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The Blues
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The city of Clarksdale, situated on the Sunflower River in Coahoma County is on the northern side of what was the most densely populated area o fhte Mississippi Delta. At the time of The Great Migration, Clarksdale was the first town to welcome Delta farmhands, as well as the musicians and entertainers, on their journey out of the sharecropping system of the rural plantations and farmlands. Some went no further north, preferring to stay closer to home while seeking less agrarian employment in Clarksdale.
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During the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s, Clarksdale was home to Charlie Patton, Bukka White, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker and Ike Turner, to name just a few of the great bluesmen who staked their claim here. At one time it was said that if you wanted to learn the Blues you had to go to Clarksdale.
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By the 1950s, Clarksdale was also host to a now-legendary down-home radio station, WROX, which, like other stations in the region, hosted a number of popular bluesmen. Sonny Boy Williamson, most well-known for his King Biscuit Flour program on Helena, Arkansas’ KFFA, often broadcast on Clarksdale radio, as did Dr. Isiaih Ross and many others.
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In 1892, Clarksdale became one of the seats of Coahoma County when a controversy of more than ten years was compromised by the passage of an act of the Legislature. This act divided the County into judicial districts with two seats of the justice: one at Friars Point, the other at Clarksdale. In 1930, the two judicial districts were abolished and Clarksdale became the county seat. Frequent floods, a fire in 1889, and very poor roads hampered the early growth of Clarksdale. However, Clarksdale experienced consistent growth since 1900, and is now one of the largest cities in the Mississippi Delta.
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Because of our rich Blues heritage, Clarksdale became the first urban center of the Blues. We are home to the famous Crossroads, the Delta Blues Museum, and the Sunflower River Blues Festival which is one of the last free Blues festivals to be found.
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The Blues continue to be a driving force in Clarksdale. Recent years have seen a flurry of Blues-related businesses and activities. The most well-known of these is Ground Zero nightclub which features live blues several nights a week.
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