Former Clarksdalian Writing for The Daily Beast

PHOTO GALLERY and VIDEO INCLUDED

“Sometimes it makes me sad, though…Andy being gone. I have to remind myself that some birds aren’t meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright. And when they fly away, the part of you that knows it was a sin to lock them up does rejoice. But still, the place you live in is that much more drab and empty that they’re gone. I guess I just miss my friend.” — Morgan Freeman as “Red” in Shawshank Redemption

Andy Ross during the Juke Joint Festival 2011 in Clarksdale. Photo by Delta Bohemian

The above mentioned statement made by Morgan Freeman’s character “Red” in the movie Shawshank Redemption expresses my sentiments about my friend “Andy” Ross, former reporter for the Clarksdale Press Register (CPR).

I first met Andy at an afternoon party at the Shack Up Inn in Spring 2008. The native of Jackson had moved to Clarksdale from Colorado to work as the lead reporter for the CPR. Having just moved from Colorado myself, I was interested in finding out what would make a perfectly good Jackson boy, who had been living in the other God’s country–Colorado, move to the Cradle of the Blues.

It didn’t take long for me to figure out Andy’s “cool factor” got the Delta. I was bartending at Rust and Madidi restaurants in Clarksdale as I got to know Andy. Though young enough to be my son, we hit it off immediately. He is bright, articulate, well read, quizzical, and has a great nose for a story. Also, he is a great listener who loves Jack Kerouac, can’t seem to get enough of those nasty ole Blues, and ain’t skeered of a little Crown Royal. My boy, Andy!

I had no compunction about hooking him up with good friends of mine, in order for him to get some info for articles he was pursuing. He didn’t need my help; the point is that I knew he could be trusted with information not always disseminated to someone “not from here.” He did a yeoman’s job reporting and writing at the CPR.

Andy graduated from Jackson Prep in Jackson, Mississippi before attending Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC, where he majored in Mass Communication, minored in Environmental Studies and Political Science and played Division I soccer

He has worked for a number of newspapers from Mississippi to Texas and does freelance work for several periodicals. Andy has left a trail of most excellent stories everywhere he has worked. He and his “way-cool,” SCREAMING HOT girlfriend Duvall Osteen recently relocated from the Austin, Texas area to New York, NY, where Andy is a research assistant for Newsweek/The Daily Beast.

He was credited with his first national byline on The Daily Beast website after only a few weeks on the job. Please follow the link to read Andy’s nationally broadcast article: RICK PERRY’s FRAT OUTING

Andy and Duvall will be back in Clarksdale for the Juke Joint Festival in April 2012. The Delta Bohemian will be doing a feature soon on Duvall’s incredible pedigree and experiences as a young researcher, writer, and “Young Turk” to keep an eye-out-for. These two “Lovers of the Delta” are sure to go places; so, Delta Bohemians everywhere, “Keep your reading glasses at the ready!” BUT, I still miss my friend, Andy! PW

Watch the scene from Shawshank Remdemption as mentioned above in the opening paragraph by clicking here.

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Janet Coursin, Andy Ross and Magical Madge Marley Howell during Juke Joint Festival 2011 in Clarksdale. Photo by Delta Bohemian

Janet Coursin, Andy Ross and Magical Madge Marley Howell during Juke Joint Festival 2011 in Clarksdale. WAIT! I spot the extremely handsome Father Man Hugh B Jones in the background. Maybe you should have bought that yellow sign next to your face in the picture, too!! 8) Photo by Delta Bohemian