Living Blues #253 January/February 2018

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Revisiting Mississippi Hill Country Blues

It has been ten years since our last Hill Country blues issue and we decided to revisit the scene. Once again we discovered a wealth of blues activity spurred by second and third generation artists who are determined to keep the music of their forefathers alive.

• R.L. Boyce – By Scott M. Bock

• The Como Mamas – By Scott M. Bock

• Garry Burnside – By Margo Cooper

• Robert Kimbrough – By Jacqui Sahagian

• Trenton Ayers – By Jacqui Sahagian

• Cameron Kimbrough – By Mike Stephenson

Scenes of the North Mississippi Hill Country

A photo essay of images from the Hill Country.

Sid Hemphill

Hill Country Patriarch

By Jim O’Neal

Modern day Hill Country blues can trace many of its roots back to one man—Sid Hemphill. Born in 1878 (or 1876), Hemphill was the grandfather of Jessie Mae Hemphill and was the leader of the first African American fife and drum band ever recorded.

Record Reviews

• New Releases by: Robert Finley, Henry Gray and Ronnie Earl
• Reissues by: Jimmy Reed, Little Richard and Stax Records

Editorial

Blues News

Breaking Out with Hubby Jenkins

Living Blues Talks to Ben Harper

Book Reviews

Obituaries

Living Blues Radio Charts Top 50 Releases for 2017

Radio Charts

Cover photo by Bill Steber (R.L. Boyce, Como, Mississippi, December 15, 2017)