Dec 3, 2009

  

 

 

Grammy Award-winning blues artist performs for English Comp II class
By: Haley Scruggs & T.J. Jernigan

Continued from front page...

He describes the influence that the blues has on music all over the world and comments on the fact that most Mississippians don’t realize it.

“People all over the world look at our area and view it as a magical place,” he said. “Most people don’t even realize we have that in our backyard.”

Mathus played songs by various artists including Charlie Patton and also played some of his own original songs. The atmosphere was very intimate and relaxed and students were allowed to ask questions in between songs.

One student asked what inspires his songs. Mathus responded with, “Inspirations come from talking to someone or some situations, or a woman, everything from life.”

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He also discussed what life was like for musicians during the early years of the blues.

“Blues musicians were outlaws that were often associated with the devil and evil. A lot of times they wouldn’t even let you be buried in the cemetery if you messed around with the blues.”
The students in the class were very impressed with Mathus’ performance and most of them have become real blues admirers.

Bobby Lee, a freshman from Horn Lake, says, “Doing this project and seeing Jimbo play today made me realize that all music basically has the same concept. A lot of songs, no matter what genre, are all about the same stuff. There are songs being made today about the same stuff old blues musicians sang about.”