CELEBRATION PACKS GROUND ZERO BLUES CLUB

CLARKSDALE – Vibrant blues musicians from Bill Abel and Deak Harp to Josh “Razor Blade” Stuart, Heather Crosse, Lee Williams, and Walt Busby, to Terry “Big T” Williams rocked the Sunflower River Blues Association’s traditional Thanksgiving Eve festival fund-raiser.

Packing Ground Zero Blues Club Wednesday night were scores of blues fans home for the holidays and out-of-towners visiting Clarksdale for the first time, according to Melvita Tillis Presley and John Sherman, party co-chairs.

“We appreciate the large turnout kicking off the drive for our 29th annual Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival August 12-13-14,” said Presley whose father, Melville Tillis, was Sunflower’s longtime co-chair.

“Bill Luckett and Ground Zero’s great staff are outstanding supporters,” she added.

A registered non-profit 501 c 3 organization, the Sunflower has been free and open to the public since 1988. On its 25th anniversary it was honored with its own Mississippi Blues Trail Marker unveiled at the Melville C. Tillis Delta Blues Stage adjacent to the Delta Blues Museum.

For updates on the 2016 festival, visit www.sunflowerfest.org.

Melvita Tillis Presley and John Sherman, party co-chairs, share duties welcoming blues fans to the Sunflower’s Thanksgiving Eve fund-raiser at Ground Zero Blues Club.