The Mississippi Delta - “Birthplace of the Blues”

With its iconic landscapes, welcoming people, captivating traditions, and vibrant culture, it's no wonder that so many visitors are drawn to Mississippi. The Mississippi Delta Region, in particular, is characterized by its vast flatlands and winding waterways that created some of the most fertile farmland the world has ever known. The Mississippi River, aka “Old Man River,” snakes through the alluvial plain between Tunica and Vicksburg, creating a unique landscape of oxbow lakes, bayous, and swamps that are home to a diverse array of plant and animal life. No surprise, then, that alongside such natural bounty, this lush and curious corner of the United States is just as culturally fertile. In fact, the deep and storied roots of American music as we know it can be traced back to the Mississippi Delta, which is sometimes referred to as “The Most Southern Place on Earth.”

The Mississippi Delta has inspired generations of musicians to come together, share ideas, and develop groundbreaking musical styles that form the foundations of many American genres, and the Delta continues to be a wellspring of musical innovation and creativity today. Country legends including Tammy Wynette and Conway Twitty, as well as Elvis Presley, the undisputed “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” all hail from the Magnolia State. However, the Mississippi Delta is known first and foremost as the “Birthplace of The Blues.”

Cultivated in the Delta in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the blues were primarily influenced by African American spirituals, work songs, and field hollers. Over time, and with the further contributions of European Americans and Native Americans, a multicultural collaboration emerged, producing a signature sound that has left an indelible mark not only on the region and the nation, but on the world. In fact, some of the most influential international musicians of all time, including The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, and The Beatles, credit the blues as a primary source of inspiration in their own musical styles.

Though the passage of time has brought change and new developments to the area, the dynamic history of the Mississippi Delta is made readily available to residents and visitors through preservation efforts like the Mississippi Blues Trail, which marks over 200 locations in the Delta and throughout Mississippi that played a role in the evolution and preservation of the blues. While the number of trail markers may seem overwhelming, the Blues Trail app is available to download for free, enabling users to build custom itineraries to guide their journeys. Popular destinations include the birthplace of B.B. King and markers commemorating blues royalty like Lil Green and Howlin’ Wolf. Whether you are a diehard blues fan on a pilgrimage to Charley Patton’s grave or a traveler looking for a spark of inspiration all your own, make plans to embark on your very own Mississippi Delta getaway, with Old Man River as your guide. Check out visitmississippi.org/things-to-do/music/ to learn more.