Poor William, Jean-Claude Droux, Red Paden, Steve Kolbus outside Red’s Blues Lounge in Clarksdale
By POOR WILLIAM
Clarksdale, Mississippi (VIDEO and PHOTOS)
Clarksdale and the Mississippi Delta are made all the richer due to folks from the world over who consistently return year after year to get their Delta fixes: blues, good eats, fair weather, cold beer, and most importantly, the opportunity to reconnect with a place and a people they love. And, we love them.
Jean-Claude Droux from Switzerland is no exception. He has ingratiated himself with Clarksdalians from all walks. Red Paden, infamous and legendary proprietor of Red’s Blues Club—possibly the coolest Juke in the entire world—daily wears a cap Jean-Claude gave him. Many of us carry Swiss Army Knives given by Jean-Claude as gifts, and Madge got a box of chocolates, which she promptly and wisely hid from Poor William Gump Howell!
What a weekend we just had in the Mississippi Delta: Ole Miss put a whuppin’ on the Tennessee Volunteers in Oxford; Madge bent Governor Phil Bryant’s ear in the Ole Miss Grove about Delta and Mississippi Tourism; Mississippi State stayed undefeated—they had an open date; The Deep Blues Festival saw its first year at the Shack Up Inn, having moved down from Minnesota. And, live blues was prevalent in downtown Clarksdale in front of Theo Dasbach’s Rock ‘n Blues Museum, Roger Stolle’s Cat Head Blues and Folk Art, along with buskers on the street, and music always at Ground Zero Blues Club and Red’s Lounge.
Red, who is very particular about who he hires to play, had Jean-Claude play last night from 6-7, prior to the Sunday night regular Watermelon Slim. The air was brisk, the tunes were sweet and Jean-Claude brought his Euro-style blues to the Delta, even playing several original songs and a beautiful song he dedicated to his best friend who recently passed away, prior to planning on joining him on this trip to Clarksdale. It was beautiful, as is our friend, Jean-Claude!
Enjoy a video compilation of Magical Madge and my fat-ass riding the Delta Bohemian Pedicab to Red’s Blues Club this past Sunday afternoon to hear Jean-Claude play. Just another easy Sunday afternoon in the Mississippi Delta! Y’all come! pw
VIDEO
[youtube width=”600″ height=”400″]http://youtu.be/CNH0BqSM77M[/youtube]
PHOTO SLIDESHOW
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- Jean-Claude Droux brought Poor William a Swiss Army Knife from Switzerland
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- Poor William, Magical Madge and Governor Phil Bryant in The Grove at Ole Miss
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- Jean-Claude Droux from Switzerland during his set at Red’s Blues Lounge in Clarksdale
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- Poor William, Dandy and Magical Madge on the Delta Bohemian Excursions Pedicab
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- Jean-Claude Droux brought Magical Madge a box of chocolates from Switzerland
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- Poor William introducing Charles Evans to former Dean of Students at Ole Miss Sparky Reardon. Martha Jane Howell looks on.
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- Dean of Students at Ole Miss Sparky Reardon. Martha Jane Howell looks on.
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- Poor William, Jean-Claude Droux, Red Paden, Steve Kolbus outside Red’s Blues Lounge in Clarksdale
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- Charles Evans in The Grove for the first time at Ole Miss
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- Jean Claude Droux, Red Paden, Steve Kolbus outside Red’s place in Clarksdale
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- Poor William photo bombing two Ole Miss Babes
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- Young & Free columnist and WGH Marketing Associate Corinne Vance and Kimberly Sansing
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- Steve Amboit, Outstanding Alumni Blake “Bunky” Tartt, Billy “Poor William” Howell
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- Steve Amboit, Outstanding Alumni Blake “Bunky” Tartt, Billy “Poor William” Howell
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- Bryan Fikes and Corinne Vane at Ole Miss v. Tennessee game day. Love the photo bomber!
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- Charles Evans, Poor William, Martha Jane Howell, former Dean of Students at Ole Miss Sparky Reardon
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- Two outstanding Ole Miss Alumni James Meredith and Blake Tartt at Tennessee game 2014
I finally came around to your site, beautiful lady Marge. Next time, we’re coming there.
Have a look at what I wrote about Clarksdale. See you both soon sometime.
http://joyce-iamwhatiyam.blogspot.com/2014/10/traversing-blues-trail-61-to-clarksdale.html#comment-form