Blues by the Book   

Though it’s been some eighty years since Robert Johnson traded his soul to the devil in exchange for otherworldy guitar skills (as the legend goes), the blues is alive and well, especially in Mississippi. For proof, check out photographer Ken Murphy’s newest book, Mississippi: State of Blues. The 119-page book documents this still vibrant culture, from the iconic Highway 61 to out-of-the way juke joints like Po’ Monkey’s Lounge to notable blues musicians, including B. B. King, Buddy Guy, and Bettye LaVette.

To capture this scene, Murphy spent three years traveling Mississippi’s blues byways, shooting more than 35,000 photos, the best of which ended up in his book. (To see a gallery of photos, click here.) The stunning images are accompanied by text from Scott Barretta, blues historian at the University of Mississippi. As Barretta writes, “Over one hundred years after its emergence, the blues remains inextricably connected in the public mind with Mississippi.”

(via G&G)

It’s Art and Music like this that makes me miss Mississippi sometimes. It has so much character hidden in plain sight and most people down slow down enough to see or appreciate it.