"Mississippi: Birthplace of America's Music"
Celebrating a 50-Year Grammy Legacy
[press release]

I recently had the incredible good fortune to take part in this event, sponsored by the Recording Academy, Peavey Electronics, and the Mississippi Development Authority. The show featured headliners Jerry Lee Lewis, Marty Stuart, the Williams Brothers, the North Mississippi Allstars, and Carola, as well as up-and-comers like Soulfire and Sweetwater Jade. Also part of the festivities, and a special treat for me, was guitarist James Burton, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (he was inducted by Keith Richards) and guitarist for Elvis Presley, Ricky Nelson and many, many others. The show was a benefit for the Blues Foundation and was hosted by Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour.

I got to perform as part of a show-closing medley saluting Mississippi's musical tradition... Soulfire did a few R&B numbers (including "I'll Take You There", on which I joined them for a brief harmonica solo), and Sweetwater Jade sang a few country tunes, including Faith Hill's "Mississippi Girl." I then sang and played harp on Howlin' Wolf's "Howlin' for My Darlin'" and B.B. King's "Why I Sing the Blues."

Then, everyone came back out and Marty Stuart led us in a rendition of "Will the Circle Be Unbroken"... then we did "Turn On Your Lovelight" and I got to sing a verse of that, with James Burton and Marty Stuart standing alongside me. It was truly musical heaven and an enormous privilege to be among such great performers, from the headliners to the "up-and-comers" to the "unknown" amazing musicians in the band. I should have more pictures posted soon.

@Marriott Downtown, Jackson Mississippi
April 26th 2007
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2005 Lithuanian Tour

In March of 2005, I did a short tour of Europe, with gigs in Holland and Lithuania. The Lithuanian part of the tour was my first trip to eastern Europe, and it was delightful (musically and otherwise). For a longer report plus some sound files from one of the gigs and a studio session in Vilnius, click here.

@Brodvejus, Vilnius (Lithuania)
Vilnius, March 11th 2005
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