Blessissippi Blues: Morgan Freeman and explore.org Partner to Simulcast Live Concert Featuring the Crème of American Delta Blues Talent
Special Event Kicks off Scholarship Fund for Education Initiatives in Mississippi’s Delta Region
Clarksdale, MS and Santa Monica, CA – This April 28th, dozens of Delta Blues greats from Mississippi and beyond will converge in Clarksdale, Mississippi to play their hearts out to people around the world. The event, dubbed America’s Delta Blues: The Blessissippi Crossroads Concert, is an initiative by philanthropic media organization explore.org , actor Morgan Freeman and the Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale to celebrate the cultural significance of the blues and raise awareness about issues facing the region. Created as a benefit for the America’s Delta Blues Scholarship Fund at Delta State University, the three hour event will be simulcast online via explore.org, on XM Radio’s Bluesville channel and on LinkTV, a non-profit television network available on Dish Network and DirecTV.
Co-hosted by acclaimed talent Morgan Freeman and explore.org founder and philanthropist Charlie Annenberg Weingarten, The Blessissippi Crossroads Concert will feature pioneers in the music industry some of the hottest acts on the blues scene and a series of short films shot during a recent philanthropic fact finding mission Weingarten undertook in the fall of 2011.
The lineup includes Bobby Keys and Sugar Blue of the Rolling Stones, Bill Payne of Little Feat, Grammy nominated singer Maria Muldaur, James “Super Chikan” Johnson, Bill Howl-N-Madd Perry. They will be joined by T-Model Ford, Robert “Wolfman” Belfour, Alphonso Sanders, King Edward, Mickey Rogers, Jerry Jemmott, Rick Lewis, Jimmi Mayes, Sharo Perry, Stacy Mitchhart, Mark Yacavone, Big T, Big A, Big Dave, Mark “Muleman” Massey, Stan Street, Watermelon Slim, Heather Cross and Heavy Suga, Kingfish, All Night Long Band, Abdul Rasheed, Lightnin Malcolm, Andy Frasco, La La, Rachel Coba, Daddy Rich, and Josh “Razorblade” Stewart.
The concert will benefit America’s Delta Blues Scholarship Fund, which will help children and young adults achieve an education in music or music technology through various programs run by Delta State University’s Delta Music Institute (DMI), and the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale. The Annenberg Foundation, of which Weingarten is vice president, will provide a grant of $250,000 to help give underprivileged kids and young adults a chance to pursue their dreams and change our world. Leading brands such as Gibson Guitars, Canon, Pearl, and Peavey have also signed on as sponsors and will provide a bevy of auction items and giveaways for viewers at home to support the cause.
“Music is the soundtrack to our life and follows us everywhere we go,” said Charlie Annenberg Weingarten. “By giving underprivileged kids the chance to pursue their dream of working within the music industry, we are giving them a chance to not only change their own lives, but to possibly change ours too.”
For more information: http://explore.org/blessissippi.
For Ticket Information: http://www.deltabluesmuseum.org/high/index.asp
Contacts:
Brands or musicians wishing to get involved, contact: Jerry Cope 970-239-1225 jercope@gmail.com
Media organizations wishing to broadcast the event: Jason Damata 917-279-8706 jasondamata@gmail.com
About explore.org
explore.org is a multimedia organization that documents visionary leaders from around the world who have devoted their lives to extraordinary causes. Both educational and inspirational, explore.org creates a portal into the soul of humanity by championing the selfless acts of others. explore.org’s growing library consists of more than 250 original films and 30,000 photographs from around the world. explore.org showcases its work at film festivals, on over 100 public broadcast and cable channels, and on numerous online destinations including explore.org, Snag Films, Hulu and TakePart, featuring a wide range of topics—from animal rights, health and human services, and poverty, to the environment, education and spirituality. Delivered in short, digestible bites, explore.org films appeal to viewers of all ages, from children learning about other cultures for the first time, to adults looking for a fresh perspective on the world around them.