AI Grok Overview of Wrestling with Wisdom at the Crossroads: Billy Howell Reflects
AI Grok Overview of Wrestling with Wisdom at the Crossroads Wrestling with Wisdom at the Crossroads: The Aphorisms and Poems of Malachi Montroy, published in December 2025 by Rose & Pearl Publishing, LLC, is a self-reflective collection authored by Chilly Billy Howell under his pen name, Malachi Montroy. Illustrated by Madge Marley Howell, the book compiles original aphorisms (short, insightful sayings) and poems that emerged from Howell’s personal musings, often shared initially on the Delta Bohemian platform. Described as a “devotional companion” in promotional materials, it blends introspection, faith, and humor to guide readers through life’s pivotal moments—or “crossroads.” With its roots in the Mississippi Delta’s cultural and spiritual landscape, the … [Read More...]
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THE TOUR – My Mississippi Delta Excursion with Poor William
Tuesday, October 13, 2015 was a big day for me, the day my whole trip to Clarksdale revolved about with The Tour! Delta Bohemian Chilly Billy picked me up at 10am and we headed off to the Crossroads-sign in Clarksdale. Robert Johnson's 'Crossroads' has always been symbolic to me, so the sign didn't raise goosebumps, but you simply can't leave Clarksdale without having been there. The first … [Read More...]
European Reflects on the Birthplace of the Blues
Initially, it was the history of Clarksdale, Birthplace of the Blues, that made me want to visit. Nearly all of the great old blues musicians lived in/around Clarksdale, or frequented the place at a certain point. We're talking big names here: Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson ll, Son House, Robert Johnson, Charley Patton and so on. There must have been something about the Delta … [Read More...]
A Thanksgiving Cogitation
A Thanksgiving Cogitation Poor William reflects on thankfulness. ⬇️ WATCH THE VIDEO ⬇️ … [Read More...]
Broadcaster Bill Bowker Fired Up About Clarksdale
By Magical Madge Watch the Video Daedalus Howell interviews the legendary Bill Bowker about his long-lasting radio broadcasting career and his love of blues music and its roots. In their exchange, beginning around minute 13:13, Howell mentions the radio host's new venture/venue by mentioning "Clarksdale....this is huge!" And they are off! … [Read More...]
Why folks come to the Mississippi Delta and Clarksdale
By Magical Madge WATCH DOCUMENTARY BELOW Our good friends Charlie and Henrietta Musselwhite love coming to Clarksdale. We are thankful to spend quality time with them during their visits. Serendipitously, Billy and I were getting some footage for a commissioned promotional Clarksdale blues music video for some clients in Australia and the Musselwhites were happy to let us capture them as … [Read More...]
The Sharecropper Family – by Guest Bohemian Jaby Denton
By Guest Bohemian Jaby Denton In 2011, while digging through a box full of vintage photographs found on the dusty shelves in the primitive office of the Quitman County Democrat, I came across a photograph that cut me to my core. The expressions of grief and pain of a rural family surrounding a little girl's lifeless body could not have been more compelling. With much reservation I posted the … [Read More...]
Richard Grant – Hooked on the Mississippi Delta
By Magical Madge More and more and more semi-fixtures, those who visit the Mississippi Delta over and over and over from far away places, leaving a piece of themselves each time, which nags and perplexes, drawing them back to find whatever it was they left, are taking a blind leap of faith and following that inner voice that beckons them to move here. Permanently. … [Read More...]
Aspen Wedding – by Mims Graeber
Publisher notes Holy Matrimony is very personal and intimate. Wedding videos help document but seldom capture the essence of the moment in time. However, I have never seen one like the Aspen : Wedding film Mims Graeber made. The emotion it evokes is authentic and that is rare. The young Mississippi filmmaker gives us a taste of what it was like to be at his mother's wedding without … [Read More...]
Who Defines Crazy
By Poor William "Me thinks the whole world is crazy except me and thee; and sometimes I wonder about thee." -- Old Quaker saying Irv: “Do you think there ought to be background checks before someone can purchase a weapon?” Me: “Yes.” Irv: “Do you think crazy people should be able to buy weapons?” Me: “It depends. Who defines crazy?” The above conversation with my friend … [Read More...]
Classic ROBERT BILBO WALKER at Reds Blues Club
By Magical Madge CLASSIC VIDEO If you have never seen this unique performer, then you need to go to Red's Blues Club and hear Robert "Bilbo" Walker live, Saturday, September 19, 2015 in downtown Clarksdale. In the words of Roger Stolle, "Don't miss the wig, suit, duckwalk and one-handed guitar playing." … [Read More...]
Mississippi Delta Sunset with Delta Dog Gunny
By Poor William VIDEO and PHOTO GALLERY “Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace.” -- Mila Kundera, Czech writer I doubt Kundera ever visited or even heard about the Mississippi Delta, but he sure understood what makes many … [Read More...]
Kathryn’s Restaurant Owner Opens Southbound in Helena
By Poor William VIDEO INTERVIEW and PHOTOS John Mohead, Numba One Cooka, fine musician, and owner/chef of Kathryn’s Restaurant on Moon Lake is opening a new version of his Southbound Pizza, formerly located in Tunica, MS. Magical Madge and I were in Helena yesterday, visiting several iconic spots, before swinging by the King Biscuit Blues Festival office … [Read More...]
ALICE HASEN – A Poet and We Didn’t Know It
By Poor William VIDEOS in post The Delta draws a multitude of people, mostly tourists who love the blues in the birthplace of the blues, but we also draw folks for many other reasons. We have some serious socioeconomic and educational issues here and are fortunate to have Teach For America (TFA) vested in helping us out. TFA picks some of the best and brightest college grads from … [Read More...]
Lightnin Malcolm Holdin’ Down the Root with Hill Country Blues
By Poor William VIDEO The basic groove has been here all along…it’s the root of everything…it will always be there…you can go a long ways if you have that root…but if you lose the root, then you take a chance; some people lose the root and make a lot more money than the people holding down the root. Holding down the root ain’ gonna make the money, but you’re holding down the root, and you … [Read More...]
Susan McPhail & Nick Nolte – The Pantyologist
By Poor William VIDEOS and PHOTOS (34 images) Madge and I were thrilled this week to attend a pre-screening of the hysterical comedy, A Walk in the Woods, starring Nick Nolte and Robert Redford with appearances by Emma Thompson and Mary Steenburgen. Tuesday evening's sold out event was held at Malco's Oxford Commons Theater, replete with adult beverages and some mighty fine vittles. Why were … [Read More...]
Law and Order Matters
By Poor William “At his best, man is the noblest of all animals: separated from law and justice he is the worst.” -- Aristotle, who was not a dumbass :-) The worm has turned in the United States, and not for the better. No pretty butterflies exiting cocoons here! Too many folks with shit for brains taking matters into their own ignorant hands: ignorant of history, ignorant of the importance … [Read More...]
Charlie Musselwhite plays blues guitar
By Magical Madge VIDEO IN POST Billy and I relish moments when we get to enjoy meaningful dialogue with others. The two of us rarely run out of things to discuss but we welcome when we can engage in conversation with close friends and/or new friends in an intimate setting. It always blesses us. On such occasions we like to play recorded music in the background but on … [Read More...]
Layne Logue: Two Cottonmouths Fight For Mating Rights
By Poor William VIDEOS and PHOTO GALLERY What do ya get when you cross a river rat, civil engineer, helper and re-supplier of river paddlers passing through Vicksburg, Calvin & Hobbes aficionado and an all-around nice guy? Well, you get some wicked cool photos and videos of flora, fauna, and killa sunsets! That’s what! Delta Bohemian Layne Logue is an extraordinary Dude with an eye … [Read More...]
10-Year Commemoration of Hurricane Katrina
Quapaw Canoe Company captain extraordinaire, Mark River Peoples, is a personal friend, keeper of the waters, fellow Red’s Lounge regular and a contributor to the Delta Bohemian. Madge and I dig this Dude. He stays on the down low, is self-effacing like his mentor and friend, Driftwood Johnnie Ruskey, and is able to articulate cogent life experiences with the ease and understanding of a keen-eyed, … [Read More...]
Surf the Great Mississippi River Flood of 2011 with John Ruskey
By Magical Madge With all these 10-year remembrances going on about the massive, destructive and deadly storm called Katrina, I am reminded of another storm which left it's mark on some of us here in Northwest Mississippi. It wasn't that long ago I struggled to sleep at night — I couldn't get the thought of all that water rushing by such a short distance away across a few … [Read More...]
Take a Jeep Tour with Chilly Billy
Abe’s Bar-B-Q
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