians of all ages, it’s goal is to provide scholarships to youth 12 to 21 to spend three days learning from some of the top blues artists in the country. The Workshops have grown from 9 to over 25 participants in two years. We anticipate even more for next year. The Homecoming benefit will help the Foundation enable youth to experience this wonderful workshop experience.<br /> <br /><b><em>For more information go to: pinetopperkinshomecoming.com or pinetopfoundation.org</em></b></span><br /></div>
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Hopson Plantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638043282702877548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5695896201199659166.post-38263741628733827982012-05-07T12:08:00.000-07:002012-05-07T12:08:10.944-07:00RIP Michael Burks<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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RIP Michael Burks</div>Hopson Plantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638043282702877548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5695896201199659166.post-1932650073456809862012-03-05T07:21:00.000-08:002012-03-05T07:21:00.079-08:00Benefit for Ronnie Drew Medical Expenses<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Sunday April 1, 2012<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2dBpX4K5U71nDgVIy5e3_fpykaqUUo7_QWw3af3TC6sbquDQn-EcZrnP82zSan_DI_saq6_VLnwM2KX40c5PmTbEXpwOF9YVpzCo5Ay2lyracOkvEDY13jU7tiXp82Akmw3uKQxQkVeQ/s1600/securedownload.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2dBpX4K5U71nDgVIy5e3_fpykaqUUo7_QWw3af3TC6sbquDQn-EcZrnP82zSan_DI_saq6_VLnwM2KX40c5PmTbEXpwOF9YVpzCo5Ay2lyracOkvEDY13jU7tiXp82Akmw3uKQxQkVeQ/s320/securedownload.jpg" uda="true" width="203" /></a></div>April Fool's Day<br />
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Ronnie Drew was born and raised in Clarksdale, Mississippi. He started playing guitar at age 13 after seeing The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show. Ronnie has played with several popular regional rock and roll bands over the years including Chance, Fantasy, Second Chance and The Remains. In 2001, he opened his own guitar shop, Bluestown Music, on Delta Avenue in Downtown Clarksdale. Ronnie continues to own and manage Bluestown today, and he still lives in Clarksdale.<br />
We hope that everyone can come out and enjoy an afternoon of good music and fellowship with Ronnie and many of his former band members. All musicians are invited to come and Jam. Music should start around 3. Hope to see everyone at the Commissary. <br />
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</div>Hopson Plantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638043282702877548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5695896201199659166.post-62691305418562787312011-09-27T14:25:00.000-07:002011-09-27T14:56:19.429-07:00Duff Dorrough<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">A benefit fund has been set up at Planters Bank for Duff Dorrough-- the name is " Duff Dorrough Benefit Fund". If you would like to contribute, you can do so by going by Planters or mail check to Planter's Bank, P.O. Box 9, Ruleville, MS 38771. Make Check payable to ' Duff Dorrough Benefit Fund" and put attention to same on the outside of the envelope. Question: call the bank at 1 662 756-4321 ask for Chris West or Amanda Ware.<br />
Also trying to set up a blood drive for Duff. Please keep Duff in your prayers.<br />
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Jerry Lee ‘Duff’ Dorrough was born in Memphis Tennessee and raised in Ruleville, Mississippi, the Heart of the Mississippi Delta. Raised up with Blues, Country, Gospel & Pop musical influences, he sang and played drums with local bands throughout high school and college.<br />
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The core of Delta musicians that began as The Sausage & Biscuit Boys soon morphed into The Tangents in 1981, featuring Duff with piano man ‘Fish’ Michie and sax player Charlie Jacobs. They stormed the honky tonks from Memphis to New Orleans to the Western states.<br />
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Duff formed The Revelators in 2001 with Bobby Harris and Jim Ellis from Drew, Mississippi and the group appeared regularly on Oxford’s Thacker Mountain Radio. The Revelators cut their self-produced cd at Sounds Unreel in Memphis in 2002. <br />
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In 2004, Duff released Peace In The Lily of the Valley on Black Dog Records and was invited to join Jim Dickinson in the Thacker Mountain House Band, The Yalobushwackers.<br />
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He lives on Sunflower River in The Mississppi Delta and continues to play and record.<br />
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</div>Hopson Plantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638043282702877548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5695896201199659166.post-87526971238793564162011-08-12T11:57:00.000-07:002011-08-12T11:57:07.996-07:00Clarksdale Flood of 1897<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" closure_uid_v6lu7z="156" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrD6avo21dIBSka-meScB2DFxB7f80KfOR0hG9GIG0PjxgXsvb5r1EE4yK0NMcS77kJWgIOPb8y8bKlxrSd9o2HcRKphTACzrmCTjXiVjKhlxiR0bEEJR98OrPbOWkjsBVIf9AefvtIIe/s1600/Commissary+at+night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrD6avo21dIBSka-meScB2DFxB7f80KfOR0hG9GIG0PjxgXsvb5r1EE4yK0NMcS77kJWgIOPb8y8bKlxrSd9o2HcRKphTACzrmCTjXiVjKhlxiR0bEEJR98OrPbOWkjsBVIf9AefvtIIe/s1600/Commissary+at+night.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center" closure_uid_v6lu7z="107">Clarksdale Flood of 1897</div><div align="center" closure_uid_v6lu7z="107"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_v6lu7z="107" style="text-align: left;">Patsy Hamilton found a letter that was written to a Mr. N. E. Offenheiser of the Yazoo-Miss. Delta Levee Board. The signature on the letter can't be made out. I will be putting the entire letter up on the website soon. This is a small part of the letter which deals with the flood.</div><div closure_uid_v6lu7z="107" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_v6lu7z="107" style="text-align: left;"><span closure_uid_v6lu7z="157" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>On April 4th 1897 about eleven A.M. The Rev. W.B. Murrah stepped before the congregation and made a the announcement that he had a telegram from Tunica advising that the Levee had broken at Flower Lake. The Mayor Mr. Walter Clark, requested all men present to meet him down at the bridge over the Sunflower River at 2nd St. All the men ran from the Church to the River. They started plowing Sunflower St with Oxen and all the men used shovels and hoes to pile the dirt as high as they could all the way down Sunflower to protect the town. </strong></span></div><div closure_uid_v6lu7z="107" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_v6lu7z="107" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong closure_uid_v6lu7z="159">The men continued to work and it began to rain. The town had enough water from the rain to ride in boats all over town. The town ran out of whiskey. All the men pooled their money and Howell Hopson called B.J. Semmes in Memphis and asked him to send down two barrels of whiskey on the Kate Adams to Friars Point.</strong></span></div><div closure_uid_v6lu7z="107" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_v6lu7z="107" style="text-align: left;"><span closure_uid_v6lu7z="160" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>The following morning Hopson got into a boat he had tied to a sycamore tree at the top of Cutrer hill. Hopson went to Friars Point for the whiskey, and returned that afternoon about 4 P.M.They rolled out and placed the barrels on the side walk. Each man had his tin cup ready and had a wonderful celebration.</strong> </span></div><div closure_uid_v6lu7z="107" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_v6lu7z="107" style="text-align: left;"><span closure_uid_v6lu7z="160" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The water from the flood reached the levee they had erected but not up against it. The town was not washed away.</span></strong> </span></div></div>Hopson Plantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638043282702877548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5695896201199659166.post-27748642203090919702011-04-12T11:18:00.000-07:002011-04-12T11:18:03.968-07:00Juke Joint Festival Music Line-up<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVDbgu0pNdLKpqTJYbsqIZj9St2X9MLCNwAU7Sq3xfV96ByRLzL2HZw4TRdEcEym7AViwKKQcDCQQSR6viqdKqOFPd9SslP5LL-P8t6NFgc7K9y7PduwzBtmM7ABjaEJviV4_yju2wVqj/s1600/commissary+daytime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVDbgu0pNdLKpqTJYbsqIZj9St2X9MLCNwAU7Sq3xfV96ByRLzL2HZw4TRdEcEym7AViwKKQcDCQQSR6viqdKqOFPd9SslP5LL-P8t6NFgc7K9y7PduwzBtmM7ABjaEJviV4_yju2wVqj/s1600/commissary+daytime.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Juke Joint Festival Weekend!<br />
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Hopson Commissary Music Line Up<br />
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Friday April 15<br />
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9pm- Bruce Brewer & The Deep Water Baptists- main stage<br />
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Eden Brent- back porch<br />
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Saturday April 16<br />
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12 noon- KM Williams & Washboard Jackson<br />
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2pm- Paul Ray Thomas<br />
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3pm- Deak Harp<br />
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4-7- Tullie Brae<br />
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9pm- Big George Brock & The Houserockers- main stage<br />
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Bearnie Pearl- back porch<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Take the train to Hopson<br />
<br />
We will have crawfish & BBQ to eat on Saturday<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Friday April 22 <br />
<br />
Willy Waggs<br />
<br />
9pm <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Saturday April 30<br />
<br />
One Way Out Band<br />
<br />
9pm <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Hopson Commissary<br />
<br />
PO Box 1486<br />
<br />
Clarksdale, MS 38614<br />
<br />
(662) 624-5756 <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><em> <strong><span style="color: red;"> Don't Forget!</span></strong></em> <br />
<em></em> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnfL3ws1I2714bNitvlbxy09nJBCZy_5p3tgNd0m6vbFsKyyXBiYLA95fbOaxqj0dWJADJZ9krtDJTb5R0n-0xsRFT9LMuFnZxfCaZqr23Iuu2zEejiLW7SftiLJ1KZRvHCSy0uLtT9kT/s1600/securedownload.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnfL3ws1I2714bNitvlbxy09nJBCZy_5p3tgNd0m6vbFsKyyXBiYLA95fbOaxqj0dWJADJZ9krtDJTb5R0n-0xsRFT9LMuFnZxfCaZqr23Iuu2zEejiLW7SftiLJ1KZRvHCSy0uLtT9kT/s320/securedownload.jpg" width="203" /></a></div></div>Hopson Plantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638043282702877548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5695896201199659166.post-25126886202849047192011-04-01T08:04:00.000-07:002011-04-01T08:04:59.789-07:00Pinetop Services<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><img alt="Azzato Pinetop" height="454" longdesc="Azzato Pinetop" src="http://www.pinetopperkins.com/photos/ptsteveazzato.jpg" width="363" /><br />
Joe Willie "Pinetop" Perkins<br />
<br />
<br />
July 7, 1913 - March 21, 2011 <br />
<br />
It is with deep sadness that we announce Pinetop Perkins passed away peacefully at home on<br />
<br />
Monday, March 21, 2011 in Austin, TX at the age of 97.<br />
<br />
Visitation and Funeral Services <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Clarksdale, Mississippi<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Century Funeral Home - Clarksdale, MS<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Thursday, March 31, 2011<br />
<br />
The weekly jam at Ground Zero Blues Club will be dedicated to Pinetop in Memoriam.<br />
<br />
Donations will be accepted. The jam will be hosted by Philip Carter and the<br />
<br />
Blues Underground and is an open jam starting at 8:00PM.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Visitation<br />
<br />
Friday, April 1, 2011 - 4:00pm - 7:00pm<br />
<br />
Century Funeral Home <br />
<br />
506 Ashton Avenue, Clarksdale, MS 38614<br />
<br />
662-627-4182<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Ground Zero Blues Club will host a reception for friends and fans of <br />
<br />
Pinetop from 2:00PM - 6:00PM. Hors d'oeuvres will be served and the<br />
<br />
bandstand will be available to anyone who wants to play. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Funeral Service<br />
<br />
Saturday, April 2, 2011 - 11:00am<br />
<br />
Century Funeral Home or larger venue TBA<br />
<br />
506 Ashton Avenue, Clarksdale, MS 38614<br />
<br />
662-627-4182<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Burial<br />
<br />
Saturday, April 2, 2011 - immediately following funeral service<br />
<br />
McLaurin Memorial Garden Cemetery<br />
<br />
Highway 61 North<br />
<br />
Clarksdale, MS 38614<br />
<br />
<img border="0" src="http://therealthing.com/crawdad2011/Crawdad.Poster.400.jpg" width="150" /><br />
<br />
Celebration of Life and Repast<br />
<br />
Saturday, April 2, 2011 - immediately following burial<br />
<br />
8:00PM - Music by Guitar Mikey, Billy Gibson, Peter Nunn plus Special Guests<br />
<br />
Hopson Commissary<br />
<br />
8141 Old Highway 49 S, Clarksdale, MS<br />
<br />
662-624-5756 <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Hopson Plantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638043282702877548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5695896201199659166.post-69029379150449040172011-03-21T14:40:00.000-07:002011-03-21T14:40:46.035-07:00Pinetop Perkins RIP<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="style3" style="width: 780px;"><tbody>
<tr><td align="center" class="style10" style="height: 6px; width: 458px;"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="style89"><div class="style95"><br />
</div><img alt="Azzato Pinetop" height="454" longdesc="Azzato Pinetop" src="http://www.pinetopperkins.com/photos/ptsteveazzato.jpg" width="363" /> <div class="style95"><br />
</div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="style96" style="height: 98px;" valign="top"><br />
<span class="style99"><span class="style101"><strong><span style="font-family: Monotype Corsiva; font-size: x-large;">Joe Willie "Pinetop" Perkins</span></strong></span><span class="style100"><br />
</span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="style103" style="height: 98px;" valign="top">It is with deep sadness that we announce that Pinetop Perkins passed away on<br />
Monday, March 21, 2011 at his home in Austin, TX.<br />
<br />
Arrangements are pending and will be announced as soon as they are formalized.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.pinetopperkins.com/index2.htm"><span style="color: #ffff99;">ENTER SITE</span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="style10"><div align="center" style="height: 38px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px; width: 100%;"><span class="style27"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;">©2011 Onnie Heaney - Cruzin' the Bluz</span></span> </div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div>Hopson Plantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638043282702877548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5695896201199659166.post-14767437596695876072011-02-24T05:40:00.000-08:002011-02-24T05:40:57.954-08:00History of the King Cake<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
History behind the King Cake...<br />
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<br />
As part of our Christian faith, the coming of the wise men bearing gifts to the Christ Child is celebrated twelve days after Christmas. We refer to this as the Feast of the Epiphany or Little Christmas on the Twelfth Night. This is a time of celebration, exchanging gifts and feasting. Today, the tradition continues as people all over the world gather for festive Twelfth Night celebrations. A popular custom was and still is the baking of a special cake in honor of the three kings called "A King's Cake."<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Inside every cake is a tiny baby (generally plastic now, but sometimes this baby might be made of porcelain or even gold). The tradition of having King Cake Parties has evolved through time, and the person who receives the slice of cake with the baby is asked to continue the festivities by hosting the next King Cake party.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Originally, King Cakes were a simple ring of dough with a small amount of decoration. Today's King Cakes are much more festive. After the rich Danish dough is braided and baked, the "baby" is inserted. The top of the ring or oval cake is then covered with delicious sugar toppings in the traditional Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold.<br />
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<br />
In more recent years, some bakeries have been creative with stuffing and topping their cakes with different flavors of cream cheese and fruit fillings.<br />
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<br />
January 6, the Twelfth Night after Christmas, is also the day our Mardi Gras season begins. Mardi Gras Day is always 47 days prior to Easter Sunday (Fat Tuesday is always the day before Ash Wednesday).<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So, in Louisiana especially, Mardi Gras season and King Cakes go hand in hand with literally hundreds of thousands of King Cakes consumed at parties and office lunch rooms every year.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Ordering King Cakes over the internet has now become an annual tradition by consumers all around the world - and many of our bakers offer them year round. After all, you can't have a Mardi Gras party without a King Cake!<br />
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</div>Hopson Plantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638043282702877548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5695896201199659166.post-73676677136130245072011-01-14T07:40:00.000-08:002011-01-14T07:40:23.706-08:00"RIP Ginger" GG<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlG6_fQsuwXRY7vUgtaBm5uZevkpRR6BCEJ9ObsyXL0vU3ytO7RE7vAJ6XERNU7IIHcVHi2vuMUAZXezA-svc8BjIKrANNExmcPpynzMXccrJrPTeIFgqEIB-b7tWcy87CyGqcvJnIQxdG/s1600/Ginger%252520in%252520snow%255B2%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlG6_fQsuwXRY7vUgtaBm5uZevkpRR6BCEJ9ObsyXL0vU3ytO7RE7vAJ6XERNU7IIHcVHi2vuMUAZXezA-svc8BjIKrANNExmcPpynzMXccrJrPTeIFgqEIB-b7tWcy87CyGqcvJnIQxdG/s320/Ginger%252520in%252520snow%255B2%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Good-Bye, My Friend </strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh, Ginger, do you recall,</div><div style="text-align: center;">When you made this house your home?</div><div style="text-align: center;">You were just a ball of fluff,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Not even halfway grown,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">You stumbled when you learned to walk,</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was hard to steer four legs;</div><div style="text-align: center;">you learned to sit, and stay, and come,</div><div style="text-align: center;">And, of course, you learned to beg.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">You loved those walks we used to take, </div><div style="text-align: center;">you never left my side;</div><div style="text-align: center;">And if I got my car keys out,</div><div style="text-align: center;">You were ready for a ride.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">You sensed when I was happy,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Or was feeling kind of low;</div><div style="text-align: center;">You'd rub up against my knee,</div><div style="text-align: center;">You always seemed to know.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">You'd fetch a ball or get a toy,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Without even being told;</div><div style="text-align: center;">But, was you face crestfallen,</div><div style="text-align: center;">If I felt the need to scold.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">You found the outside world exciting,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Do you remember your first snow?</div><div style="text-align: center;">You'd not come back inside the house,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Because you loved it so.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Going to the vets for shots,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I guess was your greatest fear:</div><div style="text-align: center;">You seemed to know each scheduled date,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Though you went but once a year.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I never once felt lonely,</div><div style="text-align: center;">As long as you were here;</div><div style="text-align: center;">You were at my feet or at my side,</div><div style="text-align: center;">You constantly were near.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh, I am going to miss you,</div><div style="text-align: center;">No question about that;</div><div style="text-align: center;">But, Ginger, for your pain to go,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I had to send you back.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">You're going back to heaven now,</div><div style="text-align: center;">From whence long ago you came;</div><div style="text-align: center;">You'll be welcomed back by God, Himself,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Who knows your doggy- name.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I think there's blue hand balls up in heaven,</div><div style="text-align: center;">And rubber, squeaky toys;</div><div style="text-align: center;">And angels who will play with you,</div><div style="text-align: center;">And little girls and boys.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But, there won't be any thunderstorms,</div><div style="text-align: center;">And no vets with shots up there;</div><div style="text-align: center;">You won't even need a leash,</div><div style="text-align: center;">You'll run freely in God's air.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And when my time on earth is done,</div><div style="text-align: center;">And at heaven's gate I'm near,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't want any harps or horns,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Just... happy barks to hear.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So, see you later, Ginger,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm glad you're now pain-free;</div><div style="text-align: center;">And I'm glad you're sitting next to Jesus,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Now... you wait right there for me.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div>Hopson Plantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638043282702877548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5695896201199659166.post-34042154063325288832011-01-05T12:44:00.000-08:002011-01-05T12:44:50.930-08:00Update to Hambone's Mexican Christmas PartyI recd a thank you note from Linda Love today...(the girl that the Christmas gifts went to for her grandchildren, from Nabors Chev) As I told ya'll, the morning I delivered the gifts to Nabors, she started crying and said that that Hambone was still here taking care of her. I could feel his presence there with me that morning. <br />
<br />
<br />
Her Note: <br />
<br />
"I really am grateful and hope that you know how happy I am to be telling you so."<br />
<br />
She wrote::::It is with a sincerely grateful heart that I thank you for the loving gift you gave my family for Christmas. This only goes to show that Christmas is still about Christ and is in your hearts. I pray for you a bounty of blessings and may God always keep you in his hands. With love, Linda Love and Family<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
She said it was the best Christmas those children had ever had.....I thank all of you, too. Love Patsy<br />
<br />
ps...she laughed and told me that a stray dog has shown up at Nabors and she just knows that it is The Hambone, ha<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
PATSY HAMILTON<br />
<br />
TAX DEPARTMENT <br />
<br />
INFOLAB INC CLARKSDALE<br />
<br />
patsyhamilton@infolabinc.comHopson Plantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638043282702877548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5695896201199659166.post-3297136683468474602010-12-02T09:51:00.000-08:002010-12-02T09:51:41.884-08:00Blues Harmonica Jam Camp<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsxFW0heC3fXgRi3s5CZEPc_szgVhwHi5sApwh8O5ThoAWvplPk7TloxLuGNvhDTMfEUcEej6ljM3SVv7L7aD8dEXk1_E-Pw6KQ8DY204QsNZZsVLs7Yx9F7hSbrg1iy1V02bjLm5sJVo/s1600/Jon+Gindick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsxFW0heC3fXgRi3s5CZEPc_szgVhwHi5sApwh8O5ThoAWvplPk7TloxLuGNvhDTMfEUcEej6ljM3SVv7L7aD8dEXk1_E-Pw6KQ8DY204QsNZZsVLs7Yx9F7hSbrg1iy1V02bjLm5sJVo/s320/Jon+Gindick.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Gindick's Blues</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">HARMONICA </span></strong><br />
<strong><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">JAM CAMP NEWS</span></strong><br />
<strong><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">"Information, Experience, Inspiration" </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">@</span> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJn-LA54xM_vLhb_bl9FvX8xxr4O-UGtPXgfICT_BFT2GjIb7tcG4fFQ769QfJQmrHb-63v0D3sk_ZC5W7rotho5gfkmM2tzZ_BOKjIfjDv_s-3lcRVCPDKpvAEbgYgvL_HJGY4M8FPQiz/s1600/Commissary+at+night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJn-LA54xM_vLhb_bl9FvX8xxr4O-UGtPXgfICT_BFT2GjIb7tcG4fFQ769QfJQmrHb-63v0D3sk_ZC5W7rotho5gfkmM2tzZ_BOKjIfjDv_s-3lcRVCPDKpvAEbgYgvL_HJGY4M8FPQiz/s1600/Commissary+at+night.jpg" /></a></div>Hopson Plantation <a href="http://www.hopsonplantation.com/">http://www.hopsonplantation.com/</a><br />
<br />
March 22-26 2011<br />
May 24-28 2011<br />
September 27-Oct 1 2011<br />
<br />
So Much to Share!/<br />
<br />
I hope that you are happilly harping and jamming<br />
<br />
and pursuing your musical dreams. <br />
<br />
Please remember that my business is helping you<br />
<br />
get better on harp. Don't be shy. <br />
<br />
Check out my websites and see your many options.<br />
<br />
http://www.gindick.com/<br />
<br />
http://www.bluesharmonicajamcamp.com/<br />
<br />
http://www.musically-hopeless.com/<br />
<br />
http://www.youtube.com/jamcamp06<br />
<br />
http://www.jongindickband.com/<br />
<br />
http://www.sonnyboyclub.com/<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Damn I've got a lot of websites!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I am very happy to report that we have gotten the Sonny Boy Club<br />
<br />
off the ground and in two weeks we have raised over a thousand dollars.<br />
<br />
Please check out the website I built (all by myself I might add)<br />
<br />
and also the Tutwiler Health Clinic Website.<br />
<br />
It's a tremendous opportunity for harp players to make a tangible difference<br />
<br />
in the lives of Sonny Boy's people.<br />
<br />
Please if appropriate, make a contribution spread the word.<br />
<br />
Here's the basic idea.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"></div>Hopson Plantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638043282702877548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5695896201199659166.post-75523936664426113222010-05-27T05:37:00.000-07:002010-05-27T05:46:36.570-07:00MS Blues Trail<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnlx8ehsqD08Phjm08XlGBOUFTVMHxccsiB7ELsscBIz5dH5_PCZ3OS_Y1azSTK-9JN93djWDSVS9XpExv6GTIczIz9JRG62GIn1hLoVTADnXKXhIOrN1TPG6h1qO5QE3BDswHA8SsbRk/s1600/featured_home_fred_mcdowell.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 179px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 221px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475929092091941714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnlx8ehsqD08Phjm08XlGBOUFTVMHxccsiB7ELsscBIz5dH5_PCZ3OS_Y1azSTK-9JN93djWDSVS9XpExv6GTIczIz9JRG62GIn1hLoVTADnXKXhIOrN1TPG6h1qO5QE3BDswHA8SsbRk/s320/featured_home_fred_mcdowell.jpg" /></a><br />Check out the MS Blues Trail. MDA will now be starting to work the Country Music Trail.<br /><a href="http://www.msbluestrail.org/">www.msbluestrail.org</a>Hopson Plantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638043282702877548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5695896201199659166.post-37894439678063586192010-03-11T05:21:00.000-08:002010-03-11T05:25:49.381-08:00Mississippi Blues Trail License Plates<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0RlBUb-9Qd47bmGKliqDbvHV3-aWfe5M61Hi_Prpy1VYmmDZQ8T13mwFrk7x8gcPdheo9mPm0m9apgx3nt8WrQKV8rDcO8raWSzpxPEAZiGWMN2ih4HGnVmZ6d5tAwev0KoUM1owl7Vf/s1600-h/license_plate.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 207px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0RlBUb-9Qd47bmGKliqDbvHV3-aWfe5M61Hi_Prpy1VYmmDZQ8T13mwFrk7x8gcPdheo9mPm0m9apgx3nt8WrQKV8rDcO8raWSzpxPEAZiGWMN2ih4HGnVmZ6d5tAwev0KoUM1owl7Vf/s320/license_plate.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447366845183761986" /></a><br />MISSISSIPPI BLUES TRAIL LICENSE PLATES ARE NOW AVAILABLE<br /> <br />INDIANOLA, MS - After working for almost two years to get Mississippi Blues Trail license plates approved by the state legislature, pre-sold to meet the required minimum, in production, and available at the local tax assessors' offices, members of the Mississippi Blues Foundation can finally see the fruits of their labor. "We had a Blues Trail marker unveiling in Benoit this week, and it was a great feeling to see several vehicles there with the new tags," said Janet Webb, a member of the Miss. Blues Foundation. Luther Brown, who is also a member of the Blues Foundation and a major proponent of the license plates, attended the unveiling and echoed the sentiments of Webb. They explained that it had not necessarily been an easy sell early on when they were trying to get people to commit to purchase a tag, not knowing exactly when they would reach the magic number of 200 to satisfy the minimum requirement. There were also people who wanted to wait until closer to the time that their current tags would expire. <br /><br />These specialty tags cost $31 extra, with $24.50 of that going to the Miss. Blues Commission to help fund its projects, including aid for older musicians as well as helping with expenses of the Miss. Blues Trail marker program. Brown, who is the director of the Delta Center at Delta State University, conducts many bus and blues tours throughout the year and knows how important the exposure of the Blues Trail is to visitors to the state. "It's like a miniature billboard," Brown said. "Someone may see the tag and start asking questions about the Trail, and it gives us a great opportunity to tell the person about our musical heritage and how proud we are of that," he continued.<br /><br />Now that the license plates are in production, anyone interested in having one can order it from their tax assessor's office. It typically takes from seven to ten days to receive it after the order is placed. Webb thinks that the final product was worth the wait. "I've had many people call me and tell me how proud they are to finally have it on their car," she said.Hopson Plantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638043282702877548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5695896201199659166.post-90576272512109491532010-03-09T07:01:00.000-08:002010-03-09T07:07:18.808-08:00Shurman<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvW6f8Hm-fVVB0rQsweVMeW2NZGiSUaIRtrBoPDS_UDr-N0jSsreXDznXVr7PZ5uvA_Y6k4nPw3k_4Ycv5yz71zvMfHJAaX_BPfaKq9MZu8XUxP0z6Rz5BYmhcxxejX-JGZnChoN68vad-/s1600-h/sxsw%2520photo%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvW6f8Hm-fVVB0rQsweVMeW2NZGiSUaIRtrBoPDS_UDr-N0jSsreXDznXVr7PZ5uvA_Y6k4nPw3k_4Ycv5yz71zvMfHJAaX_BPfaKq9MZu8XUxP0z6Rz5BYmhcxxejX-JGZnChoN68vad-/s320/sxsw%2520photo%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446649956810695618" /></a><br />Shurman Live @ The Commissary <br /><br /><br />Universal Republic / Sustain Records recording artists Shurman will be bringing it's high energy brand of southern rock to The Commissary this Friday March 12th. Riding high on the critical acclaim of there new studio album Still Waiting For The Sunset, Aaron Beavers and the boys (Shurman) are gigging from one end on the country to the other. In between a week long stand in Key West and a slew of performances in their home town of Austin during South By Southwest the band is stopping into Clarksdale Mississippi with the hopes of entertaining the old fans and converting all the new ears that cross their path.<br /><br />www.shurmanville.comHopson Plantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638043282702877548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5695896201199659166.post-45180670536255878722010-03-04T07:40:00.001-08:002010-03-04T07:42:08.372-08:00Pinetop Perkins Foundation<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPg_1CzeF9Qf1XwFzRGS-Qj_JMbsGo8xfwyy6hjwG9CMM-b2TZQ69oYEQINN80vHHo-WmHNF15OhGiuW0834BvSgBtXPd6ZJ3bF2WO9wiwBZQwCqEALVvp0MaCTrSBAjD-WCioGB7ct0EW/s1600-h/9999-MasterClass-Banner.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPg_1CzeF9Qf1XwFzRGS-Qj_JMbsGo8xfwyy6hjwG9CMM-b2TZQ69oYEQINN80vHHo-WmHNF15OhGiuW0834BvSgBtXPd6ZJ3bF2WO9wiwBZQwCqEALVvp0MaCTrSBAjD-WCioGB7ct0EW/s320/9999-MasterClass-Banner.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444804177917400594" /></a><br /> <br /><br />The Pinetop Perkins Foundation plans to offer an annual Youth Workshop Series to bring world-renowned blues artists for instruction and mentoring to young musicians. The Foundation intends for this series to be an annual event of national stature.<br /><br />We are pleased to announce the inaugural event for musicians young and old. The Piano Master Class - the inaugural event of the Youth Workshop Series - will be held August 3, 2010 - August 4, 2010. Open to the young and the young at heart, it will be held at the historic Shack Up Inn and Hopson Plantation in Clarksdale, Mississippi. The event will conclude with a wrap up jam concert hosted by Bob Margolin at Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale on Thursday, August 5th. This event immediately precedes the annual Sunflower Blues Festival in Clarksdale.<br /><br />Selected to lead these workshops are three award-winning recording artists; Eden Brent, Ann Rabson, and Erwin Helfer. The workshops will consist of two advanced and one intermediate level master class. The advanced level will be limited to 8 attendees and the intermediate to 12 attendees to ensure a quality educational experience for all.<br /><br />The cost of the workshop will be $375.00 for the Advanced level and $300.00 for the Intermediate level. The cost will include two days of personalized instructional classes plus lunches. <br /><br />The Pinetop Perkins Foundation has been awarded a generous grant from the Rock River Foundation, founded by Morgan Freeman, which will enable us to extend a number of scholarships to Mississippi youth to participate in this unique and rewarding learning experience.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />. Youth Workshop Series:<br />Piano Master Class<br />Aug 3, 2010 - Aug 4, 2010<br />Piano Master Class<br />Shack Up Inn and<br />Hopson Plantation<br />Clarksdale, MS<br />Aug 5, 2010<br />Performance<br />Ground Zero Blues Club Clarksdale, MS<br />Registration Form<br /><br /><br />Scholarship Application<br /><br />Lodging Information<br /><br />Instructor BiosHopson Plantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638043282702877548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5695896201199659166.post-27047877905962671002010-03-02T05:49:00.001-08:002010-03-02T05:50:18.794-08:00Ole Miss Cardinal Club<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Ngqutc0jY0A_lIt5-SG0GczAmEWWsNibu2ZOwf07kS0lzf7ag-JS8-MlqLpidOj_zJkrV1g3SZhXameQyAOj5HFQ8srfRQGpPUP8ypPNvtszCUu_DGO-5hyphenhyphen06LsGQ7KGNTKEmUO14i6D/s1600-h/Cardinal+Club+Welcome.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Ngqutc0jY0A_lIt5-SG0GczAmEWWsNibu2ZOwf07kS0lzf7ag-JS8-MlqLpidOj_zJkrV1g3SZhXameQyAOj5HFQ8srfRQGpPUP8ypPNvtszCUu_DGO-5hyphenhyphen06LsGQ7KGNTKEmUO14i6D/s320/Cardinal+Club+Welcome.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444033397148538114" /></a><br />Cardinal Club Returns to Ole Miss <br /> <br /><br /> By Jeff Roberson<br /><br />Posted Jul 14, 2009 <br /><br /><br /><br />| More <br /><br />Many Ole Miss people remember the Cardinal Club and have seen its “Welcome to Ole Miss” plaque where University Ave. meets the Grove and its signature light in front of Fulton Chapel. Inactive for 40 years, the Cardinal Club has returned. <br /><br />In an effort to restructure the Student Spirit Committee, the Associated Student Body at Ole Miss has reorganized it as the Cardinal Club, bringing back a more than 80-year-old tradition this summer. <br /><br />Ole Miss student Peyton Beard of Tupelo, the director of athletics for the Associated Student Body, is heading up the efforts. <br /><br />“One of the goals of my platform was to restructure the Student Spirit Committee,” said Beard, the first president of the revived Cardinal Club. “One of the main goals of the Cardinal Club was always school spirit and trying to get the freshmen involved early, get them to understand the Ole Miss spirit and traditions.” <br /><br />An early football season pep rally is in the works for this fall. Definite plans for that have not yet been set. It will likely be in conjunction with the first home game vs. Southeastern Louisiana. Plans also include a yell practice for fans and students, especially freshmen and transfers. <br /><br />“A lot of them won’t know the cheers, and we’d like to add more excitement to the games and make the atmosphere more electric,” Beard said. “And we might even be able to develop some new traditions.” <br /><br />The Club is sponsoring a “Game in The Grove” Thursday, Sept. 24, for the Ole Miss-South Carolina contest, televised by ESPN. A large screen will be set up on the Grove stage, much like the one for the Presidential Debate last fall. This event will be for all fans as well as students who can’t make the lengthy trip on a school night. <br /><br />“We want this to be a fun event for everybody,” Beard said. “We want it to be a regular Grove atmosphere. Being on a Thursday makes it hard for students to attend the game. Hopefully they’ll watch it in the Grove along with fans from the community. It will be fun having everybody get together.” <br /><br />Another planned activity is a “Rebel Road Trip” which is set for the Auburn football game Oct. 30-31. This is for Ole Miss students. The Club is currently looking for sponsors for this Rebel Road Trip effort to help keep costs down for the students who will attend. <br /><br />And it’s not all about football. The Cardinal Club hopes to also have some events in conjunction with basketball games, baseball games, and other contests, like the Student Spirit Committee has done in the past. <br /><br />The "new" Cardinal Club isn’t intended to be a large group of students. The organizers hope to keep it around 30 members who work hard at organizing and carrying out the events surrounding Ole Miss sports. <br /><br />“In the past, I’ve been a part of the Student Spirit Committee, and the number signed up was large,” Beard said. “But attendance at the meetings was small. We might have 60 members but only eight or 10 would show up. It wasn’t the organization that it started out to be or that it could be.” <br /><br />So a new direction was decided upon and just in time for what should be an exciting sports year in 2009-10. Those involved are serious about their efforts to make it work. <br /><br />“There is an application process, and there is also an interview,” Beard said of potential members. “We will choose members from that interview process. During the summer orientation, there was a table set up with information about the organization and the events for the fall. We’ll do that again during Welcome Week when school starts.” <br /><br />Since its beginnings in 1927, the Cardinal Club served several different roles and functions, from social activities to school spirit. <br /><br />“It really started out as a way to greet and entertain visiting teams,” said Sovent Taylor, the group’s advisor and also an alumni assistant and club coordinator with the Ole Miss Alumni Association. “Surprisingly enough, the first team they greeted and welcomed to campus was LSU. It was never a huge group, only 20 or so. But it was an important part of Ole Miss for a lot of years.” <br /><br />But after 1969, for whatever reasons, it ceased to exist. <br /><br />Now seemed like the perfect time to revive it and allow it to be a driving force behind school spirit. <br /><br />“There’s a lot of hype going into this season,” Beard said. “It’s a lot different this summer. Some students didn’t even show up at games in the past. Now people are even talking about SEC championships. With the success of last football season and with the outlook for the future, everybody’s so excited.” <br /><br />And for the first time in 40 years, the Cardinal Club will be a part of it.Hopson Plantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638043282702877548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5695896201199659166.post-48404945050706860912010-02-18T09:17:00.001-08:002010-02-18T09:18:17.637-08:00Jon Gindick Jam Camp<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8lrWUHFgNNrxyFEUkhf9_rjt4iP8m0LG3gyoHgH4ZjQiTIWRRsmsvTx7zOA9hHCUohO31Smr2g6SobmRIC3HYOXjsoY7ef8yCRQSiYCImi48IoJ-xuNDE43Y1IE-hh-Y-iH-Bcb3zgGd/s1600-h/jam+camp.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 261px; height: 173px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8lrWUHFgNNrxyFEUkhf9_rjt4iP8m0LG3gyoHgH4ZjQiTIWRRsmsvTx7zOA9hHCUohO31Smr2g6SobmRIC3HYOXjsoY7ef8yCRQSiYCImi48IoJ-xuNDE43Y1IE-hh-Y-iH-Bcb3zgGd/s320/jam+camp.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439633928742225586" /></a><br />If You Love Blues Harmonica and Playing The Blues, Join Jon Gindick and His Coaches in the Heart of the Mississippi Delta For Your Next Blues Harmonica Jam Camp.<br /><br />A Limited Enrollment 5 Day Jamming and Learning Vacation <br />for Diatonic Harmonica Players-- <br />with a Focus on You, the Fundamentals of Blues <br />and the Joys of Jamming. <br /><br />Sign up for The Jam Camp News with Jam Camp schedule plus tips and tab on better playing.<br /><br /><br />Here's the Jon's Delta Team of Performing and Teaching Coaches<br /><br />Jon Gindick of Los Angeles, blues guitar and harmonica <br />Hash Brown of Dallas, blues guitar and harmonica <br />RJ Harman of Denver, blues harmonica <br />Cheryl Arena of Dallas, blues harmonica and vocals <br />Brian Purdy of Florida blues harmonica <br />Adam Gussow of Oxford,Mississippi, blues harmonica and guitar <br />Guitar Mikey and The Real Thing of Clarksdale, Mississippi<br />PLUS about 30 fellow "Campers" from all over the world.<br /><br />Mississippi Delta Jam Camps March 23-27, 2010 and also September 28 to October 2, 2010 <br />$995.00 for seminar only.<br />Lodging and Food Very Cheap .<br />.<br />. About our Mississippi Jam Camps The Mississippi Camps are held at The Shack Up Inn, 3 miles outside of Clarksdale, Mississippi. If you are flying, you will probably want to fly into Memphis, get a ride, or rent a car to drive down "The Blues Highway" (HIghway 61) about an hour an a half to Clarksdale. (We will help you find a drive-mate.)Hopson Plantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638043282702877548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5695896201199659166.post-6777070074275080512010-01-22T05:27:00.000-08:002010-01-22T12:13:14.247-08:002010 John Busby Memorial Busby Stew Super Bowl Extravaganza<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjmTwQ-h8w-POKq9fYwY6ldV1l9FUxkTr3K8e78XmwzoaOfI54lT2JENrQIANhheKJGJ33YKmP1vDPcmE3CqIHYewJkD89xh-wbeSVJekepVLHV-_SaRDWXYowFJVIpR7HyJ76Id198-R/s1600-h/John+Busby.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 244px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjmTwQ-h8w-POKq9fYwY6ldV1l9FUxkTr3K8e78XmwzoaOfI54lT2JENrQIANhheKJGJ33YKmP1vDPcmE3CqIHYewJkD89xh-wbeSVJekepVLHV-_SaRDWXYowFJVIpR7HyJ76Id198-R/s320/John+Busby.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429555993068436146" /></a><br /><strong>2010 John Busby Memorial Busby Stew Super Bowl Extravaganza</strong><br /><br /><br />Who: The Hopson Commissary,Cathy and James Butler, Robert Birdsong,Kenny Denham and all who knew John Busby and wish to pass along his spirit of giving to the community through his love for curative cooking.<br /><br />What: The 2010 John Busby Memorial Brunswick Stew Super Bowl Extravaganza will celebrate the memory of John Busby and the extraordinary dishes he shared so generously through the years with all who knew him. It was a tradition for John to invite friends to bring over whatever was in their freezer, with which he would prepare delicious dishs for the crowd. This year without John's talent in the kitchen, we will take those deer,duck, or whatever is brought to the Commissary and make a Brunswick Stew. Rumor is Kenny may have a Busby speciality there for everyone to enjoy. <br /><br />This tradition will live on and now with a philanthropic component. This year's proceeds from donations for the Buzby Stew will be offered to the Busby family to help defray some of the medical and burial expenses incurred recently due to John's illness. In the coming years Meg Busby will be asked to choose a charity that John would have supported and all proceeds will go to that charitable organization. In addition to the donations for a bowl of Busby Stew, all money from the game board will be given to the Busby family as well.<br /> <br />Where: Hopson Commissary, Hwy 49 South, Clarksdale Ms<br />When: Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 7th Doors will open at noon, <br />Why: To honor the many contributions John Busby made to his family, friends and community through the generosity of his cooking skills and his unselfish giving of time and energy.<br /><br />To contribute items from your freezer, please deliver them on Wednesday, Febuary 3rd, or Thursday,Febuary 4th, before the Super Bowl to Hopson Commissary. For additional information or to schedule a drop-off time please contact James Butler, jbutler57@yahoo.com or call 662 902 3866. <br /><br />Come join the celebration of John's life and generosity, watch the Super Bowl on the two new huge flat screens, make a donotation to the John Busby Stew Fund, grab a bowl of delicious Busby Stew and give back some of the love that John spread around so selflessly.<br /><br />We look forward to seeing you thereHopson Plantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638043282702877548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5695896201199659166.post-13741666939424435442009-12-30T12:27:00.000-08:002009-12-30T13:26:10.852-08:00John Busby "RIP"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYovn3i-he3WnZkb4jrbUQ3q2LqoL-kiBnrTAne_zNBREYK_eMX0ofsL60zIzZDlaq-scAaZuGw6GQQUp7w38XSY6_IYs0xDbtw5mjQsE6JII5cKkvuazYIQNKcGRMK_lJUbz0UZDdeUgL/s1600-h/John+Busby.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 244px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYovn3i-he3WnZkb4jrbUQ3q2LqoL-kiBnrTAne_zNBREYK_eMX0ofsL60zIzZDlaq-scAaZuGw6GQQUp7w38XSY6_IYs0xDbtw5mjQsE6JII5cKkvuazYIQNKcGRMK_lJUbz0UZDdeUgL/s320/John+Busby.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421141116787888642" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />"Only the good die young" I have heard that said many times. I liked the Billy Joel hit song by that same name. I can't say that I know that it is true. I can say that it seems to happen to offen. <br />Karr West asked me when I told him the sad news, Who do you think John first went to see when he got HOME. I don't know the answer to that,but, I do think that the first thing John asked was, "Where is the kitchen". <br />When I first met John I thought that I knew how to cook. I only thought I did. John knew cooking and I learned as much as I could from him. <br />I think that we will be seeing a lot of very heavy angels from now on. I know that my father will have fun cooking up there with John till I can join them one day.Hopson Plantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638043282702877548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5695896201199659166.post-89076319528396993602009-12-30T12:17:00.000-08:002009-12-30T12:22:13.144-08:00History of the Cotton Pickerhttp://www.dafvm.msstate.edu/landmarks/07/fall/4-6.pdf<br /><br /><br />copy and paste the link to your address line.Hopson Plantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638043282702877548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5695896201199659166.post-25251347609966853452009-12-30T06:10:00.000-08:002009-12-30T06:11:14.938-08:00RIP DavidMuseum Mourns Loss of Delta Musician<br />We are sad to report that David Paul Burchfield died December 26, 2009 following a car accident near Leland, MS. Services will be at 11 a.m. today at the Interstate Baptist Church, Shaw. <br /><br />David was the leader of the band "The Electric Mudd" and he played professionally throughout the region. He gave guitar lessons to aspiring musicians. David taught classes at the B.B. King Museum and was a popular performer at museum events and programs.<br /><br />Burchfield was born on July 22, 1977, in Cleveland, MS to James William "Billy" Burchfield and Alma Marlene Bowen Burchfield. He married Nicole "Nikki" Roberson on July 12, 2003 and they have a two year old daughter, Piper Elizabeth. <br /><br />After graduating from Mississippi Delta Community College with an Associate of Arts Degree in Field Technology, he returned to MDCC to pursue a music degree. David will be missed by his fans, his students, his friends and his family. <br /><br />An online guestbook may be viewed and signed at <br />www.rayfuneralhome.netHopson Plantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638043282702877548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5695896201199659166.post-44186396335905802032009-12-23T14:21:00.000-08:002009-12-23T14:26:23.987-08:00Reviews from Tripadvisor“Cadillac Shack Lived Up To Our Expectations”<br /><br />Shack Up Inn<br /><br />We stayed for one night on a motorcycle trip through the Blues Country. Everybody who loves Blues or appreciates that the Blues was the beginning of all music should make this trip some day. We really enjoyed everything about the Shack Up Inn. We were there on a Tuesday night and not much happens on a Tuesday in Clarksdale so we missed out on the juke joints (sniff, sniff) and Madidi and almost missed Ground Zero. We managed to hit that for lunch before we left town.<br /><br />We stayed int Cadillac Shack and were warmly greeted upon our arrival. There was a group staying on a work retreat of some sort and they hired a band. We were invited to come by and listen which we did for a little bit. <br /><br />The best time we had was when we wandered up to the Commissary and found a nice little bar. The owner and his family were very friendly. We sat for a couple of hours drinking beer and meeting the locals that stopped in. That really makes a trip for us. This was one of our fondest memories of our entire trip.<br /><br />We enjoyed every minute we were in Clarksdale. I cannot imagine being back in the area with all the other rides to do but if I am I won't be sad to be there. It was a journey that I will not soon forget. Thank you to Robert Johnson and all the other bluesmen/women who blazed the trail to provide me with many hours of listening pleasure. My heart was full and truly grateful for their sacrifices and talents.<br /><br /><br /><br />“Our most unique trip ever”<br /><br />Shack Up Inn<br /> <br />Trip type: Couples Even if you see their website, you have to experience this place in person. <br /><br />Stayed in one of the Cotton Gin bins, the shacks were booked up. What a hoot this place is. The room was all we needed, actually larger than most hotels. <br /><br />The treat is wandering around the property. Make sure to take it all in. There are unexpected experiences all over in places some people may miss. <br /><br />We were lucky enough to have found the Commisary open after we got back from dinner at a nice restaurant in town. This place is a cross between a movie set, museum, country store and a honky tonk. We ended up sitting at the bar talking to the bartender who actually is a tour guide in the area and is remarkably knowledgable about blues history. He might have exagerated or embelished some of his stories. But, it was a unique experience to go along with the stay.Hopson Plantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638043282702877548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5695896201199659166.post-23018298125649356922009-12-11T08:54:00.001-08:002009-12-11T08:54:30.156-08:00<span xmlns=''><p> <br />Music for The Holidays at Hopson.<br />Celebrate The Season With Us!<br /> Friday December 11 <br /> Willy Waggs <br />Country/Rock Band<br /> 9pm <br />Have Dinner With Us<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Thursday December 17<br />Zak Kiker- Acoustic Blues<br />Solar Porch- Acoustic Blues Duo <br />Acoustic Blues Music<br />8pm<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Saturday December 19<br />Mexican Christmas Party<br />Bruce Brewer & Deep Water Baptists<br />Country/Classic Rock Band<br />9pm<br /> <br /> <br /> Wednesday December 23<br />Tacky Christmas Party<br />DJ <br />9pm<br /> <br /> <br /> Christmas Night<br />Friday December 25 <br /> The Shakerz<br />Classic Rock Band<br />9pm<br /> <br /> <br /> New Years Eve<br />Ring In The New Year with<br />Radioflyer<br />Classic Rock Band<br />9pm<br /> </p><p><span style='color:#3d2614'>Hopson Commissary<br/>PO Box 1486<br/>Clarksdale, MS 38614<br/>(662) 624-5756 </span></p></span>Hopson Plantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638043282702877548noreply@blogger.com0