Mississippi Arts Hour

Melody Moody Thortis speaks with author, Jimmy Cajoleas about growing up in Jackson, his writing process and his upcoming book, “Minor Prophets.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more 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 a...

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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more 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. Hosted on Acast. Se...

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 adu...

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more 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.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mo...

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, w...

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 exhi...

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 Mer...

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 play...

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.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more 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.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more 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 entrepr...

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.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more 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...

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.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Melody Moody Thortis talks to MAC’s new Director of Arts-based Community Development, Leslie Ann Barker. Originally from Clinton, MS, Leslie recently moved back home to Mississippi after spending the past 13 years working with communities in Memphis, TN. They talk about Leslie’s background in and passion for theater and community engagement. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informat...

Remembering the late artist and sculptor Floyd Shaman of Cleveland this week. The Lauren Rogers Museum of Art in Laurel recently sponsored a show of Shaman’s work. Larry Morrisey attended the exhibit opening and recorded memories of the artist from his family, friends and former students. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Malcolm White talks to MAC Roster Artist Antoinette Badenhorst. Known for her work in porcelain, Badenhorst has developed her ceramic mastery over the past 20 years in various countries. She has dedicated most of her career to promoting arts education after developing a passion for teaching. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Larry Morrisey catches up with musician Jimbo Mathus. He is currently touring to promote Incinerator, his latest album. The record pulls together songs that Mathus has written throughout his career and features a number of guest musicians, including Andrew Bird and Lily Hiatt. Larry spoke to Mathus on location at Duling Hall in Jackson, prior to the concert that evening. Hosted on Acast. See acast...

Melody Moody Thortis talks about the Mississippi Invitational with Dr. Kimberli Gant, guest curator and Betsy Bradley, Director of the Mississippi Museum of Art. The Invitational is a bi-annual exhibit that features works from visual artists from across the state. Melody also talked to this year’s featured artists and recent winners of the fellowship award associated with the Invitationa...

Malcolm White talks to Claire Holley, a folk musician from Jackson, Mississippi. Holley has recorded several solo albums and currently lives in Los Angeles, California. They discuss her music and her Southern roots. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Malcolm White talks with William Goodman, a mixed media visual artist and muralist based in Jackson’s Fondren neighborhood. Goodman’s aesthetic is known for its blend of graffiti, collage, and culture references. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Larry Morrisey talks with filmmaker and photographer Michael Ford about his new book "North Mississippi Homeplace." While living in Oxford during the early 1970s, Ford documented rural life in North Mississippi through a documentary film and photography. This book compiles his photographs from that period, including photos of an Oxford blacksmith, a molasses maker and other rural folkways. Hosted...