Mississippi Arts Hour

Malcolm White talks with author and publisher Neil White. Best known for his book "In the Sanctuary of Outcasts," Neil White lives in Oxford where he operates a small publishing company, writes plays and essays, and teaches memoir writing. His newly released book is titled, "Stories from 125 Years of Ole Miss Football.” See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Larry Morrisey travels to Greenwood to visit with visual artist Yolande Van Heerden. A native of South Africa, Van Heerden has been working and teaching in the mid-Delta for several years. Most recently, her sewing classes for middle and high school students have been very popular in Greenwood. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Malcolm White talks with Krista Pieper Bower, chair of the Dance Department at Belhaven University. Krista is also the director of Yazoo City School of Dance. The two talk about the art of dance, building a community of artist-scholars at Belhaven, and the role of the role of the college in the USA International Ballet Competition.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Melody Moody Thortis speaks with author, Jimmy Cajoleas about growing up in Jackson, his writing process and his upcoming book, “Minor Prophets.” See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Larry Morrisey visits with Amy Allison, a New York-based singer and songwriter and the daughter of the late Mississippi musical legend Mose Allison. She has helped produce "If You’re Going to the City," a new tribute album to her father, featuring a wide range of musicians covering Allison’s songs. Larry talks with Amy about how the album came together as well as discussing Mose Allison’s unique approach to music. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Melody Moody Thortis speaks with Thabi Moyo; Thabi is a jewelry maker and works at the Mississippi Film Office. Melody and Thabi got a chance to sit down and talk about growing up in Mississippi, making art and what it’s like to work in the film industry See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Larry Morrisey travels to Greenwood and talks with rockabilly and country music pioneer Mack Allen Smith. Smith got started singing for bands in the Delta as a teenager during the 1950s. He recorded in many legendary studios in the region, including Sun Studios in Memphis and Fame Studio in Muscle Shoals. He also performed throughout the region from the late 50s into the 1980s. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Malcolm White talks with author and broadcaster Bob May. A Newton, Miss. native, May worked in radio broadcasting around the country for many years before returning home several years ago to care for his 90+ year-old father. He has recently published a book titled, "Have Fun Dammit!," a humorous collection of the true stories of his life in a small southern town with his 90-year-old father, an adult son with Down syndrome, and a bossy Yorkshire terrier. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Larry Morrisey visits with photographer Will Jacks from Cleveland, Mississippi. His book “Po Monkey’s Portrait of a Juke Joint” has just been published by University Press of Mississippi. The book documents the late Willie Seaberry, the proprietor of Po Monkey’s, a rural juke joint that was located outside of Merigold, Miss. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Melody Moody Thortis talks with artist, Amie Oliver, a Delta native currently living and working in Richmond, Virginia. The two spoke about her work in ink and water based paintings and her show called: “Delta Time: Maps, Planes and Watermarks” now open for viewing at the Delta Arts Alliance in Cleveland, Mississippi until November 1, 2019.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Malcolm White talks to watercolor artist and keynote speaker for the State Arts Conference Wyatt Waters. Best known for his paintings of Southern culture, Waters is a recipient of a 2010 Governor’s Arts Award. He is also well-known for his collaborations with Chef Robert St. John, which have included several books, international travel, and roles as co-hosts on MPB TV’s Palate to Palette series, which chronicles their travels and culinary and artistic experiences across Mississippi and Italy.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Melody Moody Thortis talks to Dr. Redell Hearn, Curator of Art and Civil Rights for the Mississippi Museum of Art and Tougaloo College, about Dr. Hearn’s work in the field of Museum studies and her experience incorporating the arts into telling the story of Civil Rights. Dr. Hearn is the Curator for “The Prize: Seven Decades of Lyrical Response to the Call for Civil Rights,” an immersive exhibition that highlights the use of lyrics and poetry and response to the call for Civil Rights. The Prize looks at the “call” represented in sketches of Tracy Sugarman during the summer of 1964 and the “response” represented in song lyrics ranging from “Eyes on the Prize” by Alice Wine to 2018’s “This is America” by Childish Gambino.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Larry Morrisey visits with Roger Stolle, the owner of Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Arts in Clarksdale. He talks about his latest book, "Mississippi Juke Joint Confidential," which recounts his experiences working with some of the legendary juke joint owners, musicians, and characters, including Red Paden of Red’s Place in Clarksdale and Willie “Po Monkey” Seaberry of Po Monkey’s Lounge near Merigold. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Malcolm White talks to Tricia Walker, singer/songwriter and former director of the Delta Music Institute at Delta State University. The two talk about Tricia’s storied career, which includes writing songs for Faith Hill, Patty Loveless, Kathy Troccoli and Allison Krauss, who won a GRAMMY® for “Looking In The Eyes Of Love,” co-written by Tricia. As part of the show, Tricia also talks about and plays a few songs from her latest album "Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter Eye." See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Melody Moody Thortis talks with cellist and executive director of the Hattiesburg Arts Council, Rebekah Stark Johnson. Melody and Rebekah speak about learning and performing cello, engaging communities through the arts and some of the newest projects sponsored by the Hattiesburg Arts Council.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Malcolm White talks to Raphael Semmes, a musician, producer, bandleader, and event organizer. The two friends talk about Raphael’s musical journey and the events he organizes such as Township Jazz Fest', Jazz Brunch at Table 100, and the upcoming family favorite, WellsFest.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Melody Moody Thortis speaks with artist and activist Talamieka Brice. Talamieka and her husband Charles are co-owners of Brice Media and consider themselves visual storytellers with their work in photography, web and graphic design. Brice's most recent passion project is Mississippi2, a magazine highlighting the achievements of Mississippians along with her work in arts, activism and as an entrepreneur See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Malcolm White talks to Bill Ellison. Bill is a longtime Jackson area musician and since 1992, he has hosted the popular MPB radio program “Grassroots,” which received a Governor’s Arts Award in 2010. He also works with the MPB Foundation.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Larry Morrisey visits with musician and songwriter Jerry Brooks. Brooks is a MAC Roster Artist and was awarded an Artist Fellowship Award last month. A native of Jackson, he got his start playing bluegrass and country music while still in junior high, later played in rock and soul bands during high school and his twenties, and then returned to acoustic music with the arrival of disco. He’s played with many legendary Mississippi bands, including the Vernon Brothers, Delta Breeze, and The Dog Band.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Malcolm White talks with blues legend Bobby Rush about his newly released album Sitting on Top of the Blues. Now in his eighties, the 2013 Governor’s Arts Award recipient and 2017 GRAMMY winner still headlines shows and tours internationally, showing no signs of slowing down.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.