CLARKSDALE: Dirt Poor Mississippi City Is Rich In Musical History - The Birthplace Of The Blues

We visited Clarksdale, Mississippi. Widely regarded as the birthplace of blues music. Economically, the city struggles but is wealthy in other ways - culture, personality and the most influential music of our time. While there, we visited co-owner Morgan Freeman's Ground Zero Blues Club, widely considered to be among the best blues music venues in the world. It didn't disappoint.
Travel Vlog #104

[@sdimples2042]

As a native from Clarksdale (Born and raised) the city has change so much. Clarksdale has a lot of history. Growing up, as a child my grandpa would sit on the corner where the old Kroger's grocery store use to be by the railroad track downtown and play his homemade guitar. People use to take pics of him, put money in his tin can. I didn't understand at that time but it was a joy for me and my sisters to dance to his music. This was back in the late 60's early 70's. As I got older after he passed away we found so many of his recordings of songs that he shared with some of the famous blues artists. Still have family that lives in C'dale and I visit very often. It is a place to visit. Places like King and Anderson Plantation, The Cross Road sign, Blues museum, etc. are some of the places to visit. Then you have neighborhoods of good people that love their town....You have the Brickyard, Riverton, Roundyard, Oakhurst to name a few of the neighborhoods.

[@soulfoodforthought9225]

What's a Native ? Are you a Native person or are you Indigenous ? Just curious, because there is a BIG difference...a Native, a Resident, a Citizen...who is who ?

[@sdimples2042]

@@soulfoodforthought9225 Why you curious and what difference does it make.....Ma'am, So you read the comment and that was the only important thing to you stood out of the whole comment...smh ok have a great day.

[@isaacgomez5778]

That sounds so special...I'm sure for you it was just growing up. But to know your family is a part of a much bigger history...American Music history...possible birth place of all music to come...rock, rap, punk, funk, house, country, jazz...what a wonderful thing to be associated with

[@marklee9688]

@@sdimples2042 we we woo

[@tamshari9212]

Ok

[@jerryhutchens01]

I was born and raised in Clarksdale and still live there. It might be small, but I call it home.

[@Whilewearestillhere]

When I think of Mississippi, I think of inequality, KKK, Emmitt Till, Strange fruit, Fire hoses, and German Sheppards chasing and biting black people. White store keepers spitting in your face and throwing your change back at you. Then; I think about White people who swear it never happened.

[@QuinnJACKSON-zx1dx]

Small is good with a big heart.

[@stevenjohnson5641]

I grew up in the Riverton section of Clarksdale. While watching this video, I am remembering me as a young child in the early 1980's with my cousins. The streets, the buildings...I definitely remember. Clarksdale, to me, was the world. Even as a teenager in the early 1990s visiting from Columbus, GA, I always felt at home there. So many great memories. Thank you so much for showing my hometown in a great light.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

You're welcome, Steven. I really liked the town, and we had a good time there.

[@tamshari9212]

How y'all still alive today tho...what you have to do👀

[@johnallen6945]

I just moved here and I LOVE IT. Friendliest people I've ever met. Music every night. So many people play music.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Lots of great music. Clarksdale should get a lot more visitors than it does.

[@Simple_man3242]

Hi John. I will be visiting in June for 2 nights as I move from New Orleans to Memphis then onto Nashville. Aside form Ground Zero, do you have any solid sound advice for a Welsh Country Boy to take onboard? your input would be appreciated immensely brother. Diolch Yn Fawr Iawn

[@dubnationcrew5]

im a native from clarksdale mississippi i wasnt born here but i was raised here and i treat it as my hometown im so glad you showing clarksdale i ran into more history background of it more then just blues it was actually used to be a native american village and a guy named john clark build over it and it shocked me to learn that cause i was NEVER tought that in school at any point of my life im so glad of clarksdale and its historic value and just to see the same roads me and my mom walk and drove on this was MY home and from every one thats a native from here always be proud of where your from jjust dont forget about it. i come here once in a while for a trip and i went to a small blues museum on highway 61 picked up a gutair pick now im on the gutair studying blues and it feels good to just learn about home again cause i grew up around the same area as this man is driving in thank you for showing this!!!!

[@prophetmargin7497]

Beautiful old town, I can only imagine what a rockin blues town that place must have been back in the day!

[@gheerock4077]

Thank you for explaining about the "Mississippi Delta", you explained it very well. Now I understand why they call it the "Delta" (.ie. flood zone, rich in micronutrients after the flood, etc). You're very thorough w/ explaining things. You should be a college teacher.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you, Ghee! :)

[@vakethiafields3832]

Clarksdalian here. Back in the day, you could hear blues bands all over town. It's so sad that our hometown blues singers have to leave town to make their successful careers. What we hear around hear now is blue grass blues and the strumming of pain. It's so sad that we're not involved in what's ours. So much so, we attend festivals in the surrounding area where we're welcomed as Clarksdalians and they hear us. Clarksdale has constantly ignored outcry for our successful hometown blues singers. I think it's great you and your wife enjoy our town as well as others. I just wish you guys could see and get the real good down home entertainment you all deserve.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

We really enjoyed the town. The downtown is vivid with a lot of character. I would love to see Clarksdale take its place as one of the great music cities. Morgan Freeman can't do it by himself, though. The city will need help to get there.

[@tyreblackshire4535]

I live close to Clarksdale in a town called Friars Point. It has pretty deep history too.

[@waitaminute2015]

Hello! Do you know if ground zero is open every weekend?

[@jjones7396]

I was told I’m related to the Gilmores from Friars Point.

[@rjwhetstone8639]

Very enjoyable touring C-Dale with your video, great to see the town and hot blues sites - easy to get a feeling of the lifestyle and tone for this small town... very much worthy of a visit!

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

Love this. I'm a professional musician...have been my whole life. Trained in classical and now retired from a major military band and freelancing. The blues have never been my "go to" form of music, but I certainly love great music and this is great music...from the very soul. You make me want to visit Clarksville.

[@renaissancewoman100]

I'm from Clarksdale. I was just there a month ago. Every time I go it's heartbreaking to see how much the town has fallen. At one time the population was 30,000. The area west second and delta , Issaquah, etc had major department stores and shops. I remember as a child there were nights kind of like Black Friday. During the holidays the stores were open late for Christmas shopping. Those are some of the good memories.

[@tamshari9212]

Plantation with an s, said .........town really didn't supposed to be👀

[@vakethiafields3832]

This town once had a population of 54,000+ around the 50's and early 60's. I grew up here in the 70's and every ethnicity interacted with each other. I can truthfully say greed, racism (used to be hidden), and gambling cause the decline in this town. I'm still here and I travel. Thanks for your memories though.

[@bobski7032]

Im now 60 ..I grew up listening to Rolling Stones,Beatles, Led Zeppelin…one day I was listening to “When the levee breaks” by Zeppelin and I said to myself ..they don’t have levees in England ,of course back then the only black artist that aired on rock stations was Jimi Hendrix so I had to figure it out …thank you Mississippi for the best music imaginable!!!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

You can definitely hear the blues in Led Zeppelin's music.

[@motowngirl5891]

Yes Especially Led Zeppelin ONE

[@lakenneth374]

In college I took "Introduction to Jazz" and had Gerald Wilson (Blues Hall of Fame), requirement was to attend 2 blues/jazz concerts. Saw Muddy Waters at the Roxy in Hollywood and Greg Allman, with his new band, came on stage with Muddy and played for 45 minutes. My other blue/jazz concert, at the Starwood in Hollywood, was Feddie King (The Texas Cannonball) whereby Joe Cocker and Paul Rogers came on stage. Best college class ever:)

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Those are amazing sounding experiences.

[@Kikimancy88]

My family is from Batesville. I also have a few distant aunties in Clarksdale, I loved visiting Mississippi as a child/teen and going there every summer break to be with my grandparents, they’d come pick me and my siblings up all the way from Detroit. We’d crawl in the back of granddaddy’s truck and 18 hour car ride here we go!!! ❤

[@gregorylenton8200]

Yes i enjoy your Shows....am retired now look forward to your adventures....i.v traveled the world but now i,d rather have my coffee and watch other folks adventures......THANKS

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Absolutely, Gregory! :)

[@mothergoose80]

Clarksdale has charm. Yall hating in the comments...

[@Whilewearestillhere]

When I think of Mississippi, I think of inequality, KKK, Emmitt Till, Strange fruit, Fire hoses, and German Sheppards chasing and biting black people. White store keepers spitting in your face and throwing your change back at you. Then; I think about White people who swear it never happened.

[@user-zm6yh3ux7l]

I agree with you ma'am. I can't wait to come down to the juke joint festival. I'm from Kentucky and I love blues music. We got bluegrass music that came from hard time of Scottish and Irish immigrants working in the coal industry and Mississippi has the same with African-Americans working in the farm. Hard-working people that were screwed over by Rich white men but have Rich music history. Most of my family was coal miners. Mississippi has country people just like we do in Kentucky. People that don't understand it just don't know what it's like growing up down here do they?

[@mustafashakim4056]

Clarksdale ms poor black bums

[@sandyfields678]

@@user-zm6yh3ux7l my maternal family. From those coal mining mtns. Way back. Perry cty ky.... got out ,into farming later to Indiana.

[@chicagokingpin1809]

@@mustafashakim4056ya moms poor and black and a bum

[@shellyschmidt3498]

I love the sounds of the birds as you are walking down the street. Great video as always.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you, Shelly. :)

[@Talk2WandaVision]

This video is so well done. Fascinating place and also very beautiful imo. You’ve sparked my interest in visiting someday. Thank you.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Cool! It's a very interesting place, and worth visiting to hear some live blues at the Ground Zero Blues Club.

[@jasjackson795]

I was born and raised in clarksdale. I grew up in Riverton , attended CHS every chance I get it I try to go home . Clarksdale have so much history that need to be told right and the food . The food is great !

[@Michael-bf1dt]

Hello Jas how are you. Greetings from Ireland 🇮🇪 to Mississippi, USA 🇺🇸. Clarksdale sounds like a nice place and you obviously love it. I wish you a great week 👍🙏 Michael

[@cinemaipswich4636]

Over the decades I have heard about Clarksdale via the songs of those Blues Players. My heart went out to them from songs long ago. Now I see the the world they came from, and it has not changed in the 90 years of that music's history.

[@George-xq2iw]

What a great segment,love your show.stay 💯 to the fact.Drove through there with my daughters in the late 90s early 2k.Good southern hospitality &food.

[@user-zm6yh3ux7l]

I'm from Kentucky, you're exactly right when it comes to Mississippi. We got a lot in common. We fell when the coal industry left and they fell when modern farming came along. Having said that, I can't wait to visit clarksdale during the blues festival because I love blues music and it came from hard times. Just like bluegrass music.

[@dopeMike_]

I guess thats why most music sucks now.

[@SergeCeyral]

I came here twice, from France, back in ’95 and ’97, for the music. As froggies, my wife and i were so warmly welcomed by every one. We went to one of the very few blues clubs existing in that era. No live music that night, but we stayed a while, with a drink. As the record "Hard time Killing blues" started, I said I was a big fan for Skip James... "You came from France to see us, and know Skip James! You deserve a second whisky, for free.." That was Clarksdale for us. I cried watching your video Notwithstanding the very moving memories of my late friend, Patrick Verbeke : one of the very few european musicians who played at the Sunflower Festival

[@jjones7396]

Honestly it seems that Europeans in general like Blues music more so than Americans.

[@jwaller132]

Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. I especially like how you highlight the beauty and sometimes ugliness of the old buildings around the towns you visit. I live the history behind some of the cities you visit

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you for the kind words, Jonathan!

[@springnpine84]

The safer way to see and tour America is to sit back and watch Joe drive by video,

[@lgoldman]

The population of the Mississippi Delta has declined precipitously over the past half century. That is one reason you see so many buildings that are closed, abandoned, or in disrepair. I live about an hour south of Clarksdale in Greenwood.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

That makes sense. I actually visited Greenwood today, and wow, that downtown. I was kinda shocked at what I saw. The outskirts of the city was quite nice, though.

[@lgoldman]

The business section of downtown Greenwood has actually been somewhat revitalized in recent years. For instance, a derelict hotel building was converted into the Alluvian Hotel, a very highly rated boutique hotel. The signs of population decline though are evident throughout the city, as they are in the Delta in general. People go where there are economic opportunities.

[@kingoscar5447]

There aren't any jobs, so all the young people moved out to Hornlake, Memphis or even completely moved out of state.

[@victorious1929]

I ran out of Cleveland, Ms as soon as I graduated 1997

[@redpine8665]

@@victorious1929 This is happening all over rural America, not just down south. Maine is the oldest state in the country. When the Mills and the factories shuttered when they moved production to Mexico and China, it left a whole lot of nothing to do for a living.

[@srvfan8877]

Great video brother. Was there in 03. Can't wait to go back 🎸. God save the blues 🙏

[@bayoumanbryan]

Great Video. i spent a weekend in Memphis (just across the river} at the Blues Clubs one time about in 2003. mostly at BB Kings club on Beale Street. The music was awesome. Good memories. It is one of the top highlights of my now 58 year old life. I had a good job, had a brand new truck only a few days old, and was with the Prettiest woman i ever been with. I felt like a King. later on not so much. however good memories.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Beale Street is great. One of our favorite places. We've hung out at BB King's several times. The music is always amazing there. :)

[@jgjgjg1595]

Thanks for putting this video together. I'm planning a blues trip up that way and this really helps a lot. I'm from near New Orleans.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

That is awesome. Yeah, you got go to Clarksdale!

[@tamshari9212]

You showing the strange fruits area and those trees📸

[@stackorstarve.6510]

I spent a lot of summers as kid in Clarksdale with my Great Aunt. And later in my Adult years my husband and I lived in Memphis which was home to my grandparents and great grandparents . My husband and I would visit Clarksdale our favorite place to eat was Ground Zero and Madidis. Morgan Freeman’s other restaurant . I believe it closed in 2012. It was an upscale restaurant. Ground Zero was our favorite. This video brought back some great memories. Thank you for sharing.

[@kenw1295]

Great video and a reminder of our trips there. We loved Clarksdale, been there a couple of times from the UK. The Juke Joint festival has the place buzzing. You missed out the Riverside Hotel where Bessie Smith died and no mention of all the Blues Markers which we based much of our road trip on.

[@andrewvenable7422]

Great video! The shacks you filmed are called The Shack Up Inn. They are old sharecropper shacks, or built from the remnants of sharecropper shacks that you can rent to stay in. Basically a hotel as you said in the video. A cool place to stay with live music on site. I am sitting on the front porch of one of the shacks (the one called Biscuit) as I type this comment. Love it here!

[@George-xq2iw]

You lucky devil you.

[@Birdlives247]

Absurd

[@MENFUSSMIKE]

I've stayed in that shack

[@wheatcandle]

Best videos on the internet right here..

[@ritakarlsson]

Very nice too see, thanks for sharing👍🍂🍁

[@gregorylenton8200]

WOW Great Tour Of Clarksdale Ms......I,V been Trough The South But Never Did Find a True Blues Town......Made My Day Guys Thanks

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you, Gregory! We had a good time in Clarksdale. :)

[@toyagrandberry8845]

Great video, my hometown. Lots of other areas to explore. Blues outdoor festivals/concerts in the summer are legendary.

[@TheReal_JHud_61]

I am a native of Clarksdale, attended school until 10th grade. That was 47years ago and as I visit at age 61 the city is definitely not the same. I had a great childhood, rich in Gospel, R& B and Blues and still have cousins there. I’m very familiar with the downtown area, been to Ground Zero and had a great time. The churches played a prominent role in the culture and a lot of the Blues musicians came out of the church. My mother played piano for Centennial BC. This town was rich in culture! What happened? The population was over 30k when I lived there. Was it intentional to allow the population to dwindle? I think so! These are things that make you go hmmmmm!

[@jackpeters9349]

I need to visit before it's gone the world's dying fast

[@arlaabrell8658]

It IS things like this that make you realize how much has been slowly taken away and destroyed with the lie of "you don't want THAT, here's something better" but, it's not better, not better at all. I hope there is still time to get back so much that has been taken.

[@BillMorse-jr2ou]

sounds like jobs going overseas.... time to reinvent, make your own job.... everyone has a reason for being here, a passion that drives.... no reason this vibe can't flourish in Clarksdale - love from Vermont, Brrrrrr...

[@jjones7396]

My family and I think the same thing, a lot of bad situations are by design.

[@Yormsane]

Clarksdale is also the home of Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram, one of the greatest bluesmen of the modern era. Should be a lot more famous than he is!

[@user-zm6yh3ux7l]

Oh don't worry. He's very popular. Going to see him in Knoxville Tennessee. He sells out wherever he goes. For this day and time where music is not as popular as it used to be, he's doing pretty darn good selling out everywhere.

[@sonyanicole2675]

I've From Clarksdale I was Born there an God Bless our Generations that's there!!!!! God Bless!!!!!!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

I'm a big fan of Clarksdale.

[@ShasUtubePlace]

Chi'Town here 🙋🏽‍♀️ My mom was raised there and I spent my summers down there. My mom's family home and some family members are still there 😃

[@81easton]

We must be related.

[@Whilewearestillhere]

When I think of Mississippi, I think of inequality, KKK, Emmitt Till, Strange fruit, Fire hoses, and German Sheppards chasing and biting black people. White store keepers spitting in your face and throwing your change back at you. Then; I think about White people who swear it never happened.

[@BigGator5]

Happy Independence Day! 🇺🇸 🎆

[@igavehimadollar3354]

Really enjoy your videos man im and Aussie a huge fan of the blues i can play a bit.Id love to see your beautiful country and videos like this well these are exactly the places id love to see all the best man

[@jims1942]

Great video, I really enjoyed it. I have been a big fan of Delta Blues music (& Piedmont Blues) for years, especially the old time 'acoustic' Delta blues. It's what I listen to mostly. 😀👍

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

You should make a trip to Clarksdale. You would have a great time. :)

[@jims1942]

@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip - I'm sure I would enjoy it. :)

[@patinmon9683]

Found you today and subscribed.Sad to see towns go down this way. 1st video was when you did Tupelo with Elvis.Live About 12 miles from there in a small town called Nettleton.

[@pce67]

Amazing place , hope to revisit one day .

[@tam2676]

Thanks for sharing this.

[@maggyzeimes9499]

Love this ‼️ Thanks for sharing ‼️

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

You are so welcome

[@tamedshrew235]

A Blues Road Trip tops my bucket list and this video is fantastic. Though i am of an age where i would be hard pressed to club past 9pm on a Sat night, im pretty sure i could muster enough wildness to bust one night at Ground Zero. Of course my remains would probably have to be shipped home in a box, but that's the point of doing your bucket list.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Well said!! :)

[@valerieunderwood7304]

ahh you'll be alright I'll go with you.

[@arroarro6825]

What an incredibly intersting town. Really looking forward to go there in June! Best regards from Germany

[@victorparker308]

Downtown was once a beautiful thriving commercial district.

[@kevinb.7115]

clean nice lookin charming town. I'm lovin me some Clarksdale

[@MichaelChavezsf]

Great video. Interesting town. Love the murals.

[@Whilewearestillhere]

When I think of Mississippi, I think of inequality, KKK, Emmitt Till, Strange fruit, Fire hoses, and German Sheppards chasing and biting black people. White store keepers spitting in your face and throwing your change back at you. Then; I think about White people who swear it never happened.

[@MichaelChavezsf]

@@Whilewearestillhere yea me too. Grew up on west coast and never knew what racism was till I was 8 years old and visited my aunt and uncle in New Orleans, Louisiana. I was so offended by their use of the n-word that I never spoke or visited them again.

[@BobSeven-hj9rw]

Yes it really has growing up in Riverton it got bad real fast still have family that's there...

[@drewo6388]

Love it! I spent a couple of days in Clarksdale last August for their annual "Sunflower Blues Festival" right outside of the Delta Blues Museum. I too just loved the rich history of the town and surrounding areas. There definitely is a sense of rich beauty in the poor, rundown town. I loved the murals and old storefronts all over town. I also drove around the Delta region in general and checked out other small towns rich in history like Cleveland, Indianola, Greenville, Rolling Fork, etc. There's an historical landmark between Cleveland, MS and Ruleville, MS called "Dockery Farms" where a lot of the original blues musicians got together and played music. I really enjoyed my time in the Delta region and hope to get back again some day.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

I totally agree.

[@MA4TU2]

Good story telling. Enjoyed it.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you! 😀

[@dopeMike_]

Looks like an interesting place. Im a fan of jazz and blues.

[@BigGator5]

"Born under a bad sign Been down since I began to crawl If it wasn't for bad luck You know, I wouldn't have no luck at all Hard luck and trouble Been my only friend I've been on my own Ever since I was ten Born under a bad sign Been down since I began to crawl If it wasn't for bad luck You know, I wouldn't have no luck at all" -Born Under A Bad Sign by Albert King

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Nice!

[@BigGator5]

Lord Spoda ...Love that song. I play it whenever I feel a little down.

[@babakazi5818]

Big AL the king salute

[@miltonscarbrough3280]

Beautiful Beautiful

[@jchow5966]

Thank you so much for this! I am a huge blues fan but would not be able to make this trip - this way i still get to see it!!!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

It’s a cool place to visit. 😀

[@keyup2626]

I’m sure it was amazing going to the blues club. For a less fortunate area it sure has a lot of character. Fantastic look at a blast from the past.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

You described it perfectly, keyup. :)

[@shirleymorris6288]

Lived here from 1972-1981 with my fathers cousin Big Jack the blues man Johnson.

[@wildcolonialman]

Fabulous.

[@naomibryant3172]

Love the art work

[@msdeltalady]

Born & raised here. Left in 86. After seeing this video, don't see much reason to return. There was a time you could go downtown on a Saturday afternoon and have a really hard time finding a parking spot. Sad 😥

[@lovelypolishperson5566]

this place is so beautiful and atmospheric, i'd love to visit it once but i live in poland and have no money

[@stuartknowles8206]

Thank you for this. 🙏🇦🇺♥️🇺🇸

[@dg1019]

I was born in Clarksdale, still live about an hour north.

[@christichristi5481]

I’ve never been but this is where my grandmother (RIP) was born and raised.

[@Theshadaej]

Cool! You guys passed by my dads marker in the front of Ground Zero. Super Chikan! He’s a local legend and Morgan’s fave! He’s Big Jack Johnson’s nephew. 🥰 You guys missed a lot of the towns coolest parts.

[@MENFUSSMIKE]

❤ me some Super Chikan Johnson. He's fun as F#!K

[@dopeMike_]

Saw that on the ground zero menu he had. Was wondering what that was.

[@Hattiesburgpatriot]

He's a freakin' living legend.

[@ton2littv92]

I'm a brickyard baby and growing up in Clarksvegas was amazing

[@an80slady]

I miss your reviews of the hotels that you stay at.I think I enjoy these small town, rural ,off the interstate videos more than some of the Big cities. Although I look forward to you revisiting Chicago

[@MontyDeane]

Thanks for this video. I see your driving 2021 ford Bronco. That hood looks very familiar, as I have one too.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

You're right!

[@thomashaley7657]

Anyone else notice the toilet tank hangin two stories high on a bare brick wall at 12:20? Does anybody remember the Ponderosa or Super-Q Bar-B-Q? What a great place to grow up in the 70's and 80's!

[@thomashaley7657]

I almost forgot Mr. Oscar selling tamales and pork steak sandwiches out of the back of his truck on Friday and Saturday nights. I would pay a hundred dollars for one of those sandwiches.

[@michellec.9852]

I’m learning a lot! I wish my teachers would have been as interesting. And I’m in my 50’s. 😂

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you! :)

[@MelodyCarter1]

The hubby and me are thinking about moving to Clarksdale, come late June or early July after our lease on our apartment in Georgia runs out. I've always been a huge Muddy Waters fan since high school so its kind of a thrill to be going to live where he was from, even if its a poor area. We went to Clarksdale a week and a half ago to look over a house that was for sale and pretty much everybody we ran into was very nice. We stayed at the "Shacked Up Inn" overnight which was pretty cool, a motel fixed up to look shabby on purpose like sharecropper cabins.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Clarksdale has a lot of potential.

[@MENFUSSMIKE]

Shack Up Inn is cool

[@MelodyCarter1]

@@MENFUSSMIKE It was more exciting and unique than just staying in a "normal" motel

[@jerryjohnson7004]

Awesome

[@davidhoward8951]

I was born there my friend Ronnie Drew has a music store there on Delta Delta Blues Music Store right around Ground Zero not the town that I remember from this video we had a beautiful time now it looks like the slum of the Earth we had a lot of good times there it's just so sad that the industries and everything went down but the plus is they had some really good musicians and still do I'll visit but I wouldn't live there again I played music there and was in a band you should have went in the delta blues music store one of the finest vintage guitar places in Mississippi you walked right past Ground Zero used to be a feed store they stored soybeans in it .as a kid we used to play around that place and ride our bicycles Delta Blues Alley Cafe wasn't even there when I was growing up Cohoma Bank was there that's the Mc Williams building the real old building by across from the bank Alcazar Hotel you're looking at was famous Paramount Theaters where we saw the Beatles when I was a kid the movie helped it used to be a farm town a very wealthy town shankerman's used to be one of the finest clothing stores in Clarksdale but it's trash now we used to ride our dirt bikes on sunflower River looks like a ghost town ain't nobody there I wonder why really looks horrible .

[@huntlife]

Ya.ll are having too much fun. Cold beer, barbecue, blues and black cat... what more could you want?

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

We really liked Clarksdale. :)

[@russianprincess3673]

NICE VIDEO WELL DONE

[@mellotainment]

I apreciate the down home warmness of the music down there

[@bethewalt7385]

What the eff are you talking about? Are you referencing the civil war?

[@mellotainment]

@@bethewalt7385 no Mann relax ur self it was a misprint go back and reread the caption

[@1winstard]

Did a gig there last year.......it was great......Bobby Rush....TJ Hoòker and etc

[@allentarver6286]

Love the video . I was born in Greenwood Mississippi but grew up in Boston Ma. Got a lot of family down there but I hate the south. There is an uneasy feeling I have when in the south. Even Beale street Memphis Tenn. Everything around it sucks. A lot of talent though

[@MENFUSSMIKE]

It's a gritty city and it ain't for everybody, but I love visiting and do about every 3 or 4 months. Red's is my favorite. All that's missing is a dirt floor.

[@rickadkins6142]

Love these kind of videos! To be honest, these are just as entertaining as the big city videos, if not more so! A lot of people can relate to the small town ways of life! Been playing music professionally for the last 40 years, and I can tell you playing the blues isn't just a style of music, it's it's own entity! Keep up the good work! By the way, why did you stop the motel reviews at the end? I found them entertaining and useful.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you for the kind words, Rick! We love live blues music more than any other kind. Regarding the hotel reviews, we honestly thought no one watched them. But you're not the first person to ask what happened to them, so I guess we should start doing it again. :)

[@olinwright7628]

@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip yes we miss the hotel reviews

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

@@olinwright7628 Ok. You guys are the boss. We’ll start doing them again. 😀

[@karenthompson8038]

@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip yeah where did the hotel vids go? they were so entertaining! Kidding.. I’ve never seen one of them (I just came across your channel today and I watch the Mississippi ones which I’ve gone through three and your beloved Elvis home (which it seems like you had a good time there? I might be wrong though!😆) but they sound awesome according to these people so I look forward to seeing them! lol

[@tamshari9212]

Where is the strange fruits area📸

[@allenpaige2893]

Love your channel But one the best cities to visit Natchez, Ms. It's full of history please check it out you can't go wrong. Best restaurant is Natchez under the hill

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

We will be visiting Natchez this fall. We'll be hitting central Louisiana first, then into southern Mississippi, including Natchez and then the Gulf Coasts of both Mississippi and Alabama. Looking forward to it!

[@marleybarbieri7300]

Clarksdale has been my home for 30 years. Worked at ground zero for years. It’s home of the blues for a reason. Poor, racially divided. Very few opportunities for anyone. With that said, we have produced some of the best musicians in the world. Come on back y’all ❤️

[@tabithaelrod2099]

My hometown!

[@karelltulod3079]

Lord Knows I love Mississippi America Amen.

[@cheesusclark2926]

I’ve been there. Great video. Is it just me or does anybody else see the big snake lying behind the blues man in the beginning of the video!!

[@af-np4pg]

As a musician, even the old boards look good in this town, cause they are as famous as the musicians who played here.

[@miguelsoriano6885]

I like your video thank you

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you for watching, Miguel!

[@LizRob187]

King and Anderson is where my family lived. I was born there in 1935.

[@ssippilandelta4365]

Thanks for the vid man parts of Arkansas and Louisiana is the Delta too

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

You're right!

[@babakazi5818]

Free the land

[@horsebee1]

As you said not a wealthy town and it shows in the run down buildings and lack of construction but it is a town with a civic pride. No trash laying around on the sidewalks, no burnt out or vandalized buildings and the street art is just that, street art, rather than mindless graffiti which is so often one of the hallmarks of a town in true poverty.

[@jjones7396]

I like that you told the difference between street art and graffiti.

[@ElRockLatinoVuelve]

God Bless America July 4th, 2022

[@thearab59]

My understanding was that the Delta was considered too wet for plantations, so had little population pre Civil War. After the war drainage improved and new, more enlightened cotton farms created, which were the places the parents of the early bluesman worked.

[@renaissancewoman100]

I'm from Clarksdale. My grandmother just recently passed she chopped cotton with Muddy Waters brother. Possibly Muddy Waters too. His brother was a preacher. His voice was so beautiful that his church stayed full.

[@tommcdonald1873]

You won my thumbs up for showing the town and your wife calling you a dork for Black Cats and bad luck. No town, looks sadder and beautiful at the same time.

[@QuinnJACKSON-zx1dx]

At 9:07 (left bottom corner). Delta Blues Museum Rock & Blues Museum. How's that for some damn good directions?

[@kimbeard756]

I've been there!! Terry, Connie and Brandy lived there!!!!!