Mississippi: The Birthplace of America’s Music by S.J. Francis

You may notice when I speak that I’m not native to the Southern states, certainly not to the beautiful state of Mississippi. My penchant for speaking and writing correct English and a lack of a Southern drawl immediately give that away. But despite many drawbacks down here, I love living in the South. When I lived in the frigid cold and snowy winters up North, I often found myself singing the tune,
“Oh I wish I was in Dixie, Hurrah, Hurrah. I wish I was in Dixie Land.” Don’t ask how that came to be, it just did. Music is sometimes mysterious that way popping up into our lives without a rhyme or reason. I write by music and exercise to it.

When you think of Mississippi, what thoughts come to mind? Cotton? Deep South? Magnolia? Crepe Myrtles? Laid back attitude? Slow moving? Good food? Civil War sites? Barbeques by the miles? How about music? Mississippi is known the world over as the birthplace of American Music. Whether it is Charley Patton and Son House's interpretations of the Delta Blues, Elvis Presley’s hip moving and shaking Rock 'n' Roll from Tupelo, or Jimmie Rodgers the Father of Country Music from Meridian, America’s musical tradition was born and refined in the culture, diversity and struggles of Mississippi. Music is the lifeblood of Mississippi. Everywhere one visits in the state are reminders and markers of the birth and love for music. What comes to mind when you think of music and Mississippi? Elvis Presley, the “King of Rock and Roll” once stated, “I happened to come along in the music business when there was no trend.” Gospel, country, jazz, bluegrass, and rock n’ roll have deep-running roots here. The sound is still alive and well. I know I hear it often.

My debut novel, Shattered Lies begins in Yazoo County, in the Delta region of Mississippi, and ends in New York City.  Blues had its birth in the Mississippi Delta.  The idea for this book came to me in 1999, but the story didn’t write itself until I moved down to Mississippi.  Two famous blues singers are associated with the County of Yazoo. Arnold Dwight "Gatemouth" Moore was an American blues and gospel singer, songwriter, radio disc jockey, community leader and pastor, later known as Reverend Gatemouth Moore. During his career as a recording artist, Moore worked with various jazz musicians, including Bennie Moten, Tommy Douglas and Walter Barnes, and his songs were recorded by B.B. King and Rufus Thomas. He was noted for his mellow singing voice, much in the style of Billy Eckstine.

Another American blues singer was Robert Leroy Johnson, a songwriter and musician. Johnson's vague documented life and death have given rise to much legend. The one most closely associated with his life is that he sold his soul to the devil at a local crossroads to achieve musical success. Before this so-called encounter with the devil, Johnson was at best a mediocre guitar player. Suddenly over night, he became a Blues wonder. He is now recognized as a master of the blues, particularly as a progenitor of the Delta blues style. His landmark recordings in 1936 and 1937 display a combination of singing, guitar skills, and songwriting talent that influenced later generations of musicians. Music is entwined in Mississippi life as evidenced by the establishment of the Mississippi Blues Trail. The Mississippi Blues Trail was created by the Mississippi Blues Commission in 2006 to “place interpretive markers at the most notable historical sites related to the birth, growth, and influence of the blues throughout the state of Mississippi. Within the state the trail extends from the Gulf Coast north along several highways to Natchez, Vicksburg, Jackson, Leland, Greenwood, Clarksdale, Tunica, Grenada, Oxford, Columbus, and Meridian. The largest concentration of markers is in the Mississippi Delta, but other regions of the state are also commemorated.” (Wikipedia)

Synopsis: Thirty-year-old Kate Thayer has a good life as a veterinarian running the family horse farm in the South until she uncovers an act of unimaginable treachery by those she trusted most and discovers that everything she knew about herself was a lie. Her paternal grandmother, the woman who raised her, is behind a number of devastating secrets Kate is compelled to discover. But the deeper she digs, the more betrayal she finds, changing her life in ways she could have never foreseen.

Thanks for stopping by to read about my debut novel and my new home state of Mississippi. I have two prizes to give away to a lucky winner —a copy of Shattered Lies (Kindle version OR Paperback, winner’s choice) and a Mississippi souvenir.  Simply leave a comment and your contact info in order to contact you should you win. 

You can read more about the award winning Shattered Lies, a mainstream/contemporary/family saga at my website: http://sjfranciswriter.com    There you’ll be able to connect with me and learn more about the award winning Shattered Lies, me and my blogs.

For more info about Mississippi and America’s Music:

http://msbluestrail.org/

https://birthplaceofamericanmusic.blogspot.com/

http://www.msmusic.org/mississippi-birthplace-americas-music.pdf

https://www.mississippibelieveit.com/resource-item/birthplace-americas-music/