Twenty years after Robert Jr Whitall took this photograph of the proverbial Crossroads of blues & music mythology the flat Mississippi delta county has changed dramatically. This sign is gone, the Devil is at the Crossroads! Robert Jr took this photo April 1989 in the driveway of a roadhouse near Robinsonville, MS where a young Robert Johnson and a middle-aged Son House once sat and played for nickels. They both resided at the Abbey-Leatherman plantation about 5 miles away, Mr. House as a laborer and Mr. Johnson lived with his mother. It was about this time that an unskilled Robert Johnson disappeared for a piece of time and came back as the most prolific blues songwriter and performer. A deal with the Devil at “a” Crossroads was the most popular explanation for this transformation. The roadhouse and the sign have been removed by the Tunica casinos who were “cleaning up” the land. But to the south the old blues country still lives, three photographs of Robert Johnson have surfaced, a complete metamorphosis of Clarksdale has occurred, and juke joints have their own festival. But this photograph of Highway 61 and Highway 49, just east of Helena and just north of Clarksdale, a Crossed Road, is still important because every bluesman (or blueswomen) passed this sign, going to Memphis, going to New Orleans, going to Arkansas or to Clarksdale. Robert Johnson, Bessie Smith, Son House, Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Robert Plant, Johnny Winter, Keith Richards, Cream, Iggy Pop and scores of other masters of American music have passed this corner of the blues world. In reality the real Crossroads is probably still two dirt roads near the middle of nowhere. — Robert Jr Whitall
1. Crossroads
by Robert Jr Whitall
2. Clarence Fountain
“It’s A Different World Now”(4:20),Steppin’ Up
And Steppin’ Out, Clarence Fountain, founding member of the Blind
Boys Of Alabama, and Sam Butler have teamed up with Solomon Burke to come
up with a stellar recording that rocks with a love from above.
The One Entertaiment System
www.kingsolomon.com
3. Alexis P Suter
“The Hole That I’m In” (4:11), Hipbone Records
Eastcoast sensation Alexis is a rising star on the roots, blues &
soul scene. Her emotional, gut-busting blues and soul singing has raw
attitude and her wonderful spirit will charm www.alexispsuter.com/
4. Preston Shannon
“The Fools Way Out” (2:46), BE WITH ME TONIGHT,
Title Tunes Records
Hailed as the reigning “King Of Beale Street” a powerful guitarist
with a soulful voice, Preston represnts the best of Memphis deep soul.
Danceble and Groovin’!
preston@prestonshannon.com
5. Dave Fields
“Train To My Heart” (4:49), ALL WOUND UP,
FMI Records
New York musician and producer presents a musical rainbow of the blues.
Joyful and jubilant Mr Fields presents a deeply emotional set of songs
as only he can.
www.davefields.com
6. Liz Mandeville
“Little Queen” (2:20), RED TOP, Earwig Music
From Liz’s 4th Earwig CD, RED TOP, as usual Liz bares her soul with
her inimitable range of self-penned blues, soul ballads and sassy swing
tunes.
www.lizmandeville.com
www.earwigmusic.com
7. John Sinclair & his
Motor City Blues Scholars
"The Screamers", (4:23) Detroit Life
John Sinclair, Detroit's poet, activist, counterculture legend and blues
scholar, has put his well-thought-out words to some of the best MotorCityFunk
music and this cut screams out the blues that has gripped Detroit for
over 40 years!
www.nocover.net
www.johnsinclair.us
8. Mr.Tater
“Daddy Ain't Raised
No Fool” (2:09)
Take A Walk In The Park With Mr Tater,
King Of Ashton Records,
http://www.myspace.com/mrtaterthegreatestmusicmakeralive
9. Deak Harp
“Big Fat Mama”(3:52),
GATEWAY TO THE BLUES, Deak Harp Records
Deak once drove James Cotton on tour and you can tell what he learned
from the master. Playing his harmonicas like a man possessed running into
the audience and into their hearts.Smokin’!
www.deakharpblues.com
10. Mr Sam
“Soul Singer” (3:08),
VOICEMAIL, Milaja Records
Southern soul blues with a smooth r&b sound and a crossover of pop.
Mr. Sam combines Memphis with LA in a very smooth way.
www.mrsammusic.net
jazzii@jazziientertainment.com
11. Dexter Allen
“Hooked” (3:56), BLUEZIN MY WAY, Blues soul artist Dexter
Allen grew his musical soul in the shadow of Bobby Rush and is now stepping
out to show “Bluezin’ My Way”
dta4allen@aol.com
www.myspace.com/dexterallen1
12. Guy King
“The Story” (5:57), LIVIN’ IT, IBF Records
Israeli native, now a Chicago bluesman, led Willie Kent’s last band
and has successfully merged gutbucket blues with uptown soul and jazz
stylings.
www.myspace.com/guyking1
www.guyking.net/
13. Loco Zydeco
“Next Time” (3:49), TIME TO TURN THE KEY,
Flaming Cheese Records
A Canadian zydeco band based in Toronto, LZ has won over enthusiastic
crowds with contemporary and traditional zydeco in all it’s toe-tapping,
hip-shaking glory.
www.locozydeco.com
14. Linsey Alexander
“I’m Tired” (7:02) My Days Are So Long
Mr. Hootchie Cootchie man is everywhere in Chicago which is saying something.
With Gibson in hand he brings everyone to attention. Have guitar will
travel!
www.linseyalexander.com
cdbaby.com/cd/linsey
15. Mahajibee
“Little Man” (4:08), MAHAJIBEE, Steel City Mojo band besides
holding down the bluesbeat in the Three Rivers area of Pennsylvania have
with the release of Mahajibee, their first original CD, have begun traveling
down the blues highway. Open The Door.
www.mahajibeeblues.com
16. Julia Magness
and The Original Bells of Joy
“Down By The Riverside” (4:01)
The Bells Ring On
Julia grew up in the church but on her debut CD she is paired with one
of the premier roots gospel groups, The Original Bells of Joy, who have
been overjoying Texas audiences for over 50 years.
julias_blues@yahoo.com
www.myspace.com/juliasblues
17. Smoky Greenwell
“Between Iraq and a Hard Place” (3:43), Southland Records
New Orleans harmonica ace, Smoky Greenwell has something to say about
things today & he says it in this cut on his latest CD. In this political
year(2008) we should listen to our Louisiana musicians
www.smokygreenwell.com/
18. Bob Angell
“Don’t worry Amy”(4:19),
BLUES OUTLET True Tone
Since 1966, Bob has entertained us with lots of real American barroom
guitar and piano here. I like to think of their take on the blues as American
Classical Music because,y’know IT IS!!! Good Blues To You!
www.bluesoutlet.com
19. Spontaneous Combustion
“Another Spoonful” (4:57)
Spontaneous Combustion-Explosion
Louie da Wolf has been howlin the blues at picnics in Pennsylvania, to
luaus in Hawaii and on the blues beaches of Florida. With hot guitars,
stunning stage presence & style this cut will light a Fire! Mahalo.
mauibluez@msn.com
A cure for the blues
six times a year.
Back To Top
1.
Crossroads by Robert Jr Whitall
2. Clarence Fountain
“It’s A Different World Now”(4:20),
Steppin’ Up And Steppin’ Out,
The One Entertaiment System
www.kingsolomon.com
3. Alexis P Suter
“The Hole That I’m In” (4:11),
Hipbone Records
www.alexispsuter.com/
4. Preston Shannon
“The Fools Way Out” (2:46),
BE WITH ME TONIGHT,
Title Tunes Records
preston@prestonshannon.com
5. Dave Fields
“Train To My Heart” (4:49), ALL WOUND UP,
FMI Records
www.davefields.com
6. Liz Mandeville
“Little Queen” (2:20), RED TOP, Earwig Music
www.lizmandeville.com
www.earwigmusic.com
7. John Sinclair & his
Motor City Blues Scholars
"The Screamers", (4:23) Detroit Life
www.nocover.net
www.johnsinclair.us
8. Mr.Tater
“Daddy Ain't Raised
No Fool” (2:09)
Take A Walk In The Park
With Mr Tater,
King Of Ashton Records,
http://www.myspace.com/mrtaterthe
greatestmusicmakeralive
9. Deak Harp
“Big Fat Mama”(3:52),
GATEWAY TO THE BLUES,
Deak Harp Records
www.deakharpblues.com
10. Mr Sam
“Soul Singer” (3:08),
VOICEMAIL, Milaja Records
www.mrsammusic.net
jazzii@jazziientertainment.com
11. Dexter Allen
“Hooked” (3:56),
BLUEZIN MY WAY,
dta4allen@aol.com
www.myspace.com/dexterallen1
12. Guy King
“The Story” (5:57),
LIVIN’ IT, IBF Records
www.myspace.com/guyking1
www.guyking.net/
13. Loco Zydeco
“Next Time” (3:49),
TIME TO TURN THE KEY,
Flaming Cheese Records
www.locozydeco.com
14. Linsey Alexander
“I’m Tired” (7:02)
My Days Are So Long
www.linseyalexander.com
cdbaby.com/cd/linsey
15. Mahajibee
“Little Man” (4:08),
MAHAJIBEE,
www.mahajibeeblues.com
16. Julia Magness
and The Original Bells of Joy
“Down By The Riverside” (4:01)
The Bells Ring On
julias_blues@yahoo.com
www.myspace.com/juliasblues
17. Smoky Greenwell
“Between Iraq and a Hard Place” (3:43), Southland Records
www.smokygreenwell.com/
18. Bob Angell
“Don’t worry Amy”(4:19),
BLUES OUTLET True Tone
www.bluesoutlet.com
19. Spontaneous Combustion
“Another Spoonful” (4:57)
Spontaneous Combustion-Explosion
mauibluez@msn.com